23 iconic LGBTQ+ romantic films to watch this Valentine’s Day

All of Us Strangers (2023)

All of Us Strangers follows Adam, a screenwriter (Andrew Scott), who returns to his childhood home, where he discovers that his long-dead parents are both alive and appear the same age they were when they died over 30 years ago. At the same time, Adam embarks on a passionate romance with his mysterious neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal). Directed by Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers received universal critical acclaim, becoming one of the most praised LGBTQIA+ films in history. Despite this, it failed to receive a single nomination at the Academy Awards, which many deemed a “snub”.

Anything’s Possible (2022)

Prime Video’s Anything’s Possible shows the “joy, tenderness and pain of young love” as trans high schooler Kelsa (Eva Reign) falls for fellow student Khal (Abubakr Ali). Also starring Girls5Eva icon Renée Elise Goldberry as Kelsa’s mother, the trailblazing rom-com marked the directorial debut of Pose star Billy Porter. In an interview with GAY TIMES, the Emmy winner said it was vital for him to “support the intersections” of the LGBTQIA+ community and to “voice the voiceless”. “Respect for humanity comes first, period,” he passionately stated. “We don’t need acceptance and tolerance, we demand respect. That’s it. We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it and… get over it.”

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee’s iconic same-sex romance Brokeback Mountain stars Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, star-crossed cowboy lovers in the American West during the 1960s. Widely hailed as a turning point for LGBTQIA+ stories in mainstream cinema, the heart-wrenching drama won three Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, with additional acting nominations for Ledger, Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams. However, Brokeback Mountain lost Best Picture to Paul Haggis’ critically divisive drama Crash, a decision that remains one of the Academy Awards’ most controversial (and dumbfounding).

Bros (2022)

Bros marked a historic moment for queer cinema as the first gay rom-com from a major studio. An outrageously funny queer romp, the film follows Billy Eichner’s character Bobby Lieber, a podcaster and radio show host who falls for a ‘masc4masc’ gay (played by Luke Macfarlane). From Bobby snapping a pic of his butt for a Grindr hook-up (who promptly blocks him) to the two leads bringing the foot fetish industry to the big screen, Bros is g-g-g-gay. While it didn’t make a splash at the box office, Bros reinvigorated a genre that had long felt stale and proved that rom-coms are in dire need of more queer narratives. Fun fact: the principal cast members were all LGBTQIA+.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name has quickly become one of the most beloved romances of all time. An adaptation of André Aciman’s 2007 novel, the film is set in 1983 in Northern Italy and chronicles the developing relationship between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old graduate assistant to Elio’s father (Michael Stuhlbarg). The themes of first love and heartbreak, along with the dreamy, idyllic world crafted by director Luca Guadagnino, have evoked deep, impassioned emotions in LGBTQIA+ viewers around the world. You’ll never listen to Sufjan Stevens the same way again.

Carol (2015)

Set in the 1950s, Carol stars Cate Blanchett as an older woman navigating a difficult divorce who embarks on a forbidden affair with an aspiring female photographer (Rooney Mara). Watching the effects of homophobia and a jealous soon-to-be-ex-husband on their relationship is heartbreaking, and the pure melodrama of it all will leave you in a state of melancholy. Blanchett received universal critical acclaim for her performance, earning nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. We challenge you to find a film more breathtaking and heartbreaking than Carol.

Crush (2022)

This cutesy 2022 rom-com from Sammi Cohen stars Rowan Blanchard (of Snowpiercer fame) as Paige Evans, a high schooler with unrequited feelings for popular girl Gabby Campos (played by Isabella Ferreira of Love, Victor). Paige inadvertently becomes a hot topic among her peers when she’s accused of being ‘KingPun,’ an anonymous artist who vandalises the school with pun-based graffiti. In her attempt to clear her name, she teams up with Gabby’s bisexual twin sister, AJ (Auli’i Cravalho), and, of course, romance blossoms.

Disobedience (2018)

Sebastián Lelio’s celebrated drama, based on Naomi Alderman’s novel of the same name, stars powerhouse duo Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams as star-crossed lovers in an Orthodox Jewish community. Weisz plays Ronit Krushka, a woman who returns to the community that once shunned her after the death of her father. There, she rekindles her romance with her cousin’s wife, Esti Kuperman (McAdams). A modern queer classic, Disobedience has garnered a following for Lelio’s stunning direction and the electric chemistry between Weisz and McAdams. The film captivates those drawn to forbidden love, complex emotions, and the muted aesthetic that underscores its intimate tone.

