LGBT Movies: The 35 Best Movies for Gays and Lesbians

Love is for everyone! It doesn’t always have to be the boy kissing the girl or vice versa. Sometimes boys like boys, girls like girls, or men in women’s dresses like women in men’s pants. The following list highlights the 35 best movies for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals on this subject.

01. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) take temporary jobs as cattle drovers on Brokeback Mountain. They must herd several flocks of sheep alone for several weeks. During a thunderstorm, the two men become close in their tent, and a romance develops. Because this one doesn’t go unnoticed, the boss kicks them out, and they return to their respective lives.

Ennis earns extra money as a rodeo rider while Jack sells cars. Both meet women and start families. But Brokeback Mountain just won’t let go of these two men. Because they can’t admit their feelings publicly, they meet once a year at the place where their love begins to rekindle the old flame.

The film manages to create goosebumps that last until the very last minute. More beautiful and poignant than almost any other film. Handkerchiefs at the ready!

02. Love, Simon (2018)

Simon (Nick Robinson) is an average teenager. But he has a crucial problem. He has discovered he is gay and lacks the courage to tell his friends and family. So Simon turns to the only help he can think of: the Internet.

He writes in forums and seeks advice from his peers on breaking the news to those around him as gently as possible. One day he gets into a conversation with an anonymous user who is going through exactly the same thing. The more they write, the greater Simon’s desire to meet his chat partner in real life becomes. But how can he do that when he only knows his flame from the Internet?

An interesting trip through the depths of the Internet to find someone who might be the one.

03. Chasing Amy (1997)

Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee) are comic book artists dreaming of a big break. At a convention, the friends meet young Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams). Holden and Alyssa hit it off right away, and he thinks he’s falling in love. But Alyssa tells him that she only likes women. The two become friends. Banky doesn’t like it much because Holden is neglecting his work.

Things take a nasty turn for the worse when Alyssa and Holden get a little too drunk one night. The day after, everything is upside down. Holden wants Alyssa, who only likes girls. Banky does not want to lose Holden as a friend and suggests unusual methods. Alyssa doesn’t know if she wants Holden or if she likes women more. Can the three of them manage to get back together again?

Chasing Amy is funny and crazy and hits so many hooks with its story that, at some point, you don’t know who loves whom or not anymore. Watching is a must!

04. Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

The police discover three bodies in a farmhouse. One of the dead is Brandon Lee (played by Hilary Swank). The autopsy of the corpse reveals that Brandon was actually a young woman who had lived as a transman. Investigators reopen Brandon’s life and search for the dead man’s friends. Among other things, they meet Lana (Cloe Sevigny). The girl recounts how she met Brandon and how the two teenagers gradually fell in love.

Beautifully played with a strong Hilary Swank. If you don’t know this is coming out movie yet, you should definitely watch it. The story is sweeping, romantic, and tragic—a perfect blend.

05. Philadelphia (1993)

Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) is a young lawyer and could have had a bright future. During unprotected sex with another man, Andrew becomes infected with H.I.V. When the first signs of the disease become visible, his superiors put Andrew out the door. Because he considers the dismissal unjustified, Andrew wants to take legal action against his former superiors and hires lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to do so.

He is skeptical at first but wants to take the case anyway. Together Andrew and Joe fight in court for justice and a higher standing for homosexuals in Philadelphia. In the process, Joe gradually learns about Andrew’s world and gets glimpses into the lives of gays and lesbians.

An incomparable film with very strong actors.

06. Moonlight (2016)

Chiron (Ashton Sanders) is a small lanky boy from a poor neighborhood in Miami. His mother is a drug addict, and the older children bully the African-American boy. Only Kevin (Jharrel Jerome) stands by him and shows Chiron how to fight back in life. After a move, Chiron and Kevin lose sight of each other.

By chance, the two boys meet again seven years later. Chiron is still lean but small, and he is no longer. On the other hand, Kevin is one of the “tough guys. During an evening get-together, the two young men become physically closer, and their friendship quickly develops into something more than either of them could have expected.

Moonlight gets under your skin. The actors can play themselves directly into the audience’s hearts, and you simply fever every moment of the film.

07. The Danish Girl (2015)

Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne) lives a quiet life in Denmark with his wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander). Because Gerda is not exactly crowned with success as an artist, she asks her husband for an unusual favor. He is supposed to be her model. However, Gerda wants to paint a woman’s portrait, so she changes Einar’s style. At first, Einar does not agree with the transformation.

