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Being called “queer” was once an insult. Originally, the word was used to describe something that was peculiar or odd, and then in the 20th century it transformed into a derogatory term referring to someone from the LGBTQ+ community—usually homosexuals. But over time, like many pejoratives, the word has been reclaimed and co-opted by the LGBTQ community, becoming a way to bring power back to the people who were once hurt by the term. Now, queer most often refers to anyone who is not heterosexual or who is not cisgender, and it is a celebratory way to define yourself.
Speaking of celebrating our identities, we often turn to art as a way to affirm who we are. In cinema, the history of queer representation has been rich but also complicated. From 1934 to 1968, the Hays Code prevented most films in Hollywood from touching queer content, which led to the watering down of scripts for adaptations like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer. It wasn’t until the New Queer Cinema movement of the ’90s that we really started to see strong queer representation, and, thankfully, with the turn of the century, the push for more diverse storytelling has only accelerated.
Ahead, we rank 30 of the best queer films of all time, from newer comedies like Bottoms (2023) to classics like Brokeback Mountain (2005) and underrated gems like Happy Together (1997). If you’re looking for your next queer watch, let this list be your guide, but don’t stop the viewing parties there. For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of the best LGBTQ+ shows of all time and the best lesbian films of all time.
All of Us Strangers (2023)
From the director of Weekend and HBO’s Looking, All of Us Strangers is a heartbreaking examination of a middle-aged writer trying to grapple with the fact that he lost his parents before he could ever come out to them. However, his perspective starts to change, thanks to the arrival of a mysterious new neighbor and the sudden appearance of his parents’ ghosts.
Booksmart (2019)
Amy Antsler and Molly Davidson are Ivy League–bound besties who are about to live their dreams. But, despite having their whole lives ahead of them, they feel like they missed out on the high school experience—specifically, the parties. Their solution? To try to fit four years of wild fun into a single night and to make a move on their longtime crushes. What could go wrong?
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
I wish I knew how to quit this movie. Brokeback Mountain will forever remain a classic, thanks to its gorgeous script, idyllic setting, and winning performances from Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams. When two young cowboys are hired to herd sheep on a secluded mountain, it turns into a passionate, angry love affair that will forever change the rest of their lives. (And it’s a film that forever changed modern queer cinema.)
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Now considered a cult classic, But I’m a Cheerleader takes a dark side of queer history and gives it a satirical, campy twist. Here, we have teenage cheerleader Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne) who is sent to a conversion therapy camp to try to “cure” her lesbianism. However, during her time at the camp, Megan only finds new romances, new experiences, and a further embrace of her identity. Oh, and RuPaul.
Bottoms (2023)
The only rule about this fight club? Try not to fall in love with your sparring partner. 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 what they don’t see coming is the close-knit group of female friends they find along the way.
Bros (2022)
Despite all the drama that surrounded its release, Bros shouldn’t be overlooked in the history of queer cinema. Led by an openly LGBTQ+ main cast and becoming one of the first gay rom-coms to be produced by a major studio, the film follows podcast host and curator Bobby, who finds himself unexpectedly falling for a man he meets at a bar. Led by reliably comedic work from Billy Eichner, the movie pokes fun at modern gay dating while offering plenty of “if you know, you know” references for its intended queer audience.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Luca Guadagnino’s sumptuous 2017 masterpiece brought a then-21-year-old Timothée Chalamet into the international spotlight. For his portrayal of a gifted teen getting pulled in by a life-changing first love, Chalamet received his first Oscar nomination, and it was well deserved. Grounded by his performance, the film is a moving and beautiful picture that successfully adapts André Aciman’s novel of the same name. (Just maybe don’t snack on any peaches while watching.)
The Color Purple (1985)
Alice Walker’s masterful 1982 novel is transformed into a star-studded epic, thanks to the work of director Steven Spielberg and a cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey in her debut film role. Following the coming-of-age story of a Black teenager in early 20th-century Georgia, the movie explores themes of racism, sexism, and poverty while also showing the ways in which love and companionship can triumph in even the darkest of times.
Disobedience (2017)
Based on the 2006 novel of the same name, Disobedience follows a woman who gets pulled back into the orbit of the Orthodox Jewish community where she grew up—and, more specifically, the complicated romance that defined her youth—when she returns home for her father’s funeral. Led by Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, this drama offers up plenty of mystery and plenty of passion.
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. 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.
G.B.F. (2013)
Not to be confused with The BFG, G.B.F. 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. 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. Across 94 nonstop minutes, we see a group of high school girls battling over the attention of their gay classmate in an effort to improve their social currency. The result is like something straight out of a Ryan Murphy script.
God’s Own Country (2017)
Before he was charming us as the smarmy Patrick in Challengers or yanking at our emotions with his portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown, Josh O’Connor got his breakout role as a depressed, alcoholic sheep farmer named Johnny in God’s Own Country. In this romantic drama, Johnny has seemingly given up on life, until a migrant worker from Romania comes to give Johnny’s family an extra pair of hands and a new romance develops, which gives our protagonist a new perspective on life.
Good Grief (2023)
Years after wrapping his Emmy-winning turn as David Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy made his directorial debut with Good Grief, another project that explores the beauty and complexity of being queer. Over the course of a few days in London, we watch as Marc (Levy) tries to deal with the death of his husband. In his effort to get through the hardest period of grief, Marc realizes he will need to lean on two of his best friends.
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. However, when Ellie starts developing feelings for Aster, things get complicated.
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. Set in 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, the film acts as a reimagining of the 2002 novel Fingersmith. When a con man plans to marry an heiress in an attempt to steal her fortune, he recruits an accomplice to act as the royal’s maid. However, you know things are gonna turn messy when sex, power, and politics get involved.
Happy Together (1997)
As a vital addition to the New Queer Cinema movement of the ’90s, Happy Together follows Ho Po-Wing and Lai Yiu-Fai—a couple from Hong Kong whose relationship begins falling apart when they take a trip to Argentina. Instead of focusing on men coming out or trying to deal with their sexuality, the film broke new ground at the time for exploring two queer people already in love. Instead, the focus is on the universal realization that sometimes, things just don’t work out.
Holding the Man (2015)
Adapted from Timothy Conigrave’s memoir of the same name, Holding the Man explores the real-life horrors of the AIDS crisis and the damage it did to the queer community during the late 20th century. As Tim recounts his story of falling in love with his classmate John, the movie highlights the lasting endurance of love and the power of sharing our truth.
Maurice (1987)
E.M. Forster’s posthumously published Maurice was groundbreaking for being one of the first novels to depict a queer relationship with a happy ending. Thankfully, its 1987 film adaptation, directed by James Ivory, is equally charming and hopeful. 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.
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. As we watch Chiron grow up, we see the ways in which he tries to overcome outside forces, but also how the hardest fight can be accepting yourself.
