The greatest LGBTQ+ drama movies offer strong stories, memorable characters, and emotional payoffs that stick with you long after they're over. They focus on a variety of subjects and approach them in both subtle and more overt manners. They come from big studios and independent distributors. The top LGBTQ+ drama movies, like Brokeback Mountain and Moonlight, have even found themselves nominated for -- or winning -- Academy Awards. In every way, these are some of the most important movies of our time.
This list includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people dramas. Vote up the best LGBTQ+ drama films to make sure they make it to the top of the list and vote down any movies that you didn't like. If you have a particularly dramatic favorite that's not on the list, add it, then check back to see how other users are rating your choice.
1
194Call Me by Your Name
Armie Hammer, Timothee ChalametReleased: 2017
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 Italian-American romantic coming-of-age drama film directed by... more on Wikipedia2
120Maurice
Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh GrantReleased: 1987
Directed by: James Ivory
Maurice is a 1987 British romantic drama film based on the novel of the same title by E. M.... more on Wikipedia3
154Moonlight
Trevante Rhodes, André HollandReleased: 2016
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Moonlight is a 2016 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, based on... more on Wikipedia4
167Brokeback Mountain
Anne Hathaway, Jake GyllenhaalReleased: 2005
Directed by: Ang Lee
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American epic romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a... more on Wikipedia5
155Desert Hearts
Jeffrey Tambor, Audra LindleyReleased: 1985
Directed by: Donna Deitch
Desert Hearts is a 1985 lesbian-themed romantic drama film loosely based on the Jane Rule... more on Wikipedia6
90My Own Private Idaho
Keanu Reeves, Jim CaviezelReleased: 1991
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 American independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van... more on Wikipedia7
80My Beautiful Laundrette
Daniel Day-Lewis, Saeed JaffreyReleased: 1985
Directed by: Stephen Frears
My Beautiful Laundrette is a 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a... more on Wikipedia8
62Weekend
Tom Cullen, Kieran HardcastleReleased: 2011
Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Weekend is a 2011 drama romance film written and directed by Andrew Haigh.9
62BPM (Beats per Minute)
Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud ValoisReleased: 2017
Directed by: Robin Campillo
BPM (Beats per Minute) is a 2017 French drama film directed by Robin Campillo. Members of the... more on Wikipedia10
11Cal
Helen Mirren, John LynchReleased: 1984
Directed by: Pat O'Connor
Cal is a 1984 Irish drama film directed by Pat O'Connor and starring John Lynch and Helen... more on Wikipedia11
20Urbania
Alan Cumming, Paige TurcoReleased: 2000
Directed by: Jon Matthews
Urbania is a 2000 independent drama film based on the play Urban Folk Tales. It was nominated... more on Wikipedia12
40Angels in America
Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey WrightReleased: 2003
Directed by: Mike Nichols
Angels in America is a 2003 HBO miniseries adapted from the play of the same name by Tony... more on Wikipedia13
10Milk
James Franco, Sean PennReleased: 2008
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Milk is a 2008 American biographical film based on the life of gay rights activist and... more on Wikipedia14
01Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
Daniel Craig, Tilda SwintonReleased: 1998
Directed by: John Maybury
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon is a 1998 film made for television by... more on Wikipedia15
10And the Band Played On
Ian McKellen, Steve MartinReleased: 1993
Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode
And the Band Played On is a 1993 American television film docudrama directed by Roger... more on Wikipedia16
00Red Dirt
Karen Black, Walton GogginsReleased: 2000
Directed by: Tag Purvis
Red Dirt is a 2000 American film written and directed by Tag Purvis. The film starred Dan... more on Wikipedia17
00Borstal Boy
Michael York, Danny DyerReleased: 2002
Directed by: Peter Sheridan
Borstal Boy is a 2000 British/Irish romantic drama film adaptation of the Brendan Behan... more on Wikipedia18
10Cock & Bull Story
Kelly Macdonald, Brian Austin GreenReleased: 2003
Directed by: Billy Hayes
19
10Doing Time on Maple Drive
Jim Carrey, Lori LoughlinReleased: 1992
Directed by: Ken Olin
Doing Time on Maple Drive is a 1992 drama television film. Written by James Duff and directed... more on Wikipedia20
01Sin Destino
Roberto Cobo, Mariana GajaReleased: 2002
Directed by: Leopoldo Laborde
21
40Quinceañera
Emily Rios, Alicia SixtosReleased: 2006
Directed by: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Quinceañera is a 2006 American independent drama film written and directed by Richard Glatzer... more on Wikipedia22
20Hate Crime
Giancarlo Esposito, Susan BlakelyReleased: 2006
Directed by: Tommy Stovall
Hate Crime is a 2005 drama film written and directed by Tommy Stovall and starring Seth... more on Wikipedia23
20Save Me
Stephen Lang, Judith LightReleased: 2007
Directed by: Robert Cary
Save Me is a 2007 film directed by Robert Cary about Mark, a drug-addicted homosexual man who... more on Wikipedia24
20Shelter
Albert Reed, Alicia SixtosReleased: 2007
Directed by: Jonah Markowitz
Shelter is a 2007 American film directed and written by Jonah Markowitz. It stars Trevor... more on Wikipedia25
42All About My Mother
Penélope Cruz, Fernando Fernan GomezReleased: 1999
Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
All About My Mother is a 1999 Spanish comedy-drama film written and directed by Pedro... more on Wikipedia
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25