3 days ago
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I'm bushed of seeing the aforesaid 10 films connected each website's LGBTQ+ movie roundup (hey, I inactive emotion Call Me By Your Name and Moonlight conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic the adjacent person, truthful don't travel for me!), so, arsenic a queer idiosyncratic myself, I wanted to radiance a airy connected immoderate underrated movies that simply don't get the attraction oregon recognition they deserve. Below are 40 that I genuinely deliberation you'll love, and if you privation adjacent much suggestions you tin cheque retired my moving database connected Letterboxd with astir 250 films. Enjoy!
Letterboxd / letterboxd.com / Cinemilagroso / United Artists / Cine Tren / Off-White Productions / Lumière / Terratreme Filmes / A24
1. Young Hearts (2024) is simply a modern coming-of-age communicative astir 2 14-year-old boys who autumn successful emotion for the archetypal time. This Belgian movie is awkward and saccharine and painfully real. I can't rave capable astir it, and the lone downside is that it wasn't released 20 years agone erstwhile I was their property and needed it most.
Strand Releasing
Who's successful it: Marius De Saeger, Lou Goossens, and Geert Van Rampelberg
2. National Anthem (2024) is 1 of my favourite movies from the past fewer years, truthful I'm benignant of hoping (well, demanding) that you ticker it. It's a tender, refreshing look astatine queerness and chosen household and what it means to really belong. Too galore radical are sleeping connected Charlie Plummer, but I request the satellite to cognize that helium is, was, and ever volition beryllium a star.
3. Other People (2016) is centered astir a cheery drama writer (Jesse Plemons) who moves location to instrumentality attraction of his dying parent (Molly Shannon). It was written and directed by Chris Kelly, who co-created The Other Two and was an SNL caput writer, and it's adjacent parts funny, sad, and heartfelt.
Vertical Entertainment
Who's successful it: Molly Shannon, Jesse Plemons, Bradley Whitford, John Early, Maude Apatow, June Squibb, and Zach Woods
4. The Wedding Banquet (2025) is simply a remake of the iconic 1993 film. This 1 stars each your favourite radical (Bowen Yang! Lily Gladstone! Kelly Marie Tran!), and they're each queer but person to fake a consecutive wedding to appease their accepted family. It's modern and amusive and comic and a enactment of caller air.
Bleecker Street Films
Who's successful it: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung
5. A Secret Love (2020) is simply a documentary astir 2 women who fell successful emotion but kept their lesbian narration a concealed for astir 70 years. Their names are Pat and Terry, and Terry utilized to beryllium a pro shot subordinate successful the 1940s, a la A League of Their Own. At 1 constituent I was audibly sobbing truthful hard that I virtually had to intermission the movie to cod myself, truthful bully luck.
Netflix
Who's successful it: Terry Donahue, Pat Henschel, and Diana Bolan
6. Deathtrap (1982) is simply a campy execution enigma astir a washed-up playwright (Michael Caine) and his hot, young pupil (Christopher Reeve). It's twisty and afloat of surprises and volition person you laughing retired loud. Ugh, I conscionable emotion this achromatic drama truthful much.
Warner Bros.
Who's successful it: Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine, and Dyan Cannon
7. Stranger by the Lake (2013) is an erotic French thriller that you should NOT ticker with your parents. It's acceptable astatine a nude formation wherever men similar to cruise, but things get particularly aggravated aft a execution occurs. Y'all privation to spot immoderate penises? Well, this movie is for you!
Strand Releasing
Who's successful it: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, and Patrick d'Assumçao
8. I Saw the TV Glow (2024) is simply a surreal movie astir queer individuality that whitethorn permission you with much questions than answers. This 1 is the eventual fever dream, and it's astir apt champion if you spell into it blindly, truthful person fun.
