By Ted Bajer , Soniya Hinduja , and Neville Naidoo
Updated
LGBTQ+ movies span every decade and look at queer relationships from across history, with a number of great films available to stream now on Hulu.
Hulu has an excellent selection of LGBTQ+ movies. While LGBTQ+ characters and stories are somewhat rare, they have nonetheless been represented throughout the history of cinema. However, LGBTQ+ movies span every decade and look at queer relationships from today back to the Italian Renaissance, so fans can immerse themselves in love from every period in history.
LGBTQ+ stories are finally getting a greater chance to be told, resulting in some truly great movies. In these often tragic, but always triumphant films, viewers can see the world painted in a rainbow. Movies like All of Us Strangers tell achingly personal, semi-autobiographical stories, while Swan Song features the "Liberace of Sandusky" in just a few of Hulu's best LGBTQ+ films.
Updated on May 26, 2024 by Rachel Johnson: This article has been updated with additional information and site features to keep the discussion fresh and relevant.
20 Prom Dates (2024)
Antonia Gentry appeared alongside Julia Lester in the coming-of-age comedy Prom Dates, which tells the wholesome story of two lifelong pals who made a pact years ago to have the greatest prom of their lives, only to find themselves scramblings after they break up with their respective partners right before the big high school event. As Jess (Gentry) vies to become prom queen and find the perfect date, Hannah (Lester) struggles with finally embracing her sexuality and her true self, as she hasn't come out to anyone yet (including her best friend) about being a lesbian.
A Refreshing Coming-of-Age Tale
The endearing film features themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and the power of honesty, and is full of light-hearted humor, zany misadventures, and moving moments between the two best friends. The chemistry between Gentry and Lester is truly the heart and soul of the comedy, and the character of Hannah is both deeply introspective and profoundly cynical, as she attempts to come to terms with her true identity and fully accept her own sexuality throughout the course of the film.
19 Viva (2015)
Irish director Paddy Breathnach's Viva is more proof that the independent international film scene is alive and well. Viva tells the story of a sweet-natured gay hairdresser, Jesus, who dreams of being a performer. He eventually gets an opportunity to get on stage; a stranger emerges from the crowd and punches him in the face. To his surprise, the stranger is his father, Angel, a former boxer who has not been in his life for 15 years. As the two clash over opposing expectations of each other, Viva becomes a love story as they understand each other and become family once more.
Visually Stunning and Critically Acclaimed
Viva's cinematography will knock you down. Despite being filmed in a run-down and desolate place like Old Havana, this Spanish-language drama surmounts itself. The well-known Cuban actors in the film, like Luis Alberto Garcia and Jorge Perugorria, also give excellent performances, making it easy to see why Viva was the first Irish film ever to be short-listed for the Best Foreign Language Oscar.
18 Two Of Us (2019)
Who would think it would be so refreshing to watch a film in which the sexuality and desires of women in their 70s are portrayed as part and parcel of their lives? Two Of Us is a French movie about two retired women, Madeleine and Nina, who are deeply in love. Madeleine keeps this a secret from her family, but when an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down, Nina has to stay away from her love. In a move no one saw coming, Madeleine's daughter eventually unravels her mother's secret.
Hugely Unique and Thoughtfully Crafted
This conventional romance is directed with a shiver of suspense by first-time feature maker Filippo Meneghetti. Each scene in the heartbreaking love story adds a little stab of something personal, ensuring anyone can take away something from the well-thought-out plot. All these prove it was an honor for the film to be selected as the French entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Award, in a shortlist of fifteen films.
17 The Inspection (2022)
Sometimes the most powerful LGBTQ+ stories are the ones derived from personal experience, and The Inspection is proof of that. Loosely based upon the real-life experiences of writer-director Elegance Bratton, his debut feature tells the story of Ellis French (Jeremy Pope), a young gay Black man who enlists in the military to seek approval from his hom*ophobic mother. During training, his sexual orientation becomes hard to hide, and he finds both support and bigotry from his fellow service members.
