Shrinking, The Muppet Show and Paris Is Burning

Hear ye, hear ye! Cruising Cinema received its first national shout out in Pink News last week. Big thanks to writer Marcus Wratten and the lads in Heated Rivalry who helped make this possible.

In even bigger news, things are changing at Cruising Cinema.

(Kind of like my wedding plans after I watched Heated Rivalry).

🚨Starting from today, this newsletter will be coming at you twice weekly🚨.

Every Friday, I'll continue to update you on the latest queer releases and I'll share classic picks from the Celluloid Closet. You'll also get a new, hornier version of Queer Awakenings. More on that later.

Every Tuesday, you'll receive another newsletter where I reveal Mother of the Week and spotlight a queer hidden gem you have to see in Out Takes. Plus you'll have ongoing access to my list of the best queer shows and best queer films released this year (including how and where to watch them).

The Friday edition will remain free because you guys are hot and deserve nice things. The Tuesday edition will be exclusively available for paid subscribers because hey, I'm also hot and deserve nice things.

🚨NEW BONUS FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS - Moving forward, I'm offering a 30 minute Zoom chat to all paying readers 🚨.

Want tips on how to get into journalism? Want to chat about your favourite movies? Or do you just want to talk about Britney's unreleased back catalogue? Paying subscribers old and new can email me and we'll book in a slot together - cruisingcinema7@gmail.com.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up heeeeeeeeeeeeeere for a monthly or annual subscription to receive Cruising Cinema in full. In turn, you'll receive my undying gratitude and the gayest, horniest GIFs known to man.

And if you're paying already? Thank you. You're a diva. You're an icon. You are the moment.

Queer and Now

Everything new in the world of queer TV and film

— Shrinking returned for its third season this week on Apple TV+. As always, the biggest draw is Harrison Ford, especially when he shows up shirtless in the very first scene of this week's episode. Yes, I know. He's 83. But why settle for a DILF in this economy when you can nab yourself a GILF?

I should also add that there's some gay stuff in here too thanks to Brian, Jimmy's gay bestie who's building a family with his husband. Actor Michael Urie has come a long way — from Ugly Betty to an ugly baby.

— The Muppet Show returns via Disney+ next week on February 4th, and honestly, Miss Piggy should be worried.

Horned-up sex kitten Sabrina Carpenter shows up in the trailer chatting about kinks with our Kermit, so our hammy diva better keep an eye out. Ribbit ribbit? More like rubbit rubbit, methinks.

— It's a sad week for people who like their shows queer and titled "The". That's because both The Night Manager season two and The Boyfriend season two end this week on BBC and Netflix, respectively.

One will likely end in death while the other will hopefully have a happy ending (or many happy endings depending on how many of the boys hook up).

— Popstar diva Paris Hilton, the soprano behind classic hits such as "Stars Are Blind" and "Starkle On! (Theme from Paris & Pups)" is coming to UK and US cinemas with a new documentary.

Titled Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir, the doc charts Hilton's return to music in 2024. Talking heads include Nicole Richie, Meghan Trainor, and other visionaries of our time. Check it out in cinemas from January 30th.

— Writer/director Sook-Yin Lee is releasing a messy new drama starring Dan Beirne and Emily Lê as a couple who decide to open their relationship up. Will it work out?

I haven't had a chance to watch Paying For It out yet, but I've heard great things, and it helps that gay icon John Cameron Mitchell is also a producer on it as well. Check it out from January 30 in Quad Cinemas, NYC, with a wider release to follow.

Queer Awakenings

You know, the hotties who "turned" you gay.

Being gay is NOT a choice. How do I know? Because I was always going to be gay after seeing this as a kid.

Zac Efron had me soaring for days after. Come on. I know we're all in this together.

Send your own suggestions to: cruisingcinema7@gmail.com.

Celluloid Closet

Must-see queer classics no one should be without 

Whether you're a connoisseur of queer culture or just a white gay who awkwardly says "boots down house mama" on occasion, you owe a lot to Paris Is Burning.

Jennie Livingston's 1990 doc is a vibrant time capsule of New York’s ballroom scene, capturing every dizzying high and every tragic low as various houses competed to snatch crowns and wigs alike.

The inclusion of legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza — spotlights the key role that Hispanic and African American icons have played in forming our culture.

With so much queer history already erased, Paris Is Burning should be a vital watch for every queer person, regardless of age. It's educational, it's empowering and it's also responsible for at least 98% of the gay shit that comes out of our mouths. Disagree? Suffer!

Find out where Paris Is Burning can be streamed below and then go watch the entirety of Pose, its spiritual successor in all but name. Oh, plus Drag Race, Legendary, Kiki, and I’m Your Venus, a 2024 documentary that investigates the tragic murder of Venus Xtravaganza.

Paris Is Burning - movie: watch streaming online

Find out how and where to watch “Paris Is Burning” on Netflix and Prime Video today - including free options.

JustWatch

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9 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2026 Ranked (so far)

Plus where to watch them

In need of something new and extremely gay to watch? Look no further than my ranking of the 9 best LGBTQ+ movies released this year so far.

But which film lurks in the top spot? And which one came dead last? Find out at the link below that I'll continue to update weekly for paying subscribers.

11 Best LGBTQ+ TV Shows of 2026 Ranked (so far)

Plus where to watch them

Do you want gay shit? Of course you do. Do you want to spend hours looking for it? Obviously not. Thankfully, I'm here to help with this ranking of the 11 best LGBTQ+ shows I've seen so far this year.

But which show serves in the top spot? And which one is stuck at the bottom of the rankings? Find out at the link below that I'll continue to update weekly for paying subscribers.

(If you would just like to make a smaller, one-time contribution to Cruising Cinema, you can buy me a coffee here.)

And just like that, we've come to the end of Cruising Cinema today.

As a thank you for making it this far, here's Jonathan Bailey with a reminder to drink your milk. See you next Tuesday!

Remember to share your own Queer Awakenings for future editions (cruisingcinema7@gmail.com) and don't forget to follow the newsletter on Twitter here, Instagram here and Facebook here and Letterboxd here (other platforms coming soon).

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