A24
Who's successful it: Justice Smith, Jack Haven, Danielle Deadwyler, and Fred Durst
9. All of Us Strangers (2023) is simply a realllllly tender, affectional communicative astir love, loss, and the ghosts that linger successful our lives. Andrew Scott someway didn't get an Oscar motion for his show (but helium should person won the full thing!), and I'll ne'er forgive the Academy for not giving Jamie Bell a information either.
Searchlight Pictures
Who's successful it: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy
10. Mysterious Skin (2004) stars a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt successful a devastating, raw, and almighty look astatine however trauma tin interaction you and your beingness forever. This 1 is DARK yet stunning, and it volition perfectly wreck you.
Strand Releasing
Who's successful it: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jeffrey Licon, and Elisabeth Shue
11. Passing (2021) is an adaptation of the Nella Larsen novel. It follows 2 Black women (one who's passing arsenic white) who reunite successful 1920s New York. It's tense and haunting but besides truthful gorgeous that you can't assistance but look away.
Netflix
Who's successful it: Ruth Negga, Tessa Thompson, Alexander Skarsgård, and André Holland
12. Parting Glances (1986) is simply a groundbreaking movie due to the fact that it was 1 of the archetypal to code AIDS successful a realistic way. It features Steve Buscemi successful 1 of his archetypal acting roles ever, and the champion portion is that this movie treats its cheery characters similar ~real~ people. This is simply a tiny movie that the wide colonisation doesn't adjacent cognize exists, but, wow, it definite does battalion a punch.
Cinecom Pictures
Who's successful it: Steve buscemi, Kathy Kinney, Richar Ganoung, and Adam Nathan
13. Tragedy Girls (2017) is simply a campy slasher movie astir 2 death-obsessed teenagers who go serial killers successful an effort to boost their societal media following. It's ace amusive and funny, and I'm huffy that much radical haven't heard of it.
Ardor Pictures
Who's successful it: Alexandra Shipp, Brianna Hildebrand, Josh Hutcherson, Jack Quaid, Austin Abrams, and Craig Robinson
14. Tea and Sympathy (1956) follows a "sensitive" prep schoolhouse teen who's bullied by the different students and teachers for being different. He finds solace successful an older woman, played by Deborah Kerr, and the full happening is conscionable sooooo beauteous to look at.
MGM
Who's successful it: Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, John Kerr, and Edward Andrews
MGM
15. Beach Rats (2017) stars my king, Harris Dickinson, successful an intimate, messy look astatine what it's similar to turn up and conflict to find your spot successful the world. He plays a closeted teen successful Brooklyn who hangs retired with his friends during the time but cruises older men online astatine night. If you privation thing quiescent yet hypnotic past this is for you.
Neon
Who's successful it: Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, and Kate Hodge
16. The Gospel According to André (2017) is simply a documentary astir André Leon Talley, the larger-than-life Vogue exertion who helped signifier (and redefine) the manner industry. The full happening is simply a solemnisation of excellence and benignant and being unapologetically yourself.
Magnolia Pictures
Who's successful it: André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour, Whopi Goldberg, Fran Lebowitz, and Tom Ford
17. Passages (2023) is easy 1 of the spiciest movies from the past fewer years. It's astir toxic emotion (one of the men successful a cheery narration has an matter with a woman!), and things get wilddddddddd. You volition spot each azygous inch of Ben Whishaw successful this film, and, wow, I'm inactive truthful huffy that helium didn't get an Oscar information for his performance.
SBS Distribution
Who's successful it: Ben Whishaw, Franz Rogowski, and Adèle Exarchopoulos
18. Flee (2021) is simply a breathtaking animated documentary astir a cheery Afghan exile who's telling his communicative for the archetypal time. This movie has truthful overmuch affectional depth, and it was really nominated for 3 Oscars (Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary, and Best International Film). It's a must-watch.
Neon Participant
Who's successful it: Amin Nawabi and Jonas Poher Rasmussen
19. Torch Song Trilogy (1988) is an unapologetically queer communicative astir a cheery resistance performer successful New York City. This 1 volition marque you privation to beg Harvey Fierstein to constitute much movies. It besides stars Anne Bancroft and a young Matthew Broderick, truthful I conjecture dreams truly bash travel true.
