What is a Good Gay Movie?

Table of Contents

  • Introduction

  • Brokeback Mountain

  • Call Me By Your Name

  • Moonlight

  • Carol

  • Boys Don't Cry

  • Philadelphia

  • Milk

  • The Danish Girl

  • Love, Simon

  • Blue is the Warmest Color

  • Paris is Burning

  • Amber’s Picks!

Introduction

Looking for something to watch? What is a good gay movie? It’s not always easy to find one you haven’t seen, but here is a list of some of the best, plus Amber LeMay’s favorites!

Brokeback Mountain

Ang Lee's 2005 romantic drama Brokeback Mountain is considered a landmark in LGBTQ+ cinema. Starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, it tells the story of two male cowboys who fall in love but struggle with their relationship due to societal pressures. The film was critically acclaimed and nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three. It stands out for bringing a tragic gay romance into the mainstream.

A still of the two cowboys in Brokeback Mountain.

Call Me By Your Name

This acclaimed 2017 romance, Call My By Your Name, is set in 1980s Italy and follows the romance between a 17-year-old boy and an older male scholar. The sensual film earned praise for its lush cinematography and tender depiction of first love. Lead Timothée Chalamet received an Oscar nomination for his performance. The film exemplifies the passion and heartbreak of coming to terms with one's identity.

A still from Call Me By Your Name

Moonlight

Winner of the Best Picture Oscar in 2017, Moonlight chronicles a black gay man's path to self-acceptance in three acts. The intimate indie film follows its main character from childhood into adulthood as he struggles with identity, abuse, and toxic masculinity in the African-American community. Praised for its humanity, it marks a milestone in queer black representation.

A beach scene from Moonlight

Boys Don't Cry

Hillary Swank's Oscar-winning performance in Boys Don’t Cry drives this 1999 biopic of transgender man Brandon Teena. The film brought transgender issues into the mainstream as it depicts Brandon's attempts to start new life and relationships, tragically leading to discrimination and brutal violence. Its raw depiction of transphobia sparked discussions on tolerance.

Hillary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, a 1993 drama, featured one of Tom Hanks' first serious roles, playing a gay lawyer with AIDS facing workplace discrimination. Denzel Washington co-stars as his reluctant homophobic lawyer. Philadelphia was landmark Hollywood film bringing attention to the AIDS crisis and issues facing the gay community. It earned Hanks his first Oscar.

A still from the movie Philadelphia

Milk

Sean Penn channels gay rights activist Harvey Milk in this 2008 biopic about the first openly gay elected official in California. Set in 1970s San Francisco, it documents Milk's political advocacy and his assassination. The film brings attention to Milk's significance in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

The Danish Girl

Eddie Redmayne received an Oscar nomination for his performance as transgender artist Lili Elbe in the 2015 drama, The Danish Girl. Set in 1920s Denmark, it depicts her journey to transition while married to another woman. The film sensitively explores gender dysphoria and personal struggle through a historical lens.

A still from the Danish Girl

Love, Simon

This 2018 coming-of-age story follows a closeted gay high schooler struggling to come out to his friends and family. Based on the novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda," the endearing teen drama, Love, Simon, injects a classic genre with modern gay sensibilities, showing that "normal" and LGBTQ+ identities can coexist.

A still from Love Simon

Paris is Burning

Paris Is Burning is a landmark 1990 documentary film that provides a glimpse into New York's drag ball culture in the 1980s. Directed by Jennie Livingston, it chronicles the elaborately structured drag ball competitions that served as a form of self-expression and community for African American and Latinx LGBTQ+ people. By focusing on key figures like Pepper LaBeija, the film illuminates the creativity, aspirations, and hardships faced by drag queens and trans individuals. Beyond the glamour of the balls, there is a raw exploration of racism, homophobia, and the AIDS crisis. Paris Is Burning brings empathy and depth to an underground subculture, showing both the resiliency and humanity of its subjects. A culturally resonant time capsule, it was one of the first films to celebrate queer and trans people of color, influencing media depictions for decades to come.

A still from Paris is Burning

Amber’s Picks!

Amber LeMay

Amber LeMay loves lots of gay films, but below is a list of her favorites!

  • Paris is Burning

  • The Adventures of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert

  • Brokeback Mountain

  • Paris is Burning

  • Philadelphia

  • The Boys in the Band

  • Longtime Companion

  • Torch Song Trilogy

—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together.  If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!

Author Russell
Previous
Previous

What is Queer Theater?

Next
Next

What is the old movie about drag queens?