50 Best LGBT-Themed Movies to Watch Online in Honor of Pride
There are as many ways to explore queer history as there are people who lived it, and countless queer legends who have been unfairly forgotten. Pride is a time to celebrate, honor, and remember all of this, whether you are transgender, bisexual, asexual, polyamorous, pansexual, intersex, non-binary, or anywhere else on the spectrum of gender and sexual identity and expression—or simply proud to support your queer friends.
All of these films reflect elements of the modern history of the LGBTQIA+ community—sometimes dramatized, sometimes documentary-style, and sometimes because the film itself has made history. They reflect on decades of love, sex, activism, and creativity. Some call for tolerance, while others throw the middle finger (or, better yet, a brick ) at narrow-minded intolerance.
I Saw Television Glow (2024)
Jane Schoenbrun wrote I Saw Television Glow —a psychedelic psychological horror drama—in the midst of her own transgender transition , using the film to explore the emotions that process evoked: elation, anticipation, and the primal terror of the choices they would have to make. What does it mean to sacrifice stability and security for authenticity? While other stories about transgender coming out focus on external threats or emphasize positive aspects, Schoenbrun is unafraid to acknowledge and confront the inherent terror in this story of two teenage friends who bond over a television show that seems to gradually draw them in, increasingly feeling more real than real life. Queer cinema of the past often addressed themes metaphorically because speaking openly was far more dangerous. Schoenbrun approaches transgender transition through allegory and without fear. Watch I Saw TV Shining on Prime Video .
Mandarin (2015)
Modern technology has opened up possibilities for filmmakers they could only dream of before. Imagine if gay directors of past generations could shoot films on their phones with professional-looking results? What stories could be told? Director Sean Baker and his team skillfully utilize the intimacy and immediacy afforded by filming on a pair of iPhones, and the result doesn’t feel slapdash or cheap. This is a buddy/girlfriend/revenge comedy about Sin-Dee Rell and Alexander, two transgender sex workers searching for the man who wronged Sin-Dee. It’s hilarious. Watch Tangerine on Disney+ and Hulu , or rent it on Prime Video.
The Queen (1968)
The documentary “Queen,” long out of theaters but recently restored by Kino Lorber, follows the contestants of a New York drag competition organized by drag queen, activist, and trans icon Sabrina Flavless. Crystal LaBeija memorably steals the show in the finale, exposing the racist attitudes within a largely segregated community—a rallying cry that would fuel the rise of drag ball culture in the decades that followed. It’s a largely lighthearted, joyful portrait of a distinctive period in queer culture, featuring prominent figures of the era, including Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, and designer Dorian Corey. “Queen” is available to watch on Kanopy or rent on Prime Video .
BPM (beats per minute) (2017)
Set during the height of the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s, Beats Per Minute (BPM) focuses loosely on HIV-positive ACT UP activist Sean (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart) and his developing relationship with newcomer Nathan (Arnaud Valois)—though the film is largely an ensemble piece, which ties into its message and message. This shift in focus allows the film to dramatically and quite boldly explore the changing nature of ACT UP’s actions and activism. Complex internal battles over strategy and questions about where the line is drawn are integral to any movement, and BPM beautifully dramatizes and personalizes these (still relevant) issues. Writer-director Robin Campillo and co-writer Philippe Mangeot bring their own experiences of ACT UP to the film. Watch BPM on Prime Video .
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Transgender lead Daniela Vega delivers a brilliant, inspiring, and heartbreaking performance as Marina Vidal, a waitress and singer at a club in Santiago, Chile. When her boyfriend, Orlando, dies unexpectedly, she endures numerous indignities: she’s called by her old name, harassed by the police who believe she must be a prostitute, and his family demands she hand over all her belongings to Orlando and stay away from him. Despite all this, Marina maintains a steely will that doesn’t detract from her compelling struggle, but also prevents the story from descending into tragedy. In 2017, this Oscar-winning film seemed like the story of a strong woman in a particularly intolerant country—but that wasn’t long before a global wave of transphobia wiped out many of those achievements, even in countries that once seemed more progressive. Watch A Fantastic Woman on Prime Video .
