The Best LGBTQ+ Movies of All Time
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It’s 2024, and it’s safe to say we still have a long way to go in the way of LGBTQ+ rights. However, it’s also safe to say that portrayals of gay love stories have officially gone mainstream, and we’ve been gifted with a ton of amazing movies and TV shows over the past couple of years.
But even with all of the wonderful stories that have come to life, some of America still seems to be turning its back on total acceptance — which is exactly why celebrating Pride is so important. And what better way than with the huge Hollywood hits that are working to reach audiences who wouldn’t normally embrace (or even have exposure to) LGBTQ+ stories?
We’ve picked the best films from some of our favorite movies so that we (and y’all) can celebrate Pride right.
Some of these are tearjerkers, so grab that box of tissues, and happy binging!
Originally published March 2016.
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‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’
Set in the 18th century and taking place on an isolated island in Brittany, two women create a world of their own in Portrait of a Lady on Fire. This stunning film directed by revered filmmaker Céline Sciamma, follows Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) as their budding romance grows. This is a romantic classic you won’t soon forget.
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‘The World to Come’
The World to Come takes place sometime in the 19th century, along the American East Coast. Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and her husband Dyer (Casey Affleck) meet Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) and her husband Finney (Christopher Abbott), who are changing the trajectory of their destinies. Abigail and Tallie form a close bond, which buds into a romance. This film gave viewers a glimpse into both romance and fear in equal measure.
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‘Desert Hearts’
The 1985 romance Desert Hearts shows a tender, loving LGBTQ+ romance. The story follows a professor named Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver), who is getting a divorce from her husband and falls for a carefree lesbian student named Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau).
Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘The Watermelon Woman’
The Watermelon Woman is a unique love story, following a burgeoning filmmaker, Cheryl, trying to identify the identity of a 1930s actress named The Watermelon Woman. Her documentary takes her on a journey of self-discovery, and unraveling the real love story at the heart of the film, that of The Watermelon Woman and her lover.
Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Carol’
Based on the novel The Price of Salt, Todd Haynes’ 2015 film Carol is a love story between Carol (Cate Blanchett) and Therese (Rooney Mara). Carol meets Therese during her Christmas shopping, and there’s an instant attraction. They lose themselves in one another, and try to run from the the real world they’re trying to escape.
Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘The Handmaiden’
The Handmaiden is a romance-thriller that follows Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-ri), who is hired as the handmaiden of a wealthy heiress, Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). She is hired under the pretense that she helps defraud her, but it all gets complicated when they fall in love with each other.
Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
‘A Single Man’
Set in 1962, A Single Man follows George Falconer (Colin Firth) struggling with the sudden death of his long-time partner, Jim (Matthew Goode), and contemplates suicide. It looks in-depth on love, loss, and grief.
Watch it on Netflix.
‘The Imitation Game’
The Imitation Game is a historical drama film following the life of mathematician and logician Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch). While he’s breaking the Enigma code during World War II, he struggles with his personal relationships. While working on this, he meets Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley) who wants to work with him, but everyone in her life disproves of it.
Turing then asks Clarke to marry him as a way to keep her at Bletchley Park, despite him being gay. However, he later tells her to leave so he can save her from the dangers of being a gay man at that time.
Watch it on Netflix.
‘Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss’
Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss is a romcom that follows Billy (Sean Hayes), a gay photographer living in Los Angeles who becomes infatuated with Gabriel (Brad Rowe). They’re both trying to work through their fears and desires while being gay men in the entertainment industry.
‘Moonlight’
Moonlight follows the life of Chiron, a young African-American man’s journey to adulthood. It goes into his identity, sexuality, and trying to figure himself out amid his chaotic life.
Watch it on Max.
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‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical comedy horror film following newly engaged couple Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon). After they end up in a mysterious mansion, they meet an eccentric cast of characters, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). There’s music, dance, and sexual exploration, all for finding the discovery of one’s sexuality.
Rent on Prime
‘My Beautiful Laundrette’
My Beautiful Laundrette is a 1980s film following Omar (Gordon Warnecke), a young British-Pakistani man who transforms his uncle’s laundrette. And then, he starts a romantic relationship with his former school friend Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis). But Johnny has joined a white supremacist gang, and their affair is truly forbidden. It’s considered one of the best LGBT+ films of all time.
Rent on Prime
‘Booksmart’
Booksmart follows best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), who are graduating seniors trying to have the best night ever before graduation. It explores many different types of love, both romantic and platonic; and is an amazing coming-of-age film.
Rent on Prime
‘Call Me by Your Name’
Call Me by Your Name follows 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) and his summer romance with a 24-year-old graduate student named Oliver (Armie Hammer). The film shows their affair, transforming into a summer romance film that touches on love, heartbreak, and the power of your first love.
Rent on Prime
‘Brokeback Mountain’
Brokeback Mountain follows Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who engage in a secret romance over the span of 20 years. It depicts love, loss, and being true to oneself.
Rent on Prime
‘Philadelphia’
Philadelphia is a legal drama film that depicts Andrew Beckett’s (Tom Hanks) story. He is fired from a law firm after staff discovering he has AIDS. He hires a lawyer named Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to help him in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, and amid the case, we see Miller’s mind change on the LGBTQ+ community.
Rent on Prime
‘Beautiful Thing’
Beautiful Thing follows two teenage boys, Jamie (Glen Berry) and Ste (Scott Neal), who grow a friendship after both finding themselves in abusive situations; which turns into a romance. It gives viewers a positive portrayal of gay adolescence, coming out, falling in love for the first time, and more.
Rent on Prime
‘The Kids Are All Right’
The Kids Are All Right follows the lives of a married lesbian couple, Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), and their teenage children. Their eldest wants to find her biological father, and when he gets put into the mix, everyone has an identity crisis; but it shows the complexities of modern relationships.
Rent on Prime
‘Dallas Buyers Club’
Dallas Buyers Club follows the true story of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), a rodeo cowboy diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s, and to fight it, seeks alternative treatments not approved by the FDA. Amid it all, he strikes a relationship with Rayon (Jared Leto), a transgender woman and fellow AIDS patient. It’s a brilliant film showing the stigma associated with AIDS.
Rent on Prime
‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a touching coming-of-age drama that follows our lead Charlie (Logan Lerman), who starts his freshman year of high school. He befriends Sam (Emma Watson) and her stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller), and they go through the complicated time of high school together.
It touches on friendship, mental health, identity, including a plot with Patrick trying to figure out life as a closeted boy.
Rent on Prime
‘The Birdcage’
The Birdcage follows Armand Goldman (Robin Williams), the openly gay owner of a drag nightclub and his partner, Albert (Nathan Lane), who performs at the club. Armand’s son is engaged to a Senator’s daughter, who encourages them to hide their love. It’s a raw portrayal of acceptance and identity.
Rent on Prime
‘Girl Picture’
Girl Picture follows three young women who go a road trip across Finland to find a missing friend; and on the way, they go through times off self-discovery and identity.
