For change to happen it must start from somewhere, and sometimes that somewhere is the cinema. Long before Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage in the US, queer representation in the cinemas helped emphasize the cruciality of understanding that 'love is love' and that it is boundless for people. For anyone who doesn't agree — just don't watch these movies and go somewhere else. It's that simple.
Updated September 16, 2022: If you love LGBTQ+ movies, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article about the greatest gay love stories with additional content and entries.
Films have the capacity to impact and perhaps change the ideologies of a community. A 2012 survey done by an independent polling firm for the Hollywood Reporter indicated how queer representation on screen increased the support for same-sex marriage, so film has the power to change the mainstream, and there have been several remarkable pieces that have influenced society positively. Here are some of the most romantic gay films about men that deserve more acclamation.
12 Love, Simon
A modern love story that revolves around the teenager who is struggling to accept his own identity. Love, Simon is a film that simply makes the viewer feel good. While the film follows the trope of a young closeted boy trying to find his secret lover, it does so in a way that is capable of giving people hope, and is subtle enough to even influence naysayers. Interestingly, this 2018 film is well-known for "being the first movie focusing on gay teenage romance released by a major studio." Thus, it is no surprise that a spin-off TV series called Love, Victor has been released by Hulu.
11 Maurice
Set in the early 1900s, Maurice is a film that's sure to evoke many emotions in the viewer. With James Wilby taking the on the titular role, we see the protagonist trying to navigate his love life in a conservative Edwardian society. What makes Maurice exceptional is the way in which the film has captured the pain of trying to maintain a facade of decorum as per rigid social conventions which are contrary to one's feelings and emotions. As pointed out by Guy Lodge for The Guardian, Maurice is a film that is "undervalued in 1987 and underseen today," and deserves a much deeper appraisal than what is given.
10 The Way He Looks
This film by Daniel Ribeiro is based on his 2010 short I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone which he had hoped would help fund a feature version. Fortunately, Ribeiro was able to succeed in his plan, as The Way He Looks is a truly touching film that explores the story of a blind teenage boy who is struggling to be independent. The uniqueness of this film lies on how Ribeiro navigates the relationship between the two protagonists, Leonardo (played by Ghilherme Lobo) and Gabriel (played by Fábio Audi). With a friendship that develops into a relationship, these two characters' bond is one that is both charming and beautiful.
9 Free Fall
From a rocky start to conflicted identities, and an ending that is sure to leave the audience in tears, 2003's Free Fall is a German film that follows a protagonist's shocking awakening and his attempts to untangle his now complicated life. This movie certainly brings the pain as well as the excitement of forbidden love. Marc Borgmann, played by Hanno Koffler, attempts to suppress his true identity for the sake of his family whilst exploring his actual identity is a certified tearjerker. Free Fall shows what it is like to live in a world where you are forced to make hard decisions because of the prejudice of others.
8 My Own Private Idaho
Loosely based on Shakespeare's plays, Gus Van Sant’s 1991 counterculture classic drama My Own Private Idaho is not just a poetic and bittersweet story of two gay street hustlers, Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves), journeying from Portland, Oregon, to Idaho, and then to Rome in search of Mike's mother. It is also the essential meditation on the promise of home, their own private Idaho, described by The Criterion Collection as "an imaginary place where one is locked in the arms of love – that is, both protected and free."
7 Flee
A truly Oscar-worthy film, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s 2021 adult animated documentary Flee tells the painful, true story of a gay Afghan refugee named Amin. Interviewed by the director of the film, Amin reveals his traumatic past for the first time. He shares stories of his childhood in Kabul and then tells how he fled the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, escaped death, journeyed to Denmark via Russia, and found happiness with his husband-to-be. Amin’s odyssey to find a home is a complex heartbreaker that blends a pressing global issue with touching personal reflection.
6 And Then We Danced
Directed by Levan Akin, a Swedish filmmaker of Georgian descent, the 2019 drama And Then We Danced tells the emotional story of gay sexual awakening put into the backdrop of Georgian ultra-conservative society. The film centers on two male dancers in the National Georgian Ensemble, Merab (Levan Gelbakhiani) and Irakli (Bachi Valishvili). One of the best international LGBTQ+ movies, And Then We Danced sparked protests in Georgia. Therefore, we need more such charged romance films set in the countries where homosexuality remains strictly taboo.
5 Happy Together
Unlike most gay movies that start off with a protagonist finding it difficult to accept his identity, this particular film attempts to depart from this trope and focuses on the complications and the challenges faced in any relationship. Happy Together follows the story of a gay couple who attempt to navigate life in a foreign place, encountering the difficulties of feeling alienated in a community that does not resemble home (something many gay men, especially in Asia, may relate to).
This Hong Kong romantic drama directed by the great Wong Kar-wai, who also received the Best Director award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, is a definite winner as it takes a novel approach in terms of gay films, utilizing the director's signature romantic, woozy style.
4 Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is a film based on Annie Proulx's short story of the same name, and fundamentally changed the Hollywood landscape in regard to gay love stories. With Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal taking the roles of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist respectively, this 2005 Neo-Western romantic drama follows the tragic story of two men who realize their affection toward one another following an encounter during their sheep herding job.
While the film initially comes off as singularly focused on the curiosity and excitement of discovering a romantic relationship, it goes on to display the brutal reality that gay men have had to face in a society that is adamant in denying them their right to love. Brokeback Mountain is a definite eye-opener.
3 Call Me By Your Name
This film by Luca Guadagnino is a screen adaptation of André Aciman's award-winning 2007 novel by the same name. Set in rural Northern Italy in 1983, it follows the beautiful love story of Elio Perlman, played by Timothée Chalamet, and Oliver. Call Me By Your Name explores the idea and fascination of love in depth thanks to the cast's marvelous performance which does justice to Aciman's story. What makes this particular movie significant is its focus on the excitement, thrill, and absolute bliss of love. While the story ends with a heartbreaking scene, brilliantly performed by Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name is still an endlessly romantic film that's a definite must-see and was a surprising hit for all audiences.
2 The Boys In The Band
"If the situation of the homosexual is ever to be understood by the public, it will be because of the breakthrough made by this humane, moving picture," states a 1970 Time Magazine article. The Boys In The Band was adapted to the screen from the play by Mart Crowley, and has laid the foundation for queer representation in films by being the first American motion picture to explicitly focus on gay characters.
The Boys In The Band is a raw and real representation of what was is like to be gay in 1968 New York – alienated, alone, and struggling for happiness. The characters attempt to use their cheery personalities in order to distract themselves from this harsh reality, which only makes the film more emotional. This is definitely a noteworthy piece that has changed the world of Hollywood for the better.
1 Moonlight
This Academy Award-winning film is also considered to be one of the best films of the 21st century. Segregated into three sections based on the life of the protagonist, Chiron, played by Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert, Moonlight explores extremely important topics including black masculinity, sexuality, social misconceptions, domestic child abuse, and social segregation based on race. This film from A24 manages to question aspects of society while remaining an extremely beautiful, artistic, and entertaining masterpiece.