15 Best Gay Movies on Netflix
Finding great gay stories on Netflix is easier when you know what to look for. From heartfelt coming of age tales to historical dramas and eye opening documentaries, the service has a deep bench of films that center gay characters and experiences across genres and countries. Many of these are Netflix originals, while others are international standouts that found a wider audience through streaming.
This list brings together movies that focus on gay protagonists, relationships, and history. You will find everything from teen comedy to period romance to real world investigations. Each entry includes the essentials you need to decide what to watch next, like who made it, who stars in it, and what the film covers.
‘The Boys in the Band’ (2020)
Based on Mart Crowley’s landmark play, ‘The Boys in the Band’ follows a group of friends who gather for a birthday party in New York City that takes several unexpected turns over one long night. The cast features Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, and Andrew Rannells, and Joe Mantello directs a screen version of the Broadway revival with the same ensemble.
The film was produced for Netflix by Ryan Murphy and David Stone. It presents the original setting and dialogue with period accurate design and music while using a modern cast to bring new attention to a pivotal work in gay theater and film history.
‘The Prom’ (2020)
‘The Prom’ adapts the Broadway musical about a high school student who just wants to bring her girlfriend to the dance and the Broadway performers who show up to support her. The movie stars Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan Michael Key, and Jo Ellen Pellman, with Ryan Murphy directing a large scale musical production.
Filmed in bright, colorful set pieces with choreography by Casey Nicholaw’s stage team alumni, ‘The Prom’ features original songs alongside upbeat orchestration. The story pairs small town school policies with big city show business, resulting in a narrative that tracks activism, community response, and a public event that becomes national news within the film.
‘Alex Strangelove’ (2018)
‘Alex Strangelove’ follows a high achieving teenager who plans to lose his virginity with his girlfriend but finds himself drawn to a charming new boy he meets at a party. Directed by Craig Johnson, the film stars Daniel Doheny, Antonio Marziale, and Madeline Weinstein in a contemporary high school setting.
The production uses social media messages, house parties, and school events to show how a modern teen navigates labels and expectations. ‘Alex Strangelove’ was released directly on Netflix, which brought the story to a wide teen audience looking for an accessible coming out narrative.
‘Single All the Way’ (2021)
‘Single All the Way’ is a holiday romantic comedy about a social media strategist who brings his best friend home for the holidays to deflect family questions and ends up reconsidering their relationship. The movie stars Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, Jennifer Coolidge, and Kathy Najimy.
The film was produced as a Netflix original with a small town setting, family gatherings, and seasonal events like tree lots and pageants. It follows the familiar beats of a winter romance and uses ensemble scenes to build out the lead character’s supportive family circle.
‘The Power of the Dog’ (2021)
Set in Montana during the 1920s, ‘The Power of the Dog’ centers on a rancher whose life changes when his brother brings home a new wife and her son. Jane Campion directs the adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel, and the cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit McPhee.
The film explores masculinity, secrecy, and class through ranch work, music, and education. Netflix financed and distributed the movie, which was filmed in New Zealand with detailed production design to recreate the American West.
‘Nimona’ (2023)
‘Nimona’ is an animated adventure based on ND Stevenson’s graphic novel about a shapeshifter who teams up with a framed knight to clear his name. The movie features the voices of Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, and Eugene Lee Yang and takes place in a futuristic kingdom that mixes medieval imagery with modern tech.
The film includes a central gay couple whose relationship is part of the core narrative. Netflix acquired distribution and released the movie after a change in studio ownership, bringing the finished film to a global audience.
‘Maestro’ (2023)
‘Maestro’ is a biographical drama about composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, focusing on his marriage to Felicia Montealegre and his relationships with men. Bradley Cooper directs and stars alongside Carey Mulligan, with production support from Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
The film uses concert recreations, rehearsal rooms, and domestic spaces to trace decades of creative work and personal life. Netflix produced and released the movie, presenting archival style sequences and newly staged performances to cover different eras in Bernstein’s career.