Nimona (2023)
Based on N.D. Stevenson’s graphic novel, Nimona had a rocky road to the screen, surviving delays, company closures, a pandemic, and pressure from Disney to tone down its LGBTQ themes. Fortunately, none of these problems are evident in the finished product, which was eventually released on Netflix. It’s a touching, joyful, and funny fantasy set in a futuristic world full of medieval trappings. Ballister Boldheart, along with his boyfriend, Ambrosius Goldenloin, are about to be knighted by the queen, becoming the first commoner to receive this honor. All would be well if he weren’t framed for the queen’s murder and forced to flee, becoming the criminal the snobs already believed him to be. Fortunately (or unfortunately), he is joined by Nimona, a teenage outcast rejected for her shapeshifting abilities (she’s primarily female, but her abilities mean her gender identity is ingrained). They work together to live up to Ballister’s name, while Nimona teaches Ballister what it means to truly live.Watch Nimona on Netflix .
Salome (1923)
During the Roaring 1920s, the rules for depicting LGBT themes in film were somewhat more relaxed than they would be later. Several positively LGBT-themed films were made in Germany, while American films took a rather liberal approach to gender and sexual roles. A prime example: Salome, a biblical epic produced and starring Alla Nazimova, known for her provocative treatment of LGBT themes. Nazimova (usually referred to simply as Nazimova) was one of Hollywood’s first influential figures and a talented artist who created her own interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s play, featuring women played by men in drag, overt sexuality, and loincloths made of silver brocade. It was all wonderfully kitschy and stylized, and the film didn’t make a dime, but it’s a reminder that there were LGBT people making films that your great-grandparents might have enjoyed.
With the advent of the Hays Code in America and the Nazi Party in Germany, it would be decades before films could again depict anything more than merely hints at unauthorized relationships. Watch “Salome” on Prime Video .
Passenger (2025)
Is Pillion a romantic tragedy? A romantic comedy? Does it satirize dominance and submission relationships, or does it take them seriously? There’s a lot of debate on this topic, but beyond that, director Harry Lighton’s debut film is so light and elegantly constructed that it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Harry Melling plays Colin, a short guy who encounters 6’3″ Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), who becomes his dominant almost instantly, relishing the discovery of a new sexual habit even as he questions whether this life is right for him. With a subtle sense of humor that keeps the film from becoming the more traditional psychological drama it could have been, Pillion reminds us that the “queer people are just like us!” narrative style can be limiting, and that it’s okay to explore relationships that might make viewers a little uncomfortable. Watch Pillion on HBO Max .
Paris is Burning (1990)
As Faulkner said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” This is especially true when it comes to queer history, as Paris Is Burning makes clear. Director Jennie Livingston’s documentary, which explores New York City’s drag ball culture of the late 1980s, pays particular attention to the experiences of Black and Latino gay, transgender, and genderqueer people, capturing both joyful and heartbreaking moments. Much of what was considered provocative here has permeated pop culture, for better or worse: Madonna is credited with creating voguing, but the style has its roots in the ballrooms of Harlem. Many of the film’s terms and cultural references will be familiar to fans of RuPaul or Pose , and many of the darker elements will also be familiar: racism, poverty, and violence against transgender people remain very real aspects of queer life for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). All the more reason to value authenticity and self-expression, and give a middle finger to gender expectations. Watch Paris Is Burning on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Apple TV .
The Living End (1992)
Living End is certainly not the best film from Gregg Araki, a figurehead of the new queer cinema (he received his best critical reviews and most public attention for Mysterious Skin ), but it’s his most angry, with a burn-it-to-the-ground attitude that feels about as alive today as it did during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. After a homophobic attack, depressed film critic John (Craig Gilmore) and drifter Luke (Mike Daitry) team up to commit a series of crimes, including the murder of a pair of neo-Nazis and the shooting of a police officer. Because they’re both HIV-positive, they feel they don’t care and have nothing to lose, so they can get away with a bang. Imagine Thelma & Louise , but gayer, or Natural Born Killers , but with a real message. “Living End” is available to watch on Kanopy and Mubi, or rent on Prime Video .
