LGBTQ+ Love Stories: Heartwarming Films That Inspire Connection

Prayers for Bobby

2009 • 89 min

Drama, History, TV Movie

Growing up in Walnut Creek, California, Bobby Griffith was his mother's pride – the quintessential all-American son, raised with strong religious values. However, he harbored a secret: he was gay. Grappling with this hidden truth, Bobby eventually decides to come…

8.1

8.0

14+

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The Danish Girl

2015 • 119 min • Budget $15M • Box office $64M

Drama

Gerda Wegener asks her husband Einar to pose for her portrait, and in the process, Einar discovers the person Gerda envisioned for her. He begins living as a woman named Lili Elbe. With Gerda's love and encouragement, Lili starts a…

7.6

7.1

17+

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Is It Just Me?

2010 • 94 min

Drama, Comedy, Romance

A columnist who struggles with social interaction connects with someone online and finds a romantic spark. However, due to a mistaken identity – messages are sent from his roommate's account – a humorous mix-up occurs.

5.5

6.2

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+15

Boy Erased

2018 • 115 min • Budget $15M • Box office $7M

Drama

At 19, Jared, the son of a Baptist pastor in a close-knit American town, is told he is gay. His parents give him a choice: participate in a gay conversion therapy program, or be rejected by his family, friends, and…

7.0

6.9

17+

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Futuro Beach

2014 • 106 min

Drama

When Donato is unable to save a man from drowning, he connects with the deceased's friend. Determined for a fresh start, Donato finds himself haunted by unresolved issues from his past.

6.5

6.3

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Blue Is the Warmest Color

2013 • 180 min • Budget $4M • Box office $19M

Romance, Drama

Adèle's life takes a turn when she meets Emma, a young woman with distinctive blue hair. Emma helps Adèle explore her own desires and develop a sense of independence. Through their relationship, Adèle learns to express herself and discover who…

7.1

7.6

18+

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+10

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List

2015 • 89 min

Romance, Comedy

Naomi and Ely's friendship is strained when they both develop feelings for the same person.

5.9

5.5

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Brokeback Mountain

2005 • 134 min • Budget $14M • Box office $178M

Drama, Romance

Set in 1960s Wyoming, the film follows two men whose deep emotional and sexual bond becomes a lasting part of their lives. This connection shapes their experiences as they build marriages and raise families.

7.8

7.7

17+

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American Beauty

1999 • 122 min • Budget $15M • Box office $356M

Drama

Lester Burnham, a middle-aged advertising executive, lives a dull life in a picture-perfect suburb. Feeling trapped and depressed, he unexpectedly becomes drawn to Angela, the friend of his daughter. This attraction sparks a renewed zest for life in Lester, leading…

8.0

8.3

17+

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Weekend

2011 • 96 min • Budget $120K • Box office $484K

Drama, Romance

Following a night of drinking with his straight friends, Russell goes to a gay club. He meets Glen just before closing, and what starts as a casual encounter evolves into a deeper connection.

7.3

7.6

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Bent

1997 • 105 min • Box office $496K

Drama, History, Romance

"Man in Hiding" follows Max, a young man caught in the harsh reality of Nazi-occupied Europe during WWII. After a relationship with a German soldier, he is forced to flee for his life. Captured and imprisoned in a concentration camp,…

6.8

7.1

18+

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+11

The Circle

2014 • 102 min

Drama, Documentary

In 1950s Zurich, a young teacher develops a love for a transvestite performer. He struggles to reconcile this with his conventional life and his identity as a gay man. He finds community and purpose by joining a gay organization that…

6.5

7.3

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4th Man Out

2015 • 87 min

Comedy, Drama

Following a night of heavy drinking, Adam Hutcherson unexpectedly reveals something to his three close friends. This revelation shakes up their established group dynamic, forcing them to navigate the situation through alcohol, online dating, and attempts at reconciliation.

6.9

6.7

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Lilting

2014 • 91 min

Drama

A young man of Chinese and Cambodian heritage passes away, leaving his mother alone and his partner of four years heartbroken. Despite a lack of a common language, they find solace and a deep connection in their shared grief.

6.9

7.2

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Love, Simon

2018 • 110 min • Budget $17M • Box office $66M

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Seventeen-year-old Simon Spier is navigating a complicated situation: he's kept his sexuality a secret from his family and friends. He's also secretly in love with an anonymous classmate he's connected with online, but he doesn't know who this person is.

