Top gay romance movies

Critics Consensus: Beautifully filmed and performed, Mäedchen in Uniform avoids easy melodrama with its sensitive handling of oft-sensationalized subject matter.

With critically acclaimed titles like Call Me by Your Name and The Half of It, it’s a go-to platform for heartfelt and memorable LGBTQ+ stories. The two [More]

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy

Directed By: Todd Haynes

Critics Consensus: Lust and violence collide to powerfully pulpy effect in Love Lies Bleeding, a well-acted addition to writer-director Rose Glass' growing body of exceptional work.

Synopsis: When inexperienced criminal Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) leads a bank robbery in Brooklyn, things quickly go wrong, and a hostage [More]

Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon

Directed By: Sidney Lumet

Critics Consensus: Bridging times past with issues that are still current, Blue Jean resonates intellectually and emotionally thanks to thoughtful direction and authentic performances.

These films remind us that love is universal, transcending gender, culture, and boundaries. [More]

Starring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano

Directed By: Alice Wu

Critics Consensus: Sensitively written and beautifully acted, Girl Picture captures the whirlwind of teenage emotions without sacrificing narrative maturity and depth.

Synopsis: In the wildly entertaining and refreshingly unfiltered documentary KOKOMO CITY, filmmaker D. Smith passes the mic to four Black transgender [More]

Starring: Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, Dominique Silver

Directed By: D. Smith

Critics Consensus: A beautifully acted depiction of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Good One confronts difficult emotions and yields a striking feature debut for writer-director India Donaldson.

It’s one of the best gay romcom films that has stood the test of time.

Fire Island

A fresh take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this movie reimagines the classic tale with a group of friends vacationing on Fire Island.

Synopsis: Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn's "Fire Island" is an unapologetic, modern-day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of [More]

Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Critics Consensus: Affectionate without sacrificing honesty, Behind the Candelabra couples award-worthy performances from Michael Douglas and Matt Damon with some typically sharp direction from Steven Soderbergh.

Funny, relatable, and heartwarming, it’s one of the best LGBTQ romantic movies in recent years.

But I’m a Cheerleader

A quirky and colorful film about a teen sent to conversion therapy, this movie turns stereotypes on their head with humor and charm.

Synopsis: Celebrated filmmaker Ira Sachs (Love is Strange) makes a breathtaking return with PASSAGES, a fresh, honest and brutally funny take [More]

Starring: Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Erwan Kepoa Falé

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Critics Consensus: Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.

The emotional depth and stunning visuals make it one of the best gay love story films.

Maurice

Based on E.M.

Forster’s novel, this gay drama romance movie portrays a poignant tale of forbidden love in Edwardian England. Packed with wit, humor, and touching moments, Bros is a standout among the best gay rom coms of recent years.

The Feels

A charming indie film, The Feels is about a lesbian bachelorette weekend that takes a surprising turn when one of the brides-to-be reveals she’s never had an orgasm.

While primarily a lesbian romance, its emotional depth makes it a standout among LGBTQ+ romantic movies.

Blue is the Warmest Color

This French film is a deeply moving tale of first love between two women.

But day by day, her wedding also approaches.

Synopsis: In the late 1980s, members of Act-Up and other AIDS activists battle indifference and hostility to bring attention to the [More]

Starring: David Barr, Jim Eigo, Ann Northrop, Larry Kramer

Directed By: David France

Critics Consensus:Disclosure engrossingly illuminates the history and effects of the way transgender lives are depicted onscreen -- and outlines how much progress still needs to be made.

Synopsis: Since her sister's disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the [More]

Starring: Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham

Directed By: Erica Tremblay

Critics Consensus: Framed by great work from director Sidney Lumet and fueled by a gripping performance from Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon offers a finely detailed snapshot of people in crisis with tension-soaked drama shaded in black humor.

Synopsis: In the 1980s New York, a writer and his friends join forces to expose the truth about the emerging AIDS [More]

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons

Directed By: Ryan Murphy

Critics Consensus: Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office.

It's sexy, steamy and funny, for those who need a break from super-serious romance flicks.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Lush Mediterranean landscapes, a love affair between a precocious Italian boy and an older American and a gorgeous performance by a young Timothée Chalamet.

These films cater to every mood, from lighthearted and fun to deeply moving and thought-provoking.

Where to Watch These Top Gay Romance Movies

If you’re wondering where to stream these amazing films, there are plenty of platforms that offer a variety of options. Honestly, what more could you want? There are broad American comedies (The Birdcage), artful Korean crime dramas (The Handmaiden), groundbreaking indies (Tangerine), and landmark documentaries (Paris Is Burning).

Every movie here is Certified Fresh. And we recognize that some of the films in the list will re-ignite healthy debates that have been fixtures of discussion around LGBTQ+ films — straight actors playing gay characters, cis actors playing trans characters, and the historical dominance of white male perspectives.