Girl in Uniform (1931)
The story of troubled schoolgirl Manuela (Herta Thiele) who quickly falls for the teacher at her girls’ school, “Girls in Uniform” came at a turning point in German history: a few years earlier, Section 175, banning homosexuality, had been seriously challenged for the first time, and the decadent Weimar Republic was in full swing. Thanks to its behind-the-scenes lesbian cast and its abundance of lesbian desire and kissing onscreen, the film became a hit across Europe, and lobbying by Eleanor Roosevelt herself ensured its release to American audiences (a detail I adore). It’s a beautifully crafted romance that never veers into melodrama; It also prompts us to imagine what films with female leads might have existed if more women had worked behind the camera during cinema’s golden age, as well as what might have happened if the Nazis hadn’t made the fight against the LGBT community central to their rise to power. Rent Girls in Uniform on Prime Video .
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Look, everyone has those nights. You’re having a blast. You’re feeling down. So why not put on some makeup, turn up the music, and grab that wig? Chances are you’re already singing along, but if not, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a musical about a German rock singer, a non-conforming woman, whose botched gender reassignment surgery left her with that infamous “angry inch.” Anticipating a much-needed cultural conversation about gender binaries by more than two decades, it’s also an old-school rock opera par excellence, the kind they don’t make anymore. Based on the stage musical of the same name, the film failed to make any money but has earned cult classic status. Rent Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Prime Video .
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Director James Whale (whose later life was dramatized in Gods and Monsters ) followed up what might have been the greatest monster movie with one of the most impressive masterpieces in American cinema history: something far funnier, weirder, and more queer-focused, with gay culture icon Ernest Thesiger sauntering through a Gothic setting, making sardonic remarks and tempting his old é to once again raise the dead. His Dr. Pretorius returns to Frankenstein’s (Colin Clive) life just as the doctor is about to begin a life of marriage with Elizabeth, but given the choice, he runs away to live with Pretorius. And all this before Elsa Lanchester trades her Mary Shelley-esque gown for a wire-cage bridal wig, giving birth to an icon. Watch Bride of Frankenstein on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video.
Funeral Rose Parade (1969)
At the height of the Japanese New Wave, writer-director Toshio Matsumoto created this classic film, combining ultra-realism with hauntingly beautiful, at times psychedelic imagery. The plot draws inspiration from and reimagines the story of Oedipus Rex , seamlessly blending the mythical with the mundane, chronicling the lives of Eddie (Shinnosuke Ikehata) and other transgender women in the turbulent, very gay Tokyo of the 1960s (“Roses” is a play on the word “pansy”). The film enjoyed a smooth Japanese release at the time, but struggled to pass American censorship. You can watch Funeral Parade of Roses on Kanopy and Night Flight.
The Boys in the Band (1970)
William Friedkin ( The French Connection , The Exorcist , and, most famously, Cruising ) directed this adaptation of the controversial off-Broadway play—controversial because all the characters are gay or bisexual, and controversial among queer audiences for its frequent depiction of self-pity. It’s not exactly an optimistic portrait of gay life in America, but it captures something real, if not always beautiful, as a work of art created in the pre-liberation era. And there are many aspects of it that, sadly, still feel relevant. Watch The Boys in the Band on Prime Video.
Stranger by the Lake (2013)
This 2013 French film is partly an homage to the erotic thrillers of past decades, much like the best ’80s thrillers paid homage to film noir. Pierre Deladonchamp plays Franck, a regular at a nudist beach and the surrounding forest, popular spots for hookups. Franck begins a passionate relationship (ie: lots of sex in the woods) with Michel (Christophe Pau), whom Franck later witnesses drowning someone in the lake. Okay, that’s a red flag. But the sex is amazing. As the investigation into the event unfolds, Franck struggles to give up something good, even in the face of murder. We’re confidently entering an era where queer people can be both victims and predators without resorting to tired cliches. Watch “Stranger by the Lake” on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Querel (1982)
Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s dreamy queer film follows a handsome young sailor who finds himself caught in a web of sex, sibling rivalry, and sublimated lust in a French brothel. However, the plot is almost entirely secondary: it’s all lustful vibes, sweat, and utterly unabashed sexuality. Watch Querelle on Prime Video and HBO Max .
