My Top Ten Queer Films

With Pride Month now underway, I like to take the time to finally get through my watchlist. After all, life as a college student doesn’t leave much room to be binging films all the time – especially during the dreaded finals season.

Over the years, I’ve watched dozens of queer films, read books, and watched (and rewatched) series. Movies hold a special place in my heart though. It’s relaxing to sit down and see a story from start to end in roughly two hours.

So I present to you my top ten queer films that I’ve seen over the years. Some are old favorites that I just can’t let go, others I’ve viewed recently. Regardless, use this list as a recommendation for some queer films to check out this Pride Month.

10. Maurice (1987)

Based on E. M. Forster's novel of the same name, which you should certainly read, Maurice follows the life of Maurice Hall through his trials and tribulations of being gay in the early 20th century. There are several changes from page to screen, though not enough to entail a full rewrite of the work. The quiet overtone of the film paired with the aesthetically pleasing cinematography and brilliant settings captivated me from the start. Maurice also stood as a pillar of strength for the queer community, coming out during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

9. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Following the nearly idyllic summer of Elio Perlman, Call Me By Your Name is another film I couldn’t help but include. Once again, it’s based on a novel of the same name by André Aciman so perhaps I have an inclination towards book adaptations. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a controversial pick, but the film was one of the first full length queer movies I watched, hidden in my room at twelve in the morning, crying to Sufjan Stevens’ lyrical masterpieces, so it holds a special place in my heart. Like Maurice, this film is perfect for those that adore a good aesthetic. It’s a great pick for imagining a summer away from the suburbs and instead lounging in the Italian countryside.

8. The Way He Looks (2014)

I learned of The Way He Looks from the precursor short film “Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho (I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone)”. Both surround the life of Leo who is blind and wants to live a more independent life. Things begin to change when a new boy shows up at school – Gabriel. The two quickly become friends, along with Leo’s previous friend Giovanna. Like many coming-of-age films, there’s plenty of high school level drama that to an outsider doesn’t look like much, but they’re life ending events for a teenager. With the addition of “There’s Too Much Love” by Belle & Sebastian, The Way He Looks is a sweet film that can comfort you after the heartbreak of Call Me By Your Name.

7. Skam Season Three (2016)

I’m technically breaking the rule with this one but Skam is so good I had to. Skam was originally a Norwegian teen drama series, though it has had several adaptations over the years such as Druck (Germany), Skam France, and WTFOCK (Belgium). Season three follows Isak as he comes to terms with being gay, meets a new boy (Even), and falls in love with him. Skam has been a comfort series of mine for several years now, but I always find myself coming back to the original third season. Isak and Even’s love story is far from easy, there are major ups and downs, loads of questionable decisions, and lots of miscommunication, but it’s all worth it in the end. I’d highly recommend watching all of Skam, the original version only has four seasons, but if you’re short on time, check out season three for sure.

6. Moonlight (2016)

If you’re searching for a breathtakingly beautiful film that’s full of bittersweetness, then Moonlight is the one for you. Another coming-of-age pick, I’ve certainly got a pattern, the film follows the life of Chiron through three stages of his life. During these years, he explores his identity as a gay man, more specifically a black gay man in the United States. The key focus of Moonlight is intersexuality, which I’ve encountered more times in my political science classes than in films. Don’t let the heavy topics dissuade you from this one. The stunning cinematography and amazing score make Moonlight a great choice for a movie night.

5. Fanfik (2023)

Fanfik is another movie that I found thanks to the social media algorithm and another addition to the foreign film list. The Polish film explores the life of seventeen-year-old Tosiek as he realizes that he is transgender. While this is the main plot, there are several other side plots such as Tosiek’s blossoming relationship with his new classmate, Leon, and Tosiek’s rocky relationship with his father. Fanfik is an exceptionally relatable film, especially since I picked it due to the title alone. Tosiek and I are intrinsically linked through the power of fanfic writing. Fanfik also casts a non-binary actor as the lead – Alin Szewczyk – something that always makes a queer film better for me.

4. Pride (2014)

Based on the real life events of the British 1984 Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign, Pride exemplifies the community aspect of queer life. The leader of the campaign, Mark Ashton, sees the harassment of Welsh miners on TV and decides that he wants to assist the group. The campaign is rough to say the least – facing anger from the LGBTQ+ community for helping the “enemy” and homophobia from the mining community. Mark doesn’t give up though as he recruits his friends rally together. The group even travels to Wales to see the miners themselves which presents a humorous dance scene featuring “Shame, Shame, Shame” by Shirley & Company. The soundtrack of this film is one of the reasons I love it so much. With hits from Queen, The Smiths, Pete Shelley, and more, I could listen to this film for days.

3. But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

The first time I saw the description for But I’m A Cheerleader, I was a little hesitant. I didn’t fully like the idea of watching a film that had conversation therapy as the main setting – though Maurice touches on the subject as well. I’m thankful that I clicked play though because this film is a classic for a reason: it’s genuinely good. The film is, thankfully, a satire comedy that follows Megan Bloomfield. After realizing that she’s a lesbian, Megan attends True Directions – a conversation therapy camp meant to “cure” her. The film is stereotypical at times, but what film from the 90s wasn’t? But I’m A Cheerleader received mixed reviews depending on who was watching it, a pretty noticeable pattern when it comes to queer films. While straight critics may have cast the film off as a jaunty mess, queer media has embraced it as a must watch. I’m certainly aligned with the latter.

2. I Saw The TV Glow (2024)

Technically speaking, I Saw The TV Glow isn’t explicitly about being transgender, but at the same time, it definitely is. I’ve raved about this movie in a previous article, but I can’t help but do it again. This film may be one of the best ever depicting the trans experience, which is not something I say lightly. I first heard about this movie while scrolling on TikTok, though, me being late to the party as always, I didn’t watch it until months later. I sat down for my viewing in my college dorm, stressed out of my life, and needing a release. And boy did this film give me just that.

Justice Smith delivers an incredible performance as Owen: filled with self-doubt, regret, and finally hope. The words “there is still time” will be carved into my brain for decades to come. In a political climate as despairing as our current one, these words should be a powerful reminder to all that there will always be time to become the person you want to be. It doesn’t matter how many times the world tries to suppress that; you are stronger than the world.

1. Cowboys (2020)

The first thing I can say about Cowboys is that it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Movies like Call Me By Your Name, Moonlight, and even I Saw The TV Glow all became wildly popular whether that was at awards shows or just online, but I never saw the same rave for Cowboys. Which is majorly disappointing given how amazing this film is.

Cowboys has all the elements of a movie I adore. The story is set across brilliant scenery of the Montana countryside which lures you in with how breathtakingly beautiful it is. The western notes of the soundtrack help tie together the plot and setting with its wonderful score. Just like Fanfik, the trans male lead – Joe – is played by an actual trans actor, always a plus.

There’s heartbreak, but there’s also growth of the characters and relationships. This is a majorly important film for trans people and their families as it deals with the hard to view themes of denial and rejection. Though, spoiler, there’s a more or less happy ending to it.

For those seeking a trans centric film that nails the trans experience I couldn’t recommend Cowboys enough. Maybe through the power of TikTok and Instagram this film will finally get the viewership and popularity it deserves.

So that’s a wrap, my top ten films you should be watching this Pride Month. There’s plenty more that I haven’t mentioned here which also deserve their spot in the light, and others that I’ve still yet to see. This is just the start.