Gay-Themed Movies
by matsnowie | created - 05 Mar 2011 | updated - 07 Feb 2019 | PublicA slowly-expanding list of the films worth seeing that deal with LGBT themes.
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1. A Single Man (2009)
R | 99 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
An English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.
Director: Tom Ford | Stars: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Votes: 117,757 | Gross: $9.17M
This is the greatest gay-themed film because the character's sexuality serves a dramatic, tension-building purpose instead of a political one. Along with being set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, George grieving over a secret love makes this a powerful, universal film about grief and loss instead of just a film about gay life.
2. Moonlight (I) (2016)
R | 111 min | Drama
A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.
Director: Barry Jenkins | Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert
Votes: 331,808 | Gross: $27.85M
It deserved best picture so much that I was sure it was going to lose. But the Academy opened themselves to this intimate character study. It's one of the first great films to address the problem with most other films on this list: gay people are not only defined by their sexuality.
3. Love, Simon (2018)
PG-13 | 110 min | Comedy, Drama
Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.
Director: Greg Berlanti | Stars: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Langford
Votes: 125,864 | Gross: $40.83M
4. Milk (I) (2008)
R | 128 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.
Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Votes: 179,847 | Gross: $31.84M
One of the greatest biopics ever made, this represents Harvey Milk as truly human - flaws included - and represents the history of the time as honestly as can be imagined.
5. Weekend (II) (2011)
Not Rated | 97 min | Drama, Romance
After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.
Director: Andrew Haigh | Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race, Laura Freeman
Votes: 32,842 | Gross: $0.46M
This film caused a lasting ripple in the critical responses out of the film festivals, so the hype was high. Wonderfully, this film lives up to the talk. A delicate and understated romance that fully succeeds in drawing you in while remaining completely realistic.
6. Maurice (1987)
R | 140 min | Drama, Romance
Two English school chums find themselves falling in love at Cambridge. To regain his place in society, Clive gives up Maurice and marries. While staying with Clive and his wife, Maurice discovers romance in the arms of the gamekeeper Alec.
Director: James Ivory | Stars: James Wilby, Rupert Graves, Hugh Grant, Denholm Elliott
Votes: 23,571 | Gross: $3.13M
A beautiful English film based on a beautiful English book. I would call this the quintessential Merchant & Ivory film next to The Remains of the Day. Great early performances by the cast.
7. Pride (I) (2014)
R | 119 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.
Director: Matthew Warchus | Stars: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine
Votes: 61,618
Like Kinky Boots or Pirate Radio, it tells an all-around great story from recent British history with a cast that has no weakest link and a script that has no missed opportunities.
8. Please Like Me (2013–2016)
TV-MA | 29 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Twenty something Josh is going through a number of big changes as he navigates his first decade of adulthood. After being dumped by his girlfriend, he comes to the realization that he is gay.
Stars: Josh Thomas, Thomas Ward, John, Debra Lawrance
Votes: 19,770
Taken together the 6-episode first series makes for a brilliant movie written by the young lead, Josh Thomas. When his now ex-girlfriend tells him he is gay, Josh is surprised, and we follow him as he cooks and stumbles through his new life. Season 2 expands and continues (and even improves) the show with some of the funniest material I saw all year.
9. Summer Storm (2004)
R | 98 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A close friendship between two crew teammates is tested when one slowly discovers he's gay and attracted to the other.
Director: Marco Kreuzpaintner | Stars: Robert Stadlober, Kostja Ullmann, Miriam Morgenstern, Jürgen Tonkel
Votes: 14,498 | Gross: $0.10M
Germany has recently (and it could be argued always has) been able to display honest and believable characters in all types of films. From the serial killer in Fritz Lang's "M" to Bruno Ganz playing Hitler in "Downfall," and this lighter-side coming-of-age film, German films include international cinema's best character development.
10. C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)
Not Rated | 129 min | Comedy, Drama
A young French Canadian, one of five boys in a conservative family in the 1960s and 1970s, struggles to reconcile his emerging identity with his father's values.
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Michel Côté, Marc-André Grondin, Danielle Proulx, Émile Vallée
Votes: 34,127
Proof that Canada is more than just James Cameron and David Cronenberg, this is a thoughtful and rewarding film. The care taken by the filmmakers to tell a very authentic story provides the 1970s with one of its best representations
11. C.O.G. (2013)
R | 88 min | Comedy, Drama
A cocky young man travels to Oregon to work on an apple farm. Out of his element, he finds his lifestyle and notions being picked apart by everyone who crosses his path.
Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez | Stars: Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Corey Stoll, Dean Stockwell
Votes: 3,904 | Gross: $0.06M
A central character that is so engaging it is a great disappointment when the film ends. We can only hope that more of Sedaris' books are adapted and Jonathan Groff can continue to play him.
12. The Hours (2002)
PG-13 | 110 min | Drama, Romance
The story of how the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives.
Director: Stephen Daldry | Stars: Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane
Votes: 138,500 | Gross: $41.68M
Three powerful performances that, like A Single Man, are about being alive and not just being gay. A very literate and thoughtful film, which is surprisingly rare in modern adaptations.
13. Sense8 (2015–2018)
TV-MA | 60 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order.
Stars: Bae Doona, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai, Tuppence Middleton
Votes: 162,987
It feels like a series written in the future for how progressive it is with the portrayal of its diverse cast. It's sensitive to the spectrum of sexuality and gender, but also to the international audience; it shows other cultures and places without resorting to stereotypes. It's all down to the brilliant work of the Wachowski siblings.
14. North Sea Texas (2011)
Not Rated | 98 min | Drama, Romance
A teenage boy's search for love finds him fixated on a boy who lives nearby.
