The best Dolly Parton and Tim Curry movies streaming now

We lost two entertainment icons at the age of 80 on the same day this week: The inimitable Dolly Parton and the transgressive Tim Curry.

Beyond the unfortunate timing of their deaths on Tuesday, Parton and Curry’s careers had a surprising symmetry. Dolly was a singer-songwriter who seamlessly added movies and TV to her repertoire, while Curry was an actor of stage and screen who pursued a music career on the side. Both became queer icons – Curry for his role as Dr. Frank N. Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and Parton for both her outsized stage presence and her decades of advocacy for LGBTQ causes. And both had strongly defined personas: Dolly, the “dumb blonde” who was in on the joke, and Curry, the theatrical villain who had you rooting for him as soon as he cracked his distinctive, impish smile.

Perhaps their greatest difference was how they approached showbiz. Parton was an open book, sharing endlessly quotable witticisms (known as “Dollyisms”) about her life that made millions feel like she was their best friend – or at least their lovably brassy aunt. Curry, on the other hand, was intensely private, rarely speaking to the press about his career or his personal life, and expressing ambivalence about his iconic “Rocky Horror” role.

Both were remarkably beloved, and leave behind an enviable body of work across seven decades. Whatever you choose to watch this weekend in their memory, you’ve made the right choice. But these are some of my favorites that are currently streaming.

The best Dolly Parton and Tim Curry movies streaming

“Muppet Treasure Island” (1996) 

As a child of the ‘90s, my first introduction to Tim Curry came from a trio of kid-friendly villainous turns. He was hilariously snooty in 1992’s “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (streaming on Disney+) and was the only memorable part of 1992’s “FernGully: The Last Rainforest” (streaming on Tubi and other FAST services). But he truly shined as Long John Silver in the Muppet version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure story, providing guidance to a young Jim Hawkins even while betraying him. As a friend recently put it, is there any greater mark of a life well lived than having the Muppets name you an honorary member? (Disney+)

“9 to 5” (1980)

Dolly landed the first of her two Best Original Song Oscar nominations for the title tune of this workplace comedy, in which Parton and two coworkers (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda) get revenge on their horrible boss (Dabney Coleman). Not only did Parton hold her own alongside two of the most entertaining actresses of the era, the film’s success launched a TV show, a musical, and proved Parton could carry a film as the lead. (Philo)

“Clue” (1985)

So many of Curry’s best roles come in cult films, including his turn as Wadsworth, the butler who observes all in the big-screen adaptation of the classic board game. The scene where Curry runs from room to room, filling in the colorful suspects on every murder (and attempted murder) committed in the mansion, is top-notch.   (YouTube, Paramount+)

“Steel Magnolias” (1989)

The ending of this 1989 dramedy is a bit melodramatic for my personal taste, but there’s no denying that Parton, as salon owner Truvy Jones, was the glue that held this stacked ensemble cast together. The film also landed a young Julia Roberts her first of many Oscar nominations.  (Pluto TV, Paramount+)

“Three Men in a Boat” (1975)

The rest of this list has been pretty mainstream, but if you want to watch something you’ve almost certainly never seen before, check out Curry, Michael Palin (in one of his first post-“Monty Python” roles), and Stephen Moore in this BBC TV movie about three snooty Englishmen taking a boating vacation on the Thames. If you’d like a preview of the film’s style of humor, watch this scene involving mustard. (YouTube)

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!

— Kevin