Netflix and other streaming services are finally starting to make more LGBTQ+ movies available, and have even produced originals with LGBTQ+ stories at the center — but the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix stand out for both their groundbreaking narratives and the boundaries they break. Netflix has romantic comedies that focus on LGBTQ+ characters like Alex Strangelove and The Half of It as well as several more dramatic yet romantic movies like Brokeback Mountain and Carol.
Netflix has also produced several documentaries about the LGBTQ+ community that delve into lives and events such as the prominent figure Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots and beloved comedian Tig Notaro. There are definitely some great LGBTQ+ movies to watch on Netflix during Pride month this June. From teen musicals and Christmas movies to strong dramedies, Netflix has much to offer the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, as the best LGBTQ+ movies in the Netflix library show.
25 The Prom (2020)
Though The Prom might not be one of Netflix's most loved original movies, it does offer a fun and fresh queer teen story to follow and is arguably one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix. The movie begins when the PTA of a high school cancels prom after Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) requests permission to attend the dance with her girlfriend. The story makes the national news and grabs the attention of struggling Broadway actress Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep).
Determined to get her star power back, Dee Dee ropes in a team of Broadway stars to travel to the small town to throw Emma and the rest of her school the prom they deserve. What helps The Prom stand out is just how much it feels like any other teen movie in tone despite its heavy LGBTQ+ themes — an important selling point for viewers in the target demographic who want a story which speaks to them that isn't incredibly bleak throughout.
24 Ride or Die (2021)
This Japanese thriller features a somewhat tortured lesbian romance between Rei, an out lesbian, and her former classmate Nanae. After Nanae s Rei to murder her abusive husband, the two women go on the run, and the complexity of their decade-old relationship begins to unravel. While most of the LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix are romance dramas, especially centered around teen characters, Ride or Die couldn't be further from this setting.
The Netflix original Ride or Die received generally positive reviews from critics and featured a compelling pair of central performances by Kiko Mizuhara and Honami Sato. While being a grueling watch at times, Ride or Die is recommended for viewers looking for an LGBTQ+ themed crime thriller. While the genre might not be to everyone's tastes, Ride or Die stands out as one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix thanks to increasing representation within this otherwise heteronormative genre.
23 The Boys In The Band (2020)
The Boys In The Band is based on a play of the same name written by Mart Crowley that had already been adapted into a movie by Crowley. This adaptation stars the 2018 Broadway revival cast who reprise their role for the movie. Their experience as the characters clearly paid off, as The Boys In The Band has been one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflxi ever since its 2020 release, and the performance of the cast is largely to thank for this.
Set in New York in 1968, The Boys In The Band centers on Michael (Jim Parsons) who is hosting a party for some of his gay friends. When Michael's old roommate Alan (Brian Hutchinson) shows up at Michael's house, Michael's party is threatened by the fact that Alan doesn't know that Michael is gay. It's a fascinating and interesting take on a situation many queer viewers will be all too familiar with, and this relatable narrative has clearly helped The Boys In The Band gain the following it now enjoys.
22 The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
Not all of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix deal with interpersonal dramas or coming out stories. Some, unfortunately, but necessarily, showcase the many brave individuals who gave their lives in the struggle for queer acceptance. The Death And Life Of Marsha P. Johnson is one such movie, and serves an important purpose in catag the life, times, and tragically, unexplained death of one of the most influential figures in the history of LGBTQ+ activism.
Netflix has been highly regarded for producing strong and engaging documentaries including The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson. The documentary tells the story of transgender woman Marsha P. Johnson, who was highly involved in working toward LGBTQ+ rights, particularly with the Stonewall Riots. The documentary delves into her both her life and her odd 1992 death that police ruled a suicide and never fully investigated. Many still believe to this day that she was murdered.
21 The Half Of It (2020)
The Half of It is a teen drama that follows Ellie Chu as she tries to navigate her love life during the last few months of high school. The shy and introverted Ellie has a crush on Aster but hasn't been able to get the courage to put herself out there. Like The Boys In The Band, it's a movie about a situation many LGBTQ+ viewers will be more than familiar with regardless of gender or orientation.
