‘Stop! That! Train!’: Drag Queens Lead a Disaster Comedy

“Stop! That! Train!” opened nationwide on June 12, 2026 (Bleecker Street). The R-rated, 92-minute spoof follows drag queens Ginger Minj (Tess) and Jujubee (DeeDee) who quit the low-budget Stank Rail for the upscale Glamazonian Express. A “Stormaganza” threatens to derail the train into Los Angeles, prompting the duo, snobby first-class passengers, and President Judy Gagwell (RuPaul) to intervene.

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Director Adam Shankman filmed in 19 days on a set with $20 million budget, citing “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” as influences and avoiding jokes about race, religion or drag. Cast includes RuPaul as Gagwell, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Symone, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Latrice Royale; cameos by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicole Richie.

'Stop! That! Train!' Interview: Director Adam Shankman and More

The release coincides with anti-drag bills in Texas, Tennessee and other states, a 2023 presidential ban on drag at the Kennedy Center, and the ACLU’s “Drag Defense Fund” tracking 19 pending measures. By featuring drag queens as lead characters rather than parody devices, the film seeks to normalize queer visibility and counter narratives that label drag “depraved.”

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Shankman called the comedy “politically free” and said casting drag artists is its transgressive element. He asserted that the film contains no AI-generated shots, while RuPaul described the film as joyful and noted support for mixed-race marriages, calling it a celebration of inclusion. Right-wing groups portray drag as a threat to children, fueling anti-drag legislation.

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• “The movie is, from a humor standpoint, as politically free as you can be, and I did that intentionally.” — Adam Shankman, Director

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• “I believe in mixed-race marriages, I believe in mixed-race babies – I just love a mash-up.” — RuPaul Charles, Actor

USA Today

• “There are a sum total of ZERO shots conceived by AI in the movie.” — Adam Shankman, Director

Xtra Magazine

• “It feels great. It’s a dream.” — Symone, Drag Race Season 13 Winner

The Wrap

Reviews are mixed but positive. Slant Magazine gave 3/4 for its silliness; The Hollywood Reporter praised Minj and Jujubee’s chemistry; IndieWire assigned a B-, noting “margarita-deep” humor; the Boston Globe rated 2/5 as “knowingly disposable.” Critics note the high joke-per-minute rate and the novelty of drag queens as leads.

Just Jared

Shankman’s public denial that any AI-generated shots were used conflicts with an earlier interview in which he said AI was employed alongside CGI. No independent audit of the visual pipeline has been released, leaving the claim unverified.

Xtra Magazine

“Stop! That! Train!” will remain in theaters through the summer and later stream on major platforms. Its box-office performance may influence studios’ willingness to fund drag-led mainstream comedies and shape ongoing debates over drag representation.

CNN