Gay Films about HIV & AIDS - Gay Films Matter

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.

Pride

2014 Comedy, Drama, Romance

In 1984, UK gay activists unite to support miners during their prolonged strike, bridging two communities.

Rent

2005 Drama, Musical, Romance

In New York City's East Village, bohemians navigate poverty, illness, and the AIDS epidemic in pursuit of success and acceptance.

Mysterious Skin

2004 Drama

Neil and Brian are two youths from Kansas. Neil embraces a daring, thrill-seeking lifestyle, while Brian becomes obsessed with an alien encounter.

Holding the Man

2015 Drama, Romance

A poignant and humorous tale of a 15-year love affair between Timothy and John, starting from their high school days.

Dallas Buyers Club

2013 Drama

Ron Woodroof's fight against the system to help AIDS patients in 1985 Dallas challenges societal norms and medical bureaucracy.

The Normal Heart

2014 Drama

In the early 1980s, the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York led to an emergence of homosexual activists. With support from the medical community, they try to raise awareness about the disease.

Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo

2016 Drama, Romance

Théo and Hugo first connect in an adult club. The night leads them outside, wandering through empty Parisian streets, where a sudden shift in perspective brings a stark reality to their previously carefree journey.

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.

The Skinny

2012 Comedy, Drama, Romance

Set in New York City, the film reunites five Brown University classmates - four gay men and one lesbian - for a weekend filled with secrets, drama, and personal revelations.

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

2000 Comedy, Drama, Romance

The turbulent loves and lives of a Los Angeles gay clique are exposed.

120 BPM (Beats Per Minute)

2017 Drama

In the early 1990s, members of ACT UP Paris rallied for government and pharmaceutical company intervention to fight the AIDS epidemic.

Killing Patient Zero

2019 Documentary

Gaetan Dugas, openly gay during the early 1980s AIDS crisis, faces demonization and misidentification as "patient zero," challenging perceptions of promiscuity and disease origins.

Made on the Rooftop

2020 Comedy, Drama, Romance

Ha Neul, kicked out after a fake breakup, shares a cramped rooftop with his free-spirited friend Bong Shik. Their carefree summer turns into a tense romance.

Holding Trevor

2007 Drama, Romance

Trevor's turbulent life in LA unfolds as he confronts a toxic relationship, career stagnation, and fractured friendships amid profound personal growth.

I Love You Phillip Morris

2009 Comedy, Romance

A cop's life transforms when he comes out and pursues love after prison.

Keep the Lights On

2012 Drama, Romance

Filmmaker Erik forms a tumultuous bond with closeted lawyer Paul after a brief affair, navigating highs and lows as Erik confronts personal boundaries and the complexities of their relationship.

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.

Ekaj

2015 Drama

Ekaj, a naive teen, navigates New York City with cynical night worker Mecca, finding love amidst challenges of illness and survival.

Mandragora

1997 Drama

Two gay teenage runaways in Prague struggle to survive on the streets, resorting to desperate measures in a harsh and unforgiving world.

All Over the Guy

2001 Comedy, Romance

While Jackie and Brett's relationship heats up, their efforts to pair Eli and Tom seem doomed as the latter couple spirals out of love.

Jeffrey

1995 Comedy, Drama

A touching romantic comedy about a thirty-something gay actor/waiter, who decides to become celibate as the AIDS crisis makes intimacy seem too risky. He searches for love in a new way.

Behind the Candelabra

2013 Drama, Musical, Romance

A chronicle of the turbulent romance between singer Liberace and his lover Scott Thorson delves into fame, love, and personal struggles.

SHORT FILM

Invulnerable

2005 Romance

Elías, beginning his career as a high school teacher and a new relationship with Pedro, learns he is HIV positive. He grapples with how to disclose this to his new lover.

Urbania

2000 Drama

A series of urban legends weave together around a troubled man's quest through the labyrinthine streets of New York City, unraveling mysteries that blur reality and myth.

Test

2013 Drama, Romance

In 1985, a gay dance understudy yearns for his chance in the spotlight while grappling with the looming AIDS epidemic.

The Big Gay Musical

2009 Comedy, Musical, Romance

Two men discover self-acceptance amid the stage lights of an Off-Broadway show.