Fire Island (2022)

Hailed by critics and viewers as an instant queer classic, Fire Island follows two best friends (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) as they embark on their annual weeklong vacation to the titular gay hotspot. Written by Booster and directed by Andrew Ahn, the Pride and Prejudice-inspired rom-com puts queer Asian-American narratives at the forefront whilst celebrating and glorifying LGBTQIA+ culture like no other film before it. Although Fire Island explores issues such as body image, wealth, race and how the queer community can, at times, tear each other apart, it’s saturated with moments that capture the unequivocal joy that comes with being queer – instead of the constant strife that’s historically been depicted in mainstream media. No death! No despair! No desolation! Here, queers have sex, attend underwear parties and scold one another for their lack of knowledge on Marisa Tomei’s Oscar-winning role in My Cousin Vinny. Sequel slash spin-off, when?

God’s Own Country (2017)

God’s Own Country is Yorkshire’s answer to Brokeback Mountain. This romantic drama follows sheep farmer Johnny (played to perfection by Josh O’Connor), whose life is transformed by the arrival of Gheorghe (Alec Secăreanu), a Romanian migrant worker hired to assist with the lambing season. Partly inspired by director Francis Lee’s own experiences (in his feature directorial debut), God’s Own Country became one of the decade’s most praised films, with critics particularly highlighting the performances of O’Connor and Secăreanu, as well as its raw depiction of loneliness and intimacy.

Imagine Me & You (2005)

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones icon, stars in Imagine Me & You as Luce, a flower shop owner who captures the attention of Rachel (played by Coyote Ugly star Piper Perabo) on her wedding day. After becoming close friends, the two form an unexpected romantic connection, prompting Rachel to question her marriage. For some absurd reason (homophobia!), Imagine Me & You received mixed reviews upon release but in recent years, it has attained cult classic status while Rachel and Luce are often hailed as two of the most iconic queer female characters in film. The film also played a key role in solidifying Headey’s enduring popularity within the LGBTQIA+ community.

In From The Side (2022)

We got the gay rugby drama we need and deserve, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign and the vision of director/writer and former rugby coach Matt Carter. In From The Side stars Emmerdale’s Alexander Lincoln as Mark, an inexperienced new recruit on the B team at a gay rugby club who has a drunken encounter with Warren (Alexander King), the A team’s star player. Both men are in long-term relationships, and with Warren’s partner on the same team, he and Mark inadvertently put the future of the rugby club at risk as they embark on a steamy, passionate affair. Carter’s directorial debut features well-written characters and strong performances from the two leads, and refreshingly, it doesn’t rely on the typical tropes associated with queerness and sports. Forbidden romance aside, In From The Side simply portrays the lives of people who play rugby together, capturing the complexities of their relationships both on and off the field.

Loev (2015)

Indian romance Loev – pronounced ‘love’ – explores the relationship between Wall Street dealmaker Jai (Shiv Pandit) and Mumbai-based music producer Sahil (Dhruv Ganesh, who tragically passed away from tuberculosis before the film’s release). The two friends, with a complicated past, embark on a weekend getaway to the Western Ghats. Drawing heavily from the personal experiences of director Sudhanshu Saria, Loev came to life after months of crowdfunding, with a modest budget of just $1 million. Despite this, Saria crafted a stunning film, showcasing India’s scenic locations and the unmatched chemistry between Pandit and the late Ganesh. Loev won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2016 Tel Aviv International Film Festival and later gained mainstream popularity after its release on Netflix (though it has since been removed—boo!)

Love, Simon (2018)

Marketed as the first major studio romantic comedy featuring two gay lead characters and a same-sex love storyline, Love, Simon was a groundbreaking achievement for queer cinema. It proved that queer stories can be not only joyous and free of trauma, but also profitable, dispelling the myths that had previously suggested otherwise. Based on Becky Albertalli’s brilliant novel Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, the film is brimming with warm humour, emotion, and the inner turmoil many of us face when coming out to our loved ones. Paired with incredible performances from a diverse and talented cast (that scene with Jennifer Garner’s speech gets us every time!), Love, Simon felt like a defining moment not just for the queer community, but for pop culture as a whole.