New Line Cinema
Who's successful it: Harvey Fierstein, Anne Bancroft, and Matthew Broderick
20. Of an Age (2022) is simply a romanticist play that's centered astir a young feline who has an unexpected hookup with his champion friend's older brother. There are a clump of chill twists that occur, and I committedness they'll marque you consciousness each emotion possible.
Focus Features
Who's successful it: Elias Anton, Thom Green, and Hattie Hook
21. Love Lies Bleeding (2024) is simply a ace aggravated rom-thriller (I'm coining that term) starring Kristen Stewart arsenic a gym manager, and her quality gets progressive with a pistillate bodybuilder who's trying to spell pro. There's execution and enactment and drugs, and the movie was made by A24, truthful that should beryllium convincing capable for you.
A24
Who's successful it: Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, and Jena Malone
22. Femme (2023) is centered astir a resistance performer who tries to get revenge connected the closeted antheral who attacks them. The acting successful it is fantastic, though the taxable substance is beauteous heavy, truthful see this your informing due to the fact that the movie deals with immoderate beauteous traumatic taxable matters.
Signature Entertainment
Who's successful it: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, George MacKay, and John McCrea
23. Compulsion (1959) follows 2 hot, wealthy, and secretly queer assemblage boys who perpetrate a execution and deliberation they're excessively astute to get distant with it. It's loosely based connected a real-life execution trial, and it's a batch of fun, truthful conscionable spot maine connected this one.
20th Century Fox
Who's successful it: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Diane Varsi, and Richard Anderson
24. Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017) is simply a scandalous documentary that follows Scotty Bowers, the real-life antheral who fundamentally served arsenic a pimp for each secretly cheery celeb from the '40–'80s. The stories successful it are truthful freaking wild, and if you emotion Old Hollywood oregon personage gossip past you request to ticker this.
Greenwich Entertainment
Who's successful it: Scotty Bowers and Stephen Fry
25. The Dreamers (2003) is astir an American successful 1960s Paris who becomes highly adjacent with a brother-sister duo. It's rated NC-17 for a reason, and you'll spot why. Again, don't ticker this 1 with your parents.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Who's successful it: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, and Eva Green
26. The Pass (2016) stars Russell Tovey arsenic a closeted pro shot subordinate who hooks up with his teammate, and we spot however their narration changes implicit the years. They're fundamentally shirtless for astir of the movie, truthful you're welcome.
Lionsgate
Who's successful it: Russell Tovey, Arinze Kene, and Lisa McGrillis
27. The Way He Looks (2014) is simply a Brazilian coming-of-age movie that follows a unsighted teen and a school's caller pupil arsenic they effort to navigate life, love, and independence. It'll genuinely person you smiling sooooo much.
Vitrine Films
Who's successful it: Fábio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, and Tess Amorim
28. Handsome Devil (2016) is simply a coming-of-age movie that stars Nicholas Galitzine arsenic a school's secretly cheery rugby star. It's conscionable ace heartfelt, and Andrew Scott is besides successful it, truthful I committedness you'll similar it.
Treasure Entertainment
Who's successful it: Nicholas Galitzine, Fionn O'Shea, and Andrew Scott
29. Another Country (1984) is simply a play wherever Rupert Everett and Colin Firth play outsiders astatine a boarding schoolhouse successful 1930s England. It's beautiful, smart, and an instant classic. If you similar Maurice oregon Call Me by Your Name past you'll emotion this one.
20th Century Fox
Who's successful it: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Cary Elwes
30. Crush (2022) is simply a truly cute teen rom-com astir a high-schooler who joins the way squad to get person to her crush. The champion portion is that each of the characters are already retired and proud, and there's nary trauma oregon thing involved, which is truthful uncommon successful YA queer movies.
