Most Groundbreaking LGBTQ Films

by lbrooks2003 | created - 27 Jan 2020 | updated - 27 Jan 2020 | Public

The Most Authentic and Groundbreaking LGBTQ Films Not to be Missed

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1. A Fantastic Woman (2017)

R | 104 min | Drama

81 Metascore

Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, is bowled over by the death of her older boyfriend.

Director: Sebastián Lelio | Stars: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Küppenheim

Votes: 27,280 | Gross: $2.02M

2. Moonlight (I) (2016)

R | 111 min | Drama

99 Metascore

A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.

Director: Barry Jenkins | Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert

Votes: 331,979 | Gross: $27.85M

3. The Garden Left Behind (2019)

88 min | Drama

55 Metascore

A young Mexican trans woman and her grandmother navigate life as undocumented immigrants in New York City.

Director: Flavio Alves | Stars: Michael Madsen, Edward Asner, Carlie Guevara, Danny Flaherty

Votes: 623

4. Gun Hill Road (2011)

R | 86 min | Drama

55 Metascore

An ex-con returns home to the Bronx after three years in prison to discover his wife estranged and his child exploring a gender transformation that will test the fragile bonds of their family.

Director: Rashaad Ernesto Green | Stars: Esai Morales, Robert Salzman, Ty Jones, Harmony Santana

Votes: 1,258 | Gross: $0.15M

5. Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)

NC-17 | 180 min | Drama, Romance

90 Metascore

Adèle's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire and to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adèle grows, seeks herself, loses herself, and ultimately finds herself through love and loss.

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche | Stars: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Aurélien Recoing

Votes: 163,103 | Gross: $2.20M

6. José (II) (2018)

Not Rated | 85 min | Drama

75 Metascore

José lives with his mother in Guatemala. It's a tough life in one of the most violent and religious countries. When he meets Luis, he's thrust into new-found passion and pain.

Director: Li Cheng | Stars: Enrique Salanic, Manolo Herrera, Ana Cecilia Mota, Jhakelyn Waleska Gonzalez Gonzalez

Votes: 870

7. Transmilitary (2018)

TV-14 | 93 min | Documentary

At a time when transgender people are banned from serving in the U.S. military, four transgender troops risking discharge fight to attain the freedom they so fiercely protect. 2018 SXSW Audience Award Winner, Best Documentary.

Directors: Gabriel Silverman, Fiona Dawson | Stars: El Cook, Jesse Ehrenfeld, Sue Fulton, Logan Ireland

Votes: 182

8. A Dog Barking at the Moon (2019)

107 min | Drama

A Chinese family saga, told in different periods of time, commencing with the wife's discovery of her husband's homosexuality. When her adult daughter comes to visit, other secrets slowly come to light.

Director: Lisa Zi Xiang | Stars: Renhua Na, Gaowa Siqin, Zhang Yinyue, Jiang Bing

Votes: 257

9. Fabiana (2018)

89 min | Documentary

Fabiana, a trans woman, lives as a nomadic truck driver all over Brazil for more than thirty years. Now she is approaching retirement and should leave behind her adventures on the road.

Director: Brunna Laboissière | Star: Fabiana Camila Ferreira

Votes: 53

10. Weekend (II) (2011)

Not Rated | 97 min | Drama, Romance

81 Metascore

After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.

Director: Andrew Haigh | Stars: Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race, Laura Freeman

Votes: 32,866 | Gross: $0.46M

11. Tropical Malady (2004)

Not Rated | 118 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance

81 Metascore

A romance between a soldier and a country boy, wrapped around a Thai folk-tale involving a shaman with shape-shifting abilities.

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Stars: Banlop Lomnoi, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Huai Dessom, Sirivech Jareonchon

Votes: 6,318

12. Rafiki (2018)

83 min | Drama, Romance

68 Metascore

"Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives," but Kena and Ziki long for something more. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.

Director: Wanuri Kahiu | Stars: Samantha Mugatsia, Neville Misati, Nice Githinji, Charlie Karumi

Votes: 3,300 | Gross: $0.14M

13. Adam (I) (2019)

95 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

64 Metascore

Awkward teen Adam spends his last high school summer with his big sister, who throws herself into NYC's lesbian and trans activist scene. In this coming-of-age comedy, Adam and those around him encounter love, friendship and hard truths.

Director: Rhys Ernst | Stars: Nicholas Alexander, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Margaret Qualley, Leo Sheng

Votes: 1,706

14. Circumstances (I) (2017)

86 min | Crime, Drama

Keyshawn, a man deeply entrenched in the shadowy world of drug distribution and prostitution alongside his right-hand man, T.A., finds his life upended when he discovers his mother and ... See full summary »

Director: R. Simone Brown | Stars: Ian Agee, R. Simone Brown, Kenyatta Deett, Carlos Gonzalez

Votes: 97

15. The Duke of Burgundy (2014)

Not Rated | 104 min | Drama, Romance

87 Metascore

A woman who studies butterflies and moths tests the limits of her relationship with her lesbian lover.

Director: Peter Strickland | Stars: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Monica Swinn, Chiara D'Anna, Kata Bartsch

Votes: 14,358 | Gross: $0.03M

16. Pariah (I) (2011)

R | 86 min | Drama

79 Metascore

A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.

Director: Dee Rees | Stars: Adepero Oduye, Kim Wayans, Aasha Davis, Pernell Walker

Votes: 7,561 | Gross: $0.76M

17. Keep the Lights On (2012)

Not Rated | 101 min | Drama, Romance

79 Metascore

In Manhattan, film-maker Erik bonds with closeted lawyer Paul after a fling. As their relationship becomes one fueled by highs, lows, and dysfunctional patterns, Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries while being true to himself.

Director: Ira Sachs | Stars: Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson, Souleymane Sy Savane

Votes: 6,142 | Gross: $0.25M

18. Paris Is Burning (1990)

R | 78 min | Documentary

82 Metascore

A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

Director: Jennie Livingston | Stars: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey, Paris Duprée

Votes: 17,617 | Gross: $3.78M

19. Tangerine (2015)

R | 88 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

86 Metascore

A hooker tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.

Director: Sean Baker | Stars: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan

Votes: 35,527 | Gross: $0.70M

20. From Afar (2015)

Unrated | 93 min | Drama, Romance

73 Metascore

Armando, a 50 year man, seeks young men in Caracas and pays them just for company. One day he meets Elder, a 17 years boy that is the leader of a criminal gang, and that meeting changes their lives forever.

Director: Lorenzo Vigas | Stars: Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla, Catherina Cardozo

Votes: 4,058 | Gross: $0.03M



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