Women’s Issues (1974)
Many early films that were positively LGBTQ were aimed exclusively at heterosexual audiences, portraying gays as angelic figures or as hapless victims of society’s cruelty. John Waters avoided all this well-intentioned nonsense, creating films in which the greatest crime is being boring . While Pink Flamingos (with its memorable climax to the tune of “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window”) is better known, Female Trouble refines Waters’s style in the story of high school rebel Dawn Davenport (played by drag queen Divine), who turns to crime when her utterly conservative parents refuse to buy her what she really wants for Christmas: “Nice girls don’t wear high heels!” Their cruel denial of such an essential accessory drives Dawn to a string of sexual assaults that feels a bit like an homage to Mildred Pierce —if Joan Crawford had conceived her daughter on camera.
On a rotten old mattress.
At the dump.
All of this is, to a certain extent, outrageous, and viewers were outraged—but only the most dim-witted. Rent “Female Trouble” on Fandango at Home or buy it on Prime Video .
Un chant d’amour/A Song of Love (1950)
In Jean Genet’s short film, full of homoerotic imagery that may seem less shocking now but no less effective, two prisoners are subjected to torture by a prison guard. They never touch, save for one fantasy scene, but the sight of two men smoking the same cigarette remains one of the most potent images in cinematic history. If you’re looking for the film by its English title, don’t confuse it with the slightly more traditional 1947 film starring Katharine Hepburn of the same name. “Love Song” is available on Kanopy, as well as on YouTube and the Internet Archive.
The Victim (1961)
Sometimes called the “blackmailer’s charter,” English law permitted the prosecution of homosexual acts since 1885, though by the 1960s, it had largely fallen into disuse. Nevertheless, the threat of arrest and subsequent public scrutiny made it, unfortunately, quite common for blackmailers (both gay and straight) to take advantage of wealthy victims—in this case, a married London lawyer played by Dirk Bogarde. Approaching a social issue through the lens of a neo-noir thriller, The Victim was one of the first examples of a major director and star sympathetically portraying homosexual characters, inevitably shocking audiences and censors alike that such people even existed. The film wasn’t a huge hit, but it came at a crucial moment: the 1960s were in full swing, and attitudes toward homosexuality were beginning to shift. You can watch “The Sacrifice” on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
Before Stonewall (1985)
If the events at Stonewall sometimes seem like ancient history, it’s important to remember that the history of the LGBT community didn’t begin there—not even remotely. Greta Schiller and Robert Rosenberg’s 1985 documentary looks back at the early 20th century, interviewing activists and writers who help trace the movement’s evolution among people fighting for authentic lives at a time when the wider culture preferred to pretend they didn’t exist. The film is an important document, capturing many important voices while they were still with us, but it’s also inspiring and often heartwarming. It’s hard not to smile thinking about what these legends did while the rest of America slept. (The film was restored in HD a few years ago, so now is a great time to watch it.) Watch Before Stonewall on Kanopy and Dekkoo, or rent it on Prime Video .
Happy Together (1997)
A beautiful yet dark triumph for Wong Kar-wai, Happy Together follows a strikingly mismatched couple (Leslie Chang and Tony Leung Chiu-wai) whose relationship crumbles during a trip to Argentina. This highly attractive yet deeply codependent pair continually returns to each other’s orbits—and they reveal how wonderful it is to be young, gay, and passionately in love, so much so that you can’t help but hope it will work out. The cinematography is stunning, with every frame looking like a miniature work of art. The film also contains a wealth of subtext, evoking the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China, which occurred around the same time the film was being shot—a reminder that queer identity has many layers. Watch Happy Together on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
Knife + Heart (2018)
Dirty deeds unfold on the set of a French gay erotic film. This ultra-stylish, colorful, and psychedelic film is a tribute not only to the Italian giallo films of yesteryear but also to the golden age of 1970s pornography. Director Yann Gonzalez has created a film in which homosexuality is not merely incidental but rather central (starting with the dildo-knife at the beginning), yet it is nonetheless one of the most effective and beautiful horror films of the last decade. Watch “Knife + Heart” on Tubi, Shudder, and AMC+, or rent it on Prime Video .