A Deftly Done Debut
The film, clearly personal to Bratton, is not always the easiest to watch, as evidenced by the depiction of a hazing that proves near-fatal to French. But it's nonetheless a powerful watch, and it's achingly sincere in its plea for empathy and understanding from a world that isn't always the most welcoming. Jeremy Pope carries the film on his shoulders in a deeply moving performance that got him a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination.
Related
15 Best LGBTQ+ Movies on Max to Watch Right Now
Max is one of the most important streaming platforms worldwide today. It also has several great LGBTQ+ films to watch.
16 Just Friends (2018)
Just Friends is a Dutch film that tells the story of two young lovers. Joris is a 21-year-old Dutch man who lives with his mother and who struggles with the death of his father, who passed away a decade earlier. Yad is a 26-year-old Syrian refugee whose family settled there. When Yad is employed to do chores for Joris' grandmother, the pair meet and instantly click despite their differences in age, race, culture, and socioeconomic status. Bonding over common interests, they soon become more than friends and begin a passionate relationship.
Swoon-Worthy Romance
Just Friends is a terrific film that ably tackles many hot topics like sexuality, interracial relationships, classism, and racism. In spite of these heavy themes, the romance remains light and warm. While stories of trauma and sadness have their place, it's also nice to dip your toes into calmer waters as well.
15 Boys on the Side (1995)
Touting a phenomenal ensemble cast led by Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Barrymore, and Mary-Louise Parker, the dramedy Boys on the Side centers on three diverse woman from various walks of life as they embark upon an eye-opening cross-country road trip together, not only learning new things about one another but also deeply personal truths about themselves. After breaking up with her girlfriend, New York-based musician Jane (Goldberg) answers a newspaper ad and meets up with real estate agent Robin (Parker), and the women head to sunny Los Angeles, picking up Robin's friend Holly (Barrymore) along their journey.
A Memorable & Life-Changing Journey
As each character sets out on the open road in hopes of a better future, they must face their own inner demons and struggles and end up connecting with one another more profoundly than they could have ever imagined. Robin is suffering from AIDS and ends up making a deep connection with Jane, whose outlook on life is completely transformed. Barrymore thrives as the free-spirited and vivacious Holly, who is on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend and also bonds with the two strong-willed women.
14 Cloudburst (2011)
In the moving dramedy Cloudburst, lesbian couple Stella and Dotty (Olympia Dukakis & Brenda Fricker) set out on a thrilling road trip from Maine to Nova Scotia on a quest to finally get married after years of companionship and romance. When Dotty's granddaughter decides to move her into a nursing home, Stella convinces her longtime love to go on a Thelma and Louise-esque adventure with her and head to the altar, as the two older women pick up a young, male hitchhiker along the way.
A Poignant Love Story
Upon its worldwide release, Cloudburst garnered widespread critical acclaim and currently holds a highly-coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, earning praise for its heartfelt message, brilliant cast performances, and touching screenplay. The dramedy received a standing ovation at the Atlantic Film Festival where it first premiered, winning Best Screenplay and the People's Choice Audience Award for Best Film. Fricker has spoken about how much the project meant to her and the impact it left, fondly saying in 2012, "Of all the films I've made, only three do I remember where I felt I'd moved forward as an actress: Cloudburst, My Left Foot and The Field."
13 Crush (2022)
In the fun and charming coming-of-age romantic comedy Crush, talented high school art student Paige Evans (Rowan Blanchard) secretly pines for her longtime crush Gabby Campos (Isabella Ferreira), and after getting into trouble for a vandalism she didn't commit, is forced to join her school's track team. Paige decides to track down the real culprit and also takes advantage of being on the team, as Gabby is also on it, yet things get even more complicated when she starts to develop feelings for Gabby's twin sister AJ (Auliʻi Cravalho).
Delightful Teenage Misadventures
The earnest and absorbing rom-com became the third most-watched film across all streaming platforms upon its release in 2022, and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV. Crush was celebrated for its refreshing inclusivity and diversity as well as the romantic chemistry between Blanchard and Cravalho, with many complimenting the film for its positive representation of both gender identity and same-sex relationships.
