Best gay films of all time

Culled from a longlist of hundreds, movies considered for the list prominently feature gay, lesbian, trans, or queer characters; concern itself centrally with LGBTQ+ themes; present its LGBTQ+ characters in a fair and realistic light; and/or be seen as a touchpoint in the evolution of queer cinema.

Alex drives herself well beyond her limits to compete for one of eight coveted spots on the varsity boat, horrifying her girlfriend played by the actor-model Dilone and alienating everyone around her. Queer cinema is a broad category that can be defined in infinite ways; is it a pioneering meditation on forbidden love, like that explored in films like Tea and Sympathy or Maurice?

Brought to you by Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby is a comedy memorable for its distinctive storyline, witty dialogue, and stellar performances—especially from Molly GordonDianna Agron, and star Rachel Sennott. Does it matter? At the end of the day, the magical thing about queer film is its mutability.

The chemistry between Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa practically jumps offscreen in this lighthearted yet deep film about two women who plan to spend 24 hours together to investigate whether the endeavor can bring them closer together. After getting his start in telenovelas, Walter Mercado became famous as a film astrologer with a flair for flamboyant outfits and colorful sets.

As Sheriff Jake seeks justice and Silva attempts to protect his kin, the two must unpack their complex relationship. Sent away from South Carolina to Chicago for the summer, a young woman Jessie Pinnick gets to know her long-estranged aunt Rebecca Spence better—and begins to explore her nascent queerness—in this sweet yet deeply moving film that gets to the heart of what we can learn from family and romantic bonds.

Awash in golden light, leisurely outdoor meals, and stolen sensuous moments, the film garnered four Oscar nominations including best picture and best actor for Chalamet, the third youngest gay the category at age 22 and set millions of hearts aflutter for Mr.

While the two encounter some rough patches as they get to know each other, their professional relationship eventually transforms into one of sexual tension and loving intimacy. Sennott plays Danielle, a bisexual college senior who sits shiva with her family after sleeping with her sugar daddy.

In an effort to fend off the winter dark, the three girls in this Finnish coming-of-age story turn their attentions to matters of love and sex, unpacking best it means to have healthy relationships and explore sexual pleasure.

The Novicethe debut feature from queer filmmaker Lauren Hadaway, is a sports movie that is also a kind of psychological horror movie, and a startlingly cathartic portrait of obsession. These films not only spotlight LGBTQ+ stories but also deliver heartfelt performances, compelling narratives, and artistic.

Desiree Akhavan is known for painting a vivid portrait of contemporary queer life in her TV series The Bisexualbut in this film, she takes on the dark territory of conversion therapy to devastating effect. It does, but not in the way you might think.

In a scarily committed performance, Fuhrmann channels the darkness behind determination, and the way it can shade into self-destruction. The 50 Best LGBTQ Movies Ever Made From Moonlight to Red, White & Royal Blue, here are the movies that best depict the queer experience in all its complexities.

These are sadly all too real, as Rafiki is banned in Kenya. Who died? A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship all his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.

Two unpopular queer high schoolers form a fight club in order to get closer to their cheerleader crushes in this foul-mouthed, slightly nonsensical, delightfully fast-paced romp from Shiva Baby director Emma Seligman. Smart and darkly funny, Shiva Baby already feels like a classic.

Charting the forbidden romance between a peasant girl serving as gay bien maid to a wealthy heiress through a series of contradictory, Rashomon -style perspectives, The Handmaiden is a meticulously calibrated erotic thriller for the ages.

If you're looking for powerful and moving cinema that beautifully captures queer experiences, we've got you covered with this list of the top gay movies of all time. The film is bright, heady, intimate and color-saturated, and the relationship between the women at its heart—Kena and Ziki—is hard to stop thinking about once you've finished watching.

We gathered the 20 best gay movies ever. These LGBT movies are a great way to celebrate Pride Month and learn about the LGBTQ+ experience. More movies about extremely muscular lesbians, please! Girlhood and queerness mingle on screen in a deliciously quirky film that won the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Competition after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by Barry Jenkins and adapted from a play by Time Alvin McCraney, Moonlight serves as a powerful coming-of-age story across three chapters in the life of a gay Black man growing up in an impoverished corner of Miami.

Every movie here is Certified Fresh.