58 LGBTQ+ Movies to Watch on Netflix, Hulu, Max and More

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LGBTQ+ cinema has always been a powerful force, challenging societal norms and providing a platform for the marginalized voices of the queer community. From the early pioneers who dared to tell their stories against all odds to the contemporary filmmakers pushing boundaries and demanding visibility, LGBTQ+ movies have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of cinema and promoting inclusivity.

Throughout history, there have been iconic LGBTQ+ films that have not only entertained but also educated and enlightened audiences. Classics such as "Brokeback Mountain" and "Moonlight" have catapulted LGBTQ+ storytelling into the mainstream, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

The importance of LGBTQ+ cinema extends beyond mere entertainment. It serves as a lifeline for those struggling with their identities, providing a mirror in which they can see themselves reflected and validated. LGBTQ+ movies offer hope, representation, and a sense of belonging to those who have felt invisible or marginalized.

In recent years, LGBTQ+ cinema has experienced a remarkable renaissance, with an influx of diverse and authentic stories being told on the big screen. Films like "Call Me By Your Name" and "Carol" explore the complexities of same-sex love, while movies like "Pride" and "Paris is Burning" celebrate the power of community and the fight for equality.

Get ready to embark on a cinematic journey that will captivate, educate, and inspire, as we celebrate the extraordinary power and significance of LGBTQ+ cinema.

• Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Prime Video and Apple TV+

  Set in the 1960s, two cowboys form a deep emotional bond that transcends societal expectations but faces challenges due to their conservative surroundings.

• Moonlight (2016) - Max

  This Academy Award-winning film chronicles the life of Chiron, a young Black man exploring his sexuality while navigating love, identity, and the challenges of growing up.

• Carol (2015) - Netflix and Prime Video

  Set in the 1950s, a young photographer and an older woman embark on a passionate affair, defying societal norms and facing personal consequences.

• The Danish Girl (2015) - Apple TV+ and Prime Video

  Inspired by the true story of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender confirmation surgery, this film explores her journey of self-discovery.

• Pride (2014) - Hulu

  Based on a true story, this heartwarming film follows a group of LGBTQ+ activists who form an unlikely alliance with striking miners in 1980s England.

• The Half of It (2020) - Netflix

  In this coming-of-age film, a shy teenager agrees to help a jock win over the girl they both secretly desire, leading to unexpected connections and self-discovery.

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) - Prime Video and Apple TV+

  Charlie, a socially awkward teenager, navigates friendship, love, and his own identity while finding solace in a group of accepting misfits.

• Holding the Man (2015) - AMC+

  Based on a memoir, this Australian film depicts the enduring love story of two men who meet in high school and face personal and societal challenges over the years.

• Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013) - AMC+

  This French film follows the passionate love affair between a young woman named Adèle and an aspiring artist named Emma.

• The Birdcage (1996) - Paramount+

  In this comedy, a gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner must pretend to be straight when their son brings his conservative in-laws home for dinner.

• Alex Strangelove (2018) - Netflix

  High school senior Alex Truelove plans to lose his virginity to his girlfriend but finds himself questioning his sexuality when he meets a charming gay guy named Elliot.

• Rafiki (2018) - Apple TV+

  Banned in Kenya, this vibrant film tells the story of a love affair between two young women from rival political families, challenging societal norms.

• The Boys in the Band (2020) - Netflix

  Set in 1968, a group of gay friends gathers for a birthday party that takes unexpected turns, revealing personal conflicts and hidden desires.

• God's Own Country (2017) - Prime Video

  In the Yorkshire countryside, a young farmer develops a relationship with a Romanian migrant worker, discovering love and acceptance amidst their isolated lives.

• Alex and Leo (2010) - Tubi

  This German romantic drama follows the story of Alex, a successful lawyer, and Leo, a law student, as they navigate their relationship and confront societal expectations.

• The Way He Looks (2014) - Prime Video

  This Brazilian coming-of-age film focuses on Leonardo, a blind teenager, as he experiences first love and explores his independence and desires.

• Tomboy (2011) - Max

  A young girl named Laure assumes a male identity, Mikael, when she moves to a new neighborhood, leading to friendships, confusion, and self-exploration.

• 4th Man Out (2015) - Peacock

  After revealing his sexuality to his friends, Adam navigates the challenges of coming out while maintaining his friendships in this heartfelt comedy.

• A Secret Love (2020) - Netflix

  This documentary follows the love story of Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, who kept their relationship a secret for nearly seven decades.

• Laerte-se (2017) - Netflix

  In this Brazilian documentary, renowned cartoonist Laerte Coutinho explores her gender identity and personal journey of self-discovery.

• I Am Jonas (2018) - Netflix

  This French drama explores the life of Jonas over two different time periods, uncovering secrets, regrets, and a past romance that shaped his present.

• Boy Erased (2018) - Max

  Based on a memoir, this film tells the story of a young man forced to undergo conversion therapy and his struggle for self-acceptance and freedom.

• The Prom (2020) - Netflix

  In this musical comedy, a group of Broadway stars arrives in a small town to support a high school student banned from attending her prom due to her sexual orientation.

• Rent (2005) - Peacock

  Adapted from the hit Broadway musical, this film follows a group of struggling artists in New York City, tackling issues of love, loss, and the LGBTQ+ community.

• A Single Man (2009) - Prime Video

  Set in 1962, this film follows a gay British professor who, after the death of his partner, contemplates life and finds unexpected connections on a single day.

