It’s certainly gotten better over the last decade or so, but in the past, the representation of queer people on screen was a bit hard to come by. Previously, queer movies were generally of the indie or underground variety, with movies likeBut I’m A Cheerleader,Jennifer’s Body, andDesert Heartsbecoming cult classics years after release. In recent years,LGBTQ+ storieshave become more welcome in the mainstream, with some major successes beingLove, Simon,Call Me By Your Name, andMoonlight.to celebrate the queer community and make LGBTQ+ entertainment more accessible, we thought it might be helpful to provide a little guide to the best LGBTQ+ movie offerings onNetflix. There’s simple romance, comedies, horror, and lots of documentaries. So if you are looking for a good queer movie to watch, we’ve got you covered.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the bestshowsandmovies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated May 2024 to include Good Grief and Rustin.
‘Good Grief’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Good Grief
Written, directed, and starringDan Levy,Good Grieftells the tale of Levy’s Marc, whose world is shattered when the love of his life is tragically killed. However, Marc soon realizes that the man he thought perfect had, in fact, been hiding a Parisian affair from him, leading to a trip to Paris for both Marc and his friends to grow and grieve. This indulgent tale manages to capture the true essence of humanity, with the yearning for love and hope for bliss often crudely undercut but both tragedy and deception. A tender addition to Netflix’s often high-budget back catalog,Good Griefis an unexpectedly immersive movie. -Jake Hodges
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‘Rustin’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Set in 1963,Rustinfollows the titular political activist, who is inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King in the face of racist and homophobic societal hatred. Against the better wishes of some and despite the bigotry, Bayard Rustin is charged with orchestrating a Civil Rights freedom march, ready to place him firmly in the annals of the Civil Rights Movement forever. This powerful tale of hope despite pain is as immersive as it is educational, with the movie based on the true story of Bayard Rustin. However, it is by farColman Domingo’s enthralling lead performance that transports this movie from good to great, with the actor even earning himself an Academy Award nomination for the role. -Jake Hodges
‘Ride or Die’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% | IMDb: 5.6/10
Ride or Die
A Japanese psychological thriller,Ride or Dieis another Netflix Original starringKiko MizuharaandHonami Sato. The story follows Mizuhara’s character Rei, a woman in her late 20s who commits a violent crime to help a former classmate who she’s been in love with for years. The other woman, Nanae (Sato), is the victim of horrific domestic violence, and so to save her, Rei kills Nanae’s husband. After the murder, Nanae feels conflicting emotions towards Rei, but she leans into Rei’s love for her as they go on the run together. While Rei’s decision to kill the husband is made as an effort to give Nanae and her freedom, the two travel down a path together that gets darker and more tumultuous as reality finally sets in. The movie is written byNami Sakkawaand directed byRyuichi Hiroki, based on the manga seriesGunjōwritten and illustrated byChing Nakamura. If you are looking for a tightly-packed thriller with a passionate and emotional central relationship, this is an excellent movie to watch.