But the longer his wife works on the painting, the more curious Einar becomes about exploring a woman’s life. But the question arises for him what would be more important to him? As a woman, he wants to give love a chance and look for new partners. Or does he remain a man and return to his marriage with Gerda? Beautifully and hauntingly played.

Beautifully acted and with a lovely Danish flair, The Danish Girl is like a romance during your next Scandinavian vacation.

08. Keanu Reeves & River Phoenix (My Own Private Idaho) 1991

Romantic road trip – Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves) are two young men who make their living as hustlers. They offer their services preferably to well-endowed gentlemen. When a client takes them to Portland, the two young men come up with the idea of making their way to Idaho. He wants to have one last adventure and then give up his life as a hustler. But the journey holds more than wide roads and new acquaintances. Mike and Scott quickly realize that they can imagine a future together.

A romance with plenty of serious issues. Certainly not easy to watch, but it is worth enjoying this movie.

09. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) lives with his family in an ancient villa during their vacation in Italy. His interests are classical music, foreign languages, and his studies. One day Oliver (Armie Hammer) comes into his life.

The 24-year-old doctoral student works for Elio’s father and is charming and worldly. Elio quickly succumbs to the charms of the American, and Oliver also feels more than just a friendship. Both are faced with the question of whether they should give in to their lust or if it might be a mistake after all.

The great actors carry the film, and you don’t want to miss a second to see how Elio and Oliver’s relationship evolves.

10. 3 Generations (2017)

Three generations of a family live under the same roof. The grandmother Dolly (played by Susan Sarandon), lives on the first floor together with her life partner. One floor up, their daughter Maggie (Naomi Watts) lives with Dolly’s granddaughter Ramona (Elle Fanning).

Ramona, however, wants to live as a boy and go to therapy. For this, she needs the consent of both parents. For Maggie, this is a problem because she has to revisit her ex again. Dolly feels blindsided by the news. But Ramona doesn’t care. She wants to become a boy and is looking for a partner to support her.

11. A Single Man (2009)

From the life of a man – George Falconer (Colin Firth) faces the abyss after the death of his partner. The literature professor has no strength left and wants to end his life. His last day revolves around planning his suicide. But that’s when George becomes aware of Kenny’s student (Nicholas Hoult). The young man has a different outlook on life. George realizes that life has more to offer him after all. He develops feelings for his student and questions whether he should stick to his suicide plan or if it’s worth living.

The exciting dynamic of the two leads makes A Single Man a beautiful film. The question of what life offers is clarified almost playfully without seeming too moralistic.

12. Transamerica Espress

Transsexual woman Bree (Felicity Huffman) is about to undergo her last gender reassignment surgery. But then she gets a call from Toby (Kevin Zegers), who has stumbled upon Bree’s number while searching for his father. The transsexual realizes that Toby is actually her son and decides to get to know the boy, which goes differently than expected.

The film tells very emotionally how the characters approach each other and slowly get to know each other during a trip through the country. The film lives from its beautiful images and a strong plot. It is perfect for a nice movie night and allows the audience to enjoy different impressions.

13. Summer Storm (2004)

Romantic youth story – Tobi (Robert Stadtlober) and Achim (Costa Ullmann) have been friends since childhood. But for Tobi, there is more. During a club outing, Tobi wants to take heart and confess his feelings to Achim. There are enough opportunities—intimate moments like masturbating together or smoking a joint as a couple would have been perfect.

But Tobi always backs out. The problem is that Achim has a girlfriend, and Tobi also attracts girls’ attention. Will the shy boy still manage to win over his crush?

Sommersturm is a great coming-out movie from Germany, which is recommendable due to its very impressive young actors.

14. Romeos

Lukas (Rick Okon) has his coming out behind him. Born as a girl, the transsexual man takes hormones and wants to do his civilian service as a boy in Cologne. His best friend Ine (Liv Lisa Fries) supports Lukas in this. At a party, Lukas meets the charming Fabio (Maximillian Befort). The two teenagers get involved in a flirtation that quickly becomes something more. But Luke is afraid. Can he show Fabio his true self? Playful, romantic, and thought-provoking.