12 Anaïs in Love (2021)
In the breezy and heartfelt French romantic comedy Anaïs in Love, a complicated love triangle develops after the titular vivacious thirty-something (Anaïs Demoustier) falls in love with the brilliant wife of a married publisher she's having an affair with. Anaïs becomes smitten with the gifted and prominent writer Emilie, admiring the woman for her grace and charisma and swiftly losing interest in continuing any dalliance with her initial lover, Daniel. When the two women stay together at a writer's retreat, sparks fly and passions become realized between the unlikely pair.
An Unconventional Love Story
Anaïs in Love dazzled audiences at the Cannes Film Festival, where Demoustier's hypnotic performance earned her massive praise and appreciation, as did the rom-coms light-hearted and whimsical take on the classic love triangle trope. Watching the stirring love story unfold between Anaïs and Emilie will leave viewers rooting for the surprising couple to come out triumphant, as they both make revealing discoveries about themselves while navigating the powerful romantic connection they share.
Related
14 Best Series on Hulu To Watch Right Now
Here are some of the best series you'll find on Hulu right now.
11 Blue Jean (2022)
Blue Jean
1hr 37min
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
- Release Date
- December 10, 2022
- Director
- Georgia Oakley
- Cast
- Rosy McEwen , Kerrie Hayes , Lucy Halliday
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Writers
- Georgia Oakley
Bigotry may have changed its face and form over the decades, but the more it changes, the more it stays the same, as evidenced by 2022's quietly devastating Blue Jean. In her feature film debut, director Georgie Oakley refuses to sugarcoat hom*ophobia in Margaret Thatcher's England, as school teacher Jean (Rosie McEwen) is forced to live a double life to hide her status as a lesbian. The arrival of a new student soon throws her carefully structured life into chaos and threatens to expose her sexuality.
Heartbreaking and Heartwarming at the Same Time
As much as we want to believe the world has overcome its past prejudices, films like Blue Jean serve as a necessary wake-up call, wisely drawing upon the past to comment on how systemic bigotry maintains itself over time. It's also a deeply empathetic glance into those forced to live under fear and oppression, and it has a deep love for its characters that keeps it from feeling overly sensationalistic.
10 Happiest Season (2020)
Happiest Season
Romance
Comedy
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
- Release Date
- November 26, 2020
- Director
- Clea DuVall
- Cast
- Alison Brie , Mackenzie Davis , Kristen Stewart , Aubrey Plaza , Dan Levy , Mary Steenburgen
- Runtime
- 102
- Writers
- Clea DuVall , Mary Holland
Happiest Season follows Abby, a lesbian, who is immensely content in her relationship with her girlfriend, Harper. So much so that she’s decided to seal the deal by proposing to her in front of Harper’s family members when they plan to visit them on the holidays. What Abby does not expect, however, is that Harper isn’t out to her traditional family. A series of misunderstandings and hilarious fails lead to self-discovery and celebration of love.
The Perfect Lesbian Christmas Movie
A refreshing holiday romance that unwraps several gifts through its LGBTQ+ representation, Happiest Season succeeds because of its cast. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis play the two women in this modern queer classic, which remains warm, witty, and wise throughout its runtime.
Related
Iconic LGBTQ+ Characters from Horror Movies
Looking back on some of the most fantastic LGBT+ characters in horror cinema.
9 Jack and Diane (2012)
Jack and Diane
R
Drama
Documentary
Horror
Romance
- Release Date
- November 2, 2012
- Director
- Bradley Rust Gray
- Cast
- Juno Temple , Riley Keough , Kylie Minogue , Dane DeHaan , Leo Fitzpatrick , Haviland Morris
Riley Keough and Juno Temple headlined the delightfully strange romantic horror film Jack & Diane, which tells the off-the-wall story of the eponymous teenage girls who meet and fall head-over-heels for one another in New York City, with the young couple fully embracing their magnetic chemistry. The duo set out to spend every moment they can with one another when Jack learns that Diane will be moving out of the country in a week, yet their romance hits a major snag when Diane begins exhibiting werewolf-like symptoms.
