This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of John Waters Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. Female Trouble (1974)
34
4
Female Trouble
X
34
4

Female Trouble is a dark comedy film which tells the story of Dawn Davenport, a spoiled delinquent high school student, who decides to run away from home, after her parents refuse to buy her the shoes that she wanted. She hitchhikes a ride with a man named Earl, and they eventually have sex. She gets pregnant but Earl refuses to care for her. In order to support herself, Dawn is forced to take up various jobs such as street prostitution, and she even finds herself engaging in criminal activities.

Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole, Edith Massey
Directed By:
John Waters
2. Desperate Living (1977)
21
6
Desperate Living
X
21
6
Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole, Edith Massey, Liz Renay, Susan Lowe
Directed By:
John Waters
3. Polyester (1981)
21
3
Polyester
R
21
3

The life of Francine Fishpaw, a suburban housewife is turned upside down, when she finds out that her husband Elmer, a pornographer, is having an affair.

Starring:
Jay Leno, Tab Hunter, Divine, Edith Massey, David Samson
Directed By:
John Waters
4. This Filthy World (2006)
14
4
This Filthy World
14
4
Role:
Himself
Directed By:
Jeff Garlin
5. Multiple Maniacs (1970)
15
3
Multiple Maniacs
15
3
Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole, Cookie Mueller
Directed By:
John Waters
6. Eat Your Makeup (1968)
12
3
Eat Your Makeup
12
3

This short film revolves around a deranged nanny who kidnaps young girls, after which she and her crazy friends forces them to ‘model themselves to death’.

Starring:
Divine, Lizzy Temple Black, Berenica Cipcus, George Figgs, Howard Gruber
Directed By:
John Waters
7. Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head (1968)
12
3
Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head
12
3
Starring:
Pat Moran, George Figgs, Maelcum Soul
Directed By:
John Waters
8. Roman Candles (1966)
13
3
Roman Candles
13
3

This short film features several random scenes such as a priest having beer, a woman being attacked with a fan, etc.

Starring:
Mona Montgomery, Divine, Mark Isherwood, David Lochary, Pat Moran
Directed By:
John Waters
9. Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
12
4
Sweet and Lowdown
PG-13
12
4

Emmett Ray is a famed jazz guitarist, who believes that love is a hindrance to his musical career. His views start to change after he develops affection for a shy and mute woman. However, shortly after he gains fame, he gets married to a wealthy socialite on a whim. 

Starring:
Directed By:
10. Hairspray (1988)
16
3
Hairspray
PG
16
3

This musical comedy drama film revolves around the story of an overweight teen who manages to win a spot on a popular teen dance show, after an audition.  

Starring:
Directed By:
John Waters
11. Pink Flamingos (1972)
23
3
Pink Flamingos
NC-17
23
3

Pink Flamingos is a crime comedy film which revolves around an overweight woman, who along with her family, compete against a Baltimore couple for the title of ‘The filthiest people alive’.

Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole
Directed By:
John Waters
12. Serial Mom (1994)
20
3
Serial Mom
R
20
3

The satirical black comedy features a dedicated homemaker Beverly Sutphin, who leads a happy life with two teenaged children. But she insists on retaliating against any slight. The parking place-snatcher neighbor starts receiving obscene calls; the math teacher gets run over for criticizing her son. As homicides increase, police get wise on the killer and Beverly becomes media sensation as ‘Serial Mom.’ 

Starring:
Kathleen Turner, Traci Lords, Joan Rivers, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard
Directed By:
John Waters
13. Something Wild (1986)
13
3
Something Wild
R
13
3

Charles Driggs is a businessman living in New York City, who is “kidnapped” by a free-spirited woman named Lulu. She takes him on an adventurous ride but the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when Lulu’s former husband who is an ex-convict shows up, and the two of them have no other option but to face trouble.

Starring:
Ray Liotta, Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith, Tracey Walter
Directed By:
14. Cry-Baby (1990)
19
3
Cry-Baby
PG-13
19
3

Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is a delinquent; but with a golden heart. Also the leader of the 1950s’ Baltimore subculture called the ‘drapes’, he is very popular with the girls for his ability to shed a single tear. Then he fall in love with a squire girl called Allison, causing heartburns, and jealous people around them conspire to keep them apart. 

Starring:
Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Traci Lords, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane, Susan Tyrrell, Polly Bergen
Directed By:
John Waters
15. Mondo Trasho (1969)
12
3
Mondo Trasho
12
3
Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary, Mink Stole
Directed By:
John Waters
16. The Diane Linkletter Story (1970)
12
4
The Diane Linkletter Story
12
4

The improvised short is based on true-life suicide of TV personality Art LInkletter’s daughter. Diane Linkletter has taken to drugs and also started dating Jim, a low-life boy who belongs to hippie culture. Her parents, worried about this change in her behavior, question her and as they realize she is high on LSD, express their disapproval. But it results in tragedy. 