15. The Birdcage (1996)

Romantic comedy – Armand Goldman (played by Robin Williams) owns a lucrative nightclub. While he takes care of business, his partner Albert (Nathan Lane) performs on stage as a travesty artist. The couple leads a quiet life until Armand’s son Val (Dan Futterman) comes to visit with a request. Val wants to marry the daughter of conservative politician Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackmann).

The parents are supposed to meet so Keeley can convince himself that his daughter is marrying into a good family. However, he does not think much of homosexuals and transvestites. Val asks his dads to play the role of a normal straight man for a weekend. The chaos is preprogrammed.

The Birdcage is a wonderfully weird film. With lots of bright colors and flashy performances, the movie is perfect for dispelling boredom or a bad mood.

16. Blue Is The Warmest Color (2014)

Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is a bright young schoolgirl who is just discovering her sexuality. She experiments with boys and with girls but finds no satisfaction. This changes when Adèle meets Emma (Léa Seydoux) in a pedestrian zone. She is immediately fascinated by the blue-haired girl but does not find the opportunity to talk to her. Only at a lesbian party do Adèle and Emma run into each other again. Sparks fly between the two, and before Adèle knows it, Emma whisks her away to a world she never dreamed of.

This romantic film takes the viewer into a gentle daydream from which one hardly wants to wake up again. Beautifully staged.

17. Aimée and Jaguar (1999)

Love under difficult circumstances – Lily (Juliane Köhler) is a young German mother who has to look after the house and children while her husband fights on the front lines of World War II. When she takes an evening off to attend a concert, she meets Felice (Maria Schrader), a Jewish woman. Because the two women belong to different social classes, the evening ends without special events.

A few days later, Lily and Felice meet again by chance. Both feel that there is a strong attraction, and although it is not allowed for a German to consort with a Jew, the two women embark on a romance. But they always have to fear that the Gestapo will find out about their forbidden love.

On the one hand, the film is wonderfully romantic; on the other hand, it is exciting and dramatic. Perfect, if it should be a little more than shallow sprinkling.

The beautifully staged film shows that everything is never quite straightforward, even in an unusual family. To enjoy and to think about.

18. Dog Days (2018)

At first glance, Dog Days is a film about a bank robbery in which everything doesn’t go entirely smoothly. The bank is surrounded too quickly by the police, the hostages are too nervous, and the safe is almost empty. Still, Sonny (Al Pacino) won’t give up easily because he has an important motivation. With the looted money, he wants to pay for gender reassignment surgery for the love of his life Leon (Chris Sarandon).

Exciting, funny, and heartbreaking narration.

19. The Kids Are All Right (2010)

In the romantic comedy, the daughter of a lesbian couple searches for her biological father. Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) live a perfect family life with their children Laser (Josh Hutcherson) and Joni (Mia Wasikowska). When Laser searches for his biological father, the tranquil life of the two mothers is turned upside down because the charming Paul (Mark Ruffalo) inspires not only his son but also his mothers.

The movie is a funny “screwball comedy” with a great cast. Perfect for a cozy movie night.

20. MARIO (2018)

Mario (Max Hubacher) is young, athletic, and freshly in love. His heart beats for the new guy, Leon (Aaron Altaras). Both play in the same soccer club. In the square, they are bitter enemies. They fight for promotion to the first team and give nothing to each other. But apart from that, there is a lot of sizzling between the young footballers. This doesn’t go unnoticed by their teammates, and soon rumors start making the rounds.

Finally, the coach approaches Leon and Mario. He tells them uncertainly that their love has no place in soccer and presents them with a request. Either they give up their relationship, or the dream of playing bursts professionally. Mario and Leon have to make a decision. Is their love for sports more important than their love for each other?

MARIO shows how hard it is for homosexual footballers even today without becoming too dramatic. An interesting film that makes you think.

21. All About My Mother (1999)

22. Weekend (2011)

23. The Hours (2002)

24. Pride (2014)

25. I Am All Girls

26. God’s Own Country (2017)

27. BPM (2017)

28. A Fantastic Woman (2017)

29. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

30. Show Me Love (1998)

31. Princess Cyd (2017)

32. Viva (2016)

33. G.B.F. (2014)

34. Keep the Lights On (2012)

35. Beach Rats (2017)

The love between gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals can have many facets. Some make viewers laugh, and others make them think. The featured films show what love can do and let a hint of romance float through the air.