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23 Movies You've Never Seen Before That Are Soooo Hot, Wild, Intense, And Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay

I'm so tired of seeing the same 10 queer movies on every site's roundup, so here are a bunch you've probably never even heard of.

Spencer Althouse
by Spencer Althouse

BuzzFeed Staff

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As a queer person myself, I love watching queer movies. However, there are a lot of underrated films that just don't get the attention or credit they deserve. Here are a bunch that I think you should definitely check. Enjoy!

Screenshot of a Letterboxd list by Spencer Althouse titled "Gay, gay, gay (and gay) movies," featuring LGBTQ-themed movie posters
Letterboxd / letterboxd.com / Cinemilagroso / United Artists / Cine Tren / Off-White Productions / Lumière / Terratreme Filmes / A24

I keep track of all of the queer movies I watch, so if you want even more suggestions (over 150 LBGTQ+ films so far) then feel free to check out my running list on Letterboxd.

1. Passages (2023) is easily one of the spiciest movies of the last few years. It's about toxic love, and one of the men in a gay relationship has an affair with a woman, so things get especially wild. You will see every single inch of Ben Whishaw in this film, and, wow, I'm still so mad that he didn't get an Oscar nomination for his performance.

A man in a crowded bar says, "It's my party, and my husband doesn't want to dance with me." A woman replies, "I'll dance with you." They kiss. A man is sitting in the last scene
SBS Distribution

Who's in it: Ben Whishaw, Franz Rogowski, and Adèle Exarchopoulos

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
SBS Distribution / youtube.com
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2. Of an Age (2022) is a romantic drama that's centered around a young guy who has an unexpected hookup with his best friend's older brother. There are a bunch of cool twists that occur, and I promise they'll make you feel every emotion possible.

The two main characters kissing by their car in the movie
Focus Features

Who's in it: Elias Anton, Thom Green, and Hattie Hook

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Focus Features / youtube.com

3. Love Lies Bleeding (2024) is a super intense rom-thriller (I'm coining that term) starring Kristen Stewart as a gym manager, and her character gets involved with a female bodybuilder who's trying to go pro. There's murder and sex and drugs, and it's just a wild ride. The movie was made by A24, so that should be convincing enough for you.

Top image: Kristen Stewart looks ahead. Middle image: Kristen Stewart lifting weights. Bottom image: Kristen Stewart and Liv Corfixen lying on the ground. Text: "I've never been anywhere but here."
A24

Who's in it: Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, and Jena Malone

4. Femme (2023) is centered around a drag performer who tries to get revenge on the closeted man who attacks them. The acting in it is fantastic, though the subject matter is pretty heavy, so consider this your warning because the film deals with some pretty traumatic subject matters.

Three scenes: a close-up of a person's face with braided hair, a group of young people in a store, and a person bathing. A search page shows terms related to a closeted guy
Signature Entertainment

Who's in it: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, George MacKay, and John McCrea

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Signature Entertainment / youtube.com

5. Compulsion (1959) follows two hot, wealthy, and secretly queer college boys who commit a murder and think they're too smart to get away with it. It's loosely based on a real-life murder trial, and it's a lot of fun, so just trust me on this one.

Three black-and-white movie scenes from "Compulsion" featuring Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman, including a scene with the quote: "Do you know what beauty there is in evil?"
20th Century Fox

Who's in it: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Diane Varsi, and Richard Anderson

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
20th Century Fox / youtube.com

6. Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017) is a scandalous documentary that follows Scotty Bowers, the real-life man who basically served as a pimp for every secretly gay celeb from the '40–'80s. The stories in it are so freaking wild, and if you love Old Hollywood or celebrity gossip then you need to watch this.

Scotty Bowers in his 20s vs. in his 80s
Greenwich Entertainment

Who's in it: Scotty Bowers and Stephen Fry

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Greenwich Entertainment / youtube.com

7. Stranger by the Lake (2013) is an erotic French thriller that you should NOT watch with your parents. Its setting is a nude beach where men like to cruise, but things get especially intense after a murder occurs.

The two main characters kissing by the lake
Strand Releasing

Who's in it: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, and Patrick d'Assumçao

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Strand Releasing / youtube.com

8. The Dreamers (2003) is about an American in 1960s Paris who becomes extremely close with a brother-sister duo. It's rated NC17 for a reason, and you'll see why.

The cast staring at each other in their room
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Who's in it: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, and Eva Green

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Fox Searchlight Pictures / youtube.com

9. Tea and Sympathy (1956) follows a "sensitive" prep school teen who's bullied by the other students and teachers for being different. He finds solace in an older woman, played by Deborah Kerr, and the whole thing is just sooooo pretty to look at.

Laura and Bill conversing with Mr. Lee in various frames, discussing someone's inability to fit in despite a privileged upbringing
MGM

Who's in it: Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, John Kerr, and Edward Andrews

10. The Pass (2016) stars Russell Tovey as a closeted pro soccer player who hooks up with his teammate, and we see how their relationship changes over the years. They're basically shirtless for most of the movie, so you're welcome.