• Princess Cyd (2017) - Prime Video

  A 16-year-old girl named Cyd spends a summer with her aunt in Chicago, where she explores her sexuality and forms a bond with a local barista.

• The Feels (2017) - Hulu

  During their bachelorette weekend, Andi's revelation about her sexual history prompts a group of friends to question their own relationships and desires.

• Love, Simon (2018) - Hulu

  Simon, a closeted gay teenager, navigates coming out while falling in love with an anonymous classmate he's been communicating with online.

• Tierra de María (2013) - Netflix

  In this Spanish drama, a young nun named María explores her desires and sexuality while grappling with her commitment to the church.

• Blue Jay (2016) - Netflix

  Former high school sweethearts reconnect by chance and spend a day together, reminiscing about their past and reflecting on the choices that shaped their lives.

• The Normal Heart (2014) - Max

  This powerful drama depicts the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York City and the efforts of activists to raise awareness and fight for justice.

• 52 Tuesdays (2013) - Prime Video

  Filmed over the course of a year, this Australian drama follows the journey of a teenage girl and her mother as they navigate their changing lives and identities.

• Other People (2016) - Netflix

  After moving back home to care for his dying mother, a gay comedy writer confronts family dynamics, past relationships, and his own personal struggles.

• Circumstance (2011) - Prime Video

  Set in contemporary Iran, this film tells the story of two teenage girls who explore their desires and sexuality in a repressive society.

• The Watermelon Woman (1996) - Hulu, Paramount+

  A young Black lesbian filmmaker investigates the life of a Black actress from the 1930s, known only as the Watermelon Woman, and finds unexpected connections.

• First Girl I Loved (2016) - Apple TV+

  When a high school girl named Anne develops feelings for Sasha, a popular girl on the softball team, their friendship is tested, leading to emotional discoveries.

• A Fantastic Woman (2017) - Hulu

  After her older boyfriend dies, Marina, a transgender woman, faces prejudice and discrimination as she navigates grief and fights for her right to mourn.

• Saving Face (2004) - Prime Video

  In this romantic comedy, a Chinese-American surgeon falls in love with a dancer, but cultural expectations and family pressures complicate their relationship.

• Out in the Dark (2012) - Prime Video

  A Palestinian student and an Israeli lawyer fall in love but face tremendous challenges due to political and cultural tensions in their respective societies.

• Out of Iraq (2016) - Wow Presents

  This documentary tells the true story of two Iraqi soldiers who fall in love amidst the chaos of war and their subsequent struggle to be together.

• Paris is Burning (1990) - Max

  This iconic documentary explores the vibrant and diverse world of New York City's drag ball culture and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

• Naz & Maalik (2015) - Prime Video

  Set in Brooklyn, this film follows the journey of two closeted Muslim teenagers as they navigate love, identity, and the pressures of their community.

• Gun Hill Road (2011) - Tubi

  A transgender woman returns home from prison and struggles to reconnect with her family, particularly her conservative father.

• Outrage (2009) - Max

  This documentary delves into the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who actively oppose LGBTQ+ rights while hiding their own sexual orientations.

• Appropriate Behavior (2014) - Tubi

  Shirin, a bisexual Iranian-American woman, navigates life and love in Brooklyn while dealing with her own cultural and personal identity clashes.

• Desert Hearts (1985) - Max

  Set in the 1950s, a professor falls in love with a free-spirited lesbian artist in Reno, Nevada, challenging societal norms and pursuing their desires.

  A Fantastic Woman (2017) - Marina, a transgender woman, faces discrimination and prejudice after the death of her older boyfriend, fighting for her dignity and right to mourn.

• Boys Don't Cry (1999) - Apple TV+

  Based on a true story, this heartbreaking film follows Brandon Teena, a trans man, as he navigates love, identity, and the devastating consequences of intolerance.

• Milk (2008) - Max

  Sean Penn portrays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, as he becomes a prominent figure in the gay rights movement and fights for equality.

• Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) - Prime Video

  Hedwig, a genderqueer rock singer, recounts their life story, from a botched gender reassignment surgery to the pursuit of love, acceptance, and their own identity.

• The Kids Are All Right (2010) - Prime Video

  A lesbian couple's relationship is tested when their children seek out their sperm donor, leading to unexpected complications and a reevaluation of family dynamics.

• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - Prime Video

  A trio of drag performers embarks on a road trip across the Australian Outback, facing prejudice and discovering acceptance along the way.

• Weekend (2011) - Prime Video

  Over the course of a weekend, two men form a deep connection, navigating intimacy, vulnerability, and the complexities of modern relationships.

• But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) - Pluto TV, Prime Video

  Megan, a high school cheerleader, is sent to a conversion therapy camp when her parents suspect she is a lesbian, leading to unexpected self-acceptance.

• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) - Hulu

  Set in 18th-century France, a female artist is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of a reluctant bride, sparking a forbidden romance.

• Beach Rats (2017) - Hulu

  In this gritty coming-of-age drama, a closeted teenager in Brooklyn explores his sexuality through secretive encounters with older men.

• BPM (Beats Per Minute) (2017) - Pluto TV, Vudu

  Set in the 1990s during the AIDS crisis, this French film follows a group of activists fighting for awareness and justice while navigating personal relationships.

• The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) - Peacock

  After being caught with another girl in the backseat of a car, Cameron is sent to a gay conversion therapy center, where she finds connection and resistance.

• Bound (1996) - Paramount+, MGM+ and Prime Video

  Two women, one an ex-con and the other the girlfriend of a mobster, plot to steal money from the mob and forge a romantic connection along the way.