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  1. Wokeometer
  2. Movies
  3. But I'm a Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader
Box Office
Break-even · 2.2x
Budget$1.2M
Worldwide Gross$2.6M
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But I'm a Cheerleader

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But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader

movie·R·Aug 11, 2000·
Box OfficeBreak-even · 2.2x
$1.2M
Budget
$2.6M
Gross
Shop

Shop this title

But I'm a Cheerleader

We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.

Digital video
Amazon — Digital video. Search this format: But I'm a Cheerleader. Opens in a new tab
DVD & Blu-ray
Amazon — DVD & Blu-ray. Search this format: But I'm a Cheerleader. Opens in a new tab

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Catalog availability and subscription terms vary.

But I'm a Cheerleader

movie
R
August 11, 2000
Wokeometer Rating
9Woke
Audience Woke Score
No Ratings Yet
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke

TL;DR Verdict

But I'm a Cheerleader scores a 9/10 woke for centering queer conversion satire, mocking conservatives and heteronormativity, and prioritizing LGBTQ+ activism over neutral comedy—skip this agenda-driven lecture.

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Detailed Analysis

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical comedy whose core premise revolves entirely around a cheerleader's forced 'conversion' from presumed heterosexuality to embracing her lesbian identity, centering a sapphic romance as the primary emotional driver while mocking conservative parents, heteronormativity, and conversion therapy as absurd tools of oppression.

This embeds progressive ideology at the heart of the storytelling, with the entire narrative collapsing without the framing of queer self-discovery against traditional norms. Casting features prominent LGBTQ+ figures like RuPaul as an 'ex-gay' counselor, amplifying non-traditional identity representation as focal points rather than incidental.

Director Jamie Babbit's intent, drawn from her vision of a 'gay Clueless,' prioritizes queer activism and boundary-pushing satire that lectures on homophobia and sexual fluidity, compromising pure entertainment with heavy-handed identity politics. Initial critical panning reflects discomfort with its overt messaging, while its cult status in queer circles underscores how the ideology defines its appeal, intruding on what could have been neutral comedy by making systemic oppression narratives and LGBTQ+ normalization the unmissable foundation.

Methodology: Each score synthesizes audience discourse, critic and aggregator reception, and press coverage — weighed against the work itself, not any single source.

Detailed BreakdownPro

Free Preview1 of 5 categories unlocked
Corporate & Creator Activism9

Director Jamie Babbit's vision of a 'gay Clueless' explicitly prioritizes queer activism and boundary-pushing satire, embedding progressive ideology as the narrative foundation rather than pure entertainment.

Identity Politics & Racial Essentialism
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+ Themes
DEI Casting & Representation Mandates
Preachiness & Message-First Agenda

Unlock the other 4 categories — including Identity Politics and Gender Ideology — with detailed explanations.

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Directed by

  • Jamie Babbit

Is But I'm a Cheerleader Woke?

We've run a full content analysis on But I'm a Cheerleader and scored it 9/10 on the woke scale. Read our detailed breakdown above to see exactly what we found.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of woke content is in But I'm a Cheerleader?

Our analysis checks for themes like identity politics, race-swapping, gender ideology, environmental activism, anti-religious messaging, and other progressive agenda elements. The score breakdown above shows which specific categories were flagged and how heavily they factor into But I'm a Cheerleader's overall score.

Is But I'm a Cheerleader family-friendly?

Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). But I'm a Cheerleader is rated R. For a full picture, combine our woke analysis with the age rating to decide if it's right for your family.

How does Wokeometer score movies?

We evaluate media across multiple ideological categories on a 0–10 scale. Scores of 0–3 mean story-first, 4–6 have moderate elements, and 7–10 flag heavily agenda-driven content. Learn more about our methodology →

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Top Cast

Natasha Lyonne
5.6Mixed

Natasha Lyonne

Megan

Clea DuVall
4Mixed

Clea DuVall

Graham

Cathy Moriarty
9Woke

Cathy Moriarty

Mary Brown

RuPaul
9Woke

RuPaul

Mike

Melanie Lynskey
4.2Mixed

Melanie Lynskey

Hilary

Katharine Towne
9Woke

Katharine Towne

Sinead

Katrina Phillips
9Woke

Katrina Phillips

Jan

J
9Woke

Joel Michaely

Joel

Douglas Spain
9Woke

Douglas Spain

Andre

Kip Pardue
6.8Mixed

Kip Pardue

Clayton

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