Starring:
Mary Vivian Pearce, Divine, David Lochary
Directed By:
John Waters
17. Inside Deep Throat (2005)
11
3
Inside Deep Throat
NC-17
11
3
Role:
Himself - Filmmaker
Starring:
Dennis Hopper, Erica Jong, Gerard Damiano, Larry Flynt
Directed By:
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
18. Hairspray (2007)
11
3
Hairspray
PG
11
3

Sixteen years old plump Tracy Turnblad loves watching a teen dance TV show The Corny Collins Show. When she gets an opportunity to dance in the show, she quickly emerges as a popular performer. However, the manager of the TV station, Velma, is not happy with Tracy’s success. Meanwhile, Tracy encourages the idea of white and Negro kids dancing together on the show every day. 

Starring:
Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, James Marsden
Directed By:
Adam Shankman
19. Pecker (1998)
13
3
Pecker
R
13
3

Pecker is a comedy drama film which tells the story of a talented young boy, who enjoys taking photographs of things around him. His life takes a turn and he starts to find fame, after he is dragged into a world of pretentious artists from New York City.

Starring:
Christina Ricci, Bess Armstrong, Edward Furlong, Mary Kay Place
Directed By:
John Waters
20. Hag in a Black Leather Jacket (1964)
11
3
Hag in a Black Leather Jacket
11
3

Hag in a Black Leather Jacket is a short film which revolves around the unusual marriage between a black man and a white girl.    

Starring:
Mona Montgomery, Mary Vivian Pearce, Tricia Waters
Directed By:
John Waters
21. Cecil B. DeMented (2000)
13
3
Cecil B. DeMented
R
13
3

This crime thriller comedy film tells the story of an insane independent filmmaker, who along with his group of teen cinema enthusiasts, kidnaps a movie star and forces her to act in their underground movie.

Starring:
Roseanne Barr, Kevin Nealon, Adrian Grenier, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Eric Roberts, Ricki Lake
Directed By:
John Waters
22. Excision (2012)
9
3
Excision
9
3

Excision is a horror drama film telling the story of a lonely, disturbed, and delusional teenager who aspires to become a doctor as well as earn the approval of her dominating mother.

Starring:
Marlee Matlin, Ariel Winter, Malcolm McDowell, Matthew Gray Gubler, Traci Lords, AnnaLynne McCord
Directed By:
Richard Bates Jr
23. Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat (2002)
9
4
Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat
R
9
4
Starring:
Trey Bosworth, Lavelle Higgins, Mark McLachlan, J.P. Delahoussaye
Directed By:
Herschell Gordon Lewis
24. Suburban Gothic (2014)
8
4
Suburban Gothic
R
8
4
Starring:
Matthew Gray Gubler, Ray Wise, Kat Dennings, Barbara Niven, Muse Watson
Directed By:
Richard Bates Jr
25. Homer and Eddie (1989)
9
3
Homer and Eddie
R
9
3
Role:
Robber #1
Starring:
Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Belushi, James Belushi, Robert Glaudini, Jim Mapp
Directed By:
Andrey Konchalovskiy
26. A Dirty Shame (2004)
10
3
A Dirty Shame
NC-17
10
3

A Dirty Shame is a comedy film which revolves around a woman named Sylvia Stickles, who runs a convenience store with her husband, and her mother-in-law. One day, after Sylvia is hit on the head, she transforms from a prude to a lunatic crazy about sex. Things get interesting when she attracts the attention of Ray Ray, a sexual healer.

Starring:
Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair, Chris Isaak, Tracey Ullman, Suzanne Shepherd
Directed By:
John Waters
27. Seed of Chucky (2004)
7
3
Seed of Chucky
R
7
3

Glen visits Hollywood after learning that a film is being made on the life of his dead parents, Chuck and Tiff. He feels that resurrecting them is the only way to know them better.

Starring:
Jennifer Tilly, Brad Dourif, Redman, Hannah Spearritt
Directed By:
Don Mancini
28. Kiddie Flamingos (2015)
12
3
Kiddie Flamingos
12
3
Starring:
Madelyn Beckett, Taylor Howard-Goergens, Dexter Shaffer, Alexandra Wald, Katherine Grace Yeaton
Directed By:
John Waters
29. Each Time I Kill (2007)
9
3
Each Time I Kill
9
3
Starring:
Tiffany Paralta, Rob Vidal, Lisa Ferber, Jacqui Holland
Directed By:
Doris Wishman
30. In the Land of Merry Misfits (2007)
10
3
In the Land of Merry Misfits
10
3
Starring:
Fred Berry, Bob Backlund, Brendon Blincoe, John Comerford
Directed By:
Keven Undergaro
31. Welcome to Hollywood (1998)
8
4
Welcome to Hollywood
R
8
4
Starring:
Sandra Bullock, Angie Everhart, Tom Arnold, David Hasselhoff, Joel Schumacher, Kelly Preston, Carmen Electra
Directed By:
Tony Markes, Adam Rifkin
32. Anarchy TV (1998)
7
2
Anarchy TV
R
7
2
Starring:
Alan Thicke, Ahmet Zappa, George Wendt, Apollonia Kotero
Directed By:
Jonathan Blank
33. Mangus! (2011)
7
2
Mangus!
7
2
Starring:
Jennifer Coolidge, Leslie Jordan, Deborah Theaker, Ryan Boggus
Directed By:
Ash Christian