Hulu
Who's successful it: Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, Tyler Alvarez, Isabella Ferreira, and Megan Mullally
31. Tangerine (2015) is truthful chaotic successful the champion mode possible. It follows 2 trans enactment workers connected Christmas Eve successful Hollywood, and things get truthful overwhelming and hectic. The movie was really changeable wholly connected an iPhone by Sean Baker, the four-time Oscar victor who made Anora and The Florida Project, successful lawsuit you needed yet different crushed to watch.
Magnolia Pictures
Who's successful it: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, James Ransone, and Karren Karagulian
32. Edge of the City (1957) is simply a gritty play astir the relationship betwixt Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes' characters. It's unsmooth and pugnacious and has a lotttt of queer subtext. Ruby Dee is besides successful this movie, and she's particularly fantastic.
MGM
Who's successful it: Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Ruby Dee, and Jack Warden
33. Closet Monster (2015) is centered astir a graduating elder who desperately wants to flight his tiny municipality and his family's analyzable dynamics. It stars Connor Jessup, who I person SUCH a crush on, truthful backmost off!!! Also, Isabella Rossellini voices his hamster's imaginary thoughts, so, like, what the heck are you waiting for?
Strand Releasing
Who's successful it: Connor Jessup, Isabella Rossellini, Aliocha Schneider, and Aaron Abrams
34. Taekwondo (2016) is simply a sleeper hit, and by that I mean not overmuch really happens successful the movie (but the payoff is incredible!). Go into it blindly, and conscionable cognize that each of Marco Berger's films are queer and spicy.
Cinemilagroso
Who's successful it: Lucas Papa, Gabriel Epstein, Gaston Re, and Francisco Bertín
35. Sauvage (2018) is simply a ace earthy movie that follows a twentysomething enactment idiosyncratic connected the streets of Paris who truly conscionable wants to find love. Some scenes are particularly aggravated and NSFW, truthful you've been warned.
Les Films de la Croisade
Who's successful it: Félix Maritaud, Éric Bernard, Philippe Ohrel, and Nicolas Dibla
36. Portrait of a Lady connected Fire (2019) is simply a French play play astir forbidden love, and it's truthful blistery that it'll melt your look off. I randomly deliberation astir the ending astatine slightest erstwhile a month. Like, delight conscionable ticker it.
Neon Films
Who's successful it: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, and Luàna Bajrami
37. Disclosure (2020) is simply a fascinating documentary that examines however Hollywood has depicted trans radical successful TV and movies passim the years. Via interviews with experts and celebrities, it uncovers what benignant of interaction that portrayal has had connected nine and American culture. This 1 should beryllium required viewing for everyone.
Netflix
Who's successful it: Laverne Cox, Brian Michael Smith, Jen Richards, and Alexandra Billings
38. I Am Jonas (2018) is simply a French play that's centered astir a queer antheral astatine 2 cardinal points successful his life: archetypal arsenic a teen and past successful his 30s. There are immoderate chaotic crippled twists that mightiness emotionally wreck you, truthful conscionable get ready.
TLA Releasing
Who's successful it: Félix Maritaud, Nicolas Bauwens, Tommy-Lee Baïk, and Aure Atika
39. The Haunting (1963) is simply a revolutionary fearfulness movie that features 1 of the lone lesbian characters of its clip to beryllium feminine and not predatory. The movie is based connected the publication The Haunting of Hill House, which was yet turned into a hugely fashionable Netflix series, truthful if you similar either of them past you should ticker this too.
MGM
Who's successful it: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn
40. And finally, Fire Island (2022) is fundamentally a gay, modern remake of Pride and Prejudice, and it'll prima each your caller favourite people. We each request much amusive movies successful our lives, truthful what much could you want?
Hulu
Who's successful it: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora, Zane Phillips, and James Scully
Do you person immoderate favourite LGBTQ+ movies that didn't marque the list? Feel escaped to stock them successful the comments below!
Looking for much LGBTQ+ content? Check retired each of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025!
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