The best Queer films to stream right now
Mardi Gras is just around the corner. Why not get into the spirit of the festivities with some of the best films Queer cinema has to offer?
By Cayle Reid
QUEER FILMS HOLD a special place in cinematic history. They’ve pushed conventional boundaries, celebrated diversity and have provided on-screen representation in an industry (and world) previously devoid of it. In early films, Queer narratives were often relegated to the peripheries, reserved for niche, arthouse indie productions or portrayed through coded symbolism rather than direct representation. Yet, with each passing decade, filmmakers have slowly carried the movement one step further, to the point where Queer films are now as widely watched and talked about as mainstream cinema.
From the clandestine subtexts of classical Hollywood to the raw, unapologetic narratives of the new queer cinema movement, the evolution of LGBTQIA+ films mirrors the seismic shifts in societal attitudes towards gender, sexuality and human rights. Today, the importance of Queer films resonates more deeply than ever. They serve as lifelines for those grappling with their own identities, as well as windows into worlds that may be unfamiliar to many. They challenge us to confront our biases, celebrate our differences, and embrace the kaleidoscope of human existence and sexuality.
Whether you’re looking for a heart-wrenching drama that illuminates the struggles of coming out, an uproarious comedy that revels in the absurdity of life, or a tender romance that defies convention, there’s something for everyone Queer cinema. We’ve rounded up eleven of the best Queer films available to stream right now so you can get in the spirit just in time for Mardi Gras.
What are the best Queer movies to stream?
Bottoms
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
Bottoms only hit theatres in 2023, but it’s already making a push for cult classic status – and it has the devoted following required to do so. In its simplest form, Bottoms is a reimagining of David Fincher’s Fight Club, but it’s so much more than that. Where Fight Club is contemplative and brooding as it delves into the masculine psyche, Bottoms is a quick hitting comedy packed with laugh out loud moments. Starring Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott, Bottoms follows two unpopular teenage girls who start a fight club in a convoluted attempt to meet girls. We think that premise speaks for itself.
Moonlight
Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
Moonlight was done a massive disservice when La La Land was accidentally announced as the Best Picture winner at the 2017 Oscars. Moonlight is, truly, one of the most impressive films we’ve seen, so it was unfortunate when it was overshadowed by the wildly controversial moment which will long be remembered in the annals of Oscars history.
If you were to label Moonlight as a film about an impoverished, black gay man and assume that because you don’t fit into any of those categories the film isn’t for you would be a mistake of the highest degree. Moonlight is an exploration of identity, a social commentary on the world we live in and a case study on masculinity and sexual repression. Quite simply, the film is director Barry Jenkins’ magnum opus. Centred around main the character of Chiron through three distinct acts, Moonlight is a coming-of-age film at its core, positing that no one is cast on a predetermined path, but that the decisions we make define our identity and who we are.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
A romance for the ages, Céline Sciamma’s 2019 film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire raised the standard of the genre. The film focuses on Marianne, an artist commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a wealthy young woman in an arranged marriage. During the course of their limited time together, Marianne and Héloïse’s relationship grows from one of thinly veiled enmity to requited interest to an all-out love affair with heartbreaking results.
Call Me by Your Name
Available to stream on Netflix
Call Me by Your Name was a smashing box office success when it premiered in 2017, playing no small part in launching the then-fledgling career of one Timothée Chalamet. An adaptation of André Aciman’s novel of the same name, Luca Guadagnino’s film follows 17-year-old Elio as he starts a relationship with his father’s older assistant, Oliver. Set against the picturesque backdrop of 1980s Northern Italy, Call Me by Your Name is easy on the eye as it is thought provoking.
The Birdcage
Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Stan
The Birdcage is undeniably a classic LGBTQIA+ film. This uproarious 1996 comedy was released right around the time when it became acceptable—as opposed to career killing—for a straight actor like Robin Williams to play a gay character (and while we’ve progressed since then to cast gay people as gay characters, this was in fact groundbreaking at the time). Set in Miami’s vibrant South Beach, The Birdcage follows the chaos that ensues when a conservative politician meets the parents of his daughter’s fiancée, unaware that they run a flamboyant drag club.
Brokeback Mountain
Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
Brokeback Mountain actually seems fairly tame by today’s standards, but given that it was released in 2005, it’s surprising the film was as well received as it was – even earning an astounding eight Oscar nominations. While it had its share of detractors, Brokeback Mountain played an important role in bringing Queer cinema to the mainstream. Couple that accomplishment with unforgettable performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and the late, great Heath Ledger and you’ve got one of the most impactful films of all time. Side note: this might be our favourite Western too.
I Saw The TV Glow
Available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
Set in 1996, non-binary director Jane Schoenbrun’s sophomore film I Saw The TV Glow follows the bizarre happenings surrounding a pair social outcasts, who bond over their shared love of a late-night TV show. The pair’s grip on reality starts to crack as they become increasingly obsessed with the show, in an allegory for the trans experience.
Midnight Cowboy
Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV
If we’re talking pioneering Queer films, it’s impossible to look past Midnight Cowboy, which not only shaped the future of LGBT cinema, but mainstream cinema too, as one of the most influential films of the Hollywood renaissance. Midnight Cowboy is a portrait of a male prostitute on the ruthless streets of New York City. Joe Buck, played by Jon Voight, envisions a future as a classy male escort living a life of luxury while servicing the ladies of the upper class. Instead, he’s confronted by how much more attention—and solace—he finds in the gay community. A true trailblazer, Midnight Cowboy was the first—and remains the only—X-rated film to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture.
All of Us Strangers
Available to stream on Disney+
Loosely based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel Strangers, All of Us Strangers follows a depressed writer played by Andrew Scott. For all his life, Scott’s character has been battling with the grief of losing both his parents in a fatal accident. His life starts looking up after falling for his younger neighbour, played by Paul Mescal, but all is not as it seems.
Love Lies Bleeding
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
A sapphic love affair set in the late 1980s, Love Lies Bleeding centres on Kristen Stewart’s reclusive gym manager, who falls head over heels for a bodybuilder played by Katy O’Brian. This tale of budding romance, sweaty muscles and dark family secrets ultimately devolves into a fight between sex and violence.
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