A Weird & Whimsical Romance
Jack & Diane entertainingly blends horror and romance and features admirable performances by both Keough and Temple, whose on-screen love story is plagued by bizarre hurdles and hardships. Though the film itself earned less-than-glowing reviews by critics, Jack & Diane nonetheless includes an intriguing premise and a couple who become so passionately in love with one another they begin to transform into monstrosities. Autostraddle wrote in their review, "This is a movie about love and how incomprehensible and engulfing it can be before you learn to tame the monster."
8 Jagged Mind (2023)
Read Our Review
Billie (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) has a bad habit of hooking up with her ex-girlfriend and letting herself go in nightly social encounters. But she’s also suffering from déjà vu and symptoms of early-onset dementia. She finally meets a new girl who seems ready to walk her through these tough times. However, as their relationship grows, the blackouts start getting worse.
A Delightfully Thrilling Plot
Jagged Mind is a Hulu Original and has been hailed as an extremely erotic thriller, which is made very clear from the very first scene of the film. Jagged Mind puts the eroticism back in erotic thrillers and effectively walks the line between films like Basic Instinct and Memento.
7 Swan Song (2021)
Not to be confused with the sci-fi film starring Mahershala Ali, this Swan Song is about a former hairdresser whose increasingly dull life in a retirement home is interrupted when one of his old clients dies. His dreams of a fabulous return are made possible when that client bequeaths him a tidy sum in exchange for doing her hair at the funeral. Suddenly, Pat Pitsenbarger is back, and the "Liberace of Sandusky" sets out to peaco*ck his way across town and remind the world that he once ruled the runway.
A Triumphant Goodbye
Udo Kier stars in this heartfelt and glamorous film, giving a performance worthy of remembrance. As The Guardian revealed in its review, “Swan Song works best in the small moments it creates for its main character, real-life hairdresser to the Sandusky, Ohio stars, Pat Pitsenbarger."
6 The World to Come (2021)
The World To Come
R
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
- Release Date
- February 12, 2021
- Director
- Mona Fastvold
- Cast
- Vanessa Kirby , Katherine Waterston , Casey Affleck , Christopher Abbott
- Main Genre
- Drama
The 19th-century American drama follows two married couples living isolated on the frontier. While the husbands do the ranching, everything changes when Abigail (Katherine Waterston) meets her distant and sympathetic neighbor, Tallie (Vanessa Kirby). They explore a forbidden romance while isolated by both the location and their significant others.
Finding Connection After Isolation
An intense and dramatic period romance, The World to Come is based on Jim Shepard’s novel of the same name. The World to Come won the Queer Lion award when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2020. The extreme isolation faced by the characters heightens every emotion, touch, and glance. This makes the central romance feel intoxicating and all the more precarious with their husbands around every corner.
5 Benedetta (2021)
Benedetta
Unrated
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
- Release Date
- December 3, 2021
- Director
- Paul Verhoeven
- Cast
- Charlotte Rampling , Lambert Wilson , Virginie Efira , Daphne Patakia , Olivier Rabourdin , Hervé Pierre
- Runtime
- 2hr 11min
- Main Genre
- Biography
- Writers
- David Birke , Judith C. Brown , Paul Verhoeven
In 17th-century Italy, a nun who has been in the convent her entire life begins to have religious visions while embroiled in a lesbian love affair. Benedetta's visions are widely accepted as miraculous signs from God, but some within the church believe they are heretical. Her affair is used against her, and the church threatens to crumble around her.
A Wicked Twist on Typical Nun Movies
Paul Verhoeven, director of Basic Instinct, brought fans the striking film Benedetta in 2021. In this bracing and transgressive religious thriller, the violence of Benedetta’s visions is matched only by the heat of her throes of passion. The Guardian reviewed the film and said "Verhoeven’s handling is more silly than savage, more playful than profane, which ensures that the picture’s cloistered heat never comes to the boil."
