With a whip-smart drag queen cast and celebrity cameos, Adam Shankman’s film is a refreshingly kooky twist on the summer movie caper
Given the grip it exerts on the drag world in the US and beyond, it’s almost quaint to remember the janky beginnings of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which debuted in 2009 with cheap plywood sets, a “lounge” sponsored by Absolut Vodka and special guests including Michelle Williams (the less famous one). Now, it’s a high-gloss spectacle that has won 14 Emmy awards, is credited for bringing pageant-style drag fully into the mainstream and is a magnet for star guest judges including Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga.
There’s a sense that latter-day Drag Race is running on fumes, with 29 seasons including All Stars spinoffs and finale viewing figures that peaked in 2016. But the cottage industry that has grown up around it has never been bigger: former contestants like Trixie Mattel and Katya host a wildly popular podcast, while Bob the Drag Queen toured with Madonna and Jinkx Monsoon is the toast of Broadway with roles in Oh, Mary! and Chicago. Meanwhile, the show’s production company World of Wonder cannily keeps access to Drag Race’s 14 current international spin-offs exclusive to their own streaming platform, Wow Presents Plus.
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