‘Dance of the 41’ (2020)
‘Dance of the 41’ dramatizes the early twentieth century scandal in Mexico involving a private gathering of men that was raided by police and reported widely in the press. The film stars Alfonso Herrera and Emiliano Zurita and is directed by David Pablos.
The movie places the event within the social and political climate of the time, including the role of newspapers and the connections to powerful families. Netflix distributed the film internationally, giving the story new visibility beyond its national context.
‘Handsome Devil’ (2016)
Set at a rugby obsessed Irish boarding school, ‘Handsome Devil’ pairs a music loving student with the team’s star player as unexpected roommates who form a cautious friendship. John Butler directs, with Fionn O Shea and Nicholas Galitzine in the lead roles and Andrew Scott as an influential English teacher.
The story follows class assignments, rehearsals, and matches to show how school culture can isolate or connect students. The film reached a wider audience through streaming, which helped highlight its themes of sport, creativity, and acceptance in an Irish setting.
‘I Am Jonas’ (2018)
‘I Am Jonas’ tells a story in two timelines about a man who recalls a first love from his teenage years and the events that shaped him. Directed by Christophe Charrier, the film stars Félix Maritaud and Nicolas Bauwens across the two periods of the character’s life.
The structure switches between past and present to reveal key details about relationships, family reactions, and the impact of a traumatic incident. Netflix presented the film to international viewers under the English title, bringing a French perspective on memory and identity to a broader audience.
‘Your Name Engraved Herein’ (2020)
‘Your Name Engraved Herein’ follows two students in Taiwan who meet at a Catholic high school and develop a bond while navigating family expectations and social change. The film stars Edward Chen and Tseng Jing hua and was directed by Kuang Hui Liu.
The movie uses school bands, city streets, and church settings to track the characters as they move from secondary school into adulthood. Netflix licensed the film for a global release, introducing its mix of romance and political backdrop to viewers outside Taiwan.
‘End of the Century’ (2019)
‘End of the Century’ begins with a chance encounter in Barcelona between two men who may have met years earlier, then explores how that possibility reframes their present. Lucio Castro writes and directs, with Juan Barberini and Ramón Pujol leading a small cast.
The film uses apartments, rooftops, and beaches to create a quiet portrait of memory and timing, shifting between meetings to examine different paths a relationship might take. Streaming availability brought the Argentine production to a worldwide audience interested in intimate urban stories.
‘The Way He Looks’ (2014)
‘The Way He Looks’ centers on a blind teenager in Brazil who seeks independence while forming a close connection with a new classmate. Daniel Ribeiro expands his short film into a feature with Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, and Tess Amorim portraying the main trio.
The narrative includes school projects, house rules, and neighborhood walks to show the practical side of growing independence. The movie’s streaming presence introduced international viewers to a Brazilian coming of age story that foregrounds accessibility and young love.
‘Pray Away’ (2021)
‘Pray Away’ is a documentary about the movement that promoted conversion practices in the United States and the people who built and later left those organizations. Directed by Kristine Stolakis, the film includes interviews with former leaders, survivors, and advocates who describe their experiences.
The production uses archival footage, televised segments, and present day conversations to chart how the movement formed and how it affected families and communities. Netflix released the documentary with translated subtitles and captions to reach a global audience.
‘Circus of Books’ (2019)
‘Circus of Books’ documents the Los Angeles bookstore that became a hub for gay men across several decades and the married couple who ran it. Rachel Mason directs the film about her parents Karen and Barry Mason, incorporating family archives and interviews with staff and customers.
The documentary covers retail operations, legal scrutiny, and the store’s role in a community during the rise of home video and changing city ordinances. Netflix distributed the film and included supplemental materials that contextualize the shop’s place in local history.
Share your favorites from this list in the comments and tell us which gay movies on Netflix you think everyone should watch next.