Director: Bavo Defurne | Stars: Ben Van den Heuvel, Eva van der Gucht, Thomas Coumans, Katelijne Damen
Votes: 10,002 | Gross: $0.03M
A hauntingly good performance from the young lead centers this coming-of-age drama set in rural Belgium. Desire and longing have rarely been so clearly portrayed with so little dialogue. Comparable to A Single Man in its simple beauty.
15. Free Fall (I) (2013)
Not Rated | 97 min | Drama, Romance
A soon-to-be-father policeman falls for a gay fellow officer and his life starts falling apart.
Director: Stephan Lacant | Stars: Hanno Koffler, Max Riemelt, Attila Borlan, Katharina Schüttler
Votes: 22,568
A very affecting and thoughtful film. It says a lot with very little, which is largely due to the quality of the acting. German's Brokeback Mountain, but set in the modern world of the German police force.
16. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
R | 134 min | Drama, Romance
Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.
Director: Ang Lee | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid
Votes: 382,156 | Gross: $83.04M
It may have been politically charged upon its release, and the Oscar controversy still haunts the internet, but there is no denying that Brokeback Mountain is a powerful tragedy. And it will remain a work of art long after Crash becomes outdated.
17. Philomena (2013)
PG-13 | 98 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham
Votes: 103,790 | Gross: $37.71M
I won't say how this film covers gay themes, but it does, and I promise that it does a terrific job of examining a specific part of a gay person's relationship to the world that doesn't always get considered. Philomena (and Judi Dench) are wonderful.
18. London Spy (2015)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A chance romance between two men from very different worlds, one from the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, the other from a world of clubbing and youthful excess, leads into mystery after one of them is found murdered.
Stars: Ben Whishaw, Edward Holcroft, Jim Broadbent, Zrinka Cvitesic
Votes: 10,391
The actual plot of the mystery takes over in the last episodes and the whole thing feels reduced by it. But initially, the relationship and subtle character work and brilliant performances makes this a near-classic.
19. Beautiful Thing (1996)
R | 90 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Jamie is a shy teenager, often bullied at school. His neighbour Ste has a rough time at home, being beaten by his father and brother. This issues bring them together and they find that what they feel for each other is more than friendship.
Director: Hettie Macdonald | Stars: Glen Berry, Linda Henry, Scott Neal, Tameka Empson
Votes: 25,748 | Gross: $1.50M
A solid love story developes alongside the portraits of a series of familes living in the London Estates. Well acted and entertaining, this is one of the essentials.
20. Boys (2014 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 78 min | Drama, Romance, Sport
A sexually awakening gay teen athlete finds himself in a budding relationship with his mutually attracted relay race teammate.
Director: Mischa Kamp | Stars: Gijs Blom, Ko Zandvliet, Jonas Smulders, Ton Kas
Votes: 16,150
Another triumph of German cinema, this one a made-for-TV movie, and likely one of the first high school-aged gay films that I've seen with believable performances. A rare treat.
21. Shelter (II) (2007)
R | 97 min | Drama, Romance, Sport
When his college dreams are sidelined by family obligations, a young man finds comfort in surfing with his best friend's brother.
Director: Jonah Markowitz | Stars: Trevor Wright, Brad Rowe, Tina Holmes, Jackson Wurth
Votes: 24,032 | Gross: $0.14M
A supremely satisfying romance, Shelter is Brokeback Mountain with a happy ending.
22. Looking (2014–2015)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Three best friends living in San Francisco share the nuances and complexities of contemporary gay relationships as they explore a variety of options, both in love and in life.
Stars: Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez, Murray Bartlett, Lauren Weedman
Votes: 21,571
Andrew Haigh brings the same realism and beautiful photography of Weekend to HBO with this charming series about a group of friends in San Francisco.
23. The Circle (2014)
Not Rated | 102 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A young teacher in Zurich in the 1950s falls in love with a transvestite star but is torn between his bourgeois existence and his commitment to homosexuality.
Director: Stefan Haupt | Stars: Matthias Hungerbühler, Peter Jecklin, Marie Leuenberger, Stefan Witschi
Votes: 1,695
24. Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
R | 120 min | Drama
A gay man and a political prisoner are together in a prison. The gay man narrates the stories of two fake movies and his own life.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: William Hurt, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, José Lewgoy
Votes: 17,349 | Gross: $17.04M
A mesmerizing and very philosophical film about two men who share a prison cell in an unnamed fascist country. The performance that William Hurt won an Oscar for is particularly watchable; he is a completely different person than the man seen in so many other films. An indie classic.
25. The Kids Are All Right (2010)
R | 106 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their biological father into their non-traditional family life.
Director: Lisa Cholodenko | Stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska
Votes: 134,432 | Gross: $20.81M
A pair of great performances from Annette Bening and Julianne Moore cement this as a proper family drama, and not just a "gay" film. The rest of the cast all live up to the two leads and the director managed to throw in some brilliant film moments to make this a sweet and entertaining film. From the opening Vampire Weekend song I was hooked.
26. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
R | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
An ambitious Pakistani Briton and his white boyfriend strive for success and hope when they open a glamorous laundromat.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth, Daniel Day-Lewis, Richard Graham
Votes: 17,295 | Gross: $2.45M
The story deals with British bigotry against Pakistani immigrants, but a gay romance is the film's heart and soul. A great early performance by Daniel Day-Lewis makes up for the film's dated 80s style.
27. The Skin I Live In (2011)
R | 120 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.
Director: Pedro Almodóvar | Stars: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet, Marisa Paredes
Votes: 165,837 | Gross: $3.19M
Explaining why this film qualifies for this list would ruin some of the more interesting turns in the story. It is enough to say that this is Antonion Banderas at his best, and Almodovar working some truly shocking narrative magic.
28. Bent (1997)
NC-17 | 105 min | Drama, History, Romance
In 1930s Berlin, a gay Jew is sent to a concentration camp under the Nazi regime.
