Flavorwire's 50 Essential LGBT Films

Flavorwire's 50 Essential LGBT Films 's icon

Created by SanderO.

Favorited 5 times, disliked 0 times, added to 9 watchlists.

Since June is historically LGBT Pride Month, it’s worth taking a look at the ways in which cinema has depicted queers and trans people on screen in comedies, dramas, and documentaries. While this is no definitive list of the best films to feature LGBT characters, themes, or icons, it is a collection of titles worth seeing before marching outside with beads and a plastic cup in your hand to wave at the politicians, celebrities, and corporate reps who have taken to parading down the street with slogans and rainbows in tow.
- Tyler Coates of Flavorwire

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  1. 1 new

    The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

    1994, in 6 top lists Check
  2. 2 new

    Todo sobre mi madre

    1999 — a.k.a. All About My Mother, in 18 top lists Check
  3. 4 new

    Another Country

    1984, in 0 top lists Check
  4. 5 new

    Before Night Falls

    2000, in 3 top lists Check
  5. 6 new

    The Birdcage

    1996 — a.k.a. Birds of a Feather, in 3 top lists Check
  6. 7 new

    Bound

    1996, in 6 top lists Check
  7. 8 new

    Boys Don't Cry

    1999, in 7 top lists Check
  8. 9 new

    The Boys in the Band

    1970, in 1 top list Check
  9. 10 new

    Brokeback Mountain

    2005, in 21 top lists Check
  10. 11 new

    Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

    1958, in 7 top lists Check
  11. 12 new

    The Celluloid Closet

    1995, in 1 top list Check
  12. 13 new

    The Children's Hour

    1961, in 0 top lists Check
  13. 14 new

    Chuck & Buck

    2000, in 1 top list Check
  14. 15 new

    The Color Purple

    1985, in 8 top lists Check
  15. 16 new

    Cruising

    1980, in 2 top lists Check
  16. 17 new

    Dog Day Afternoon

    1975, in 23 top lists Check
  17. 18 new

    Far from Heaven

    2002, in 10 top lists Check
  18. 19 new

    Gayby

    2012, in 0 top lists Check
  19. 20 new

    Grey Gardens

    1975, in 10 top lists Check
  20. 21 new

    Heavenly Creatures

    1994, in 7 top lists Check
  21. 22 new

    High Art

    1998, in 2 top lists Check
  22. 23 new

    How to Survive a Plague

    2012, in 0 top lists Check
  23. 24 new

    The Hunger

    1983, in 2 top lists Check
  24. 25 new

    Jeffrey

    1995, in 1 top list Check
  25. 26 new

    Keep the Lights On

    2012, in 1 top list Check
  26. 27 new

    Lianna

    1983, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 28 new

    Longtime Companion

    1989, in 0 top lists Check
  28. 29 new

    Maurice

    1987, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 30 new

    My Beautiful Laundrette

    1985, in 7 top lists Check
  30. 31 new

    My Own Private Idaho

    1991, in 10 top lists Check
  31. 32 new

    The Opposite of Sex

    1998, in 2 top lists Check
  32. 33 new

    Pariah

    2011, in 7 top lists Check
  33. 34 new

    Paris Is Burning

    1990, in 12 top lists Check
  34. 35 new

    Parting Glances

    1986, in 1 top list Check
  35. 36 new

    Personal Best

    1982, in 0 top lists Check
  36. 37 new

    Philadelphia

    1993, in 4 top lists Check
  37. 38 new

    Rebel Without a Cause

    1955, in 16 top lists Check
  38. 39 new

    Rope

    1948, in 10 top lists Check
  39. 40 new

    The Rules of Attraction

    2002, in 2 top lists Check
  40. 41 new

    Shortbus

    2006, in 2 top lists Check
  41. 42 new

    A Single Man

    2009, in 2 top lists Check
  42. 43 new

    Small Town Gay Bar

    2006, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 44 new

    Strangers on a Train

    1951, in 17 top lists Check
  44. 45 new

    Sunday Bloody Sunday

    1971, in 9 top lists Check
  45. 46 new

    The Talented Mr. Ripley

    1999, in 6 top lists Check
  46. 47 new

    The Times of Harvey Milk

    1984, in 8 top lists Check
  47. 48 new

    Tongues Untied

    1989, in 11 top lists Check
  48. 49 new

    The Watermelon Woman

    1996, in 7 top lists Check
  49. 50 new

    Weekend

    2011, in 6 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jun 18, 2015; source