Gay Films about Unrequited Love

Gay movies & short films featuring the heartache of unrequited love.

Green Butterflies

Green Butterflies

2017 Drama
Mateo, a popular schoolboy, faces a critical choice when his relationship with Daniel is exposed, forcing him to confront adversaries and his own convictions about love and acceptance.
Like Me

Like Me

2022 Drama
Follows Tom navigating a demanding relationship and hidden desires while struggling with his feelings for his friend.
Why Did You Invite Me to Your Wedding
SHORT FILM

Why Did You Invite Me to Your Wedding

2025 Drama
When Kevin Atwater gets a bizarre invitation out of the blue from an old friend, he’s met with tumultuous feelings of past love, heartbreak, and grief. Inspired by the true story told in Atwater's acclaimed song of the same title
Denied

Denied

2004 Drama, Romance
Recent high school graduate Troy is in love with his best friend Merrick, who isn't interested in a relationship. Troy must cope with Merrick's selfishness, his own heartache, and a lack of fulfillment in his life.
After Sex

After Sex

2007 Comedy, Drama, Romance
Vignettes of eight couples explore the complexities of their relationships in intimate conversations following moments of intimacy.
Wild Tigers I Have Known

Wild Tigers I Have Known

2006 Drama
A poetic exploration of a boy dealing with his sexuality, navigating unrequited love for a popular student.
The Witnesses

The Witnesses

2007 Drama, Romance
A group of friends in 1980s Paris confronts the AIDS epidemic, testing their bonds and resilience.
If I Should Die Before I Wake

If I Should Die Before I Wake

2018 Drama
Brian's life unravels when he succumbs to advances from teenager Christian Egan, testing his career and personal integrity in a gripping tale of desire and consequence.
Ronny & i
SHORT FILM

Ronny & i

2013 Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young man grapples with his sexuality and his unspoken feelings for his best friend.
Dust

Dust

2018 Drama
Alko lives in the Dutch countryside. While he and his best friend Björn are struggling with their emerging sexuality, the villagers suspect Alko of being gay. This troubles him so much that he makes a decision he will come to regret.
Light Bulb Sun
SHORT FILM

Light Bulb Sun

2012 Drama
Delves into the complexities of friendship and unrequited love among college friends, exploring themes of obsession and emotional turmoil.
Holiday

Holiday

2014 Drama
Set in chaotic turn-of-the-millennium Ecuador, a young man grapples with newfound emotions for Juano after a life-changing rescue, navigating turbulent times and personal turmoil.
Camp

Camp

2003 Comedy, Drama, Musical
After a series of Broadway flops, songwriter Bert Hanley finds inspiration working at a musical camp for young performers, staging a new production.
Una noche

Una noche

2012 Drama, Romance
In Havana, Raul dreams of escaping to Miami but faces accusations that threaten his future. With the help of Elio, they embark on a risky journey across the ocean, testing their resolve against formidable odds.
Cappuccino
SHORT FILM

Cappuccino

2010 Comedy, Drama, Romance
Jérémie, a closeted teenager, navigates his budding desires and his family while exploring new a relationship and self-discovery.
Paradigma
SHORT FILM

Paradigma

2016 Drama
Innocence, intimacy and desire converge to tell the story of Guille, a teenager who seeks himself through others.
Death in Venice

Death in Venice

1971 Drama, Romance
Composer Gustav von Aschenbach fixates dangerously on teenager Tadzio in Venice.
Mala Noche

Mala Noche

1986 Drama
Walt is obsessed with a young illegal Mexican immigrant who doesn't speak English and finds Walt strange and undesirable. This is a tale of unrequited love.
Law of Desire

Law of Desire

1987 Comedy, Drama, Thriller
A gay filmmaker navigates an obsessive fan while yearning for a lost love and managing a complex relationship with his trans sister.
Threesome

Threesome

1994 Comedy, Drama, Romance
Alex is mistakenly housed with two guys, Stuart and Eddy, in a college dorm. Despite initial problems, they become friends. Stuart likes Alex, Alex likes Eddy, and Eddy likes Stuart. Can this dynamic work?
In the Grayscale

In the Grayscale

2015 Drama, Romance
Bruno, an architect, is hired to build an iconic landmark and finds unexpected romance with Fer, a gay history teacher.
Love and Death on Long Island

Love and Death on Long Island

1997 Comedy, Drama
Giles De'Ath, a widower disenchanted with modern life, falls for movie star Ronnie Bostock, leading him on a quest to Long Island City where fiction and reality intertwine.
Edge of Seventeen

Edge of Seventeen

1998 Comedy, Drama, Romance
On the last day of school in 1984, a teenager navigates the complexities of being gay while cherishing moments with friends, reflecting on growth and acceptance.
Fögi Is a Bastard

Fögi Is a Bastard

1998 Drama, Romance
Beni falls for Fögi, an older, self-absorbed lead singer of a rock band. He follows him into a toxic downward spiral.
Speedway Junky

Speedway Junky

1999 Drama, Romance
Johnny's aspirations of becoming a stock car racer lead him to a world of hustlers and unexpected connections in Vegas.
Circuit

Circuit

2001 Drama, Romance
John, a gay cop from Illinois, moves to Los Angeles seeking acceptance. He discovers the "circuit", where he falls into a world of drugs and more.
The Best Men
SHORT FILM

The Best Men

2007 Drama
Moments before his best friend's wedding, Peter gets one last chance to rekindle mutual feelings long suppressed, but not abandoned. Sometimes the perfect reminder of first love's passion is but a simple kiss from the best man.