What makes The Half Of It particularly intriguing among the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix is how it explores this situation and uses it in the plot. Another classmate, the popular jock Paul, also has a crush on Aster and reaches out to Ellie to help him talk to her. Ellie takes the opportunity to talk to Aster through Paul without her realizing it's actually Ellie she's talking to in this quirky Cyrano de Bergerc-inspired LGBTQ+ Netflix original.
20 Single All The Way (2021)
After Hulu released its first original LGBTQ+ movie in 2020, Netflix wasn't far behind releasing its first LGBTQ+ Christmas movie, Single All The Way, the following year. The Christmas romantic comedy centers on Peter (Michael Urie), a gay man whose plan to introduce his family to his boyfriend is ruined when he learns said boyfriend is married. Of course, what gives Single All The Way its own edge among the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix is the fact that it's set in the holiday season — but that doesn't mean its story should be dismissed.
Single All The Way isn't just a queer movie for the holiday season — it's also a charming tale of self-discovery and coming out in its own right. Not wanting to show up at his parents' house single again, he convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to come home with him. While Peter hits it off with a blind date his mom set up, Nick begins to realize that he might have more than platonic feelings for his best friend. It's an LGBTQ+ rom-com that's perfect for the holidays.
19 Disclosure (2020)
Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen is a documentary that chronicles transgender lives being represented in Hollywood on-screen in the past. The movie brings together and interviews prominent transgender people in the industry from Laverne Cox to Alexandra Billings. It's one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix when it comes to the examination of trans rights specifically, and many trans viewers have found it incredibly validating.
The documentary delves into the harmful ways transgender people have been depicted on screen in films like Ace Ventura and Tootsie and takes an approach of education and moving forward from these inaccurate depictions. These are all complaints that many trans movie fans have had for decades, but seeing them voiced and acknowledged in a platform as prominent as Netflix is a huge leap forward. For viewers of all demographics and genders, Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen is not one to be missed.
18 Duck Butter (2018)
Duck Butter is an interesting character-driven movie that follows two women who have become cynical after being betrayed in past relationships and decide to spend a full 24 hours together. Of all the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix, Duck Butter has perhaps the strangest premise. It's an incredibly intimate and character-driven movie that explores much more than LGBTQ+ themes including familial relationships and what it means to be dating in the 21st century no matter who you are.
Naima (Alia Shawkat) and Sergio (Laia Costa) use the day together to get to know each other, which includes an hourly sexual encounter. The two agree to the romantic experiment trying to get back an intimacy they once knew, but nothing goes to plan in this LGBTQ+ comedy. Duck Butter is a cerebral movie with many layers, and comes recommended for anyone looking for a philosophical examination of modern romance, queer or otherwise.
17 Alex Strangelove (2018)
Alex Strangelove is a Netflix original movie about high school senior Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) who is ready to lose his virginity to his girlfriend, but things change when he meets a charming and handsome gay high school student from another school. The title's play on Alex's last name says it all when it comes to this movie and why it's considered one of the best LGBTQ+ movies on Netflix, as it perfectly captures the feelings many queer viewers once in Alex's position share.
Alex has a difficult time reckoning with his feelings about both his girlfriend and the new boy he meets and his own sexuality. In addition to the relatability of the story, Alex Strangelove has also received praise for Daniel Doheny's portrayal of the titular Alex. It also has been applauded for showing the emotional struggle of Claire, Alex's girlfriend, and the ending especially is great in how it shows that often an individual's journey to self-acceptance and understanding isn't one they walk alone.
16 Tig (2015)
Tig is a documentary following comedian Tig Notaro's life after a stand-up performance of hers went viral in 2012. Notaro's candid and raw of being diagnosed with breast cancer struck a chord with many viewers, and the documentary Tig was shot over the year that immediatly followed that moment. Director Kristina Goolsby has said she was inspired to tell the story by Tig's courage and strength in the face of adversity.
The documentary delves into Notaro's battle against stage II breast cancer, her relationship with actress Stephanie Allynne, trying to have a baby, and mourning the loss of her mother. Notaro performs her stand-up as all of these life events are happening, giving the viewer a both humorous and heartfelt view into Tig's mind. The documentary provides an unfiltered look into a LGBTQ+ relationship going through difficult times but ultimately coming out stronger.