8.0

7.5

13+

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Looking: The Movie

2016 • 85 min

Drama, Romance, TV Movie

After nearly a year away, Patrick goes back to San Francisco to celebrate a significant occasion with his longtime friends. There, he's forced to confront past relationships and make tough decisions about his future.

7.2

7.5

17+

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Milk

2008 • 128 min • Budget $20M • Box office $54M

History, Drama

This is the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to public office. In San Francisco during the late 1970s, Milk becomes an advocate for gay rights, galvanizing people to join him in his struggle for…

7.2

7.5

17+

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The Imitation Game

2014 • 113 min • Budget $14M • Box office $233M

History, Drama, Thriller

This film tells the true story of Alan Turing, a brilliant cryptanalyst, and his team at Bletchley Park. During World War II, they raced against time to break the enemy's codes.

8.0

13+

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Out in the Dark

2012 • 96 min • Box office $26K

Drama, Romance, Thriller

A Palestinian graduate student and an Israeli lawyer connect and develop a romantic relationship against a backdrop of complicated personal lives and ongoing political tensions.

6.8

7.5

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+15

The Case Against 8

2014 • 109 min

This film offers an inside look at the fight to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Filmed over five years, it chronicles the journey of the unexpected group of people who brought the initial federal marriage equality lawsuit before the…

6.8

7.4

14+

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Free Fall

2013 • 97 min • Box office $599K

Drama, Romance

Marc has a promising career in law enforcement and a baby on the way, so his life appears perfect. Everything changes when he meets fellow officer Kay during their routine jogs. Marc experiences a newfound sense of comfort and ease,…

7.7

7.5

Bridegroom

2013 • 80 min

Documentary, Drama

This documentary follows the heartfelt story of Shane and Tom, two young men deeply in love and committed to each other. Their relationship is tragically ended by an accidental fall from a roof.

7.3

8.0

17+

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Petunia

2013 • 112 min

Torn between sanity and madness, brothers Charlie, Adrian, and Michael attempt to break free from the unconventional life lessons instilled by their psychoanalyst parents, as their family faces imminent disintegration.

4.7

5.1

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Hidden Kisses

2016 • 87 min

Drama, TV Movie

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives with his father, Stephane, and as a new student at school, he's invited to a party. There, he meets Louis, a classmate, and they share a kiss. Someone takes a picture of them, which is then posted…

7.5

7.3

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Suicide Room

2011 • 116 min • Budget $1M • Box office $4M

Drama, Thriller

Dominik, a brooding and attractive young man, is relentlessly bullied by his peers after a video of him drunkenly kissing a classmate, Alex, goes viral. Struggling with the intense public embarrassment, Dominik finds comfort in an online "suicide room" accessed…

7.3

6.6

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2012 • 103 min • Budget $13M • Box office $33M

Drama

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991, shy freshman Charlie observes life from a distance. His world changes when two seniors, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, take him under their wing. They guide him toward friendship, music, and the experience of first love.

7.8

7.9

13+

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C.R.A.Z.Y.

2005 • 126 min • Box office $3M

Comedy, Drama

In the 1960s and 70s, a young French Canadian man navigates the complexities of growing up within a traditional family. He grapples with finding his own identity while trying to live up to his father’s expectations.

7.5

7.8

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+10

Hurricane Bianca

2016 • 84 min

Comedy, Drama

A New York teacher relocates to a small Texas town, only to lose his job after his sexual orientation is discovered. He returns later, disguised in drag, seeking retribution against those who treated him unfairly.

6.1

5.9

17+

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Date and Switch

2014 • 91 min

Comedy

Two friends make a deal to lose their virginity before their high school prom. Their bond is strained when one of them reveals he's gay.

5.8

5.7

17+

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+10

Holding the Man

2015 • 128 min

Drama

Tim and John met and fell in love as teenagers at an all-boys school. John was the football team captain, and Tim was an actor with a small role in Romeo and Juliet. Their relationship lasted for 15 years, weathering…

7.7

7.5

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The Normal Heart

2014 • 132 min

Drama

This film chronicles the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1980s New York City. It presents a direct examination of the country's attitudes toward sex as gay activists and medical professionals work together to reveal the reality of the growing…

7.7

7.9

17+

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Handsome Devil

2017 • 95 min • Budget $1M

Drama, Comedy

A teenager obsessed with music feels like an outsider at a school where rugby is everything. He unexpectedly connects with his charming new roommate, forging a surprising friendship.

