showed internationally, with screenings in England in early 1971. Critical response Upon the film's debut in 1970, The Baltimore Suns Lou Cedrone wrote: "Multiple Maniacs is very smelly, save for a moment here and there when the Waters humor is apparent. And humor he has. It's just a shame he has chosen to ignore that for the brutality which is not, as he and his audiences may think, a gas." In 1981, Geoffrey Himes, also of The Baltimore Sun, referred to the film as "thoroughly disgusting" yet "also quite funny at times." The film holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Waters' highest-rated film on the site. 2016 restoration A new restoration for Multiple Maniacs by the American film distribution company Janus Films and the video distribution company The Criterion Collection was previewed on June 17, 2016 at the Provincetown Film Festival, and its national exhibition began at the IFC Center in New York City on August 5, 2016. The restored version was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 21, 2017 by The Criterion Collection, featuring a commentary track by Waters among other newly produced special features. This release marked the first time the film had been available on a home format in 30 years, since its original VHS release by Cinema Group in 1987. Box office As of August 18, 2016, Multiple Maniacs has grossed $33,036 in North America. See also List of American films of 1970 References External links Multiple Maniacs: Genuine Trash an essay by Linda Yablonsky at the Criterion Collection 1970 films 1970 LGBT-related films 1970s black comedy films 1970s comedy horror films 1970s crime films 1970 independent films American black comedy films American black-and-white films American comedy horror films American crime comedy films American independent films Films about rape Cannibalism in fiction Films directed by John Waters Films set in Baltimore Films shot in Baltimore Lesbian-related films 1970 comedy films 1970 drama films Drag (clothing)-related films LGBT-related black comedy films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films