The RuPaul’s Drag Race universe keeps expanding with spin-offs, fan conventions, world tours, and even a Las Vegas residency. However, the golden era of drag content doesn’t stop there. In fact, there are several fierce, fun, and even emotional documentaries and docu-series that feature certain Drag Race queens and might have flown under the radar of most fans.
If you’ve ever been curious about the ins and outs of living your life as a drag performer, these documentaries offer a rare peek into the reality of being a hardworking person whose occupation happens to involve lots of makeup, wigs, and gigs.
We’re Here
Featuring Bob the Drag Queen (season 8 winner), Shangela (seasons 2, 3 and All Stars 3), and Eureka O’Hara (seasons 9 and 10), HBO’s We’re Here is a feel-good docu-series that takes larger-than-life drag queens to small cities across the United States.
In many ways, We’re Here follows a format that is similar to Queer Eye, but also resembles the queen-on-the-road concept of AJ and the Queen. Nonetheless, We’re Here provides a lot of fun, highlights heartfelt stories, and breaks barriers that divide the LGBTQ+ community from those on the more conservative side.
Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts
After competing on season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Trixie Mattel has become one of the most successful drag performers in the world. Her 2019 documentary film Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts follows her journey touring the world while also competing on – and winning – All Stars 3.
This documentary – which premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival and is now available on Netflix – also features the conflict that took place between Trixie and Katya. At the time, the pair had just landed a talk show on Viceland, but Katya decided to step away from drag to focus on her mental health.
Wig
Directed by Chris Moukarbel (whose credits include Gaga: Five Foot Two and Banksy Does New York), the Wig documentary tells the story of Wigstock, an annual LGBTQ+ festival hosted by drag performer Lady Bunny that took place in New York City for nearly two decades.
Given that Lady Bunny is a close friend to RuPaul, Wig features a lot of archival footage showing a very young Ru who had just arrived in New York City. The documentary also focuses on the revival of Wigstock, which featured performances by the likes of Bianca Del Rio, Alaska, Willam, Sharon Needles, and Latrice Royale.
Jinkx Monsoon: Drag Becomes Him
Many fans consider Jinkx Monsoon the most cerebral RuPaul’s Drag Race winner of all time. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Jinkx became the first Drag Race alum to star in their own documentary.
Drag Becomes Him premiered in 2015. The documentary tells Jinkx’s life story, as well as their experience with gender and sexuality. Because the doc was being shot while Jinkx was competing on season 5 of Drag Race, the film shows the performer struggling with how they were being perceived on TV, as well as their reaction to winning the crown after all.
South Beach on Heels
The 2014 documentary South Beach on Heels features early-days Carmen Carrera and Latrice Royale working as drag performers in South Florida. It also features various other drag performers that have not appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but who are equally fabulous.
South Beach on Heels is a raw and insightful documentary about the lives of drag performers who are not yet international superstars. This street-level view of drag is particularly fascinating for fans to watch during an era where Drag Race contestants are increasingly becoming A-list celebrities.
Circus of Books
Netflix’s Circus of Books may not be directly related to the world of drag performers, but it does feature season 5 runner-up and All Stars 2 winner Alaska.
This documentary, which was released in 2020 on Netflix, tells the story of the family who ran the country’s most prominent bookstore and pornography shop for LGBTQ+ content. Located in West Hollywood, California, the Circus of Books establishment happened to employ Alaska for some time. As such, Alaska is heavily featured on Circus of Books, talking about her experiences as an employee.
Werq The World: The Docu-Series
Every year, some of the most popular Drag Race contestants go on the road to perform with the Werq The World Tour, which – as the name suggests – takes place around the world.
In 2019, the production company World of Wonder (which is responsible for the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise) released Werq The World: The Docu-Series, which features 10 episodes highlighting some of the ups and downs of these drag performers on the road. The docu-series is certainly entertaining, but it also reveals a more intimate side of some of the most beloved Drag Race contestants in history.
The Queens
Directed by Adrienne Gruben, The Queens is a documentary that was released in 2019 and features Alaska, Jinkx Monsoon, Sharon Needles, and Katya. This fascinating doc is not afraid to show the raw side of these drag performers, while also celebrating their craft and talents.
The Queens may have flown under the radar of many diehard Drag Race fans because the doc was never released on a major streaming service or network. However, the documentary is widely available for digital purchase and rental.
Dancing Queen
Drag Race fans always want more and more content from Alyssa Edwards, and that is precisely what the Netflix docu-series Dancing Queen provides.
Over the course of 8 episodes, viewers are able to watch Alyssa Edwards, the Drag Race superstar, coexisting with Justin, the business owner and choreographer. These two sides of the same person are a fascinating perspective that hadn’t been properly covered before in a documentary about LGBTQ+ performers.
Susanne Bartsch: On Top
Susanne Bartsch played an integral role in the ascension of RuPaul as a New York City entertainer and, consequently, contributed heavily to his status as an international superstar.
The Susanne Bartsch: On Top documentary features lots of footage from early-days RuPaul in the New York City club circuit, and it really paints a picture of the world that surrounded him during that period of time. What’s more, as a good friend of RuPaul’s, Susanne Bartsch was featured on All Stars 4 as a guest judge.