Top 14 gay movies of 2019

As 2019 draws to a close it’s time to reflect on some of the best things for this rocky year. LGBTQ+ representation on the big screen has continued with Hollywood features, indie favorites and beautiful foreign stories.

Among this list are a number of Oscar potentials, we’ll have to wait and see what happens in February but Pain & Glory and Rocketman should easily garner nods.

1. Rocketman

After the success and treatment to Freddie Mercury’s legacy, I was looking forward to a different take on the gay musician bio-pic. And with Elton still alive and touring, and filmmaker husband David Furnish involved, we had high expectations for Rocketman. While it’s possible Elton didn’t open his life completely, a lot of his past was exposed and a good number of self-deprecating jokes were included, including Elton’s hair loss.
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2. Pain and Glory

Also high on our list, especially as an Oscar contender, Pain and Glory stars Antonio Banderas as a filmmaker in his decline as he reflects on his life choices. It’s a beautiful performance that deserves the awards and recognitions it has received this year.
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3. Giant Little Ones

From Canada, Giant Little Ones is a perfect high school drama that exposes how rumors and secrets spread, and how far the popular kids will go to stay in the closet.
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4. This Is Not Berlin

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5. Drive me Home

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6. Papi Chulo

This indie film from the US caught our eye thanks to lead actor and out heart-throb Matt Bomer. Another TIFF 2018 premiere, Papi Chulo is a cute story around finding meaning and friendship in our lives.
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7. Consequences

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8. And Then We Danced

Not yet available on iTunes, And Then We Danced is a charming story from Georgia (the country) but Swedish director Levan Akin. An example of why gay stories need to be told, the screening in Georgia caused protested as people tried to suppress the film.
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9. The Blonde One

From Buenos Aires, the Blonde One is a simple story that follows two men as they begin their relationship, overcoming the sexual tension between two very different men.
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10. Men of Hard Skin

Also from Buenos Aires, Men of Hard Skin goes outside the city for this farm boy and priest love story.
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11. End of the Century

On a roll with Argentine gay films, in End of the Century, Ocho is visiting Barcelona and hooks up with Javi, but they soon discover they’d met 20 years before when they were closeted and didn’t pursue a relationship.
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12. Adam

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13. Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots

Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s famous gay neighborhood, Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots explores dating in the modern era of apps and hookups.
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14. The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

Another star filled fantastic story from the mind of Xavier Dolan capped off the year in late December, which is the only reason this charming drama is last on our list. Despite a September 2018 screening at TIFF, The Death & Life or John F. Donovan didn’t hit screens until spring 2019 and only reached the US in December. With a lot of praise for Kit Harington, our focus was on rising star Jacob Tremblay’s performance as the young Rupert. It’s well worth watching.
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