7.0

17+

Test

2013 • 89 min

Drama, Romance

San Francisco, 1985. A modern dance company brings together two very different people. Their strength is challenged as they face uncertainty and opportunity, all while dealing with a mysterious illness that nobody understands.

6.7

6.5

17+

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Were the World Mine

2008 • 97 min • Box office $120K

Fantasy, Romance

Timothy, who often escapes his difficult high school life with musical fantasies, unexpectedly gets to test a question: who would he make fall in love with him? When his unusual teacher casts him as Puck in *A Midsummer Night's Dream*,…

6.2

6.8

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Center of My World

2016 • 115 min

Drama, Romance

Seventeen-year-old Phil lives with his mother and twin sister in a secluded mansion. Upon returning from summer camp, he finds a tense atmosphere within the house. Unconcerned, Phil spends time with his friend Kat. However, his feelings become complicated when…

7.1

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Seashore

2015 • 83 min

Drama

On a secluded beach in southern Brazil, two friends approaching adulthood grapple with their identities and their relationship. Martin travels with his father's request to collect a document from his late grandfather's family. Tomaz joins him, hoping to reconnect. Together,…

6.2

6.0

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In & Out

1997 • 90 min • Budget $35M • Box office $63M

Comedy

A dedicated Midwest high school teacher begins to question his identity after a former student makes a remark about his sexuality at the Academy Awards. The comment triggers an introspective journey, forcing him to re-examine his life and societal expectations.…

6.5

6.4

13+

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Queer

2024 • 138 min • Budget $53M • Box office $5M

Drama, Romance

In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, a man in his late forties and an American living apart from others, maintains a quiet existence within a small American expatriate circle. The arrival of Eugene Allerton, a young student, prompts William to…

6.6

6.3

17+

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Freeheld

2015 • 103 min • Budget $7M • Box office $573K

Romance, Drama

In New Jersey, car mechanic Stacie Andree and her police detective girlfriend Laurel Hester face a struggle to obtain Hester's pension after she receives a terminal diagnosis.

7.2

6.6

13+

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+10

Kill Your Darlings

2013 • 103 min • Budget $5M • Box office $1M

Drama, Romance, Thriller

In 1944, a murder brings together the leading poets of the emerging Beat Generation: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs.

7.0

6.4

17+

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I Am Jonas

2018 • 82 min

Drama, Romance, TV Movie

At fourteen, Jonas meets Nathan, a captivating but enigmatic figure who helps him explore his sexuality. However, Jonas soon discovers a darker, more dangerous side to his new friend. Years later, as a confident adult, Jonas is still deeply affected…

6.7

7.0

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All of Us Strangers

2023 • 105 min • Budget $5M • Box office $14M

Romance, Drama, Fantasy

In a quiet London apartment building, Adam's routine is disrupted when he meets his enigmatic neighbor, Harry.

7.4

7.6

17+

Stream on

Keep the Lights On

2012 • 102 min • Box office $243K

Drama, Romance

Documentary filmmaker Erik and lawyer Paul connect unexpectedly and begin a relationship. Both are impulsive and prone to excess, using drugs and sex. Over nearly ten years, their relationship is marked by intense highs and painful lows, and by unhealthy…

5.7

6.4

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+15

The 10 Year Plan

2014 • 90 min • Budget $80K

Romance, Comedy

Myles and Brody, best friends with contrasting approaches to romance, are both unhappy with their dating lives. They make a deal: if neither finds love within ten years, they'll be together. With the deadline just two months away, they both…

6.8

6.1

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Those People

2015 • 89 min

Drama, Romance

In Manhattan's wealthy Upper East Side, a young gay painter struggles with his intense feelings for his notorious best friend while developing a relationship with an older, foreign pianist.

6.9

6.5

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I Don't Want to Go Back Alone

2011 • 17 min • Budget $14K

Drama, Romance

A new student arrives at school and disrupts Leonardo's life. The 15-year-old, who is blind, navigates the jealousy of his friend Giovana while also grappling with unexpected feelings for his new friend, Gabriel.

