Top 10 Queer Movies Every LGBTQ+ Person Should Watch: A Curated List of Essential Films
- Prideloop
- May 22
- 4 min read
Queer cinema has been a powerful force in representing LGBTQ+ stories, breaking boundaries, and giving a voice to marginalized communities. From heart-wrenching dramas to uplifting comedies, these films are not only important cultural touchstones but also essential viewing for anyone exploring queer identity.
Here are ten films that every LGBTQ person should watch, spanning various sub-genres and time periods.
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Sub-Genre: Romance/Drama
Call Me By Your Name is one of the most beloved queer films of the 21st century. Set in the sun-dappled Italian countryside during the 1980s, the film follows Elio (Timothée Chalamet), a teenager who falls in love with his father's graduate student, Oliver (Armie Hammer). This coming-of-age story is a beautifully nuanced exploration of love, desire, and the pain of first love. The film’s breathtaking cinematography and soulful performances make it an essential watch for anyone interested in queer love stories.
Director: Barry Jenkins
Sub-Genre: Drama
A groundbreaking film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Moonlight tells the story of Chiron, a young Black man coming to terms with his sexuality in a rough neighborhood of Miami. The film is divided into three acts, each focusing on a different stage of Chiron's life. Moonlight is raw, poetic, and tender—capturing the complexities of race, masculinity, and queer identity in a way that is both universal and deeply specific. It's a poignant and powerful portrayal of the intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community.
Director: Stephan Elliott
Sub-Genre: Comedy/Drama
A camp classic, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Australian outback in a bus named Priscilla. Bursting with fabulous costumes, a killer disco soundtrack, and heartfelt moments, the film blends humor and pathos while celebrating queer resilience and friendship. It’s outrageous, joyful, and still groundbreaking decades later.
Director: Ang Lee
Sub-Genre: Romance/Drama
Brokeback Mountain broke through mainstream barriers with its deeply emotional story of forbidden love between two cowboys, played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Set against the sweeping backdrop of rural America, the film explores the devastating consequences of repression and homophobia. Quiet, powerful, and heartbreaking, it’s a modern queer classic.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Sub-Genre: Biopic/Drama
Milk chronicles the life and assassination of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. With a moving performance by Sean Penn, the film captures Milk’s courage and optimism in the face of political and personal challenges. It’s both a tribute to a pioneering activist and a call to action for continued LGBTQ+ rights and representation.
Director: Stephen Frears
Sub-Genre: Drama
One of the earliest British films to feature a queer interracial romance, My Beautiful Laundrette tells the story of a Pakistani man and his former white schoolmate who fall in love while managing a laundromat in Thatcher-era London. It's a tender, politically charged film that tackles themes of identity, class, and queerness with grace and subtlety.
Director: Mike Nichols
Sub-Genre: Comedy
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane shine in The Birdcage, a hilarious and heartwarming film about a gay couple trying to hide their flamboyant lifestyle from their son’s ultra-conservative in-laws. A remake of the French classic La Cage aux Folles, this film blends sharp humor with a genuine message about acceptance and love. It's campy, clever, and endlessly quotable.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Sub-Genre: Legal Drama
Philadelphia was one of the first major Hollywood films to address HIV/AIDS, homophobia, and discrimination in the workplace. Tom Hanks delivers a powerful, Oscar-winning performance as Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is fired after his employers learn of his diagnosis. With Denzel Washington as the reluctant attorney who takes on his case, the film is both heartbreaking and deeply humanizing. Philadelphia was a landmark in raising awareness about AIDS and shifting public perception of the LGBTQ+ community.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Sub-Genre: Comedy/Teen
If you're looking for a lighthearted and campy queer film, But I’m a Cheerleader is a perfect choice. This satirical comedy follows Megan (Natasha Lyonne), a high school cheerleader who is sent to a conversion therapy camp after her parents suspect she’s a lesbian. The film is a witty and colorful exploration of identity, love, and the absurdity of societal norms. It has since become a cult classic in the LGBTQ+ community, known for its unapologetically over-the-top portrayal of gender roles and the joy of finding one's true self. It's a fun, heartwarming ride with a meaningful message.
Director: Jennie Livingston
Sub-Genre: Documentary
This iconic documentary takes viewers inside the vibrant and often unseen world of New York City's drag ball culture in the late 80s. Paris is Burning features interviews with drag queens, trans women, and people of color, giving voice to the Black and Latino LGBTQ+ community that created the ballroom scene. The film not only explores the art of drag but also touches on issues of race, class, gender, and the pursuit of personal identity. Paris is Burning has had a lasting influence on pop culture, especially in the realms of drag and queer self-expression, and is a critical documentary for anyone looking to understand the roots of LGBTQ+ activism and creativity.
Honorable Mentions:
The Handmaiden (2016) – A visually stunning South Korean film that explores themes of betrayal, passion, and love in the context of a twisted romance.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999) – A heartbreaking drama based on the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a transgender man who faced tragic consequences for his identity.
Love, Simon (2018) – A romantic comedy that broke new ground as one of the first major studio films to feature a gay teen romance at its center.
Comments