The Rocky Horror Show (1975)
I’ve seen Rocky at least a dozen times and can recite every line, but I still can’t say anything about the plot. (Perhaps this has less to do with the movie itself than with how it’s typically viewed… but let’s assume it has both.)
On the one hand, it celebrates the many, many forms of queer identity and gives even the most heterosexual people a chance to play with gender roles a little. It’s weird, a little sloppy, and not very logical—and all of that makes it all the more fun. Rent “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Prime Video.
Scream Queens: Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (2005)
The events of Stonewall were a long time in the making. It may have been the eruption of the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement, but the sparks had been igniting for decades—one of them occurring during the Compton’s Cafeteria riot of 1966. Transgender people in San Francisco were largely barred from gay bars (transphobia was never exclusively a cisgender, heterosexual phenomenon), and the 24-hour Compton’s Cafeteria became a gathering place, a cheap coffee shop, especially for transgender sex workers. Their very presence, of course, also made it a convenient location for local police, who found easy targets for harassment among the cafeteria’s transgender and cross-dressing patrons. The iconic image of Stonewall remains a brick through a window, and the Compton riot has a similar symbolic image: a cup of coffee in the face of a police officer who had grabbed and attempted to arrest a patron. This was followed by one of the first public LGBTQ+ protests in US history and the beginning of trans activism in San Francisco. Watch “Scream Queens” on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video.
Desert Hearts (1985)
By the mid-1980s, stereotypes had already begun to take hold: the long period of films (many of them brilliant) about HIV/AIDS had begun, and we were in the midst of a wave of major films ( Dressed to Kill , Cruising , The Silence of the Lambs , Basic Instinct ) that linked queer identity with extreme violence. In the midst of all this , Desert Hearts was a breath of fresh air: Vivian, an English professor going through a divorce, meets Kay, a freewheeling sculptor, on a ranch in Reno. The path of true love is never smooth (or, in this case, straight), so Vivian struggles a bit with an unexpected lesbian attraction. This romantic drama never descends into tragedy, and that’s all for the better. Watch Desert Hearts on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
The best queer films understand that no one is just one thing, and that any queer identity intersects with all the other labels we choose for ourselves (or that others choose for us). That’s why My Beautiful Laundrette isn’t just a great gay film; it’s also a great film about class, racism, and a vivid portrait of life in the 1980s, during the Thatcher and Reagan eras. Buy My Beautiful Laundrette on Apple TV.
Edward II (1991)
Want to learn about the history of the LGBT community? Great. Let’s travel back to 14th-century England and explore the story of Edward II, famous for his passion for courtier Piers Gaveston. Director, provocateur, and gay activist Derek Jarman eliminates any historical ambiguity in their relationship, presenting medieval Europe as a postmodern fantasy, replete with intentional anachronisms and a soundtrack by Annie Lennox. Imagine Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette , but much, much gayer. The film also made a star of Tilda Swinton, who went on to star in another classic film about the LGBT community, Orlando . Watch Edward II on Prime Video .
Rafiki (2018)
The first Kenyan film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival was also banned in its home country because it challenged Kenya’s legal ban on same-sex relationships. This romantic drama follows young women, Kena and Ziki (Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiwa), as they navigate romantic relationships while facing family and societal pressure to conform. The love story is joyful and charming, but the film doesn’t shy away from very real issues. Watch “Rafiki” (sometimes “The Friend” ) on Mubi and Kanopy, or rent it on Prime Video .
