There are an increasing number of incredible gay movies online and on Netflix and we simply can’t get enough of them.
It’s not just because these online gay movies are excellent, it’s because they provide story lines, characters and topics that we can actually relate to.
Whether it’s a story line focused on being gay, gay romance or simply the inclusion and representation of LGBTQ+ characters, having a solid selection of gay movies online is a relatively recent offering.
If we think back to our teenage years, the number of gay movies available online was a mere fraction of what is available nowadays. For us this is an amazing thing to see.
Whilst Netflix has many gay movies available, it is also worth mentioning a few that we have watched over the years (not on Netflix) that you also can’t miss.
Let’s get started with our countdown of the best gay movies on Netflix right now! (If you want the best gay movies online which are not on Netflix scroll down to the bottom)
Note: This depends on your location. Every country has a slightly different selection of gay movies available.
Top 10 Gay Movies on Netflix Right Now
There are many more gay movies on Netflix than featured in this list, however this is our personal top 10 based on what we have watched ourselves: [no_toc]
1) Call Me By Your Name
Set in 1973 in the Italian countryside, 17-year-old Elio forms an intense and romantic bond with his father’s research assistant Oliver.
Call Me By Your Name won an academy award for Best Adapted Screenplay (it was based on a gay book) and Timothee Chalamet nominated for his performance.
Why we enjoyed it? The film spans the course of an entire summer and the sexual tension throughout is palpable, realistic and you can feel the frustration for the characters involved. Whilst the film is a long at 2 hours 11 minutes, it will keep you hooked until the end.
- Release Year: 2017
- Running time: 2 hours 11 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.9/10
2) Holding The Man
Holding the Man follows the life story of Tim and John.
It starts with them falling in love as teenagers and follows them through 15 years of everything from joy, to jealously, discrimination, trials and tribulations.
Why we think you should watch it? Holding the Man is one of those gay movies that will give you a rollercoaster of emotions. It will make you laugh, cry, despair and most of all, hopefully relate with the characters.
- Release year: 2015
- Running time: 2 hours 7 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.4/10
3) Alex Strangelove
The first two gay movies in our list are fairly intense so let’s keep things a bit lighter with Alex Strangelove.
Alex is a high school model student with straight A’s, high school president and has a long term girlfriend, Clare.
With the mounting pressure to have sex with his girlfriend, he suddenly meets a new guy at school who makes him question everything.
Why we enjoyed it? Alex Strangelove was a refreshing and positive representation of what it can be like to be a high school student in todays day and age. It gave representation to a whole spectrum of the LGBTQ+ rainbow and was a heart-warming easy watch.
- Release year:2018
- Running time: 1 hour 39 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.3/10
4) 4th Man Out
This light-hearted gay movie on Netflix has won a number of film festival awards and it’s easy to see why.
4th Man Out tells the story of a small-town car mechanic coming out of the closet to his closest and unsuspecting, blue-collar best friends.
Why watch it? We enjoyed this film because it put all stereotypes aside and provided a thoughtful, charming and funny script that will absolutely leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling inside.
- Release year:2015
- Running time: 1 hour 26 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.7/10
5) The Perfection
Looking for a complete mind f*ck? Watch The Perfection.
When troubled musical prodigy Charlotte seeks out Elizabeth the new star pupil of her former school, things get intimate, crazy and take you on one of the wildest rides that you simply cannot predict.
Why we enjoyed it? We were hooked from the beginning and it got more and more intense as the film went on with some jaw dropping moments.
- Release year:2018
- Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.1/10
6) King Cobra
Based on the true story of corn star character Brent Corrigan, this gay movie tells a story of producer vs corn star with some shocking twists and turns along the way.
Why watch it? This is one for when you are hungover on a Sunday afternoon and need something trashy, gratuitous and easy to watch.
- Release year:2016
- Running time: 1 hour 31 minutes
- Imdb rating: 5.6/10
7) Beach Rats
Beach Rats is a gritty drama following the story of a Brooklyn teenager who spends his days experimenting with substances and wrestling his time between his macho friends, family and the older men he has been meeting online.
Why watch it? Beach Rats received 12 wins and 16 film award nominations. It is controversial, understated and tense.
- Release year:2017
- Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.4/10
8) I Am Michael
Based on a true story, I Am Michael follows the life of a gay-rights advocate (James Franco) who shocks his boyfriend (Zachary Quinto), friends and family when he publicly renounces his homosexuality and marries a woman (Emma Roberts).
Why watch it? If you are looking for something controversial, intense and still very relevant in this day and age we think you will enjoy I Am Michael.
- Release year:2015
- Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes
- Imdb rating: 5.6/10
9) Loev
Representing a minority within a minority, Loev explores the tale of two friends in India on a weekend away where feelings suddenly take over, making them each question what love is and what it means to them.