Director: Sean Mathias | Stars: Lothaire Bluteau, Clive Owen, Mick Jagger, Brian Webber
Votes: 8,816 | Gross: $0.37M
Bent shines a light into a corner of Holocaust history that was buried for decades - and still has not been given its proper attention - this is a simple, theatrical production of the brilliant play.
29. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
R | 104 min | Drama
Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.
Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert
Votes: 61,735 | Gross: $6.40M
Gus Van Sant's surprisingly experimental film includes some of the most attention-grabbing Shakespearean dialogue ever used, and a central performance that serves to answer anyone who questions why Keanu Reeves gets work.
30. Cabaret (1972)
PG | 124 min | Drama, Music, Musical
A female girlie club entertainer in Weimar Republic era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them.
Director: Bob Fosse | Stars: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Joel Grey
Votes: 59,388 | Gross: $42.77M
This is another one of those rare musicals that takes advantage of performance art to create musical numbers that add to the story without breaking from reality. The performances are classic and the characters, inspired by Isherwood's Berlin Stories, are all wonderful.
31. Heartbeats (2010)
Not Rated | 101 min | Drama, Romance
The story of three close friends who are involved in a love-triangle.
Director: Xavier Dolan | Stars: Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider, Anne Dorval
Votes: 30,336 | Gross: $0.06M
Xavier Dolan seems far too young to be able to write, direct, star in, and design costumes for a film this good. Heartbreaking in its portrayal of one-sided love, this is a mesmerizing combination of art film and minimalism.
32. Paris, I Love You (2006)
R | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented, and awakened.
Directors: Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuarón, Gérard Depardieu, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydès, Walter Salles, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Daniela Thomas, Tom Tykwer, Gus Van Sant | Stars: Juliette Binoche, Leonor Watling, Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Ardant
Votes: 74,552 | Gross: $4.86M
Le Marais, directed by Gus van Sant, is a wonderful short film centered on a monologue delivered by Gaspard Ulliel. One of the best in the collection, which is full of great shorts, and it is a memorable addition to Gus van Sant's impressive filmography.
33. And Your Mother Too (2001)
R | 106 min | Drama
In Mexico, two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life and each other.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ana López Mercado
Votes: 128,874 | Gross: $13.62M
The charming chemistry of Luna and Bernal makes this a raunchy road trip movie, but the steady direction and absorbing script by Alfonso Curon makes the film much more. Everything leads to a brutally erotic climax.
34. The Way He Looks (2014)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama, Romance
Leonardo is a blind teenager searching for independence. His everyday life, the relationship with his best friend Giovana, and the way he sees the world change completely with the arrival of Gabriel.
Director: Daniel Ribeiro | Stars: Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, Tess Amorim, Lúcia Romano
Votes: 27,667 | Gross: $0.10M
Based on the terrific short film, the feature loses the clever turn of events from the short but expands the emotional complexity of the characters to great effect.
35. Kill Your Darlings (2013)
R | 104 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A murder in 1944 draws together the great poets of the beat generation: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs.
Director: John Krokidas | Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall, Ben Foster
Votes: 41,231 | Gross: $1.03M
Radcliffe overcomes his Potter persona again to play a very affecting Allen Ginsberg at the start of the beat generation. The story weaves around 40s homophobia and Ginsberg's budding sexuality without overlooking nor obsessing.
36. Seashore (2015)
Unrated | 83 min | Drama, Romance
Two boys on the edge of adulthood find themselves exploring their relationship.
Directors: Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolon | Stars: Mateus Almada, Maurício Barcellos, Elisa Brites, Fernando Hart
Votes: 2,585
37. Toast (2010 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 96 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The ultimate nostalgia trip through everything edible in 1960s Britain.
Director: S.J. Clarkson | Stars: Oscar Kennedy, Victoria Hamilton, Colin Prockter, Ken Stott
Votes: 10,460
So few child roles are actual performances that when a kid who actually acts comes along it is almost completely unexpected. Oscar Kennedy plays the younger version of Freddy Highmore's part, and he steals the show. Highmore does well, but after Finding Neverland that is to be expected. This film is charming in its Britishness, and even more charming in its low-key presentation of a gay youth.
38. Shortbus (2006)
Not Rated | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.
Director: John Cameron Mitchell | Stars: Sook-Yin Lee, Peter Stickles, PJ DeBoy, Paul Dawson
Votes: 35,408 | Gross: $1.99M
A multi-sexual film with actual sex. Because the actors developed the script and their characters with the director it is clearly a labour of love and not a labour of controversy-baiting titillation.
39. Lilies (1996)
R | 95 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy
When a bishop comes to a prison to hear the confession of an old friend he is forced to watch a play, performed by the inmates, about their youth together, love and betrayal.
Director: John Greyson | Stars: Ian D. Clark, Marcel Sabourin, Aubert Pallascio, Jason Cadieux
Votes: 2,843 | Gross: $0.22M
The play-within-the-movie structure, which sustains the all-male cast of the prison even in the recreated scenes of the story makes this a wonderful, dream-like film. The story is beautifully written and acted. Even the use of nudity is done to an artistic purpose, which is a rare sight in any film genre.
40. Bad Education (2004)
NC-17 | 106 min | Crime, Drama
An examination on the effect of Franco-era religious schooling and sexual abuse on the lives of two longtime friends.
Director: Pedro Almodóvar | Stars: Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Javier Cámara, Daniel Giménez Cacho
Votes: 63,410 | Gross: $5.21M
A terrific double performance by Gael García Bernal centers this part-mystery drama. The film follows perfectly in Bernal's career after "Y tu mamá también" and "Dot the I".
41. Paragraph 175 (2000)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary, History, Romance
Historian Klaus Müller interviews survivors of the Nazi persecution of homosexuals because of the German Penal Code of 1871, Paragraph 175.
