12 Feel Good Queer Films You Can’t Miss

Need some wholesome gay content to warm your cold queer heart this lockdown season?

Times are strange and we didn't get to celebrate pride in the way we deserve so here is a list of happy, heartfelt queer films to get you through 2020's global pandemic! I've tried to include something for everyone but the list is limited to the one's I've seen, I'm sure there are others! Comment any recommendations. :)

1. Dating Amber (2020)

(Dating Amber: Altitude Studios 2020)

A super fun comedy drama about lesbian and gay solidarity. Two gay kids at a school in Ireland start up a fake, straight relationship with each other in hopes of fitting in. It's really lovely to see a film about friendship between queer kids and how they help each other to love themselves by supporting one another. This film really highlights the importance of queer spaces for the LGBTQ+ community and explores the effects that internalised homophobia can have on queer teens growing up. The comedy in this film is hilarious. The 90s aesthetic is cool. The soundtrack is great. And the story is really emotive. Plus, both lead actors are actually gay and best friends, so that's nice.

2. Imagine Me & You (2005)

(Imagine Me & You: United International Pictures 2005)

Let's go, Lesbians! Let's go! A ‘straight’ woman falls in love with the lesbian florist at her own heterosexual wedding. This uplifting romantic-comedy is cute, fun, goofy and excruciatingly not quite as gay as it should be. The story follows a confusing turn of events for a young, newly married woman, Rachel, as she begins to fall in love with another woman, called Luce. Her life is turned upside down with the unexpected arrival of her sexual awakening. Quite inconveniently, this occurs on her wedding day and blossoms further in the weeks that follow. As Rachel desperately tries to understand her love for Luce, she also juggles with the fear of hurting her husband. It’s all very tense and exciting and leads to a race to catch someone leaving for the airport so, all worth it in the end.

3. Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2001)

(Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Killer Films, New Line Cinema 2001)

Excellent, fantastic, amazing, beautiful. This cult classic, based off the stage musical of the same name, tells the moving story of a transgender woman and her search for acceptance, fame and love through the medium of rock music and clever lyrical storytelling. With stunning visuals, costume, makeup and performances, this film is completely captivating and utterly immersive. Although the story itself is both emotional and poignant, covering themes of homophobia and transphobia, Hedwig’s journey through song and witty humour makes this film feel like a warm hug, a comforting nod of encouragement to proudly and fearlessly be yourself.

4. PRIDE (2014)

(Pride: 20th Century Fox 2014)

Pride is a classically British, heartfelt film which follows a group of gay and lesbian activists as they campaign for the workers’ rights of welsh coal miners in 1984. Not only is this film brilliantly funny, but it’s a colourful demonstration of friendship, love, and the coming together of two very unlikely communities as they rise up against a common enemy, Margaret Thatcher and the conservative press. Set in the midst of the aids crisis, this film poignantly highlights the struggles of the LGBT community at this time through the friendships and relationships of its vibrant characters.

5. Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

(Hearts Beat Loud: Gunpowder & Sky 2018)

This is an emotional but uplifting film about the loving and sometimes turbulent relationship between a single father and his daughter. Whilst Frank risks losing his record shop, now unable to pay the rent, Sam, his daughter, is preparing to move across the country and study medicine at UCL. Both share a love of music and start an unlikely pop duo over the summer. But whilst Frank wants to continue writing music, Sam still wants to move away to college, leaving behind her dad, their music and her new girlfriend. It features a lovely, queer relationship between Sam and Rose. Although a little emotional at times, this film really highlights the importance of finding new beginnings and supporting those you love.

6. Benjamin (2018)

(Benjamin: Open Palm Films 2018)

This is a lovely film about learning to love and to be loved. It follows an awkward, lonely filmmaker called Benjamin, played by the wonderful Colin Morgan, who makes films about his past relationships. With the release of his new flick approaching, about his incapability to love, Ben is terrified the film won’t be well received. But when he meets Noah, a young, French musician, Ben is faced with something even more frightening, falling in love. Not only does this film serve the most perfect gay, indie vibes but it’s portrayal of the pretentiousness of the indie film world itself is so funny. The performances are perfect. The aesthetic is lovely. And without being too expressive, it still seems to perfectly convey all those intense feelings of love, longing, sadness, disappointment, relief and happiness.