Moonlight (2017)

This trailblazing coming-of-age tale charts the life of disenfranchised African-American man Chiron (Trevante Rhodes), taking viewers through three pivotal chapters in his life. Little follows a nine-year-old Chiron as he grows up with a drug-addicted mother in a rough neighbourhood in Miami; Chiron shows his awkward and painful teenage years, including the bullying he experiences at school; and finally, Black depicts his development into a fully-grown man and the internalisation of his sexuality. Moonlight was rewarded for its brilliance with three Oscars in 2017, including Best Picture. It’s an emotional rollercoaster for any viewer, but especially for those who’ve struggled to accept themselves for who they truly are. Most importantly, it offered a rare chance for Black gay men to see themselves reflected on screen.

Monsoon (2019)

Hong Khaou’s second feature film is absolutely gorgeous, exploring the complex relationship emigrants have with their birth country. Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding leads the film as Kit, a British-Vietnamese man who returns to Saigon for the first time in over 30 years to scatter his parents’ ashes. During his time in Saigon, Kit comes to terms with his loss, reconnects with his childhood friend Lee (David Tran), and falls for Lewis (Parker Sawyers), an American whose father fought in the Vietnam War.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire made history at the Cannes Film Festival, with Céline Sciamma becoming the first female director to win the coveted Queer Palm award. Set in France in the late 18th century, this historical drama tells the story of a forbidden love affair between Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), an aristocrat, and Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter commissioned to create her portrait. Sciamma’s minimalist storytelling shines in this moving film, which explores the growing intensity of their relationship—from Marianne painting Héloïse before their first kiss to the deepening connection between the two women.

Rafiki (2018)

Tensions rise when Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) and Ziki (Sheila Munyiva) begin a same-sex love affair and are forced to hide their affection from the Kenyan locals. The fictional discrimination depicted in the film cast a harsh light on the reality faced by queer people in Kenya, especially when the Kenya Film Classification Board banned its release due to its ‘homosexual themes’. Director Wanuri Kahiu sued the Kenyan government to have the film released so it could be submitted as the country’s entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The ban was lifted for seven days, and Rafiki went on to sell out cinemas, becoming the second-highest-grossing Kenyan film of all time.

Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)

Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez’s “insane” chemistry in Red, White & Royal Blue caused heart palpitations in millions of queers around the world (ourselves included). Based on Casey McQuiston’s beloved novel of the same name, the Prime Video rom-com follows the star-crossed romance between a British prince (Galitzine) and the son (Zakhar-Perez) of America’s first female president (played by Kill Bill icon Uma Thurman). Thanks to its faithfulness to the source material and the undeniable chemistry between the two leads, Red, White & Royal Blue has become one of the decade’s most celebrated gay rom-coms, with fans eagerly clamouring for a sequel (again, including us). Visit here for everything we know so far about a potential follow-up.

A Secret Love (2018)

This emotional Netflix documentary centers on the 65-year-long secret relationship between baseball star Terry Donahue and her partner Pat Henschel, highlighting the challenges they face in coming out later in life. It recounts how Terry and Pat first met through their professional lives in Chicago, their journey of coming out to their conservative families, and their decision about whether or not to marry. “Facing the hardships of aging and illness,” the synopsis reads, “their love proves resilient as they enter the home stretch.”

Supernova (2021)

Written and directed by Harry Macqueen, Supernova stars Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as Sam and Tusker, partners of 20 years. After Tusker is diagnosed with young-onset dementia, the couple embarks on a road trip across England in their campervan, where their differing visions for the future begin to clash. A heartbreaking exploration of dementia’s impact and a poignant portrait of a couple confronting mortality, Supernova features career-high performances from the two industry legends.

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

The Watermelon Woman is a masterclass in blending fiction and reality. Directed by Cheryl Dunye, a Liberian-American filmmaker, this groundbreaking queer classic follows Cheryl, a Black lesbian filmmaker, as she embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of a mysterious figure known only as ‘the Watermelon Woman’. Dunye’s debut film challenges conventions with its exploration of identity, desire, and the queer experience. It offers a sharp critique of Black erasure in film history, shedding light on the underrepresentation of Black talent in the industry. Bold, humorous, and ahead of its time, The Watermelon Woman remains an essential 90s film.

Weekend (2011)

Before working on All of Us Strangers and the queer HBO series Looking, director Andrew Haigh helmed the British romantic drama Weekend, which follows two men (Tom Cullen and Chris New) who meet and begin a brief but intense sexual relationship the weekend before one of them leaves the country. The film was praised for its realistic, documentary-like portrayal of a same-sex relationship, offering a queer romance largely unaffected by the omnipresent threat of homophobia or outside judgment. The nostalgia of fleeting romance and ‘what could have been’ resonates strongly with this one.