Jennie Livingston's idea for Paris Is Burning began a number of years before the film's 1990 release. As a photography and painting student from Yale, Livingston became involved in news media after college. It was through this role that she discovered the ball culture of New York City. Fascinated by the subject matter, she raised money from a number of sources and began to craft a film. Her film does not simply chronicle the ball culture in New York City; it follows the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in the production and politics of the balls. Ultimately, the film explores issues of sexuality, race, gender, and class across America.
In 2016, Paris is Burning was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for its tremendous contributions to American history and society. Not only that, Paris Is Burning was both a critical and financial success. Renowned critic Roger Ebert said of the film: "What I saw was a successful attempt by the outsiders to dramatize how success and status in the world often depend on props you can buy, or steal, almost anywhere – assuming you have the style to know how to use them." Against a budget of $500,000, the film grossed nearly 4 million dollars at the box office.
