The Big Johnson

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The Big Johnson

Jan 2026,

1h 35m,

Documentary/

LGBTQ+/

Biography

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4 Reviews

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4 Reviews

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Dean Johnson, drag queen, rock star, LGBTQI activist, junkie, genius, escort then John Doe. How does someone so famous in New York die as an unknown in DC? "The Big Johnson" explores the incredible highs and the crushing lows of Dean Johnson's life and untimely death. Was it murder? Was it an accident? We may never know, but what is for sure is that Dean and "the Big Johnson" changed New York City and all who knew him forever.

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Jan 21, 2026

A captivating, warts-and-all documentary.

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Eric Langberg

Everything's Interesting

Sep 14, 2025

The documentary brilliantly conveys that, while drag is now a viable career path to fame and fortune, it used to be a provocative, dangerous, daring art form… and perhaps it could be again, if we follow Dean’s lead.

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Michael Talbot-Haynes

Film Threat

Feb 28, 2025

10/10

An incredible movie about an incredible artist during an incredible time. Doesn’t get much better.

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Tina Kakadelis

Beyond the Cinerama Dome

Feb 24, 2025

From the plethora of archival footage to the glowing way all the interviewees spoke of Dean, The Big Johnson paints a lovingly complex portrait of a person who stood tall.

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Synopsis

Dean Johnson, drag queen, rock star, LGBTQI activist, junkie, genius, escort then John Doe. How does someone so famous in New York die as an unknown in DC? "The Big Johnson" explores the incredible highs and the crushing lows of Dean Johnson's life and untimely death. Was it murder? Was it an accident? We may never know, but what is for sure is that Dean and "the Big Johnson" changed New York City and all who knew him forever.

Director: Lola Rock'N'Rolla
Producer: Lola Rock'N'Rolla, Beth Johnson, Mitch del Monico
Screenwriter: Lola Rock'N'Rolla
Distributor: Freestyle Releasing
Production Co: Funtown Pictures, Gays from Away
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 23, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2026
Runtime: 1h 35m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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