The Birdcage (1996)
The Birdcage is a stylish, funny, charming, and quotable Hollywood film starring some of the era’s most famous actors, and it truly made money by selling the message of acceptance (despite its weird and completely unnecessary R rating). Unlike many serious ’90s films dealing with LGBT issues, this film actually showed that being gay can be quite fun. And funny. And not at all tragic. While the characters fit certain stereotypes, the film makes it clear that being an overly dramatic queen like Robin Williams’ Armand is far better (and completely normal) than being boring and narrow-minded like Gene Hackman’s Senator. It’s all so good-natured that it was bound to attract a wide audience, paving the long, winding road to future LGBT-positive films. Watch The Birdcage on Peacock and Prime Video .
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
The mid-1990s saw a slew of gay-themed films released in Hollywood. These were well-intentioned films featuring A-list stars, albeit mostly male, straight, and white: the aforementioned The Birdcage , as well as Philadelphia and Inside/Outside , to name the most notable. But, more importantly, it was a golden age for independent filmmakers, who began making more personal, authentic, and distinctive films that rejected heteronormativity — what became known as the “New Queer Cinema.” Director and actress Cheryl Dunye plays Cheryl, who embarks on a quest to find a fictional Black actress from old Hollywood, exploring the life of a man living on the margins of society. You can watch The Watermelon Woman on Kanopy and the Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
Bound (1996)
Bound announced the addition of talented new directors Lily and Lana Wachowski, the sisters who went on to create The Matrix and other successful (and somewhat equally unsuccessful ) films. This noir thriller combines violence and humor in a story that also depicts realistic lesbian relationships and unabashed sexuality that never feels overdone — the chemistry between leads Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly is simply off-the-charts.
These directors remain among Hollywood’s most prominent transgender filmmakers, and it all started with this instant classic. Rent “Bound” on Prime Video.
All About My Mother (1999)
It’s not the most queer film in Pedro Almodóvar’s very queer filmography—that’s arguably 1987’s Law of Desire , which chronicles a complex love triangle between two cisgender gay men and a transgender woman. But All About My Mother cemented Almodóvar’s status as one of the world’s finest directors, combining his earlier, more kitsch vision with more dramatic material. When Manuela’s son dies in a car accident, she sets out to find his second mother, a transgender woman named Lola, whose identity Manuela has kept secret. Along the way, she encounters other women, including the brilliant transgender sex worker Agrado and Rosa, an HIV-positive nun who is also pregnant with Lola’s child. The film was far ahead of its time in its depiction of queer themes, and it remains an incredibly engaging and profound film about motherhood in all its forms. Rent All About My Mother on Prime Video.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
This list features several films featuring a group of straight people making queer-themed films, with varying degrees of success. While Brokeback Mountain leans too heavily on tragic tropes (by 2005, we’d seen more than our share of films about gay people being doomed to die), it certainly features talent both behind the scenes and in front of the camera—more than enough to create a moving experience. However, the film’s place in queer history is defined as much by the backlash it provoked as by the acclaim it received. By the time it lost the Oscar for “Biggest Picture” to Crash (her?), the debate was more about homophobia within the Hollywood establishment and among moviegoers at large than about the merits of either film. Brokeback Mountain started the conversation and, just as importantly, reminded studio executives that queer content could attract a broad audience and make big money. Watch Brokeback Mountain on Disney+ , Hulu , and Peacock , or rent it on Prime Video .
Bent (1997)
Set primarily in the Dachau concentration camp, “Bent” follows Max (Clive Owen), who is arrested by the Nazis after the “Night of the Long Knives” and becomes a victim of a targeted campaign of homosexual persecution. The film is undoubtedly heartbreaking and harrowing, but it also has moments of genuine beauty. It also received an NC-17 rating for no apparent reason, which says a lot about our attitudes toward LGBT-themed films. You can watch “Bent” on Dekkoo and Kanopy, or rent it on Prime Video .
Item 175 (2000)
An important documentary about the gay German experience under the Nazi regime, filmed just in time to gather interviews with survivors. There’s joy in the memories of a more open and liberal pre-war Berlin, which, naturally and horribly, gives way to grief when the Nazis begin persecuting members of the LGBT community. The film is highly specific in its own way, yet feels timeless in its warning that progress can vanish with alarming ease. Watch “Paragraph 175” on Kanopy and The Criterion Channel, or rent it on Prime Video .