Directors: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman | Stars: Rupert Everett, Klaus Müller, Karl Gorath, Pierre Seel
Votes: 2,192 | Gross: $0.07M
A good documentary on a little-known corner of history. The value of the film mostly comes from the interviews with survivors of the Nazi era. This is a brutal reminder of how long a fight getting gay rights has been. (The Nazi law remained on the books until the 70s).
42. The Celluloid Closet (1995)
R | 102 min | Documentary, History
A documentary surveying the various Hollywood screen depictions of homosexuals and the attitudes behind them throughout the history of North American film.
Directors: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman | Stars: Lily Tomlin, Tony Curtis, Susie Bright, Arthur Laurents
Votes: 7,511 | Gross: $1.51M
I had intended this list to be narrative films only, but this documentary is invaluable for anyone interested in homosexuality represented on film. Interviews with great Hollywood screenwriters, actors, and directors trace the history through to the early nineties. A sequel would be good to see.
43. Stonewall Uprising (2010)
Unrated | 80 min | Documentary, History
This film tells the story of the massive police raid of Stonewall in June 1969.
Directors: Kate Davis, David Heilbroner | Stars: Paul Bosche, Alfredo del Rio, John DiGiacomo, Dana Gaiser
Votes: 620 | Gross: $0.13M
A must-see for modern history fans and anyone interested in civil rights. The watershed moment in the American gay rights movement is described by those who were there (including a policeman on the scene), and the important days following are discussed for their historic importance.
44. Transamerica (2005)
R | 103 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A transgender woman takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she had a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York.
Director: Duncan Tucker | Stars: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Andrea James
Votes: 42,343 | Gross: $9.02M
The film may focus on Felicity Huffman, but Kevin Zegers also shines in this unconventional road movie.
45. Far from Heaven (2002)
PG-13 | 107 min | Drama, Romance
In 1950s Connecticut, a flustered housewife faces a marital crisis and mounting racial tensions in the outside world.
Director: Todd Haynes | Stars: Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson
Votes: 49,306 | Gross: $15.85M
Dennis Quaid, Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert, and Patricia Clarkson all give wonderful performances in a stunning, colourful film that feels like a precursor to Mad Men. And it follows the pattern of every great romance having a scene with a train.
46. Kinky Boots (2005)
PG-13 | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A drag queen comes to the rescue of a man who, after inheriting his father's shoe factory, needs to diversify his product if he wants to keep the business afloat.
Director: Julian Jarrold | Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton, Sarah-Jane Potts, Jemima Rooper
Votes: 21,480 | Gross: $1.82M
The British can do quirky comedy better than most, and this based-on-a-true story film boasts great performances from unused talent, and a brilliant against-type role for Chiwetel Ejiofor.
47. Closet Monster (2015)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
A creative and driven teenager is desperate to escape his hometown and the haunting memories of his turbulent childhood.
Director: Stephen Dunn | Stars: Aaron Abrams, Jack Fulton, Joanne Kelly, Isabella Rossellini
Votes: 9,224 | Gross: $0.04M
Having artistic main characters can sometimes feel fake because the art they create is heavily manufactured for the story, but this time it feels like the real work of this quiet boy as he makes mistakes and deals with adult feelings and problems. It's a very honest look at that moment around 18 when the world says you have to start growing up.
48. Patrik, Age 1.5 (2008)
Unrated | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A Swedish gay couple adopt what they think is an 18-month-old orphan, only to meet their new son, a 15-year-old homophobic delinquent.
Director: Ella Lemhagen | Stars: Gustaf Skarsgård, Torkel Petersson, Tom Ljungman, Amanda Davin
Votes: 10,393 | Gross: $0.06M
Entertaining, quirky, and emotionally honest, this is another example of why Scandinavian films are among the best in the world.
49. Mysterious Skin (2004)
Unrated | 105 min | Drama
Two pre-adolescent boys both experienced a strange event and later it affects their lives in different ways. One becomes a reckless, sexually adventurous prostitute, while the other retreats into a reclusive fantasy of alien abduction.
Director: Gregg Araki | Stars: Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Votes: 76,309 | Gross: $0.70M
A very good look at a very delicate subject. Few directors have succeeded in presenting child abuse without making the film either preachy or disturbing. Mysterious Skin walks a delicate balance thanks largely to the sure direction and a lead performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
50. Black Swan (2010)
R | 108 min | Drama, Thriller
Nina is a talented but unstable ballerina on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her artistic director and a seductive rival, Nina's grip on reality slips, plunging her into a waking nightmare.
Director: Darren Aronofsky | Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Votes: 824,531 | Gross: $106.95M
This is not really a "gay" film since it is about art, artists, perfectionism, and the psychosis of Natalie Portman's character. But it includes some ticket-selling lesbian scenes. A brilliant psychological horror about aspiring to great art.
51. Stranger by the Lake (2013)
Not Rated | 100 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
Summertime. A cruising spot for men, tucked away on the shores of a lake. Franck falls in love with Michel, an attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man. Franck knows this but wants to live out his passion anyway.
Director: Alain Guiraudie | Stars: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, Patrick d'Assumçao, Jérôme Chappatte
Votes: 15,911 | Gross: $0.32M
Completely uninhibited, this film includes near-constant nudity and unsimulated sex in and around the title lake. Minimal plot, but as the main character makes questionable decisions it pushes the audiences to watch closer so that by the end you are at the edge of your seat.
52. Breakfast with Scot (2007)
PG-13 | 95 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Eric, a sports announcer and former hockey player, doesn't know how to deal with the flamboyant young boy to whom he and his partner suddenly become guardians.
Director: Laurie Lynd | Stars: Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, Noah Bernett, Benz Antoine
Votes: 3,251 | Gross: $0.05M
A charming film that proves Canada can still produce good stories without resorting to raunchy comedy or horror. The actors are all terrific and the overall feeling this film leaves the viewer with is enjoyment.
