Below are what I think are the best, most positive, most sincere, most respectful, most entertaining, and most hopeful of queer content in films. Most of them have explicitly queer protagonists - no stereotypical "gay best accessories friends", no token queer side characters who barely do anything and are not much of a presence, no queerbaiting; none of that nonsense is present. Neither is any exploitation and toxicity, and Bury Your Gays is not welcome. This list is legitimate.
Even though I don't belong in any queer groups myself, I will forever support the queer and trans community. I will forever support and celebrate progress, inclusivity, and love and humanity in all forms.
So here is an ally's list of Top LGBTQA+ Films. (Not all of the inclusions are followed by my comments.) Judge me and critique them (and the order they're in) if you want from what you will find on this personal favourites list.
22. Barbie & the Diamond Castle (2008) - Oh it totally counts! Barbie movies are pretty gay overall, but Diamond Castle, a 2008 animated feature length toy commercial, is the gayest of them all. It's about two women who live alone in the woods together, who sing about how much they love each other, who make love heart necklaces for each other, who have more chemistry and a meaningful connection together than with their male "love interests", and they once get away from said love interests by riding on a rainbow. COME ON! "Friendship". Sure, and I'm a sea monkey.
21. The Half of It (2020)
20. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) - Valkyrie. And same sex rock people's consummation. Nuff said. Impressive, considering the MCU's notorious queerbaiting. Shiny, rainbow coloured fun.
19. D.E.B.S. (2004) - It looks and acts cheap. But darn it if it's not love-filled lesbian entertainment. That it got made and released at all is a glorious triumph.
18. Some Like It Hot (1959) - A classic for a reason. The film that extremely likely helped kill the Hays Code. One of Marilyn Monroe's best.
17. Saving Face (2004) - Proto-The Half of It (same director, Alice Wu), and in my opinion, it is oddly superior. A deeply personal movie. Sad, tender, funny, and satisfying.
16. But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) - Cult classic (as are many on this list, inevitably). A funny yet terrifyingly true, reflective and effective satire, with a bubble gum aesthetic to highlight the absurdity of conversion therapy, as well as conservative gender roles. Plus it stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, RuPaul, Melanie Lynskey, Michelle Williams, and Dante Basco. You can't go wrong with a cast like that.
15. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) - If you haven't seen it already, do yourself a favour and get to it. You won't regret it.
14. A Fantastic Woman (2017)
13. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) - An example of a lesbian historical drama - an independent film period piece - that isn't boring as hell or gimmicky or Oscar-baity. It's not so tragic at the end, either. It's raw, honest, touching, and beautifully and spectacularly made. Rewatchable art.
12. The Handmaiden (2016) - A miracle of a film. An Asian lesbian historical thriller (and how thrilling and raw it is!), and one of the best anti-patriarchy films ever made. Epic in scope. Based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, only set in Japanese-occupied Korea.
11. Booksmart (2019) - Such a funny, warm, nice and unforgettable "woke" teen comedy. Female friendships and coming-of-age queer explorations go hand in hand. A unique experience, like Thelma & Louise, Bridesmaids, and A Simple Favor - because just like those movies, despite how hugely successful they were, not another like them has been made afterwards (though Bridesmaids has had a few imitators that only pick up on the worst of that film, meaning the gross-out "humour". Typical). Because fuck Hollywood and its cowardice, and its passive-aggressive misogyny and homophobia.
10. Love, Simon (2018) - Based on the lovely book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Almost-as-lovely adaptation. A coming-of-age teen popcorn flick.
9. Pride (2014) - Educational, uplifting and brilliant.
8. Colette (2018) - Keira Knightley's best film, hands down.
7. Battle of the Sexes (2017) - No queer erasure in this biopic. A wonderful, entertaining, emotional, life affirming, heartwrenching and heart-soaring feature, about amazing, iconic idols like Billie Jean King.
6. Happiest Season (2020) - One of my favourite Christmas movies. Such a sweet, hopeful thing. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis are absolute queens.
5. The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018) - Now onto my all time favourite films. Chloë Grace Moretz's best in anything she's ever done. One of the best LGBTQA+ and friendship films ever made.
4. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) - The protagonist Katie is queer - it isn't subtext - and she's in one of the greatest animated films in recent years, if not ever. I love this family gem to atoms.
3. The Watermelon Woman (1996) - Can you name another film like this Black sapphic shoestring-budget mockumentary? Trick question - you can't. It is 26 years old, and is like no other thing on the planet. How incredibly sad and telling.
2. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) - Not just for Wonder Woman fans. An LBGTQ creative masterpiece. An ethereal historical magnum opus. Nothing conventional or conservative about it.
1. Bound (1996) - A classic and always will be, and it's made by two transgender sisters in their directorial debut. One of the greatest films in all of cinema, that can easily be made into a play. Why hasn't it been adapted to stage yet?!
Happy Pride all year round.
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