7. Kinky Boots (2005)

(Kinky Boots: Buena Vista Pictures 2005)

Based on true events, this film is about a shoemaker, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with drag queen, Lola, to make custom shoes for drag queens rather than the usual oxfords and brogues he's used to, in order to save his failing business. With Charlie being pretty boring and serious and Lola being STUNNING and charismatic, there is a really great dynamic between them throughout the film which makes for a really fun watch. The soundtrack is excellent. Chiwetel Ejiofor serves SO MANY iconic looks. And the story really highlights the gorgeous, creative and welcoming culture surrounding the drag world which many people don't understand.

8. Saving Face (2006)

(Saving Face: Sony Pictures Classics 2004)

This romantic-comedy will have you smiling from start to finish. The story follows Wilhelmina, a young surgeon from a traditional Chinese family, whose mother relentlessly attempts to set her up with men despite knowing she is a lesbian. It features an insanely cute romance between Wil and her girlfriend, plus highlights the struggles of gay identities in a traditionally conservative family environment. When Wil’s mum unexpectedly moves in with her, Wil struggles to ever have any alone time. With this constant battle for privacy, and with her job being extremely demanding, Wil’s relationship with her partner starts to hit some bumps. One of the major questions in this film is whether or not Wil is willing to fight for the woman she loves and, ultimately, accept her identity as a gay woman despite her family’s views.

9. Booksmart (2019)

(Booksmart: United Artists Releasing 2019)

A teen comedy with a queer lead that isn’t a coming out story or made into a big deal? It’s lit. This film is about a heart-warming friendship between two socially awkward girls and their rampage across town as they desperately try to make up for all the partying they didn’t do when studying in high school. Every character in this film is hilarious and the hijinks they get up to is ridiculous. As the main characters, Amy and Molly, endeavour to have fun, be reckless and hook up with their long-time crushes, SO MANY things go wrong. It will have you giggling along, no doubt. Plus, the film stars Beanie Felstead, a true lesbian icon of our time. In this film, no one sees the queer character’s sexuality as anything other than normal. It’s an outstandingly fun film with outstandingly respectful representation of queer youth. Nuff said!

10. Love, Simon (2018)

(Love, Simon: 20th Century Fox 2018)

A wholesome story about a soft boy who learns to come to terms with his sexuality when he falls in love online. This film isn’t perfect but it really captures the fear many people feel when faced with coming out. Simon is a nice, normal, straight-passing teenager who feels weighed down by keeping his sexuality a secret. After a kid anonymously comes out online via a school gossip page, Simon anonymously replies, and the two boys begin talking. As Simon falls in love for the first time, he has to deal with the prospect of being outed after someone finds out about his sexuality. The film explores Simon’s fear of how the people close to him would react if they knew he was gay, which is nicely wrapped up in a lovely fluffy teen rom-com bubble. If you’ve always dreamt about Jennifer Gardner telling you that it’s okay to exhale now, this is the film for you.

11. Handsome Devil (2017)

(Handsome Devil: Icon Film Distribution 2017)

Sometimes you just need Andrew Scott to tell you that things are going to get better. As it follows two boys and the bullying they face at an all boys boarding school, this coming of age drama challenges gay stereotypes and teaches its audience that it’s okay to be yourself in a world that’s telling you not to be. This isn’t a romantic film, it’s about a platonic connection between two boys who are united by the alienation they feel in a heteronormative society. The film depicts not only the struggles the boys face but also those of their teacher, who is also gay. It’s a film where everyone learns from each other and becomes a little more open to accepting others and themselves.

12. Collette (2018)

(Colette: Lionsgate 2018)

In 19th century France, real life bad ass, Collette, writes a bestselling novel about her youth and then lives happily ever after with a charming trans man after her husband becomes bankrupt. Love that for her!

This fascinating true story is a really unique look inside the arts community of Paris in the late 1800s. It features a passionate relationship between Collette and her husband which ultimately drives an originally naïve Collette to becoming an intelligent, independent, sexually curious woman with an untameable creative streak. This film is another exciting window inside the world’s queer past which is often ignored or erased from the history books. Plus, it has Keira Knightly in a suit!

If any of the issues in these films have affected you and you would like to talk, help is available at Stonewall.org.uk.

#lgbt #lgbtq #queer #queerfilm #feelgoodfilm