53. Priest (1994)
R | 98 min | Drama, Romance
A homosexual Catholic priest finds out during confessional that a young girl is being sexually abused by her father, and has to decide how to deal with both that secret and his own.
Director: Antonia Bird | Stars: Linus Roache, Tom Wilkinson, Robert Carlyle, Cathy Tyson
Votes: 11,031 | Gross: $4.18M
A very touching story of a crisis of faith that avoids the religious pandering that some films (Rock Heaven, for example) end up being lost to. The lead, Linus Roache (better known as Batman's dad), gives a great performance helped by future Carmine Falcone Tom Wilkinson.
54. Saved! (2004)
PG-13 | 92 min | Comedy, Drama
When a girl attending a Christian high school becomes pregnant, all of her former friends turn on her and she is ostracized and demonized.
Director: Brian Dannelly | Stars: Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin, Patrick Fugit
Votes: 48,985 | Gross: $8.94M
Less about a gay character than about the changing world view of a religious teen, this is a hopeful film dealing with a subject that too often appears to have no hope: education winning over ignorance.
55. Wonder Boys (2000)
R | 107 min | Comedy, Drama
An English Professor tries to deal with his wife leaving him, the arrival of his editor who has been waiting for his book for seven years, and the various problems that his friends and associates involve him in.
Director: Curtis Hanson | Stars: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr.
Votes: 66,594 | Gross: $19.39M
Anyone who liked the opening fake trailer for the Robert Downey Jr./Tobey Maguire romance in Tropic Thunder should watch this film to see the origin. The film is also very good, which makes it easy to recommend.
56. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
R | 113 min | Drama
A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.
Director: John Schlesinger | Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles, John McGiver
Votes: 120,761 | Gross: $44.79M
The only X-rated Oscar winner, this is one of those films that everyone has seen clips of ("I'm walkin' here! I'm walkin' here!") but have rarely seen the whole thing. A terrific film about the edges of society with subtle performances from the two leads.
57. Nico and Dani (2000)
R | 91 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A Spanish coming of age story focusing on the antics of two 17 year olds, who have a posh beach house almost all to themselves one summer. This is also a summer of sexual awakenings.
Director: Cesc Gay | Stars: Fernando Ramallo, Jordi Vilches, Marieta Orozco, Esther Nubiola
Votes: 6,319 | Gross: $0.35M
A Spanish coming-of-age film that evenly weighs its attention between two boys, one straight and one gay, and charts the coming-of-age story arc with an honest and probing camera.
58. No Night Is Too Long (2002 TV Movie)
Unrated | 116 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Young Tim Cornish's life has begun with great promise. Blessed with extraordinary good looks, Tim enjoyed much attention and cared little of broken hearts. At University he was a favored ... See full summary »
Director: Tom Shankland | Stars: Lee Williams, Marc Warren, Emily Holmes, Christina Jastrzembska
Votes: 2,722
Difficult to find, this TV thriller is remarkably worthwhile. An intense relationship leads to murder and mystery. Good performances and an overall good direction. The story has a somewhat unsatisfying third act, but still succeeds as entertainment.
59. Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
R | 110 min | Drama
The emotional intricacies of a polyamorous relationship between young artist Bob and his two lovers: a lonely male doctor and a frustrated female office worker.
Director: John Schlesinger | Stars: Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson, Murray Head, Peggy Ashcroft
Votes: 7,062 | Gross: $0.54M
Tame by today's standards, but controversial for its time. John Schlesinger put together a remarkable drama. Much of the film's editing and structure keeps you from knowing exactly what is going on, but this serves to draw you in even more. A worthy follow-up to Midnight Cowboy.
60.
Carnets d'ado (2001–2003)
Episode:
You'll Get Over It
(2002)
Unrated | 86 min
When Vincent finds himself a victim of outing in his high school, he must accept to live with the drastic changes it provokes, and redefine his relationships with his friends and family.
Director: Fabrice Cazeneuve | Stars: Julien Baumgartner, Julia Maraval, Jérémie Elkaïm, François Comar
Votes: 2,117 | Gross: $0.04M
A slight variation on the coming out story. The main character is outed by a prank early in the film. Instead of denying it, he takes the opportunity to live his life. A refreshing addition to the genre.
61. The Birdcage (1996)
R | 117 min | Comedy
A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's right-wing moralistic parents.
Director: Mike Nichols | Stars: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest
Votes: 100,582 | Gross: $124.06M
Firmly rooted in the 1990s presentation of homosexuality, The Birdcage is becoming dated, but it is still a very funny comedy of errors with the best performance by Nathan Lane.
62. You Are Not Alone (1978)
Unrated | 90 min | Drama, Romance
Two precocious boys explore their sexuality at boarding school.
Directors: Ernst Johansen, Lasse Nielsen | Stars: Anders Agensø, Peter Bjerg, Ove Sprogøe, Elin Reimer
Votes: 4,201
A very unrestrained, and wholly European, film. It could be said to go too far with its sexual content, but the story is so honest that there seems to be little room to doubt its status as a gay classic.
63. As Good as It Gets (1997)
PG-13 | 139 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.
Director: James L. Brooks | Stars: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Votes: 318,383 | Gross: $148.48M
A wonderfully bizarre combination of a bigotted main character and his surroundings, this film could not have happened without Nicholson in the lead.
64. Kinsey (2004)
R | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.
Director: Bill Condon | Stars: Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Chris O'Donnell, Peter Sarsgaard
Votes: 50,954 | Gross: $10.21M
A fascinating Liam Neeson performance is the center of this no-limits exploration of American sexuality.
65. Billy Elliot (2000)
R | 110 min | Drama, Music
A talented young boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family.
