Best LGBT movies 2024

For those looking for LGBT films, we have listed the best films of their last years. Selected LGBTQ films feature some of the best youth films. For this list are teen movies with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or otherwise queer protagonists. This list features the best LGBTQ movies ever made that you can watch in the past 2023.

Talking about the best LGBT-themed films is not about stereotyping them, but is about highlighting and giving visibility to a range of stories, characters, and themes that rarely reach mainstream cinema. Be it blockbuster hits or unknown indie gems, these movies have proven to be more than usual on the big screen. The films we review in this list range from dramas to comedies, from adult problems to teenage self-discovery, from big capitals to the most remote corners of the mountains.

The LGBT community has always lacked cinematographic references, but in recent years studios have taken action and are increasingly publishing stories whose protagonists have non-normative sexual orientations and gender identities. If a gay or lesbian character was previously only subordinate or suffered the worst because he did not fall within the boundaries of what society accepts as normal, they are now starting to take on the main roles and their fiction no longer revolves around their sexual preferences alone. If you’re looking for the best LGBT films of recent years, this collection of 30 films can help you. Sorting is arranged according to the release dates of the films.

Sublime (2022)

When 16-year-old Manu realizes he’s in love with bandmate Felipe, turbulent feelings begin to build up below the surface. How do you avoid losing a friendship after everything has changed?

Three Months (2022)

Led by musical sensation Troye Sivan, the Paramount+ original film follows Caleb on the verge of graduating from high school, when he learns that he has recently been exposed to HIV. He then anxiously awaits his test results for three months, where he has a once-in-a-lifetime connection with Estha (Vivek Kalra). Written and directed by Jared Frieder, Three Months is instrumental in dealing with the events surrounding sexual health, but more than anything else, it is the core feelings of hope the movie evokes in you.

Anything’s Possible (2022)

Billy Porter’s directorial debut, Anything Is Possible, is a teen romantic comedy from Amazon Studios that traces the budding love between trans teen Kelsa (Eva Reign) and Khal (Abubakr Ali). More than a love story, of course, Porter’s film is strictly a Gen-Z examination of the growing pains of puberty. In this way, Anything Is Possible is a real movie for the moment, shedding light on characters and points of view that have been overlooked in the history of romantic comedies. A stout start from Porter and a poignant story based on the obvious chemistry between Reign and Ali.

Punch (2022)

Jim prepares for his first professional fight, but begins to rethink the course of his life and his sexuality after dealing with Whetu, a gay Maori boy who spends his days in an old shack on the beach.

Artistotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2022)

Fans of the Benjamin Alire Sáenz novel know how a singular story Artistotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is. They will also be delighted to hear that director Aitch Alberto’s film is a worthwhile adaptation. It describes the unique bond formed between the boys named Aristotle and Dante at the local pool one summer day. Ari is reserved and sensitive, while Dante is exuberant and lively. Maybe that’s why they’re instantly drawn towards each other.

The Inspection (2022)

Elegance In The Inspection, an autobiographical film about Bratton’s young adulthood, chronicles the years the young soldier joins the Marine Corps to escape homelessness and rekindle his shattered relationship with his homophobic mother. A Jarhead-style film featuring the homoeroticism that has always favored military fields, The Inspection offers a dazzling coming-of-age story about trauma, resilience, family strife and personal growth. Jeremy Pope brings life and light to this devastating story.

Close (2022)

Close is a film that focuses on the near-universal experience of feeling everything without understanding anything in adolescence. Léo decides to get away from Rémi. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Close is that Dhont captures the pure and innocent friendship of children and the correspondingly devastatingly fragile forensic perspective.

I Carry You with Me (2020)

Based on a true story, this drama follows two Mexican lovers, Iván (Armando Espitia) and Gerardo (Christian Vázquez), whose decades-old romance is put to the test when one of them moves to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a chef.

Summer of 85 (2020)

One of the first young adult novels to portray homosexuality without judgment, it’s no surprise that Aidan Chambers’ adaptation of Dance on my Grave makes a wonderful addition to the already exciting work. It’s a story about first love between two young men, but it’s also a story about learning to go beyond the relationships we formed in our youth.

Booksmart (2019)

In this sultry comedy, Amy and Molly hope to make up for their time focused on school with a wild party night before graduation. In most of the other movies on this list, Booksmart treats Amy’s sexuality just like it’s real. She spends the movie following a girl she loves. It is one of the most distinctive high school comedies released in the 2010s, featuring a line that is brimming with sad characters and can be ranked one after the other. But it’s central to the movie, and its chemistry is what makes it a modern teen classic.

Memories of a Teenager (2019)

This Argentine teen film sticks to that naturalistic form of adolescent exploration, sexual awakening, and first-life disappointments. After the suicide of his best friend and the fire of a local dance called Cromañón, including recitals, illegal parties in an abandoned warehouse and high school, a year passes by in the life of Zabo who writes everything he feels and lives in his blog, “Memories of a teenager”.

Alex Strangelove (2018)

Alex (Daniel Doheny), a young man about to finish high school, is a fun teenager with a girlfriend and a more or less perfect life until someone comes into his life. Elliot (Antonio Marziale) is a rebellious boy who forces him to rethink everything he accepted as it was before, including of course his own sexuality.

