20 Films Where Being Gay Is Just One Part of the Character

Modern cinema has increasingly moved toward portraying LGBTQ+ characters whose storylines are defined by their actions rather than their sexuality. These films feature complex individuals who happen to be gay while navigating plots centered on crime, sci-fi exploration, or saving the world. The focus remains on their professional competence or personal flaws rather than a struggle for acceptance. This evolution in screenwriting allows for richer character development and more varied storytelling across all genres.

‘Tár’ (2022)

Lydia Tár acts as the chief conductor of a major German orchestra while preparing for a career-defining live recording. Her life involves a domestic partnership with her concertmaster and raising their adopted daughter in a stark Berlin apartment. The narrative focuses intensely on her abuse of power and the systematic dismantling of her professional reputation. Her sexuality is presented as a casual fact that requires no explanation or justification within the high-stakes world of classical music.

‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2022)

Detective Benoit Blanc travels to a private island in Greece to solve a layered murder mystery hosted by a tech billionaire. The film offers a brief glimpse into his personal life by revealing he lives with a male partner. This detail humanizes the eccentric sleuth without distracting from his brilliant deduction skills or the complex crime at hand. Blanc remains the smartest person in the room as he dissects the motives of the wealthy suspects.

‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)

Lorraine Broughton enters Berlin just before the fall of the Wall to retrieve a stolen list of double agents. She engages in a casual relationship with a French operative while battling enemy spies in brutal hand-to-hand combat. The film prioritizes her lethal efficiency and the gritty atmosphere of cold war espionage over romantic entanglements. Her connections serve merely as assets or liabilities in her mission to survive the dangerous assignment.

‘The Old Guard’ (2020)

Joe and Nicky are immortal warriors who have fought side by side for centuries to protect humanity. Their enduring romance is a source of strength that grounds them through endless wars and violent deaths. The plot centers on their team fighting to escape a pharmaceutical CEO who intends to harvest their genetic code. They display elite tactical skills and unwavering loyalty to their leader throughout the action-packed narrative.

‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)

Private investigator Gay Perry mentors a struggling actor through a labyrinth of murder and Hollywood corruption. Perry defies stereotypes by being the toughest and most competent character in the film. He uses his sharp wit and combat skills to save his partner from various dangerous situations. The script treats his sexuality as a matter-of-fact trait that barely registers amidst the chaotic noir mystery.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)

Wallace Wells serves as the cool and collected roommate who supports the protagonist through video game-style battles. He navigates his own dating life in the background while offering dry commentary on the unfolding chaos. His character functions as a source of stability and humor without his storylines revolving around angst or discrimination. Wallace steals every scene he is in with his effortless confidence and biting sarcasm.

‘ParaNorman’ (2012)

Mitch Downe appears to be a stereotypical jock who joins the main characters in their fight against a witch’s curse. The film uses him to subvert audience expectations regarding the typical horror movie muscle man. A casual comment at the end of the movie reveals he has a boyfriend and breaks the assumed romantic tension with another character. This reveal is played for laughs and highlights the theme of not judging others based on appearances.

‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ (2018)

Lee Israel turns to forging literary letters from deceased celebrities when her writing career hits a dead end. She navigates the lonely landscape of New York City while barely tolerating other people. Her sexuality acts as a background detail to her curmudgeonly personality and her life of crime. The film studies her moral flexibility and her desperate need for artistic validation rather than her romantic preferences.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

Amy Antsler is a high school overachiever who decides to break the rules on the night before graduation. Her motivation stems from a desire to prove she can be fun rather than a struggle with her identity. She chases a crush on a female classmate while navigating a series of bizarre parties with her best friend. The story celebrates intense female friendship and the anxiety of moving on to the next chapter of life.

‘I Care a Lot’ (2020)

Marla Grayson operates a predatory guardianship scheme where she seizes the assets of vulnerable elderly people. She runs this ruthless business alongside her girlfriend and partner Fran. The film portrays them as a formidable team facing off against a dangerous gangster in a battle of wits. Marla is defined by her ambition and lack of empathy rather than her personal life.

‘The Favourite’ (2018)

Queen Anne sits on the throne of early 18th-century England while plague and war ravage the country outside her palace. Her affections become a tool for political manipulation between her advisor Sarah and a new servant named Abigail. The characters use intimacy as a weapon to gain influence over state affairs and secure their own survival. Historical accuracy blends with dark comedy to showcase three women fighting for dominance.

‘Star Trek Beyond’ (2016)

Hikaru Sulu pilots the USS Enterprise deep into uncharted space where the crew faces a new enemy. A scene at the starbase shows him greeting his husband and daughter before the mission begins. This moment seamlessly integrates his family life into the utopian future the franchise represents. Sulu proves his value through his piloting expertise and his dedication to his fellow crewmates during the crisis.

‘Eternals’ (2021)

Phastos is an immortal inventor who has helped shape human technology over thousands of years. He lives a quiet life in the suburbs with his husband and son until a global threat forces him back into action. His reluctance to leave his family provides the emotional stakes for his character arc. The film treats his domestic happiness with the same weight as the relationships of the other superheroes.

‘Knock at the Cabin’ (2023)

Andrew and Eric are vacationing at a remote rental cabin with their young daughter when strangers take them hostage. The couple must make an impossible sacrifice to supposedly prevent the end of the world. Their relationship establishes the love they have to lose without the plot focusing on societal issues. The tension drives entirely from the psychological horror and the mysterious nature of the intruders.

‘Nimona’ (2023)

Ballister Boldheart is a disgraced knight trying to clear his name after being framed for killing the queen. His bond with another knight named Ambrosius serves as the emotional core of his past. The main story focuses on his chaotic partnership with a shapeshifting teenager who loves destruction. They work together to expose the corruption rotting the heart of their futuristic kingdom.

‘Legend’ (2015)

Ronnie Kray rules the London criminal underworld alongside his twin brother Reggie during the 1960s. He is openly gay and prone to unpredictable violence that terrifies his enemies. The film explores the volatile dynamic between the brothers as they build their empire. Ronnie remains a frightening figure whose psychopathy defines him far more than his sexual preference.

‘Strange World’ (2022)

Ethan Clade joins his explorer father and grandfather on a journey into a bizarre subterranean ecosystem. His crush on another boy is accepted immediately by his family and mentioned casually in conversation. The narrative prioritizes the environmental mystery and the generational trauma that plagues the Clade men. Ethan uses his empathy and intelligence to bridge the gap between his feuding relatives.

‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ (2022)

Alice hosts a hurricane party at her family’s mansion that quickly descends into paranoia and violence. She is a vapid podcaster who introduces her older boyfriend to her group of wealthy friends. Her shallow observations provide dark comic relief as the characters turn on each other. The film satirizes Gen Z culture and class privilege without making sexuality the source of the conflict.

‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ (2019)

Morf Vandewalt works as a powerful art critic who can destroy careers with a single negative review. He navigates the superficial Los Angeles art scene while investigating a series of supernatural deaths connected to a dead painter. His romantic life is incidental to his role as a tastemaker facing a deadly force. The horror elements punish the characters for their greed and vanity regardless of who they love.

‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ (2021)

Katie Mitchell is a creative outsider embarking on a road trip to film school with her dysfunctional family. She wears a rainbow pin and mentions a girlfriend at the end of the movie as a natural part of her life. The story focuses on her artistic ambitions and her efforts to reconnect with her father. She uses her filmmaking skills to save humanity from a rogue artificial intelligence uprising.

Please share which of these characters you found most compelling in the comments.