The movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is a 1995 American comedy-drama film directed by Beeban Kidron. It stars Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo as three New York drag queens who embark on a road trip to Hollywood for a beauty pageant. The trio is comprised of drag queen Vida Boheme (Swayze), Noxeema Jackson (Snipes), and Chi Chi Rodriguez (Leguizamo).
As they travel through the heartland of America, their car breaks down in the small town of Snydersville. The trio is forced to stay in the town for the weekend while they wait for the parts to arrive to fix their car. While there, they meet a range of characters, including the town's sheriff, Dollard (played by Chris Penn), a young doctor with a secret, and a group of close-minded locals who are initially hostile to the trio's appearance and lifestyle.
Despite the initial hostility, the drag queens begin to win over the hearts of the townspeople with their kindness and compassion. They help those in need, offer advice, and even stage a drag show for the local residents. Through their actions, the queens show the locals that despite their differences, they share a common humanity.
Throughout the movie, the trio learns important lessons about acceptance, compassion, and self-worth. They also face challenges and harassment from the townspeople, including a dangerous encounter with the local biker gang. Despite these obstacles, the queens persevere and continue to spread their message of love and acceptance.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $96 million worldwide. It was praised for its positive message of acceptance and its representation of the LGBTQ+ community. It continues to be celebrated as a cult classic and an important film in LGBTQ+ cinema.
