Whether they’re charting vogueing balls in New York City or spotlighting kings on stages in Dublin, these documentaries capture the truly diverse world that is drag.

Sure, RuPaul’s Drag Race may be most people’s entry point to drag, but this fascinating culture exists far beyond the remits of reality TV. For practitioners around the world, drag is an art, a form of protest, a business and so much more.

Ready to learn more? Check out these documentaries that capture the true diversity of the global drag scene.

1) The Queen of Ireland

Step into the world of Irish drag icon and national treasure Panti Bliss with this 2015 documentary. The Queen of Ireland follows Panti in the run-up to the marriage equality referendum – a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland.

2) Paris is Burning

Jennie Livingston’s rich portrait of the voguing scene and ball culture in New York City in the 1980s is rightly considered a quintessential queer film. This unflinching documentary captures not only the fierce Black and Latinx drag queens of the scene, but it also explores the huge challenges they face, including violence and transphobia.

3) Dragging Up the Past

2021 film Dragging Up the Past focuses on the colourful world of Cork’s queer scene, through interviews and archival footage. Speaking about the film, Project Coordinator Konrad Im said, “LGBT+ history has been something that was hidden in the shadows or completely erased in the past, so it’s important for projects like this and the fantastic Cork LGBT Archive to be supported. We’re excited to finally release the documentary to the public and proud to be in a position to record the history of drag in Cork for future generations.”

4) Deep in Vogue

The spotlight is on the voguing queens of Manchester in this paunchy and political documentary. Deep in Vogue follows Manchester Vogue houses and their mothers in the build-up to the Manchester ICONS Vogue Ball, a huge event in Manchester’s LGBTQ+ social calendar.

5) Ryder: Queen of Fucking Everything 

This short documentary focuses on Irish performer, dance teacher and choreographer Paul Ryder. Ryder: Queen of Fucking Everything delves into Ryder’s first introduction to drag, and how that changed the course of his life forever. It also takes a look at how he balances his day job with his fierce drag persona.

6) Kiki

Sara Jordanö’s 2016 documentary Kiki paints a portrait of the New York City voguing scene in 2016, at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement was gathering momentum. As a result, Kiki explores the intersection of drag and activism as it profiles the young people taking part in the scene.

7) Phil T. Gorgeous 

If you prefer to consume your documentaries in audio form, then this radio broadcast focusing on Irish drag king Phil T. Gorgeous may be the one for you. While in conversation with Heather Macleod, Phil T. Gorgeous gets candid about his life and career. You can listen to it right here.

8) I am Divine 

Long before RuPaul hit the scene, the boundary-pushing Divine was perhaps the most famous drag queen. In this 2013 documentary, readers are invited to step into Divine’s beautifully bizarre world through extensive interviews with those who knew her best, including her long-time collaborator, John Waters.

9) Split: Portrait of a Drag Queen

International Chrysis was a trans entertainer who performed widely in the 1970s and 1980s, and this film showcases her captivating life as well as the legacy she left behind following her death in 1990. Speaking about the film, her mentee Steven “Perfidia” Kirkham shared, “It was pretty profound. In a time when a lot of people didn’t understand trans or nonbinary stuff, (Chrysis) was someone that encouraged you to follow your dreams and follow your personal identity.”

10) Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts 

Drag queen and country musician Trixie Mattel became an international sensation after competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and this intimate documentary captures how newfound fame changed her life. Keep your eyes peeled for some familiar faces while you watch, as Trixie paid a visit to The George during filming.

11) The Making of a King 

While there may be no shortage of documentaries that focus on drag queens, drag kings’ stories often receive less attention, which is why The Making of a King is obligatory watching. This film celebrates the art and magic of drag kings and spotlights Dragula star Landon Cider among others.

12) Muslim Drag Queens 

As its name suggests, this Channel 4 documentary shines a light on Britain’s Muslim drag queens, celebrating their art as they navigate a broad set of challenges. The film features Asifa Lahore, the UK’s first out Muslim drag queen and a leading figure in LGBTQ+ activism.

13) The Queen

This documentary film from 1968 centres on a group of drag queens competing in the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest in New York City. Some of the iconic queens featured include Pepper LaBeija, Flawless Sabrina and Crystal LaBeija. Other famous faces that make an appearance include Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol.

14) The Queens

If you have a weakness for sashes, crowns and all things pageantry, then The Queens will be right up your alley. This documentary spotlights the experiences of trans contestants taking part in the Miss Continental competition. In this film, we hear from winners and runners-up as they talk about what pageantry means to them.

15) Finding Family in Bangkok’s Rising Drag Scene

Thailand’s drag scene is world famous, and this short Vice documentary captures the scene in vivid, beautiful detail. Drag Race Thailand‘s cohosts Pangina Heels and Art Araya steer this documentary, exploring what it takes to find family in Bangkok’s drag community.

This concludes our list of documentaries about the world of drag. Anything we’ve missed?