Director: Stephen Daldry | Stars: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven
Votes: 142,789 | Gross: $22.00M
More focused with heterosexual masculinity dealing with feminine activities than about homosexuality, but this is still one of the most charming films Britain has produced in the last few decades.
66. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
R | 101 min | Comedy, Drama
A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.
Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris | Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Abigail Breslin
Votes: 518,019 | Gross: $59.89M
Steve Carrell proved he could actually act, but remain funny at the same time. This is the first film in a growing line of Best Picture nominees that are quirky family comedies with a gay theme.
67. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
PG-13 | 90 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Two newly acquainted music-lovers spend the night scouting the streets of New York City in search of their favourite band's surprise secret show. All the while, they're both being chased after by their tempting but devious exes.
Director: Peter Sollett | Stars: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron
Votes: 95,366 | Gross: $31.49M
Nick's gay friends are secondary to the title romance, but they improve an otherwise standard Michael Cera film to be a modern adventure through New York.
68. Touch of Pink (2004)
R | 91 min | Drama, Comedy, Romance
A gay Canadian living in London has his perfectly crafted life upset when his devoutly Muslim mother comes to visit.
Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid | Stars: Jimi Mistry, Kris Holden-Ried, Suleka Mathew, Kyle MacLachlan
Votes: 4,467 | Gross: $0.56M
Jim Mistry makes up for The Guru with this wonderful romantic comedy. The story of a gay man hiding his life from his visiting mother could have been the same thing it always is, but the addition of the Cary Grant-as-invisible-friend gimmick makes this a step above the rest.
69. Get Real (1998)
R | 108 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A tenderly romantic coming-of-age story as two boys in a British school fall in love.
Director: Simon Shore | Stars: Ben Silverstone, Brad Gorton, Charlotte Brittain, Stacy Hart
Votes: 14,678 | Gross: $1.20M
An otherwise-standard coming out story is elevated by the wit and timing of a good cast. Despite only being two years later, this feels like a more modern version of Beautiful Thing (which, being based on a play, was set further back than 1996).
70. The Full Monty (1997)
R | 91 min | Comedy, Drama
Six unemployed steel workers form a male striptease act. The women cheer them on to go for "the full monty" - total nudity.
Director: Peter Cattaneo | Stars: Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, Wim Snape
Votes: 114,110 | Gross: $45.95M
Like Billy Elliot, this is a film about masculinity. Gay themes are present for two of the supporting characters, but the overall attention to masculinity makes this a precursor to Little Miss Sunshine for the quirky comedy becoming an Oscar nominee.
71. Loose Cannons (2010)
Not Rated | 110 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Tommaso is the youngest son of the Cantones, a large, traditional southern Italian family operating a pasta-making business since the 1960s. On a trip home from Rome, where he studies ... See full summary »
Director: Ferzan Özpetek | Stars: Riccardo Scamarcio, Nicole Grimaudo, Alessandro Preziosi, Ennio Fantastichini
Votes: 13,385
Proving disfunction is not limited to families on American sitcoms. This film might be stolen by the grandmother, but it is about a young man who decides to come out to his family only to have his older brother come out first.
72. Easy A (2010)
PG-13 | 92 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
When Olive lies to her best friend about losing her virginity to one of the college boys, a girl overhears their conversation. Soon, her story spreads across the entire school like wildfire.
Director: Will Gluck | Stars: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd
Votes: 417,903 | Gross: $58.40M
Almost entirely about the high school life of a smart girl, this great film makes this list because of a brutally honest, blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment where the lead character's gay friend explains how high school is hell.
73. I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)
R | 98 min | Biography, Comedy, Crime
A cop turns con man once he comes out of the closet. Once imprisoned, he meets the second love of his life, whom he'll stop at nothing to be with.
Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa | Stars: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro
Votes: 99,772 | Gross: $2.04M
A truely bizzare true story. Usually conman films have predictable climaxes and conclusions, but this one took me by surprise. Added to that is Jim Carrey's best performance since Man on the Moon, which resulted in the title romance being ironically honest (for the audience at least).
74. Home for the Holidays (1995)
PG-13 | 103 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson faces spending the holiday with her family.
Director: Jodie Foster | Stars: Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning
Votes: 14,559 | Gross: $17.52M
Robert Downey Jr. plays a terrific role as the comfortably out homosexual finally being forced to cut through his parent's delusions. He is a supporting part, but his story is just as involving as the others in Jodie Foster's terrific ensemble.
75. Love Songs (2007)
Unrated | 91 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
Ismael and Julie enter a playful yet emotionally laced threesome with Alice. When tragedy strikes, these young Parisians are forced to deal with the fragility of life and love.
Director: Christophe Honoré | Stars: Ludivine Sagnier, Louis Garrel, Clotilde Hesme, Chiara Mastroianni
Votes: 10,147 | Gross: $0.10M
A musical romance that doesn't really start moving until the middle when the romantic triangle is disrupted. Most of the songs are bland contemporary ballads (although the French language makes them sound better). The good sections with the gay romance only take up 20 minutes of screentime, the rest of the film can be skipped over.
76. Latter Days (2003)
R | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A promiscuous gay party animal falls for a young Mormon missionary, leading to crisis, cliché, and catastrophe.
Director: C. Jay Cox | Stars: Wes Ramsey, Steve Sandvoss, Mary Kay Place, Amber Benson
Votes: 18,577 | Gross: $0.82M
Charming performances make up for the melodramatic script and cheap production values. Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes a very small appearance, but out-acts everyone else. The lead pair have a slightly unbelievable journey to love, but with this sort of story you shouldn't be looking for too much reality.
77. Another Country (1984)
PG | 90 min | Biography, Drama, History
Based on the life of the young Guy Burgess, who would become better known as one of the Cambridge Spies.
