Best gay male movies

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Over the course of a few days in London, we watch as Marc (Levy) tries to deal with the death of his husband. Along the way, a rousing performance from Andrew Scott as an inspiring teacher with a secret of his own; a prescient casting choice in Nicholas Galitzine, whose name you just might see in this list a time or two later; and a rugby game set to a Rufus Wainwright song.

In Emma Seligman’s 2023 comedy, a pair of nerdy BFFs start a “self-defense club” to try to get closer to their crushes and potentially lose their virginity before they graduate high school. But despite the term’s icky origins, G.B.F. takes this idea and turns it on its head, resulting in a chaotic teen comedy classic. In his effort to get through the hardest period of grief, Marc realizes he will need to lean on two of his best friends.

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15

The Half of It (2020)

With a loosely inspired modern spin on Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac,The Half of It follows an introverted Chinese-American high schooler named Ellie, who is recruited by the local jock to write love letters to a fellow student, Aster.

Also written by Booster, the script was inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and it explores themes of class and romance, all through a queer lens.

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12

G.B.F. (2013)

Not to be confused with The BFG, G.B.F. It's shot beautifully, with great music and a close look at Havana in all its run-down and colorful glory.

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46

Desert Hearts (1985)

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The quintessential '80s lesbian romantic drama, Desert Hearts follows an English professor and a young sculptor as they fall in love at a Nevada ranch in the 1950s.

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Rocketman (2019)

So the film is more about the life of music icon Elton John than it is necessarily about LGBTQ themes, but it does feature the doomed romance with his manager, John Reed.

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Rent (2005)

If you're a musical theater geek, chances are you are probably very aware of this movie.

His other work has appeared in Teen Vogue, British GQ, and The Independent.

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If you're looking for powerful and moving cinema that beautifully captures queer experiences, we've got you covered with this list of the top gay movies of all time.


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42

Beach Rats (2017)

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Eliza Hittman's dark and moody film plays out a bit like a thriller, one in which a Brooklyn teenager named Frankie (a superb Harris Dickinson, in a nearly wordless performance) spends his idle hours hanging with his delinquent friends, fooling around with his girlfriend, and hooking up with men he meets online.

Thankfully, its 1987 film adaptation, directed by James Ivory, is equally charming and hopeful. The screenplay does not hold back on the homophobia of the movement and the moment, but out actor Colman Domingo brings Rustin's charisma, confidence, passion, and humor to vivid life.

best gay male movies

(Just maybe don’t snack on any peaches while watching.)

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8

Challengers (2024)

With sharp cinematography, an electric score, and Zendaya playing with two men like toys, what’s not to love about Challengers? It's both eye-opening and heartwarming—a film desperately needed right about now.

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Monica (2022)

Trace Lysette stars in this award-winning drama about a transgender woman who, despite deep reservations, returns to her hometown to care for her dying mother.

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Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Based on Andre Aciman's novel of the same name, Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in this Oscar-winning coming-of-age film.

It's not a perfect film, but it took a giant risk and gives us a rare snapshot of Los Angeles's gay life in the moment just before AIDS.

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36

The Wedding Banquet (1993)

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Long before his groundbreaking Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee directed this sweet, comic tale about a Taiwanese immigrant living in New York with his partner.

We see a young Hugh Grant starring alongside James Wilby and Rupert Graves in a story of love that transcends its repressed early-20th-century English setting.

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20

Moonlight (2016)

Across three different vignettes, we follow the life of Chiron, a young Black boy growing up in Miami who must navigate the dysfunctions of his home life, all while trying to come to terms with his sexuality.

It might be an overcorrection from the straight-washing of the previous year's Bohemian Rhapsody, but when it's this much fun, it's best not to overthink it. Grounded by his performance, the film is a moving and beautiful picture that successfully adapts André Aciman’s novel of the same name. Led by Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, this drama offers up plenty of mystery and plenty of passion.

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11

Fire Island (2022)

Fire Island is often referred to as sort of a modern gay utopia, and in this 2022 rom-com we follow a group of gay friends (led by Bowen Yang and Joel Kim Booster) who return to the debaucherous beach destination for what could possibly be their last venture together.

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All In My Family (2019)

In this documentary, a gay filmmaker shows his Chinese family's road to accepting him and his growing family in the United States. The genre has evolved over the years, moving from niche markets to mainstream acclaim, and these movies are a testament to that journey.

Among the must-watch titles are Brokeback Mountain, a groundbreaking film that portrays the intense and tragic love story between two cowboys; Free Fall, a German drama exploring the electrifying yet tumultuous relationship between two police officers; and God’s Own Country, which tells the tender and raw story of a young farmer who finds unexpected love with a migrant worker.

However, when Ellie starts developing feelings for Aster, things get complicated.

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16

The Handmaiden (2016)

If there’s one thing gays love, it’s horror, and this South Korean thriller directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) is packed with suspense. (Plus, RuPaul!)

33

Pariah (2011)

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Dee Rees's gorgeous directorial debut stars Adepero Oduye as Alike, a Brooklyn teenager who comes to terms with her own sexuality and puts the comforts of friends and family at risk as she discovers how to express her identity.

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32

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

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On a scorching August day, Al Pacino's Sonny attempts to rob a bank in Brooklyn, and … things do not go well.

stands for “gay best friend,” and it’s an acronym that’s been used to refer to a woman’s gay friend, often in a tokenizing way. A taut psychological thriller.

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Love, Simon (2018)

All of your favorite teen tropes are played out in this heartwarming romcom of a young boy trying to find his epic love through the discourse of emails.