30 Unmissable Queer Films to Watch This Pride Month

7 days ago

It’s June, and that means it’s Pride Month. While Australia’s own queer pride celebrations predominantly take place in February and March — in line with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras — Pride Month is increasingly becoming a global event. Besides, June in Australia marks the beginning of winter, and there’s no better time to stay in and watch some of the best queer films out there.

From groundbreaking classics to modern masterpieces, subversive comedies and heartfelt dramas, the list below has something for everyone.

Whether you’re looking for insightful character studies, heartfelt stories, and vibrant representations of love, identity, and resilience, we’ve got something for you. From the Oscar Best Picture winner Moonlight to laugh-out-loud comedy Bottoms, from A Fantastic Woman to Brokeback Mountain, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best queer films to celebrate Pride Month with. Join us as we explore the cinematic gems that have not only entertained us, but also played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural and social landscape for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Best Queer Films to Watch This Pride Month

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Directed by: Stephan Elliott
Written by: Stephan Elliott
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp
Synopsis: Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV

One of the most iconic Australian films of all-time, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a film that was truly ahead of its time. It’s not just that it’s laugh-out-loud funny, it’s also deeply heartfelt and just magical to watch. It’s a classic for a reason!

All of Us Strangers

Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Written by: Andrew Haigh, based on the novel by Taichi Yamada
Starring: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Carter John Grout
Synopsis: A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with a mysterious neighbour as he then discovers his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

Adapted from Taichi Yamada’s Strangers, All of Us Strangers is a striking, haunting, and deeply moving film about love, grief, loneliness, and the nature of the human condition. Make sure you’ve got tissues handy — when I caught this at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2023, the whole cinema was audibly sniffling.

The Birdcage

Directed by: Mike Nichols
Written by: Screenplay by Elaine May (with earlier screenplays by Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, and Jean Poiret), based on the play by Jean Poiret
Starring: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman
Synopsis: A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right-wing moralistic parents.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Remakes rarely get it right, but Mike Nichols’ The Birdcage is a very welcome exception to the rule. The cast is fantastic and are firing on all cylinders, bouncing off each other perfectly as they deliver laugh-out-loud dialogue and heartfelt moments with ease.

Bottoms

Directed by: Emma Seligman
Written by: Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott
Starring: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz
Synopsis: Two unpopular queer high-school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

A coming-of-age comedy that will have you laughing out loud from start to finish, Bottoms is destined to become a cult classic for Gen Z teens and queer kids everywhere.

It’s the kind of film you can see being endlessly quoted in the same way that millennials had Superbad and Superstar back in the day, and it’s an incredibly worthy addition to the teen classics collection.

Bound

Directed by: Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski
Written by: Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski
Starring: Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano
Synopsis: Tough ex-con Corky and her lover Violet concoct a scheme to steal millions of stashed mob money and pin the blame on Violet’s crooked boyfriend Caesar.
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan

A sexy neo-noir with fantastic performances from Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gerson, Bound is the kind of film where the chemistry between the protagonists jumps off the screen. A violent, funny, subversive thriller that excels on every level.

BPM

Directed by: Robin Campillo
Written by: Robin Campillo and Philippe Mangeot
Starring: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel
Synopsis: Members of the advocacy group ACT UP Paris demand action by the government and pharmaceutical companies to combat the AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Powerful, compelling, and important, BPM is a masterpiece that will make an impact. It may not be the easiest watch, and it doesn’t shy away from being confronting when necessary, but it’s also full of love, compassion, and humour.

Brokeback Mountain

Directed by: Ang Lee
Written by: Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, based on the short story by Annie Proulx
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams
Synopsis: Ennis and Jack are two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. Their relationship becomes complicated when both of them get married to their respective girlfriends.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

It’s been decades since Brokeback Mountain lost Best Picture to Crash, and it’s a decision that only gets more absurd as time goes on. With powerhouse performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, as well as Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway, Brokeback Mountain is a memorable and deeply moving masterpiece.

Bros

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Written by: Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guy Branum
Synopsis: Two men with commitment problems attempt a relationship.
Where to watch: Streaming on Paramount+

With films like Ticket to Paradise and Marry Me, 2022 was the year of the rom-comaissance, and Bros was a stand out among them. Directed by Forgetting Sarah Marshall‘s Nicholas Stoller and released by Universal Pictures, Bros was one of the first queer rom-coms to be given a wide release by a major studio.

But I’m a Cheerleader

Directed by: Jamie Babbit
Written by: Screenplay by Brian Peterson, with story by Jamie Babbit
Starring: Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams
Synopsis: A naive teenager is sent to rehab camp when her straitlaced parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Now an iconic cult classic, But I’m a Cheerleader was perhaps a little too ahead of its time for certain people (aka the critics). A high energy satire dripping in pastels, Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, and Melanie Lynskey are funny and charming from start to finish.

