IMDb 5.1 2004 HD

A Dirty Shame

A Dirty Shame

2004
Comedy Fantasy
89 min NC-17 USA
5.336 / 10
5.1 IMDB

Sylvia Stickles runs a convenience store with her husband and mother-in-law. One day, Sylvia is hit on the head and transforms from an uptight prude to a sex-crazed…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director John Waters
Starring
Tracey Ullman / Johnny Knoxville / Selma Blair / Chris Isaak / Suzanne Shepherd / Mink Stole / Patricia Hearst / Jackie Hoffman

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

provocative outrageous comedic boundary-pushing shocking cult niche divisive bold absurd transgressive uninhibited

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 8, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'A Dirty Shame' is a film that dares to be distasteful, and for some, that will be its sole appeal. Tracey Ullman plays Sylvia Stickles, a character whose transformation from uptight to outrageously sexual is the engine of…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 8, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The premise of 'A Dirty Shame' – a prudish woman’s abrupt shift to hypersexuality and the subsequent community chaos – is undeniably intriguing. Tracey Ullman throws herself into the role of Sylvia Stickles with a commendable lack of…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 8, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

For those who relish unapologetic, boundary-pushing comedy, 'A Dirty Shame' is a must-see. Tracey Ullman is a revelation as Sylvia Stickles, embracing the absurdity of her character’s transformation with gusto and comedic timing that is simply masterful. The…

A
Arthur Finch
May 8, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

'A Dirty Shame' attempts a provocative romp through sexual liberation and societal upheaval, but its execution feels rather uneven. Tracey Ullman’s portrayal of a woman’s sudden descent into rampant sexuality is certainly a commitment, though it often teeters…

P
Penelope Davies
May 8, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Tracey Ullman delivers a surprisingly uninhibited performance as Sylvia Stickles in John Waters' (presumed) directorial effort, 'A Dirty Shame'. Transformed by a bump on the head from a repressed prude to a sexually liberated force of nature, Sylvia’s…

FAQs

The film depicts the 'sexual revolution' as a disruptive force, igniting a class war within the community. Sylvia's transformation and her subsequent relationship with Ray Ray, a sexual healer, trigger a cascade of events. This upheaval challenges the existing social structures and prejudices, leading to a clash between different factions of their small Baltimore town as desires and inhibitions are dramatically unleashed.