Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or looking for an inspiring movie, look no further. We selected some of the best ones available on Netflix. The online streaming service has an ever-expanding catalog of LGBTQ+ films with dozens of films and TV shows, which you can enjoy using our selection of the best streaming devices.
We hand-picked the top LGBTQ movies on Netflix, from comedies and dramas to documentaries and more.
Would you like to browse the entire catalog of LGBTQ+ feature films available on Netflix right now? Go to Netflix's Celebrate Pride Month web page. Some are Netflix Originals, while others are award-winning classics.
Circus of Books (2019)
Circus of Books is a documentary about a bookstore in West Hollywood, close to Los Angeles, run by a conservative Jewish couple for decades. In reality, the bookstore business was a facade for a more lucrative business, as it was actually a hub for gay pornography and sex toys at a time when homosexuality was heavily stigmatized in the United States.
A Secret Love (2020)
A Secret Love follows the lives of two women, a baseball star and her partner, who are now in their 90s. They have been in a loving relationship for over 60 years but have pretended to be best friends for decades to hide their love story from their family and friends due to their homophobia. At their advanced age, they decide to come out and reveal their love to their relatives and friends while confronting their fears and regrets.
The film is divided into several stories exploring their love and its perception by family members who only recently discovered their relationship. The documentary also looks at what it means to grow old together, particularly after decades of secrecy, while also shedding some light on the struggles that LGBTQ+ individuals faced during a time when other people did not accept their love.
The Boys in the Band (2020)
The Boys in the Band is a dramatic movie set in 1960s New York City. It tells the story of a group of gay friends who gathered to celebrate a birthday party. As the night and the party advance, alcohol keeps flowing and the atmosphere changes. People start revealing secrets from their past, and resentments start surfacing. This leads to confrontations and conflicts, forcing the characters to confront their demons and struggles.
The movie's cast is particularly notable, featuring popular screen actors, such as Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, and Tuc Watkins.
Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)
Your Name Engraved Herein takes place in 1987 Taiwan. Martial law is finally abolished, but the country is far from a picture of modernization and social inclusion. Jia-han, a reserved student, and Birdy, an outgoing athlete, meet at their all-boys Catholic school, where the staff imposes strict rules on the students. The two boys fall in love, but homosexuality is still seen as taboo, which could bring dire consequences for the boys and their families. To avoid living in constant fear, Birdy begins dating a girl, triggering Jia-han's jealousy and creating a complicated love triangle.
Duck Butter (2018)
Duck Butter is a rom-com by Miguel Arteta. It tells the story of Naima, an up-and-coming actor who becomes captivated by an eccentric performer named Sergio. After some light flirting when they meet for the first time, the two return to Sergio's house, and the conversation leads to relationships. Both have had their share of frustrating relationships, and Sergio suggests they try something radically different: compressing their relationship into 24 hours. There will be no sleep, and the couple will have sex every hour on the hour. While Naima is hesitant, she ultimately agrees.
However, as the day progresses, their plan begins to unravel, and they find themselves confronting their insecurities and emotional baggage. The film explores themes of intimacy, authenticity, and the complexities of modern relationships while approaching the female body and lesbian sex honestly and outside the male lens.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain is a romantic drama set in the rural American West of the 1960s and 70s. It features two young cowboys, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, portrayed by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Despite their initial reluctance, the two gay men form a strong bond while working together as sheepherders, which gradually turns into an unexpected and passionate love story that defies societal expectations and threatens to tear them apart.
Super Deluxe (2019)
Super Deluxe is an extravagant Tamil rom-com set in Chennai, India. It follows the story of several interconnected characters through subplots: One is about a father trying to reconnect with his estranged wife and transgender son; another tells the story of a group of young boys who accidentally kill a man and try to cover it up; and finally a woman's struggle to come to terms with her husband's cheating. Despite its undeniable comedy essence, Super Deluxe paints a fascinating picture of sexuality in India.
I am Jonas (2019)
I Am Jonas is a French coming-of-age drama depicting the story of a young man who struggles with life challenges while being haunted by his troubled past. He keeps reminiscing his teenage love story with his classmate Nathan. Through a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes, the film delves into themes of love, loss, and self-discovery as Jonas struggles to come to terms with his identity and find peace with his past.
Eternal Summer (2006)
Eternal Summer is a Taiwanese drama that takes place in two timelines. It follows the story of three friends during their high school years while also telling the present story of one of them, who looks back on his past friendship with them. The story explores their complex relationships, the challenges they faced throughout, and the different paths their lives took after they graduated.
Summerland (2020)
During World War II, Alice, an English woman, opens her heart to Frank, a fugitive, against her initial judgment to get rid of him. The film explores the blossoming relationship between Alice and Frank, and also a parallel story from the past depicting Alice with a woman named Vera. Summerland is a moving journey into femininity, love, and friendship.
The Half of It (2020)
In The Half of It, Ellie Chu is a 17-year-old shy and introverted girl from a small American town who has difficulties fitting into the social fabric of her school life. One day, she meets football player Paul Munsky, who asks her for help to write a love letter to Aster, a girl from the school they both like. Despite her feelings for Aster, Ellie eventually gives him a hand because she needs extra money to help her dad pay the house bills. As the letter exchange between the two evolves, so do Ellie's feelings for Aster, and the young girl finds herself caught in a complex web of emotions, torn between her loyalty to Paul and her growing attraction to Aster.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom tells the story of Viola Davis, a black Chicagoan blues singer from the 1920s. Davis, a vastly talented artist and an advocate for Black rights, was also openly dating women at a time when the mere thought was taboo. In Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Davis' performance is exceptional, as is Chadwick Boseman's as the trumpeter Levee Green. However, the film is also an important testimony to the advancement of both Black and LGBTQ+ rights.
Celebrate Pride every day
There's no need to wait until June to show your pride. While Netflix has a solid lineup of LGBTQ programming, some of the best films from queer directors and filmmakers are nowhere to be found, with some that won Oscars or Academy Awards. There are also a lot of incredible LGBTQ-inclusive games you'll want to check out for your morning commute or while hanging out on the beach.