TV Movie(s)

1. Hairspray Live! (2016)
12
3
Hairspray Live!
TV-PG
12
3
Starring:
Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Garrett Clayton, Rosie O'Donnell, Jennifer Hudson, Ricki Lake
Directed By:
Kenny Leon, Alex Rudzinski

Animation(s)

The Simpsons (1989)
The Simpsons
TV-14
Starring:
Liam Neeson, Adam West, Ben Stiller, Katey Sagal, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman
Directed By:
Mark Kirkland, Steven Dean Moore, Bob Anderson, Matthew Nastuk, Jim Reardon
Mickey Mouse (2013)
Mickey Mouse
TV-G
Starring:
Betty White, Danny Trejo, Jim Cummings, Chris Diamantopoulos, Corey Burton, Alan Young, Bill Farmer
Directed By:
Aaron Springer, David Wasson, Paul Rudish, Dave Thomas, Clay Morrow
Mr. Pickles (2013)
Mr. Pickles
TV-MA
Starring:
Rob Zombie, Brooke Shields, Tom Kenny, Amy Sedaris, Tracy Morgan, Vivica A. Fox, Will Carsola
Directed By:
Will Carsola
Clarence (2014)
Clarence
TV-PG
Starring:
Andy Milonakis, Cloris Leachman, Troy Baker, Tara Strong, Tom Kenny, Amy Sedaris, Corey Burton
Directed By:
Raymie Muzquiz, Niki Yang, David Ochs, Nelson Boles, Vitaliy Strokous
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
PG
Plot:

Alvin, Simon and Theodore believes that their friend Dave is going to propose to his girlfriend Samantha in Miami. Fearing that they will lose their friend for good, they think of a way to stop him.

Starring:
Kaley Cuoco, Anna Faris, Justin Long, Bella Thorne, Christina Applegate, Laura Marano, Matthew Gray Gubler
Directed By:
Walt Becker
Fish Hooks (2010)
Fish Hooks
TV-G
Starring:
Jason Earles, David Tennant, George Takei, Felicia Day, Eva Amurri, Jason Mewes, Jason Alexander
Directed By:
Maxwell Atoms, Tom Warburton, William Reiss, C.H. Greenblatt, Derek Evanick

TV Shows and Videos

Groundbreakers (2015)
Groundbreakers
Role:
(18 episodes, 2015-2017)
Feud (2017)
Feud
TV-MA
Starring:
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Jessica Lange, Alfred Molina
Directed By:
Ryan Murphy, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Helen Hunt
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Homicide: Life on the Street
TV-14
Starring:
Jake Gyllenhaal, David Simon, Steve Allen, Charles Durning, Eric Stoltz, Anne Meara, Richard Belzer
Directed By:
Kenneth Fink, Alan Taylor, Nick Gomez, Peter Medak, Jean de Segonzac
Dead Like Me (2003)
Dead Like Me
TV-14
Starring:
Mandy Patinkin, Kevin Durand, Shelley Berman, Jasmine Guy
Frasier (1993)
Frasier
TV-PG
Starring:
James Spader, Tony Goldwyn, Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Alex Borstein, Brittany Murphy, William H. Macy
Directed By:
David Lee, Kelsey Grammer, Pamela Fryman, James Burrows, Sheldon Epps
My Name Is Earl (2005)
My Name Is Earl
TV-PG
Starring:
Kevin Sussman, Christine Taylor, Judy Greer, Juliette Lewis, Katy Mixon, Adam Goldberg, John Leguizamo
Directed By:
Marc Buckland, Eyal Gordin, Michael Fresco, Chris Koch, Gregory Thomas Garcia
The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia (2011)
The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia
Role:
J.W. (1 episode, 2012)
Starring:
Monique Dupree, Justin Fornal, Ben Daughtrey
21 Jump Street (1987)
21 Jump Street
Starring:
Jada Pinkett Smith, Brad Pitt, Josh Brolin, Rosie Perez, Vince Vaughn, Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley
Directed By:
Kim Manners, Bill Corcoran, James Whitmore Jr., Jorge Montesi, Jefferson Kibbee
The Lonely Island: The Creep (2011)
The Lonely Island: The Creep
Role:
John Waters
Starring:
Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Nicki Minaj, Island The Lonely
Directed By:
Akiva Schaffer
Love You to Death (2006)
Love You to Death
Role:
The Groom Reaper (14 episodes, 2006-2007)
Starring:
Bill Lake, Karen Cliche, Joe Bostick, Paula Boudreau
John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006)
John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You
Role:
Himself (13 episodes)
Family Album (1994)
Family Album
Starring:
Michael Ontkean, Jaclyn Smith, Kristin Minter, Joe Flanigan