Marking the 25th anniversary of John Waters’ original “Hairspray,” Moviefone’s Gary Susman put together this interesting “where are they now” slide show of the films cast and director.
Sussman: “The story of a plus-sized teenage girl in early 1960s Baltimore who earns a spot on a local dance TV show, “Hairspray” was only a modest hit at the box office, earning just $8.3 million upon its release 25 years ago this week (on February 26, 1988). However, it has had a tremendous afterlife.”
Not to mention launching a struggling underground filmmaker into a multi-millionaire celebrity artist/performer/author. Hairspray’s budget was about $1.5 million, including music, stars, choreography, hefty director, production company, and related above-the-line costs. According to Waters, he received his first royalty check from the original production just three years ago. Ah showbiz! –R. Maier