The Celluloid Closet

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The Celluloid Closet

R,

1996,

1h 42m,

Documentary/

LGBTQ+

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Watchlist

96%

91 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

91 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

THE CELLULOID CLOSET is the film version of author Vito Russo's landmark book by the same name. Filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, who have previously won an Academy Award for Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt, bring this book to life. THE CELLULOID CLOSET explodes sexual myths and explores how our attitudes about homosexuality and sex roles have evolved through the century. With clips from over 100 Hollywood movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them (including Tom Hanks, Shirley MacLaine, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Curtis, and Gore Vidal), THE CELLULOID CLOSET is an epic story -- by turns surprising, hilarious, and disturbing.

Critics Consensus

The Celluloid Closet takes a thought-provoking look at the decades of omission and misrepresentation endured by the gay community in mainstream cinema.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Oct 10, 2025

A valuable if spotty summary of silver screen homosexuality, covert and overt.

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Bob Fenster

Arizona Republic

Oct 10, 2025

4/4

This is an educated analysis on a social issue, not tabloid titilation.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Oct 8, 2025

4/4

Beyond the gay writers and historians who offer their own essential perspectives, the film is packed with savvily chosen screen scenes and just about every straight performer who ought to be here -- from Shirley MacLaine to Tom Hanks.

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Matthew Cibellis

Washington Blade

Oct 8, 2025

Well-written, well-conceived, well-filmed with a strong narrative sense, Celluloid unearths an important chunk of American history without ever stooping to didacticism or simple rhetoric.

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Steve Persall

Tampa Bay Times

Oct 8, 2025

B

Good research and nostalgic moments, but more likely to be embraced as a solid research project than [a] banner of gay pride.

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Ronan Farren

Sunday Independent (Ireland)

Oct 8, 2025

A sporadically impressive documentary.

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Rey M

Aug 22, 2007

The Celluloid Closet offers remarkable insight and footage on gay history movies, and although it's been more than 20 years since its release, it's still unique and very relevant.

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Rob Epstein

Director

Jeffrey Friedman

Director

Lily Tomlin

Narrator

Antonio Banderas

Self

Susie Bright

Self

Quentin Crisp

Self

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Synopsis

THE CELLULOID CLOSET is the film version of author Vito Russo's landmark book by the same name. Filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, who have previously won an Academy Award for Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt, bring this book to life. THE CELLULOID CLOSET explodes sexual myths and explores how our attitudes about homosexuality and sex roles have evolved through the century. With clips from over 100 Hollywood movies and interviews with many of the filmmakers and actors who created them (including Tom Hanks, Shirley MacLaine, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Curtis, and Gore Vidal), THE CELLULOID CLOSET is an epic story -- by turns surprising, hilarious, and disturbing.

Director: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Producer: Sheila Nevins, Jeffrey Friedman, Rob Epstein
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Friedman, Rob Epstein, Armistead Maupin, Vito Russo, Sharon Wood
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: ZDF, Home Box Office (HBO), Channel 4 (England), Telling Pictures, Arte, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.4M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround

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