The cinematic world has seen a multitude of films that explore the diverse experiences and stories of the LGBT community. Here, we highlight fifteen highly-rated LGBT movies on IMDb, each of which has made a significant impact through its storytelling, direction, and performances, along with the awards they have garnered.
1. The Handmaiden (2016)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Director: Park Chan-wook
Stars: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Synopsis: Set in 1930s Korea, a woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress but secretly becomes involved in a plot to defraud her.
Awards: BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, Cannes Film Festival Vulcan Award for Technical Artist.
2. Prayers for Bobby (2009)
Genre: Biography, Drama
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny, Ryan Kelley
Synopsis: This true story follows Mary Griffith, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance, leading her to become a gay rights crusader.
Awards: Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress (Sigourney Weaver), GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
Synopsis: An introverted freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.
Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature, GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film.
4. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Stars: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg
Synopsis: In 1980s Italy, a romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father’s research assistant.
Awards: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Golden Globe for Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet).
5. All About My Mother (1999)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Stars: Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña
Synopsis: This film follows young Esteban’s quest to become a writer and discover the identity of his father, which is carefully concealed by his mother.
Awards: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award.
6. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Ang Lee
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams
Synopsis: This iconic film tells the story of a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys, and how their bond evolves over the years.
Awards: Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
7. Happy Together (1997)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Synopsis: A Hong Kong couple’s journey to Argentina leads them to confront the challenges in their relationship.
Awards: Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-wai).
8. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Stars: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask
Synopsis: A transgender punk rock singer from East Berlin tours the U.S. in search of the ex-lover who stole her songs.
Awards: Sundance Film Festival Audience Award and Best Director Award.
9. Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche
Stars: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche
Synopsis: A French teenager’s life is changed when she meets an older art student with blue hair, igniting a passionate romance.
Awards: Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
10. Philadelphia (1993)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Jonathan Demme
Stars: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Roberta Maxwell
Synopsis: A lawyer with AIDS sues his firm for discrimination, with the help of a homophobic small-time attorney.
Awards: Academy Awards for Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Original Song (“Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen).
11. Weekend (2011)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Director: Andrew Haigh
Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race
Synopsis: A one-night stand between two men grows into an unexpected relationship over the course of a weekend.
Awards: British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer (Tom Cullen).
12. Moonlight (2016)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.4
Director: Barry Jenkins
Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes
Synopsis: Moonlight chronicles the life of a young African-American man as he grapples with his identity and sexuality while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.
Awards: Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
13. Carol (2015)
Genre: Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Director: Todd Haynes
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson
Synopsis: An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.
Awards: Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
14. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Gus Van Sant
Stars: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo
Synopsis: Two friends embark on a journey of personal discovery, with one searching for his long-lost mother.
Awards: Independent Spirit Awards for Best Male Lead (River Phoenix) and Best Screenplay.
15. The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
Synopsis: Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their biological father into their non-traditional family life.
Awards: Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress (Annette Bening).
These films offer a rich tapestry of LGBT experiences, each contributing to a broader understanding and appreciation of the community’s stories and struggles.
