Gay-Themed Movies
A slowly-expanding list of the films worth seeing that deal with LGBT themes.
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- DirectorTom FordStarsColin FirthJulianne MooreMatthew GoodeAn English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.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.
- DirectorBarry JenkinsStarsMahershala AliNaomie HarrisTrevante RhodesA young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.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.
- DirectorGreg BerlantiStarsNick RobinsonJennifer GarnerJosh DuhamelSimon 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.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsSean PennJosh BrolinEmile HirschThe story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.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.
- DirectorAndrew HaighStarsTom CullenChris NewJonathan RaceAfter 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.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.
- DirectorJames IvoryStarsJames WilbyRupert GravesHugh GrantTwo 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.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.
- DirectorMatthew WarchusStarsBill NighyImelda StauntonDominic WestU.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.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.
- StarsJosh ThomasThomas WardJohnTwenty 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.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.
- DirectorMarco KreuzpaintnerStarsRobert StadloberKostja UllmannMiriam MorgensternA close friendship between two crew teammates is tested when one slowly discovers he's gay and attracted to the other.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.
- DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsMichel CôtéMarc-André GrondinDanielle ProulxA 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.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
- DirectorKyle Patrick AlvarezStarsJonathan GroffDenis O'HareCorey StollA 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.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.
- DirectorStephen DaldryStarsMeryl StreepNicole KidmanJulianne MooreThe 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.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.
- CreatorJ. Michael StraczynskiLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsBae DoonaJamie ClaytonTina DesaiA 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.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.
- DirectorBavo DefurneStarsBen Van den HeuvelEva van der GuchtThomas CoumansA teenage boy's search for love finds him fixated on a boy who lives nearby.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.
- DirectorStephan LacantStarsHanno KofflerMax RiemeltAttila BorlanA soon-to-be-father policeman falls for a gay fellow officer and his life starts falling apart.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.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsJake GyllenhaalHeath LedgerMichelle WilliamsEnnis 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.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.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchSteve CooganSophie Kennedy ClarkA 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.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.
- CreatorTom Rob SmithStarsBen WhishawEdward HolcroftJim BroadbentA 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.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.
- DirectorHettie MacdonaldStarsGlen BerryLinda HenryScott NealJamie 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.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.
- DirectorMischa KampStarsGijs BlomKo ZandvlietJonas SmuldersA sexually awakening gay teen athlete finds himself in a budding relationship with his mutually attracted relay race teammate.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.
- DirectorJonah MarkowitzStarsTrevor WrightBrad RoweTina HolmesWhen his college dreams are sidelined by family obligations, a young man finds comfort in surfing with his best friend's brother.A supremely satisfying romance, Shelter is Brokeback Mountain with a happy ending.
- CreatorMichael LannanStarsJonathan GroffFrankie J. AlvarezMurray BartlettThree 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.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.
- DirectorStefan HauptStarsMatthias HungerbühlerPeter JecklinMarie LeuenbergerA 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.
- DirectorHector BabencoStarsWilliam HurtRaul JuliaSonia BragaA 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.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.
- DirectorLisa CholodenkoStarsAnnette BeningJulianne MooreMark RuffaloTwo children conceived by artificial insemination bring their biological father into their non-traditional family life.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.