Related
12 Movie Characters Who Became LGBTQ+ Icons
Historically, there's been a lack of queer representation in Hollywood, but these movie characters became LGBTQ+ icons anyway.
4 Fire Island (2022)
This beautiful story of fun and freedom follows five friends on a journey as they escape to the titular Fire Island for an annual trip. They rented a house on the South shore of Long Island, which was famous for its gay communities and party scene. Soon, a drama akin to Pride and Prejudice begins to unfold, except with gay underwear parties and illicit drugs.
The Most Fun You Can Have on Hulu
Joel Kim Booster wrote and starred in this lovable romantic comedy. Margaret Cho also makes an appearance as the excitable housemother Erin, and Bowen Yang of Saturday Night Live takes center stage as Howie. This beautiful celebration of gay culture is a fun ride that also explores themes of wealth disparity, gentrification, and self-confidence.
3 All of Us Strangers (2023)
All of Us Strangers
R
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
- Release Date
- January 26, 2024
- Director
- Andrew Haigh
- Cast
- Andrew Scott , Paul Mescal , Jamie Bell , Claire Foy
- Runtime
- 1hr 45min
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Writers
- Andrew Haigh
Read Our Review
2023 was one of the best years for cinema in recent memory, but one of the most unsung classics was All of Us Strangers. Based on the 1987 novel "Strangers" by Taichi Yamada, the film focuses on Adam, a gay screenwriter (Andrew Scott), who finds his existence in a near-empty apartment disrupted by the arrival of a new neighbor (Paul Mescal). As they begin a romantic relationship, Adam frequents visits to his childhood home, where he discovers his believed deceased parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) alive, and somewhat miraculously, not a day older than when he was a child.
An Astonishing Exploration of Grief and Love
As previously mentioned, many of the best LGBTQ+ films are the most specific and personal, and All of Us Strangers is nothing if not achingly personal. But it's a fascinatingly multi-faceted work; at one minute it's a moving portrait of a man coming to terms with a sexuality that he never fully embraced, and at another, it's a heartbreaking story of grief and finding closure from loved ones we've lost. Andrew Scott, always great, is downright phenomenal here, selling his emotional journey flawlessly, and his costars are every bit as good.
2 Tell It to the Bees (2018)
Set in 1950s rural Scotland, Lydia’s failing marriage has her living alone with her young son Charlie. Soon, they’re evicted for an inability to pay the bills. Charlie establishes a connection to the town’s new doctor, Jean, through a fascination with her bee colonies, and the two find a place to stay. Jean and Lydia's developing romance is soon discovered by Charlie and the rest of the town. While Charlie only shares the secret with the bees, the whole town ostracizes and publicly humiliates the loving couple.
A Touching Tale of Connection
2018's Tell It to the Bees is a romantic drama based on Fiona Shaw’s moving novel. The director of 1994's Super Mario Bros. movie and Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future surprised fans with her latest heartwrenching film. However, the film's third act might jar a few fans, as Roger Ebert.com called it "an almost comical departure."
1 Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
R
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
- Release Date
- December 6, 2019
- Director
- Céline Sciamma
- Cast
- Noemie Merlant
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Writers
- Céline Sciamma
Widely accepted as one of the greatest romantic movies of all time, Portrait of a Lady on Fire moves the observer in the subtle yet passionate waltz between Héloïse and her portrait artist Marianne. Marianne has been hired to paint a wedding portrait for this noble-born woman, who will be married to a suitor in Italy if the portrait is acceptable. But Héloïse is known to be chaotic, and she forced the last artist to quit from exhaustion. So, Marianne must accompany Héloïse by day to observe her and then paint her by night, without her knowing.
An All-Time Great
The film questions the nature of desire, notes the qualities of the female gaze, and points out that only by observing are you drawn deeply into an experience. Writer and director Céline Sciamma has been lauded time and again for her cinematic accomplishment, and the film has won numerous awards in festivals around the world. No queer cinephile would call their lives complete without seeing Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