Director: Marek Kanievska | Stars: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Michael Jenn, Robert Addie
Votes: 6,957
A shockingly young Colin Firth supports the lead performance of a shockingly young Rupert Everett as he falls in love with a shockingly young Cary Elwes. There was a lot more to the British educational system than Victorian literature would have you believe.
78. American Beauty (1999)
R | 122 min | Drama
A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.
Director: Sam Mendes | Stars: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley
Votes: 1,210,852 | Gross: $130.10M
The finale of the film is as effective a wake-up call as any other film dealing with the same theme more openly. The fact that it sneaks in at the very end without feeling out of place is a testament to Sam Mendes's impressive direction.
79. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
R | 125 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Three amateur bank robbers plan to hold up a bank. A nice simple robbery: Walk in, take the money, and run. Unfortunately, the supposedly uncomplicated heist suddenly becomes a bizarre nightmare as everything that could go wrong does.
Director: Sidney Lumet | Stars: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar
Votes: 273,033 | Gross: $50.00M
Surprisingly progressive, the latter-half of this film becomes a solid portrait of how homosexuals were perceived in the 1970s. Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino are at the top of their games.
80. Henry Gamble's Birthday Party (2015)
Unrated | 87 min | Drama
Preacher's kid Henry Gamble is turning 17 today. Bring your swimsuit.
Director: Stephen Cone | Stars: Cole Doman, Joe Keery, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Pat Healy
Votes: 3,376
Proof that actors can elevate an otherwise-bland film. This has a few "edgy" moments that make little sense and don't add to the central story of a boy coming to terms with himself in a religious atmosphere, but they don't distract enough to limit the quality.
81. Being John Malkovich (1999)
R | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.
Director: Spike Jonze | Stars: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich
Votes: 353,318 | Gross: $22.86M
A surprising twist in this film is the eventual romance between the two female leads. As a plot point it may get lost in the mind-bending reality-altering rest of the film, but the romance is still there to give a happy ending (to some).
82. Juste une question d'amour (2000 TV Movie)
88 min | Drama, Romance
After his gay cousin dies from hepatitis, young Laurent, who lives with his best friend Carole, falls in love with Cedric, a plant scientist. He's afraid to inform his conservative parents that he is gay.
Director: Christian Faure | Stars: Cyrille Thouvenin, Stéphan Guérin-Tillié, Éva Darlan, Caroline Veyt
Votes: 6,081
Including a view into the harsher/conservative response of a family to a character's coming out, this is a less fluffy romance. But the romance is still there and the quiet style of the leads makes this a more realistic narrative.
83. Mala Noche (1986)
Not Rated | 78 min | Drama
A story of amour fou. Walt is madly in love/lust with a young illegal Mexican immigrant. However, the object of his unrequited affection doesn't even speak any English and finds Walt really... See full summary »
Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: Tim Streeter, Doug Cooeyate, Ray Monge, Nyla McCarthy
Votes: 4,329
Gus van Sant's early work is technically crude, but the drive behind it leaves the same powerful mark that can be seen with better performances in films like Milk and My Own Private Idaho.
84. The Big Gay Musical (2009)
Unrated | 87 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Two gay men in an Off-Broadway musical realize life is easier once you accept who you are.
Directors: Casper Andreas, Fred M. Caruso | Stars: Lena Hall, Daniel Robinson, Joey Dudding, Jeff Metzler
Votes: 1,802 | Gross: $0.02M
I expected something truly awful, but the absolute absurdity that the filmmaker's embraced for the musical portions serves them well. The subplot outside of the musical with one of the performer's parents is absurdly unrealistic, but it gets buried under the hilarious satire.
85. The Curiosity of Chance (2006)
98 min | Comedy
A confident, out-of-the-closet gay teenager has the support of an eclectic range of friends while dealing with a homophobic bully during his first year at an international high school.
Director: Russell P. Marleau | Stars: Tad Hilgenbrink, Brett Chukerman, Aldevina Da Silva, Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze
Votes: 3,161
The setting may be a bizarre United Nations high school that simultaneously displays every ethnic, social, and gender possibility the filmmakers could think of, but the message is endearing and entertaining. The fact that the lead actor previously played Stifler's brother in an American Pie DVD sequel makes this entertaining on multiple levels.
86. Chasing Amy (1997)
R | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything's going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.
Director: Kevin Smith | Stars: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee, Scott Mosier
Votes: 143,787 | Gross: $12.02M
Kevin Smith's self-proclaimed science fiction film ("Ask any lesbian and they'll tell you it will never happen"), Chasing Amy is also Smith's most mature film. Building to a great Silent Bob monologue, the film doesn't disappoint or go in any obvious directions.
87. The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2005)
R | 88 min | Comedy, Romance
A young gay man tries to balance his career as a personal assistant while searching for love.
Director: George Bamber | Stars: Daniel Letterle, Diego Serrano, Meredith Baxter, Shanola Hampton
Votes: 2,095 | Gross: $0.15M
I was not surprised to learn this was based on a comic strip. The screwball antics and over-the-top characters are sometimes too much, and when the film attempts to add some drama it stumbles awkwardly. For a quirky comedy it works well.
88. The Man Who Loved Yngve (2008)
90 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A teenage boy loses his footing when he finds himself drawn to the new boy in class.
Director: Stian Kristiansen | Stars: Rolf Kristian Larsen, Arthur Berning, Ida Elise Broch, Ole Christoffer Ertvaag
Votes: 5,028
A quiet and slow-to-build character piece. Likely intended for a European audience who understands the way 1989 Europe was, but it is still a touching coming-of-age story. The romance is kept to looks and tender moments, which makes the love story much more suspenseful and less titillating.
89. Dare (2009)
R | 92 min | Drama, Romance
A drama centered around three high school seniors - an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend, and a loner - who become engaged in an intimate and complicated relationship.
