A delightful skewering of pageant culture, this mockumentary is set in the Midwest and follows a group of young women as they compete for the crown in a small-town beauty pageant. When accidents start to take out competitors, it seems that looks really can kill. Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) hopes winning will get her closer to fulfilling her dreams of being a reporter. Becky Ann Leeman (Denise Richards), whose mother (the late Kirstie Alley) is the pageant director and a former winner, is the clear favorite. Other contestants, including those played by Brittany Murphy and Amy Adams in her debut performance, round out the cast. Widely panned by critics at its release, it has acquired a cult following in the years since and is now celebrated for its sharp edges and imminently quotable script by Lona Williams. — Lisa Elliott
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