Love, Simon (2018)

When Simon debuted in 2018, Love was the first movie to focus on gay teen romance from a major Hollywood studio and was quite the hit. Simon is a secretly gay high school student who finds solace in a pen pal named Blue. The two get closer to each other and Simon begins to have feelings for her even though he has no idea who he’s talking to. She manages to take advantage of the worries of dealing with so much charm, humor and sinfulness. As groundbreaking as it is heartwarming, Love Simon is one of the most important LGBTQ + movies of the 2010s.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Based on André Aciman’s novel of the same name, Call Me by Your Name follows seventeen-year-old Elio over a single summer in Italy. A passionate summer romance begins with artistic graduate student Oliver. Although it undoubtedly tells a simple story, the emotions are raw and real, and Timothée Chalamet’s phenomenal performance is a masterpiece in its own right. Director Luca Guadagnino captures the insane closeness of first love in every shot more than the last. It breathes as it follows Elio on his journey and stays with you long after your first sight.

Beats Per Minute (2017)

There are many films that focus on AIDS, but few have managed to convey their message directly and uncensored. Written and directed by Robin Campillo, this film achieves this thanks to its wonderful performances and the way it explains society’s misunderstandings in the face of such illness.

God’s Own Country (2017)

This British indie didn’t garner attention during its premiere in 2017, which is a shame as it’s one of the best movies of the year. It tells the story of Johnny, a depressed alcoholic rancher. A poignant romance wrapped in a gritty setting, this juxtaposition sets the stage for the raw passion of the leaders’ relationship as it develops throughout the film.

Moonlight (2016)

Barry Jenkins’ dazzling portrait of a young man growing up black and gay was the only option for our top spot. It depicts Chiron’s life in relation to who he is. Filled with themes of race, sexuality, and identity as a teenager and adult, Moonlight reaches a depth that many movies have attempted but few have achieved. Vision is a movie about the life it portrays, and it’s definitely a movie we’ll talk about for a long time.

Handsome Devil (2016)

A gay movie classic: an exploration of sexuality between two very different teenagers. Ned and Conor, a shy boy and rugby star, are forced to share a dormitory at their boarding school.

Closet Monster (2014)

This Canadian film, which won an award at the Toronto Film Festival, explores something that has been seen a thousand times: the desire to leave your hometown and break away from your past to live your life. But the interesting thing about it is that it does it with a gay hero. The many references to Dolan’s films make it an unexpected gem.

The Way He Looks (2014)

Leonardo is a blind youth seeking independence. With Gabriel’s arrival, his daily life, his relationship with his best friend Giovana, and his outlook on the world completely change. Directed by this Brazilian filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro, the film attempts to return once again to the typical story of gay youth.

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

Over the past three hours, Blue Is the Warmest Color is definitely a heavyweight fingerprint, but it’s a movie that puts emphasis on its central characters and comes alive. The film focuses on teenage love between young Adele and artistic blue-haired Emma. Director Abdellatif Kechiche puts the audience at the center of the whirlwind romance with stunning visuals to highlight the emotional depths the film plunges into. While never feeling overly emotional, she manages to be a gorgeous candid look at two young girls in love. Radiant perfusions and excellent cinematography create a completely unique vision.

52 Tuesdays (2013)

Sixteen-year-old Billie’s path to independence is accelerated when she reveals her plans to change gender to her mother, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged tale of desire, responsibility and transformation was filmed over the course of a year.

My Straight Son (2012)

A Venezuelan film that asserts the right to enjoy the sexuality one wants through the story of Diego, a photographer who decides to formalize his relationship with Fabrizio by deciding to live with him. Unexpectedly, she will have to take care of her son Armando, who lives in Spain and has not seen her for years. Everything changes when a group of homophobic radicals carry out a brutal attack that leaves Fabrizio in a coma.

North Sea Texas (2011)

Pim lives with her mother, Yvette Bulteel, in a run-down house in a cul-de-sac on the coast of Flanders. Life here stinks of cold chips, cheap cigarettes, vermouth, and stale beer. As a child, Pim dreams of a better life, dreams of princesses and beauty queens. But when Pim turns sixteen, she starts dreaming of the neighbor’s handsome boy Gino instead.

Absent (2011)

Sebastiano teaches physical education in high school and is a swimming coach. He has a job, a girlfriend, and a pretty normal life. But her world is turned upside down when the young Martin starts infiltrating Sebastiano’s life. Eerie from the first frame, this Hitchcockian thriller portrays sexual obsession with terrifying realism.

Weekend (2011)

One Friday night, after a house party with his straight friends, Russell visits a gay club where he meets Glen at the last minute. The two start a weekend affair, but what seems like a one-night stand turns into an intensity of more lasting emotional shock.

Milk (2008)

The story of the first openly gay American politician to hold public office, who was sadly murdered a year after he was elected. This well-respected biopic about the staunch defender of gay rights reaches a new level thanks to the solid performance of Sean Penn, who won his second Oscar for best leading actor.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

This feature-length film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger helped earn Ang Lee his first Oscar for best director. The bitterness of the tale of the two cowboys in Brokeback Mountain contrasts with the beauty that surrounds the story throughout, making for a film that is bright and moving in equal measure.

Mysterious Skin (2004)

Mysterious Skin tells the parallel story of UFO enthusiast Brian and young gay boy Neil, who share a painful event from the past. Brian deals with the trend in many different ways as he tries to find the truth in his alien abduction theories and Neil tries to find fulfillment in New York. Although it is a particularly sad film, great attention has been paid to its themes and content, making for a beautiful and ultimately uplifting story. A hard-to-watch but truly thought-provoking hidden gem with an amazing early career performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Billy Elliot (2000)

Set against the backdrop of the 1984 Miners’ Strike, 11-year-old Billy Elliot stumbles out of the boxing ring onto the ballet arena. He faces many trials and victories as he tries to conquer his family’s established paths, internal conflicts, and standing on his own two feet.