Director: Adam Salky | Stars: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Cady Huffman
Votes: 4,481
This is essentially a more Hollywood, less mesmerising version of the "Les Amours Imaginaires" story, but the longing of unfullfilable love and the pressures of youth are present and effective.
90. Watercolors (2008)
TV-MA | 114 min | Drama, Romance
A story about two classmates - one smart and openly gay and the other school swimming star. They grow as friends and discover their attraction to each other.
Director: David Oliveras | Stars: Tye Olson, Kyle Clare, Ellie Araiza, Casey Kramer
Votes: 1,637 | Gross: $0.01M
Sometimes heavy-handed (and the ending is clumsy), but an overall engaging story of two very different people coming together.
91. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, gets a divorce that leaves her with terminal writer's block and depression. Later, she decides to buy a house in Tuscany in order to change her life.
Director: Audrey Wells | Stars: Diane Lane, Raoul Bova, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
Votes: 59,540 | Gross: $43.61M
Sandra Oh provides this film with a supporting character who happens to be a lesbian. The film never makes a big deal out of it and it is a properly mature romantic comedy because of it. If only Hollywood would make more of these and less of the Back-Up Plan.
92. Were the World Mine (2008)
Not Rated | 95 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
A bullied and demoralized gay student at an all-boys school uses a magical flower derived from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream' to turn many in his community gay, including a comely rugby player for himself.
Director: Tom Gustafson | Stars: Tanner Cohen, Wendy Robie, Judy McLane, Zelda Williams
Votes: 5,893 | Gross: $0.12M
Decent as far as musicals are concerned, this film really stands because of the calm and engaging performance of the lead. The actual plot of the film looses its grip on reality as Shakespeare's magic cuts through plot holes and creates an ending that feels too good to be real.
93. Private Romeo (2011)
Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Romance
A modern take on Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. Set at an isolated all-boys military academy, it follows the forbidden relationship between two cadets.
Director: Alan Brown | Stars: Hale Appleman, Charlie Barnett, Adam Barrie, Chris Bresky
Votes: 2,406
The blurring of reality and Shakespearean fiction is not as well handled as in Were The World Mine, but using the best bits of the play provides for a structure that the talented actors make the best of. Being expelled from military school doesn't have the same effect as death, but the leads' beauty and enthusiasm make this an engrossing romance.
94. Tan Lines (II) (2005)
Unrated | 96 min | Drama, Romance
From the sun-drenched beaches of Australia comes this sexy coming-of-age romance. Cute teen Midget Hollow (Jack Baxter) wanders through life riding big waves and partying with surfer boys. ... See full summary »
Director: Ed Aldridge | Stars: Jack Baxter, Lorena Arancibia, Jed Clarke, Curtis Dickson
Votes: 1,139
Sometimes creatively played, but mostly a simple and under-explored character film. The lead actor is honest enough to be a good protagonist.
95. Glue (2006)
Unrated | 110 min | Drama, Romance
Aimless and uncertain, a group of teenagers go through an intense coming-of-age experience in their small desert town.
Director: Alexis Dos Santos | Stars: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Nahuel Viale, Inés Efron, Verónica Llinás
Votes: 1,589
Interesting because I haven't seen much of South American filmmaking, but generally lacking in the power of a good coming-of-age story. The main character is charmingly immature and goes through the process of having experiences and dealing with consequences, but necessary reflection is missing from the weak third act.
96. Newcastle (2008)
Unrated | 107 min | Drama, Romance, Sport
Tragedy befalls one of three brothers while on an outback surfing outing with friends.
Director: Dan Castle | Stars: Lachlan Buchanan, Xavier Samuel, Reshad Strik, Kirk Jenkins
Votes: 1,737
Beneath this mediocre teen surfing movie is a decent gay film. The quiet younger brother of the main character spends most of the film getting closer to one of his brother's friends, but anyone hoping for a proper romantic conclusion will be disappointed. In act three the surfing story takes over completely and the film stumbles because of it.
97. In & Out (1997)
PG-13 | 90 min | Comedy, Romance
A midwestern teacher questions his sexuality after a former student makes a comment about him at the Academy Awards.
Director: Frank Oz | Stars: Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon
Votes: 44,157 | Gross: $63.86M
Kevin Kline is always entertaining, but in the mid 90s he was hilarious. Following his Oscar for A Fish Called Wanda he put out a series of great romantic comedies including this gay-themed one. Although his character hits a few too many gay character cliches for this to not seem dated, it's still a fun movie.
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
R | 139 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
In late 1950s New York, a young underachiever named Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.
Director: Anthony Minghella | Stars: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett
Votes: 242,624 | Gross: $81.30M
Strong performances make this good thriller even better. Content-wise it plays it safe to remain a mainstream Hollywood film, but the clear undercurrent of homosexual themes keeps it above average.
99. Geography Club (2013)
PG-13 | 84 min | Comedy, Drama
At Goodkind High School, a group of students with varying sexual orientations form an after-school club as a discreet way to share their feelings and experiences.
Director: Gary Entin | Stars: Cameron Deane Stewart, Justin Deeley, Meaghan Martin, Wesley Eure
Votes: 6,257
Light and entertaining. If this were made in the 90s it would have been more thought-provoking. As it is, this is a very familiar story. And although it is well acted, these 30-year-old actors don't even remotely pass for high school students.
100. Christopher and His Kind (2011 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 90 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
How real-life British-American author Christopher Isherwood and his German boyfriend Heinz met and fell in love during the 1930s and the rise of Nazism.
Director: Geoffrey Sax | Stars: Matt Smith, Imogen Poots, Lindsay Duncan, Perry Millward
Votes: 4,634
A good cast stars in a standard TV movie adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's memoir of his time in Berlin. The topic of Berlin's homosexual community is better explored in films like Cabaret or Bent, and Isherwood's writing is better served by A Single Man. Still an enjoyable, simple film.
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