Call Me By Your Name

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Written by: Screenplay by James Ivory, based on the novel by André Aciman
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg
Synopsis: In 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father’s research assistant.
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

Call Me By Your Name made Timothée Chalamet a star, and deservedly so — his performance as Elio is heartfelt, magnificent, and utterly hypnotic. Beyond Chalamet, the film is just timeless in its powerful and melancholic exploration of young love and identity.

Carol

Directed by: Todd Haynes
Written by: Screenplay by Phyllis Nagy, based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson
Synopsis: An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Carol is moving, nuanced, and the kind of film that doesn’t come along very often. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are (expectedly) fantastic, and they work perfectly together under Todd Haynes’ direction to create a truly impactful film that’s bound to stay with you.

Dog Day Afternoon

Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Written by: Screenplay by Frank Pierson, based on magazine articles by P.F. Kluge and
Thomas Moore, as well as the book by Leslie Waller (uncredited)
Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Penelope Allen
Synopsis: Three amateur bank robbers plan to hold up a bank. A nice simple robbery: Walk in, take the money, and run. Unfortunately, the supposedly uncomplicated heist suddenly becomes a bizarre nightmare as everything that could go wrong does.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Comedic, tragic and utterly gripping from start to finish, Dog Day Afternoon is a tour de force for Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino, and it’s also just an incredible heist film. Attica! Attica!

The Doom Generation

Directed by: Gregg Araki
Written by: Gregg Araki
Starring: James Duval, Rose McGowan, Johnathon Schaech
Synopsis: Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embark on a sex-and-violence-filled journey through an America of psychos and quickie marts.
Where to watch: Not currently available to stream

The Doom Generation begins with a title card that reads “A Heterosexual Movie by Gregg Araki”, which is a fun little lie to set the tone. The middle child of Araki’s “Teenage Apocalypse” trilogy, which begins with Totally F**ked Up and ends with Nowhere, The Doom Generation is a nihilistic satire that’s bound to be polarising with viewers.

A Fantastic Woman

Directed by: Sebastián Lelio
Written by: Screenplay by Sebastián Lelio and Gonzalo Maza, with Eliseo Altunaga (story consultant)
Starring: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco
Synopsis: Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, is bowled over by the death of her older boyfriend.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

As beautiful as it is gut-wrenching, A Fantastic Woman is a powerful, important film that’s driven by Daniela Vega’s remarkable performance and Sebastián Lelio’s direction.

The Favourite

Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
Starring: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz
Synopsis: In early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

An unapologetically eccentric film, The Favourite is an offbeat dramedy that works on every level. The cast is stacked and delivering some diabolical performances, and with Yorgos Lanthimos’ direction, the lush sets and costuming, and an incredible script from Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite is a masterpiece.

God’s Own Country

Directed by: Francis Lee
Written by: Francis Lee
Starring: Josh O’Connor, Alec Secăreanu, Gemma Jones
Synopsis: Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path.
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV

God’s Own Country is the kind of entrancing, nuanced, slow-burn romance that draws you in with the powerful performances from Josh O’Connor and Alec Secăreanu. With emotional depth and stunning cinematography, God’s Own Country is an authentic depiction of love and isolation.

The Handmaiden

Directed by: Park Chan-wook
Written by: Screenplay by Chung Seo-kyung and Park Chan-wook, inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Starring: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Synopsis: A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.
Where to watch: Streaming on SBS on Demand

Intricate, layered storytelling. Strong performances. Visuals that you want to live in. Incredible direction from Park Chan-wook, who blends eroticism, suspense and humour with ease. The Handmaiden has everything you could want and then some, including the ability to grab your attention and not let go for the film’s nearly two-and-a-half hour runtime.

Heavenly Creatures

Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson
Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse
Synopsis: Two teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.
Where to watch: Not currently available to stream

These days, Peter Jackson’s name is synonymous with the Lord of the Rings franchise, while Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey have both received plenty of critical acclaim for their most iconic projects.

But back in 1994, way before Jackson adapted Lord of the Rings, before Titanic and before Yellowjackets, this talented trio brought the real-life story behind Heavenly Creatures to life on the big screen. It’s an imaginative and haunting portrayal of the true story, and its striking visual style blends fantasy and reality together for a memorable cinematic experience.

Hedwig and the Inch

Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell
Written by: Screenplay by John Cameron Mitchell, based on the book by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask
Starring: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask
ndrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Carter John Grout
Synopsis: A gender-queer punk-rock singer from East Berlin tours the U.S. with her band as she tells her life story and follows the former lover/band-mate who stole her songs.
Where to watch: Streaming on ABC iView

A bold, electrifying cult classic, Hedwig and the Angry Inch offers a funny, tragic, and nuanced exploration of identity and self-acceptance.