Tropical Disease (2004)
This unique Thai film bills itself as a “romantic psychological drama,” and I suppose that gives some insight into its strange and wonderful nature. At first, we think we’re watching the romantic story of Keng (Banlop Lomnoi), a soldier stationed in a quiet village, who meets a local woman, Tong (Sakda Kaewbuadee), sparking a love affair. But then the narrative branches out, and we see the soldier searching for his quarry in the jungle, encountering a restless spirit. It was the first Thai film to debut in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival and the first to win the Jury Prize. Watch Tropical Malady on Kanopy.
Cast Away (2011)
Cast Away wasn’t a sensation, but it’s still seen as the beginning of a new, more confident era in queer cinema. Firstly, it’s absolutely gorgeous, with stunning, expressionistic cinematography and Dee Rees’s confident, professional direction. It’s a world you can get lost in. Cast Away tells a coming-of-age story so personal that it never feels like a film with a queer message, though it does explore identity through the journey of a young Black lesbian character, Alaique. Rent Cast Away on Prime Video.
Pride (2014)
During the British miners’ strike of the 1980s, activist Mark Ashton and others realized there was a real opportunity to forge an alliance between miners and the queer community, who were disadvantaged (ahem) by Margaret Thatcher’s government. The film “Pride” reimagines the story of the nascent movement (“Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners”) into a truly delightful comedy-drama (think “The Full Monty “) about the personalities behind this unlikely alliance, which ultimately brought queer issues to the forefront of British politics. Watch “Pride” on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Go Fish (1994)
Perhaps more of a cult classic from our modern perspective, the lesbian romantic comedy “Go Fish” grossed a couple million dollars (real money at the time) on a shoestring budget, becoming a bonafide mainstream hit . A few minutes were spent discussing the viability of lesbian characters and queer themes in film, and how director Rose Troche’s film could open the door for further representation. That didn’t happen, but the film offers some New Queer Cinema daring in the story of lustful student Max (co-writer Guinevere Turner) and her many romantic entanglements. The only tragedy here is Max’s complicated love life. Watch “Go Fish” on Prime Video .
The Best of Drunktown (2014)
Much of Drunktown’s Best is familiar: set in a Navajo community near Gallup, New Mexico, it centers on poverty, alcoholism, and the clash of tradition and modern life. Rather than shy away from these stereotypical themes, transgender Navajo director Sydney Freeland explores their reality within the broader lives of three young Native Americans, including a transgender woman who dreams of becoming a model. It’s one of several successful films in recent years that explore characters at the intersection of queer and Native identities. Watch Drunktown’s Best on the Criterion Channel or rent it on Prime Video.
Night on the Street (2014)
In 2006, seven openly lesbian women were harassed and threatened in Greenwich Village. When they resisted, a fight ensued, leading to multi-year prison sentences for four of them, who were charged as if they were gang members. The press dubbed them the “New Jersey Four” and a “lesbian wolf pack.” One headline warned of a “Lesbian Killer Attack,” though, of course, no one was killed. The queer community has always had a complicated relationship with the American justice system, as have women and people of color. This documentary explores how this long history continues to live on, particularly where identities intersect. Rent “In the Night” on Prime Video.
