The Best LGBTQ+ Movies On Netflix

Whether it’s modern classics like Milk, high-quality independent films like Miles, or top-notch documentaries like Paris is Burning, this list of the best gay movies on Netflix has everything from serious, heartfelt emotion to roll-around-on-the-floor laughter.

The best homosexual movies on Netflix include unmissable films such as Carol, based on the groundbreaking novel by Patricia Highsmith that boldly tackled lesbian love at a time when the subject was still controversial. Also included are the Netflix original People You May Know and the teen comedy G.B.F.  

Netflix has a wide variety of queer movies, many of which have become timeless classics. Vote up the best gay genre films on this list below!


  • Your Name Engraved Herein
    Photo: user uploaded image
    Your Name Engraved Herein is a 2020 Taiwanese romantic historical drama directed by Patrick Kuang-Hui Liu. In 1987, after decades of martial law is lifted in Taiwan, two schoolboys enter an illicit love affair after meeting in the school band led by a Canadian priest.
    • Actors: Jean-François Blanchard, Akira Chen, Edward Chen
    • Released: 2020
    • Directed by: Kuang-Hui Liu
    29 votes
  • Handsome Devil
    Photo: Metaweb / CC-BY
    Handsome Devil is a 2016 Irish drama film directed by John Butler. Two opposites, a loner and the top athlete at a rugby-obsessed boarding school become friends, and the authorities test their friendship.
    • Actors: Nicholas Galitzine, Fionn O'Shea
    • Directed by: John Butler
    62 votes
  • Holding the Man
    Photo: user uploaded image
    Holding the Man is a 2015 Australian romantic drama film directed by Neil Armfield, adapted from Timothy Conigrave's 1995 memoir of the same name.
    • Actors: Ryan Corr Craig Stott
    • Released: 2015
    • Directed by: Neil Armfield
    38 votes
  • The Half of It
    Photo: The Half of It
    4
    27 VOTES

    The Half of It

    In the quiet town of Squahamish, introverted Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) makes a living out of writing homework for her classmates. However, when football player Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) approaches her with an unusual request - to write love letters to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), the girl they both secretly love - Ellie's life takes an unexpected turn. The Half of It, a coming-of-age drama directed by Alice Wu, weaves a unique tale of friendship, love, and self-discovery. Recognized for its fresh perspective on young love, the film won the Best Narrative Feature award at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival.
    • Actors: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Becky Ann Baker
    • Released: 2020
    • Directed by: Alice Wu
    27 votes

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  • Moonlight
    Photo: Moonlight
    5
    36 VOTES
    Moonlight is a profound, genre-defying drama that unfolds in three acts. The film follows the life of Chiron, portrayed at different stages by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes. In the heart of Miami's rough neighborhood, young Chiron navigates his tumultuous home life and grapples with his emerging sexuality. Naomi Harris plays his drug-addicted mother, while Mahershala Ali shines as the caring drug dealer who becomes a father figure to him. This Oscar-winning masterpiece explores themes of identity, masculinity, and love with nuanced sensitivity and compelling storytelling.
    • Actors: Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Janelle Monáe
    • Released: 2016
    • Directed by: Barry Jenkins
    36 votes

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  • 6
    144 VOTES
    Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York City, Carol is a tale of unexpected romance. Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a young photographer entranced by the glamorous Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). As their connection deepens, so do the societal obstacles they face. Directed by Todd Haynes and based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt, the film delves into forbidden love and self-discovery. Garnering six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for both Blanchett and Mara, Carol is a poignant exploration of emotion under constraint.
    • Actors: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler, Cory Michael Smith
    • Released: 2015
    • Directed by: Todd Haynes
    144 votes

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