7.7

8.2

Dallas Buyers Club

2013 • 117 min • Budget $5M • Box office $55M

Drama, History

This film is loosely inspired by the story of Ron Woodroof, a man known for his risky lifestyle. In 1986, he received an HIV/AIDS diagnosis with a prognosis of only thirty days to live.

7.9

17+

Stream on

Summer Storm

2004 • 98 min • Budget $2M • Box office $2M

Comedy, Drama

Tobi and Achim, longtime best friends and stars of their local rowing club, believe their bond is unbreakable. They eagerly anticipate summer camp and a major rowing competition. However, the arrival of a gay team from Berlin throws Tobi into…

6.8

7.2

17+

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Dream Boy

2008 • 88 min • Budget $1M

Drama, Romance

Nathan, a young teenager, navigates a budding romance with his neighbor, Roy. Their relationship is tested as they confront the harsh realities of rural Southern life in the late 1970s.

6.1

6.2

17+

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From Beginning to End

2009 • 96 min

Romance, Drama

Growing up in a happy, close-knit family, two brothers form a deep bond. As they enter adulthood, their relationship evolves into one marked by intimacy, romance, and sexual connection.

6.6

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Boys

2014 • 78 min

Drama, Romance, TV Movie

Two teenage athletes on the track team fall in love while preparing for their most important race yet.

7.7

7.4

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The Way He Looks

2014 • 96 min • Box office $1M

Drama, Romance

Leonardo, a blind teenager, struggles for independence under his mother's watchful eye. His best friend, Giovana, is disappointed he's planning an exchange program overseas. The arrival of Gabriel, a new student, stirs unexpected emotions in Leonardo, causing him to reconsider…

7.9

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Fried Green Tomatoes

1991 • 130 min • Budget $11M • Box office $119M

Drama, Comedy

Evelyn Couch, a woman struggling with her life, meets Ninny, a lively older woman, at a time when Evelyn is going through a tough period. While Evelyn questions who she is, Ninny tells the compelling story of Idgie Threadgoode and…

7.7

13+

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Call Me by Your Name

2017 • 132 min • Budget $3M • Box office $43M

Romance, Drama

During the summer of 1983, seventeen-year-old Elio spends his days at his family's villa in Italy. A graduate student named Oliver arrives to help Elio's father, a professor of Greco-Roman culture. Elio and Oliver quickly form a connection, and their…

8.1

7.8

17+

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A Single Man

2009 • 100 min • Budget $7M • Box office $25M

Drama, Romance

In 1962 Los Angeles, during the Cuban missile crisis, a British college professor struggles with his memories and uncertainty about what lies ahead. The film follows him through one day as a series of events and people prompt him to…

7.3

7.5

17+

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+10

A Home at the End of the World

2004 • 96 min • Budget $6M • Box office $1M

Drama, Romance

Over the course of a year, three friends – Johnathan, who is gay; Clare, who is straight; and Bobby, who prioritizes the people he cares about – develop a deep connection. Their lives experience moments of conflict and sadness, ultimately…

6.4

6.6

17+

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Stranger by the Lake

2013 • 100 min • Budget $1M • Box office $1M

Drama, Thriller

During a summer spent searching for connection at a busy lakeside spot in the French countryside, Frank encounters Michel. Michel is attractive and enigmatic, and Frank quickly becomes deeply in love with him.

6.3

6.9

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4 Moons

2014 • 110 min

Drama, Romance

This film explores four interconnected stories about love and finding oneself. An eleven-year-old boy grapples with hiding his feelings for his cousin. Two friends from childhood reconnect and begin a relationship complicated by one man's fear of exposure. A long-term…

7.1

7.4

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+10

Beyond the Walls

2012 • 98 min

Paulo, a young pianist, instantly falls in love with Ilir, a double-bass player from Albania. After a confrontation with Anka, Paulo is left homeless but moves in with Ilir despite his hesitation. When Paulo promises lifelong love, Ilir leaves the…

6.4

6.6

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I Love You Phillip Morris

2010 • 98 min • Budget $13M • Box office $20M

Comedy, Crime, Drama

Steven Russell lives a normal life as a church organist, happily married, and a police officer. His world changes after a serious car accident, revealing he is gay and decides to embrace life fully, even if it means breaking the…

6.4

6.6

17+

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