- Release year:2015
- Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes
- Imdb rating: 5.9/10
10) Ideal Home
Finally, for a bit of drama mixed with comedy take a look at Ideal Home.
Gay couple Erasmus and Paul are suddenly thrown into family life when one finds out they have a grandson.
The unexpected task of raising a ten-year-old boy provides some laughs, drama and heartfelt moments.
- Release year: 2018
- Running time: 1 hour 31 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.5/10
11) Your Name Engraved Herein
- Release year: 2020
- Running time: 1 hour 54 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.2/10
12) Prom
In this musical comedy, with an incredible cast (including Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and James Cordon), failing Broadway stars take it upon themselves to show LGBTQ+ ally ship in a small Indiana town to fight for two girls to go to prom together.
- Release year: 2020
- Running time: 2 hour 12 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6/10
13) Handsome Devil
Challenging the stereotypes that plat into sports, two guys from opposite ends of the social spectrum, a loner and the top rugby player become unlikely friends leading to comedy, drama and a story we can all probably relate to in some way or another.
Why watch it?A cute take on modern life in the UK and a story that never ages.
- Release year: 2016
- Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7/10
14) The Boys in the Band
Dark, self-reflective and quite a wild ride, The Boys in the Band was nothing like I expected.
Based on a play, a gathering of gay men in New York City in 1968 in interrupted by the high school friend of the lead gay character, played impeccably by Jim Parsens (who we are used to seeing as Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory).
What ensues is in some parts, difficult to watch (for the right reasons), watching the characters deal with deep emotions, internalised homophobia and many struggles that are common in the LGBTQ+ community. A real eye-opener.
Why watch it? Put none better than Broadway World: ”he Boys in the Band helped spark a revolution by putting gay men’s lives onstage, unapologetically and without judgment, in a world that was not yet willing to fully accept them”
- Release year: 2020
- Running time: 2 hours 2 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.8/10
Bonus Gay Documentary: Dreamboat
Dreamboat is a documentary about a few individuals and their experience on-board an all gay cruise.
It’s insightful and intriguing to watch.
Why watch it? This was really interesting for us to watch before our own first gay cruise. Check out all our content on what it’s really like on-board a gay cruise here.
- Release year:2017
- Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes
- Imdb rating: n/a
Best Gay Movies Online (Not on Netflix)
Some of the following gay movies have been on Netflix at certain times (and since removed), but in any case, we are sure you will find them online somewhere.
Make sure you watch:
Bridegroom
Bridegroom is a documentary which follow the true events of Shane Bitney Crone.
After the same-sex marriage law is passed in California, life takes a tragic turn when Tom, Shanes partner of six years and fiance, accidentally dieട and Tom’s family refuses Shane from attending the funeral.
Why Watch it? This is not enjoyable to watch and I have never cried so much during my life. But it is important to watch, terrifying in some respects and all we can hope is that it’s message of love and acceptance is heard far and wide.
- Release year:2013
- Running time: 1 hours 20 minutes
- Imdb rating: 8/10
Moonlight
Moonlight is an academy award winning film which follows Chiron, a young African-American boy through his life and is a well thought out and deeply engaging coming of age story.
Why watch it? The film received universal acclaim for it’s depiction of the difficulties that Chiron faces with his sexuality and identity, including the physical and emotional abuടe he endures growing up.
- Release year:2017
- Running time: 1 hours 51 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.4/10
Milk
The true story of Harvey Milk should be known by every LGBTQ+ person.
Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk as we follow his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official.
Why watch it? Everyone should watch this but it is especially important for younger generations to further understand and appreciate the history of the gay rights movement.
- Release year: 2008
- Running time: 2 hours 8 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.5/10
Love Simon
Back to something light-hearted with Love Simon.
Love Simon is a modern coming out story that will tug at your heart strings, make you laugh and maybe cry a little.
Why Watch it? Watch Love Simon for that feel-good feeling and to put a smile on your face.
- Release year:2018
- Running time: 1 hours 50 minutes
- Imdb rating: 7.6/10
Boy Erased
Boy Erased is another true story which follows Jared, the son of a Baptist in the US, who is forced to come out to his parents.
The core of the film sees Jared sent to a church-supported gay conversion program and how this affects him and his relationship with his parents.
Why watch it? It’s painful to watch knowing that these programmes still exist but equally that is why it’s so important that this film exists and people learn from them.
- Release year: 2018
- Running time: 1 hours 55 minutes
- Imdb rating: 6.9/10
There are so many more gay movies out there, let us know which ones would make your list?
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He Xon
Sunday 15th of March 2020
Where Are The Gay Black Movies...???!!!!!
The Globetrotter Guys
Sunday 22nd of March 2020
Hi there, thanks for your comment. This was not intentional by any means; rather a list of the movies that we have watched based on what is available to us in our location here in the UK. If you have any recommendations please do feel free to let us know and we will happily check them out!