Before 2000: Groundbreaking Gay Movies

Philadelphia

1993 Drama

A man with HIV seeks justice after being wrongfully dismissed by his law firm, finding an unlikely ally in a small-time, homophobic lawyer.

Beautiful Thing

1996 Comedy, Drama, Romance

Jamie and Ste find solace in each other after Ste seeks refuge from his abusive family. Their attraction deepens amidst the challenges of their sexuality and societal pressures.

Querelle

1982 Drama

A handsome sailor is drawn into a web of sibling rivalry, murder, and intense sexuality.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

1994 Comedy, Musical

Two drag performers and a transgender woman embark on a journey across the desert to showcase their unique cabaret act.

Cruising

1980 Drama, Mystery, Thriller

A police officer delves into New York City's underground gay subculture to capture a serial killer preying on gay men, risking everything to bring justice to his community.

Maurice

1987 Drama, Romance

Two English school friends fall in love at Cambridge. To regain his social standing, Clive abandons Maurice and marries. Maurice finds new love with the gamekeeper Alec while staying with Clive and his wife.

Another Country

1984 Drama, Romance

The early life of Guy Burgess, later a notorious spy, is explored.

Sebastiane

1976 Drama, Romance

A Roman guard's Christian beliefs clash with his gay commander's desire for intimacy, leading to unexpected revelations.

My Beautiful Laundrette

1985 Comedy, Drama, Romance

An ambitious Pakistani Briton and his white boyfriend strive for success with the opening of a glamorous laundromat.

Total Eclipse

1995 Drama, Romance

Young poet Arthur Rimbaud and mentor Paul Verlaine navigate forbidden romance and artistic turmoil.

My Own Private Idaho

1991 Drama

Two best friends living on the streets of Portland embark on a journey of self-discovery, testing their relationship along the way.

The Boys in the Band

1970 Drama

Tensions rise and true selves are revealed when a straight man accidentally crashes a gay party.

The Birdcage

1996 Comedy

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner conceal their identities to meet their son's conservative future in-laws.

Bent

1997 Drama, Romance

In 1930s Berlin, a gay Jew faces persecution under the Nazi regime, revealing resilience and survival amidst adversity.

Get Real

1998 Comedy, Drama, Romance

Two boys in a British school experience a tenderly romantic coming-of-age journey as they navigate their evolving feelings for each other.

Parting Glances

1986 Drama, Musical, Romance

As Michael and Robert, a gay couple in New York, prepare for Robert's two-year work assignment in Africa, Michael confronts Robert's true motives and their circle of eccentric friends, including Nick, who is living with AIDS.

Happy Together

1997 Drama, Romance

A trip to Argentina strains the relationship of a couple as their lives diverge.

Withnail and I

1987 Comedy, Drama

Two substance-abusing actors' holiday in 1969 countryside proves disastrous as their friendship unravels.

Prick Up Your Ears

1987 Drama

Biographer John Lahr writes about playwright Joe Orton, chronicling Joe's ten-year relationship with Kenneth. Both aspiring writers, only Joe finds success, straining their bond.

The Talented Mr. Ripley

1999 Drama, Thriller

In the late 1950s New York, underachiever Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve the spoiled millionaire playboy Dickie Greenleaf. When the mission fails, Ripley resorts to extreme measures.

Rites of Passage

1999 Drama, Mystery, Thriller

An attorney and his father attempt to resolve familial tensions during a trip to their isolated family cabin, interrupted by two escaped convicts.

Wild Reeds

1994 Drama

Two partners face divergent paths as their fates unfold in unexpected ways.

Boyfriends

1996 Comedy

Paul, Matt, and Will navigate their relationships over a seaside weekend with unexpected connections.

Beyond Gravity

1989 Comedy, Romance

Obsessed with the sun's explosive fate, a man finds unexpected love with a trouble-making Italian-Kiwi in Auckland, navigating cosmic fears and earthly desires.

Fellini Satyricon

1969 Drama, Fantasy

Set in first-century Rome, a collection of disjointed mythical tales unfolds, blending history and folklore to explore the timeless themes of love, power, and destiny.

To Die For (Heaven’s a Drag)

1994 Comedy, Drama, Romance

After dying of AIDS, a drag queen's ghost returns to find his surviving lover moving on unexpectedly.

Steam: The Turkish Bath

1997 Drama, Romance

Francesco inherits an Istanbul palace, embarking on a journey of renovation and discovery in a new cultural landscape.