‘Fanfic’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 5.7/10
Fanficis a moving Polish film directed byMarta Karwowska, who co-wrote the film withGrzegorz Jaroszukbased on the novel byNatalia Osinska. Exploring themes of gender, sexuality, and growing into one’s identity at large,Fanficis geared towards teen audiences, as it follows a couple of lonely high schoolers whose unexpected connection bonds them.FanficstarAlin Szewczykcaptivates with her undeniable charisma, especially as her character, Tosiek, faces an intense emotional journey. Praised for crafting an original narrative on the challenges of self-discovery,Fanficcarefully walks the line between tackling important issues without being overly preachy. –Yael Tygiel
‘Bruised’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% | IMDb: 6.2/10
StarringHalle Berryin her directorial debut,Bruisedis an intense drama about an elite mixed martial artist on a rocky road to redemption. InBruised, Berry plays Jackie Justice, a disgraced fighter attempting to make ends meet when she finds herself with custody of her estranged son, whom she gave up as a baby. Exploring themes of rage, regret, and second chances,Bruisedis a powerful movie with an outstanding cast, includingSheila Atim(The Woman King),Adan Canto(The Cleaning Lady), andShamier Anderson(Wynonna Earp). Shown through captivating cinematography,Bruisedis a triumphant story of reclaiming agency.– Yael Tygiel
‘Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story
As entertaining as it is inspiring,Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Storyoffers a peek into a fascinating sport and an even more fascinating individual. An extremely talented skateboarder,Leo Bakerwas bound for the Olympics – the first time the sport would ever be included in the games. The documentary sensitively and authentically explores Baker’s journey to how coming out as a trans man and the unique circumstances of COVID caused him to make one of the toughest decisions of his life. Yes, the documentary showcases the struggles and obstacles Baker faces, but there’s a refreshing amount of joy, too. Baker’s impact on skateboarding – and many LGBTQ+ kids around the world – cannot be denied, andNicola MarshandGiovanni Redamasterfully show why throughout their film. –Taylor Gates
‘I Care A Lot’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.4/10
I Care A Lot
One of the most timely movies to appear in 2020,I Care A LotstarsRosamund Pike(The Wheel of Time) as a manipulative legal guardian taking advantage of and swindling elderly patients out of their homes and savings. Cleverly written by J Blakeson, who also directed the feature,I Care A Lotis as entertaining and creative as it is terrifying to watch. Costarring with Pike isPeter Dinklage(Game of Thrones) andDianne Wiest(The Bird Cage). On top of the already fascinating legal criminal aspect of Blakeson’s movie, as well as his darkly funny dialogue, the writer/director has managed to craft an unexpected love story as well.– Yael Tygiel
‘Alex Strangelove’ (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Alex Strangelove
Alex Strangeloveis a modern rom-com about a teenage boy’s journey to understanding his sexuality. Alex Truelove, played byDaniel Doheny, is a regular, awkward teenager who has been best friends with Claire (Madeline Weinstein) for years. After comforting her at a party leads to a kiss, the two begin to date. All seems to be going well, or as well as a high school relationship can go, until Alex meets Elliot (Antonio Marziale), an openly gay teenage boy, at a party and sparks fly. Through hilarious scenarios and friendship struggles, Alex starts to question whether he might be bisexual or gay, all while juggling his relationship with Claire and a blossoming connection with Elliot. Another underappreciated movie on this list,Alex Strangeloveis definitely a hidden gem of a rom-com on Netflix, commonly overshadowed by more well-known movies likeTo All the Boys I’ve Loved BeforeandThe Kissing Booth.
‘Circus of Books’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Circus of Books
The first documentary on the list (though definitely not the last),Circus of Booksis about a gay pornography shop and bookstore of the same name in Los Angeles. Through the movie’s exploration of this shop, audiences see a story unfold about a caring Jewish couple who kept the secret of what their business really was from their family for decades while continuing to serve as a safe haven for the gay community at a time when the world was very much against them. Directed by the couple’s daughter,Rachel Mason, the film does a fantastic job exploring porn, religion, AIDS, politics, and more as it covers the Masons’ takeover of the store in 1976, along with everything that decision led to. It’s extremely fascinating and touching, and it’s also a true homage to the queer culture of Los Angeles and its history over the past 50 or so years.
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‘Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.2/10
Disclosure
Another documentary,Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screenis about exactly what the title says. The movie focuses on the history of transgender representation on screen in Hollywood over the years, and how that has in turn affected the queer community and American society. Many prominent figures in both the entertainment industry and the world of activism and academia appear in the movie to speak on their personal experiences, includingLaverne Cox,MJ Rodriguez,Angelica Ross,Yance Ford,Lilly Wachowski,Chaz Bono, and many more. The film showcases how historically Hollywood has inaccurately portrayed transgender individuals in a harmful way, with specific films referenced includingAce Ventura,Tootsie, and more.Disclosureis a very intelligent and interesting movie, and a good pick if you are looking for a documentary to watch.