Love Lies Bleeding

Directed by: Rose Glass
Written by: Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska
Starring: Anna Baryshnikov, Kristen Stewart, Dave Franco
Synopsis: Gym manager Lou falls for Jackie, a bodybuilder who is passing through town en route to a competition in Las Vegas.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

A wild ride from start to finish, Love Lies Bleeding is an unhinged neo-noir that will make you laugh, gasp and cry, often in quick succession. It’s a campy crime drama that will hook you in quickly and refuse to let you go until the end.

Moonlight

Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Written by: Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Starring: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes
Synopsis: A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

A heartfelt, tender, and deeply moving character study, Moonlight is a masterpiece, and a very deserving Best Picture winner. With powerhouse performances from Mahershala Ali and Trevante Rhodes, Moonlight is a beautiful, unmissable film.

My Own Private Idaho

Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Written by: Gus Van Sant, William Shakespeare (parts of the plot taken from Henry IV)
Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo
Synopsis: Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.
Where to watch: Streaming on ABC iView

My Own Private Idaho is a cult classic that resonates with viewers to this day. With its empathetic and raw depiction of human connection, combined with its striking visual aesthetic that blends surreal, dreamlike sequences with gritting realism, My Own Private Idaho is a bold, unforgettable and poetic film.

Pariah

Directed by: Dee Rees
Written by: Dee Rees
Starring: Adepero Oduye, Kim Wayans, Aasha Davis
Synopsis: A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE

Pariah sees writer-director Dee Rees craft a nuanced, multi-dimensional narrative that explores the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. The end result? A fresh perspective on the coming-out narrative that explores the themes of identity, family, and self-acceptance with honesty and sensitivity.

Party Monster

Directed by: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Written by: Screenplay by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, based on the book Disco Bloodbath by James St. James
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Wilson Cruz, Seth Green
Synopsis: Based on the true story of Michael Alig, a Club Kid party organiser whose life was sent spiralling down when he bragged on television about killing his drug dealer and roommate.
Where to watch: Not currently available to stream

Despite the dark subject matter of Party Monster, which is based on the real-life murder of Angel Melendez, the film manages to balance the gravity of the story with moments of levity, and embraces the camp, flamboyant aesthetic of the New York City club scene at the time.

Beyond the story of Melendez’s murder, Party Monster is a compelling look at the club kid subculture of a bygone era, and explores the darkest sides of the American Dream.

Pink Flamingos

Directed by: John Waters
Written by: John Waters
Starring: Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce
Synopsis: Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as “The Filthiest Person Alive”.
Where to watch: Not currently available on streaming

John Waters is a Hollywood legend, and for good reason. It’s not just that his films are cult classics, they’re bizarre, taboo, and demand that the viewer meets them on their level. Pink Flamingos is a perfect example of this. With plenty of shock value, the film is subversive, outrageous, provocative and campy all at once, and does all of this (and more) with glee.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Directed by: Céline Sciamma
Written by: Céline Sciamma
Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami
Synopsis: On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan

Visually stunning with breathtaking cinematography, Portrait of a Lady on Fire offers a feminist perspective on art, agency and the female gaze. With incredible and emotionally resonant performances from Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant, their characters’ forbidden romance leaps off the screen.

Pride

Directed by: Matthew Warchus
Written by: Stephen Beresford
Starring: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West
Synopsis: U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984.
Where to watch: Streaming on ABC iView

If you’re in the mood for an uplifting and inspirational film, Pride is the one for you. A warm, earnest and endearing film, Pride is a celebration of the power of solidarity and collective action, delivered with plenty of humour along the way. In these trying times, it’s nice to remember the importance of empathy, acceptance and taking a stand for what’s right.

A Single Man

Directed by: Tom Ford
Written by: Written for the screen by Tom Ford and David Scearce, based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood
Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode
Synopsis: An English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan

A Simple Man explores love, loss and redemption in an authentic, understated way that packs quite the emotional punch. The film marked fashion designer Tom Ford’s directorial debut, and his meticulous attention to detail shows from start to finish. A visual masterpiece, A Simple Man uses colour and composition to elevate Colin Firth’s already stellar performance even further, making it a film you won’t soon forget.

Tangerine

Directed by: Sean Baker
Written by: Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian
Synopsis: A sex worker tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Shot entirely on iPhone 5S smartphones, Tangerine is a masterclass in independent filmmaking from Sean Baker. A gritty, raw and real portrayal of transgender sex workers, Tangerine is also funny, heartfelt, and entertaining, thanks in great part to the dynamic performances from Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

Directed by: Beeban Kidron
Written by: Douglas Carter Beane
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo
Synopsis: Three drag queens travel cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE

An absolute cult classic, To Wong Foo is a fun romp with charismatic performances that jump off the screen. A feel-good film that celebrates the power of friendship, acceptance and self-expression, this is is the kind of film that will make you laugh while reminding you of the importance of inclusivity and kindness.

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