Russell and Arinzé in their hotel room, shirtless
Lionsgate

Who's in it: Russell Tovey, Arinze Kene, and Lisa McGrillis

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Lionsgate / youtube.com

11. The Way He Looks (2014) is a Brazilian coming-of-age movie that follows a blind teenager and a school's new student as they try to navigate life, love, and independence. It'll genuinely have you smiling sooooo much.

The two main characters meeting each other
Vitrine Films

Who's in it: Fábio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, and Tess Amorim

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Vitrine Films / youtube.com

12. Handsome Devil (2016) is a coming-of-age film that stars Nicholas Galitzine as a school's secretly gay rugby star. It's just super heartfelt, and Andrew Scott is also in it, so I promise you'll like it.

Nicholas and Fionn sitting together outside
Treasure Entertainment

Who's in it: Nicholas Galitzine, Fionn O'Shea, and Andrew Scott

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Treasure Entertainment / youtube.com

13. Another Country (1984) is a drama where Rupert Everett and Colin Firth play outsiders at a boarding school in 1930s England. It's beautiful, smart, and an instant classic. If you like Maurice or Call Me by Your Name then you'll love this one.

Colin and Rupert talking in the school's room
20th Century Fox

Who's in it: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Cary Elwes

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
20th Century Fox / youtube.com

14. Crush (2022) is a really cute teen rom-com about a high-schooler who joins the track team to get closer to her crush. The best part is that all of the characters are already out and proud, and there's no trauma or anything involved, which is so rare in YA queer movies.

The main characters talking by their lockers
Hulu

Who's in it: Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, Tyler Alvarez, Isabella Ferreira, and Megan Mullally

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Hulu / youtube.com

15. Tangerine (2015) is so chaotic in the best way possible. It follows two trans sex workers on Christmas Eve in Hollywood, and things get so overwhelming and hectic. The movie was actually shot entirely on an iPhone by Sean Baker, the guy who made The Florida Project and Red Rocket, in case you needed any more convincing.

the women having a conversation in a dinner
Magnolia Pictures

Who's in it: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, James Ransone, and Karren Karagulian

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Magnolia Pictures / youtube.com

16. Edge of the City (1957) is a gritty drama about the friendship between Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes' characters. It's rough and tough and has a lotttt of queer subtext. Ruby Dee is also in this movie, and she's especially fantastic.

Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes talking on a dock in the movie
MGM

Who's in it: Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Ruby Dee, and Jack Warden

17. Closet Monster (2015) stars Connor Jessup (call me – I'm single) as a graduating senior who desperately wants to escape his small town and his family's complicated dynamics. Isabella Rossellini voices his hamster's imaginary thoughts, so, like, what the heck are you waiting for?

Connor's character sniffing his coworker's shirt
Strand Releasing

Who's in it: Connor Jessup, Isabella Rossellini, Aliocha Schneider, and Aaron Abrams

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Strand Releasing / youtube.com

18. Taekwondo (2016) is a sleeper hit, and by that I mean not much actually happens in the movie (but the payoff is incredible!). Go into it blindly, and just know that all of Marco Berger's films are queer and spicy.

All of the men standing at the fence
Cinemilagroso

Who's in it: Lucas Papa, Gabriel Epstein, Gaston Re, and Francisco Bertín

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Cinemilagroso / youtube.com

19. Sauvage (2018) is a super raw movie that follows a twentysomething sex worker on the streets of Paris who really just wants to find love. Some scenes are especially intense and NSFW, so, again, I'm begging you to not watch this one with your parents.

Félix on the job at different men's houses
Les Films de la Croisade

Who's in it: Félix Maritaud, Éric Bernard, Philippe Ohrel, and Nicolas Dibla

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Les Films de la Croisade / youtube.com

20. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) is a French period drama about forbidden love, and it's so hot that it'll melt your face off. I randomly think about the ending at least once a month.

The two main characters flirting with each other
Neon Films

Who's in it: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, and Luàna Bajrami

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Neon Films / youtube.com

21. Disclosure (2020) is a fascinating documentary that examines how Hollywood has depicted trans people in TV and movies throughout the years. Via interviews with experts and celebrities, it uncovers what sort of impact that portrayal has had on society and American culture. This one should be required viewing for everyone.

Famous actors being interviewed in the documentary about their experiences playing trans characters
Netflix

Who's in it: Laverne Cox, Brian Michael Smith, Jen Richards, and Alexandra Billings

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Netflix / youtube.com

22. I Am Jonas (2018) is a French drama that's centered around a queer man at two key points in his life: as a teen and then in his 30s. There are some wild plot twists, so just get ready.

The characters as teens and adults in the movie
TLA Releasing

Who's in it: Félix Maritaud, Nicolas Bauwens, Tommy-Lee Baïk, and Aure Atika

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
TLA Releasing / youtube.com

23. And finally, Fire Island (2022) is basically a gay, modern remake of Pride and Prejudice, and it'll star all your new favorite people. What more could you want?

The cast hanging out on Fire Island
Hulu

Who's in it: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora, Zane Phillips, and James Scully

Here's the trailer:

View this video on YouTube
Hulu / youtube.com

Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2024.

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