Moonlight (2016)
Two words: Best Picture. Moonlight actually won a lot of awards, but the most significant moment was, without a doubt, the Oscar. And yes, they accidentally read the wrong card and everyone thought La La Land won—but after 89 years of the Academy Awards, it was worth spending a few extra seconds to learn that the first film with a gay lead (and an all-Black cast) won Hollywood’s top prize. Great movies don’t always make history (and this one is a great example), but Oscar winners certainly do. Watch Moonlight on HBO Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Kiki (2016)
Following on from Paris Is Burning , Kiki examines the current state of the drag ball scene. It’s not a sequel, but by exploring kiki culture in New York City more than a quarter-century after the release of the previous documentary, it offers a fascinating look at all that has and hasn’t changed for a community whose influence has only grown. Many of the same issues remain: HIV/AIDS hasn’t gone away, especially for those without access to treatment, as have over-policing and discrimination. But the broader cultural acceptance of queer culture and (to some extent) the mainstreaming of drag culture have opened doors for many young, often transgender, people—the subjects of the film—who also demonstrate fierce and inspiring activism. Kiki is available to rent on Prime Video.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
There are as many perspectives on the Stonewall uprising as there are people who were there, but if you want to learn more about these events, a good place to start is with Marsha P. Johnson. Rising to the spotlight during an era when labels were highly fluid, Johnson identified as a lesbian and transvestite, typically using female pronouns. She was also a sex worker and drag queen, as well as an activist, model, and mentor—all in all, a fascinating figure who found herself on the front lines when Stonewall erupted in 1969. Director David France’s film explores not only Johnson’s life but also the recent investigation into her tragic and mysterious death in 1992, which the NYPD ruled a suicide without proper investigation.Watch The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson on Netflix .
The happiest time of the year (2020)
They release dozens of these films. There’s an entire year-round industry dedicated to satisfying the nation’s insatiable appetite for sentimental, made-for-TV Christmas movies, often centered around a driven businesswoman who discovers the true meaning of the holiday while visiting her hometown for Christmas. Conformity has its charm, so despite the sheer number of such films, the genre has been surprisingly lacking in diversity—at least until the last few years. Faces of color have become slightly more prominent, and 2020 saw the sudden emergence of not one, but at least seven Christmas films centered around queer romances (and queer actors). Which makes sense—what better audience for kitschy, corny, over-the-top love stories than gay men? Hulu’s “Happiest Season” had better marketing, slightly bigger stars, and overall higher profile than some of the others, making it a major draw. If you’re asking if this show is any good, you’re completely missing the point: it’s certainly fun TV fare, but it’s fun TV fare that features lesbians and is about lesbians —and damn, that feels like progress. Watch “Happiest Season” on Hulu and Disney+ .
Note: Transgender Lives on Screen (2020)
Transgender representation on screen isn’t everything, but it’s important. For most Americans, everything they know about transgender people comes from media portrayals, and this is also true for transgender youth, who may have no role models other than those they see on television. Disclosure examines more than a century of transgender representation in film and television (beginning with the 1914 film The Florida Enchantment ), an era of very, very, very slow progress that has taken a giant leap forward in just the past few years with the emergence of mainstream transgender celebrities, many of whom are featured here in interviews. By focusing on celebrities, the film also acknowledges that increased visibility also carries dangers, and that public attention hasn’t necessarily made life safer. Disclosure examines these often problematic, often quite offensive, old films and TV shows to understand how they relate to the realities of transgender people’s lives and how far we’ve come.Watch Disclosure on Netflix .
Queen Christina (1933)
The real-life Queen Christina of Sweden, like Greta Garbo, who played her, deservedly enjoyed a reputation for gender ambiguity and unconventional sexual orientation, partly on display in this pre-censorship film, where she accepts several suitors, both male and female. To some, she’s weak-willed; to others, unsuitably powerful. It’s the same old story: too lustful for some, too cold for others. This was 1933, before the Hays Code dealt a crushing blow to most sex and almost all overt homosexuality in American films, and it would be decades before we began to reclaim what they stole from us. Rent “Queen Christina” on Prime Video.
Excerpts (2023)
Smart and humane, though it could easily seem vulgar, director Ira Sachs creates a beautiful, touching portrait of the crumbling marriage between Martin and Thomas (Ben Whishaw and Franz Rogowski). Though long in the making, the event unfolds unexpectedly: Thomas meets Agatha (Adèle Exarchopoulos), with whom he develops an immediate attraction. It’s not only a brilliantly acted film but also a fresh, unbiased look at modern sexual fluidity. Watch “Passages” on Mubi or rent it on Apple TV .
The Celluloid Closet (1996)
After watching all the films on this list, get additional context by watching this important documentary about the history of queer cinema in Hollywood. The film explores stereotypes, hidden messages, and secret codes—everything that made films queer despite the limitations placed on them. Rent “The Cellular Closet” on Prime Video .