While a night out for a few drinks might often be the go-to for the perfect gay date, sometimes a little Netflix and chill may be all you need.
At times though, scrolling through streaming services for the best queer movie to watch, can feel like trying to reach the end of your infinite Insta feed! So, to give you a helping hand, here are our top 10 movies for the perfect gay date night.
What are the best LGBTQ movies?
Whether your taste in movies is cheesy rom-com, an epic coming-of-age heartstopper, or historical drama, some of our favourite LGBTQ movies include:
- Pride
- Moonlight
- Bros
- Tangerine
- The Boys in the Band
- Circus of Books
- Brokeback Mountain
- Love, Simon
- Ammonite
- Single All The Way
Gone are the days when trying to find a decent queer film was impossible. And, while we’d still love to see LGBTQ films making the mainstream more often, we’re loving that there are so many LGBTQ movies to choose from on most streaming services.
Let’s take a look in more detail:
1. Pride, 2014
Up there with some of the most feel-good LGBTQ movies, this is a movie that celebrates allyship and solidarity. Pride is based on a true story and tells the tale of a group of London-based gay and lesbian activists who team up to support striking coal miners in Wales.
Set in 1984, the groups share the common enemies of prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the police, and the conservative press. A genuinely heartwarming movie; you and your date will find yourself cheering along with the cast.
PRIDE Trailer – HD
2. Moonlight, 2016
This semi-autobiographical coming-of-age movie tells the story of Chiron, a young African-American man grappling with his identity and sexuality in a poor and turbulent Miami neighbourhood.
The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture. And trust us, it’s easy to see why. Grab the popcorn because Moonlight is a must-watch LGBTQ movie.
Moonlight – Trailer
3. Bros, 2022
Buckle up for a surprisingly funny and charming gay rom com starring Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. It’s one of the first gay romantic comedies by a major studio with an openly LGBT principal cast.
The story focuses on the twists and turns of the two leads as they spark up a cute romance. But Bros cleverly avoids trying to portray gay relationships as the same as straight ones, just with two men — instead, it celebrates the nuances of queer culture and leans into what makes modern gay dating a truly unique experience between men.
Bros | Official Trailer [HD]
4. Tangerine, 2015
Let’s carry on with the fruit theme for a second (although you can’t get more different than these two movies).
Tangerine is a drama/comedy focused on Sin-Dee Rella, a transgender sex worker just released from a month-long jail sentence. She soon discovers that her boyfriend and pimp Chester has been cheating on her with a cisgender woman while she was in jail. Of course, revenge is on the agenda next.
It might be hard to believe, but Tangerine was shot using three iPhone 5S smartphones! A massive hit with indie film fans for on-screen chemistry, this rip-roaring yet empathic LGBTQ movie is a good choice if you fancy a laugh.
Tangerine – Red Band Trailer
5. The Boys in the Band, 2020
If you’re looking for LGBTQ movies on Netflix, give The Boys in the Band a shot. The film follows a group of gay friends in 1968 New York City, where an unexpected guest arrives during a gathering, causing havoc along the way.
Initially an off-Broadway play, the film features the stage cast from the 2018 Broadway revival and perfectly captures the complexities of what being a gay man in 1960s America was like. Perhaps most impressively, the production features a cast of exclusively openly-gay actors, including Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins.
The Boys in the Band | Official Trailer | Netflix
6. Circus of Books, 2019
If a doco is more your date night vibe, look no further than Circus of Books. Another excellent LGBTQ movie on Netflix, it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Sidewalk Film Festival and follows the journey of Karen and Barry Mason.
Looking for a way to support their family, this unassuming Jewish couple unexpectedly became the biggest distributor of gay porn in the US at a time when being gay was far less accepted than it is today. Told through the eyes of their daughter, the doco gives a rare and moving glimpse into Amercian queer culture in the 1970s.
Circus of Books | Official Trailer | Netflix
7. Brokeback Mountain, 2005
An oldie but a goodie, Brokeback Mountain is a classic LGBTQ movie and was one of the first to make it into the mainstream consciousness.
Often referred to as the ‘gay cowboy movie’, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two sheep herders who fall in love during a summer working together. What follows is years of struggles coming to terms with the fact they need each other, before ending in tragedy.
2005 Brokeback Mountain Official Trailer 1 HD Focus Features
8. Ammonite, 2020
In 1840s England, paleontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) falls into an all-consuming affair with the wife of her geologist friend. Loosely based on a true story, Ammonite shows how people who can be so drastically different from one another can still find a deep connection.
The film shows Mary and Charlotte’s messy romance as well as the inspiring story of Mary, who, to this day, is said to have inspired many women to get into science.
Ammonite – Official Trailer
9. Love, Simon, 2018
Based on Becky Albertalli’s young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Love, Simon tells the story of Simon Spier, a high school senior in a typical suburban town. One of Simon’s classmates threatens to ‘out’ him, while all Simon wants to do is figure out his identity in his own time.
A movie that so many of our rainbow family can relate to; the good news is this teen rom-com has a happy ending and leaves us with a sense of hope and pride. The perfect LGBTQ date night movie.
Love, Simon | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX
10. Single all the way, 2021
One for your list of LGBTQ Christmas Movies. Single All the Way is Netflix’s first Christmas movie focused on a gay romance.
It’s as cheesy and clichéd as you’d expect, and for a festive date night, we wouldn’t have it any other way! Full of love and acceptance, you’ll soon find yourself cheering for Peter and Nick as much as we are. Keep an eye out for icon Jennifer Coolidge keeping things camp years before the gays tried to murder her!
Single All The Way | Official Trailer | Netflix