Maxis one of the most important streaming platforms worldwide today, with a wide selection of series and movies to watch. So, you’re sure to always find something entertaining in its catalog, no matter what you are looking for.
The platform also has several greatLGBTQ+movies for your entertainment, where you can find all kinds of stories, settings, characters, and representations. They will captivate you no matter if you’re part of the community or not. Below, you can see a list of the best LGBTQ+ films that Max currently has to watch right now.
Updated on June 4th, 2023, by Neville Naidoo:This article has been updated with additional information to keep the discussion fresh and relevant.
16Transhood (2020)
Premiering at the AFI Docs Festival in 2020,Transhoodis a hard-hitting documentary that examines the lives of four kids, aged between four and 15 years old, asthey redefine the concept of traditional families. At varying stages of their journeys into their identities as transgender persons, the film displays how nuanced modern family dynamics have become as more and more homes grapple with their own identities as trans families.
A Snapshot of the Life of Trans Kids
It paints a beautiful and intimate portrait of the issues that come along with families tussling with their subtleties and the broader community at large. The most significant praise for the movie lies in how it examines society and politics, and how the two factions have made it difficult for transgender people to live freely. In the process,Transhoodtakes an honest and lighthearted look at some very poignant topics for the LGBTQ+ community and was filmed over five years.
15Gia (1998)
Giais a film that saw Angelina Jolie star as Gia Carangi, a former fashion icon, who many considered to be the first-ever supermodel. As she moves to New York to work as a model and catches the eye of a talent agent, Gia’s stunning beauty and fierce attitude help her find success and ascend to immense heights in the industry. However, she also battles loneliness and turns to hardcore drugs to escape her inner feelings. After starting a racy and passionate relationship with a make-up artist named Linda, Gia tries to clean herself up but continues to struggle.
A Chilling Reminder of The Horrors of Addiction
A TV film and a biographical drama with the brilliant Angelina Jolie as the lead,Giawas nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards and was a huge critical success. It emerged as aheart-wrenching portrayal of emotional trauma. For anyone who thinks a model’s life is fabulous and exciting, this drama proves otherwise. However, the film was a dazzling but ultimately macabre reminder of just how merciless addiction can be — told through the prism of the tragic relationship between the two women.
14The Laramie Project (2002)
Based on a play of the same name,The Laramie Projectis a TV film that tackles a tragic moment in the nation’s history that also became pivotal for it to change direction. Chronicling the murder of a young gay university student named Matthew Shepard in 1998, the film explores how dark and atrocious hatred against gay people was in a town called Laramie, Wyoming, which served as a microcosm for societal attitudes in general back then.
A Chilling Reminder of How Much Hatred There Still Is
Told through interviews and other records that pieced together the callous nature of the crime, and why it became such a catalyst for change, the film reminds us why normalization has always been the goal. Tragic and ultimately inspiring in portraying how the horrific event galvanizedthe fight for equality, compassion, and inclusivity among the LGBTQ+ community, it acts as a fitting testament to Shepard’s life and memory.
13The Stroll (2023)
An intensely gritty documentary film chronicling the lives and many hardships that African American and Latina transgender women suffered through in New York during the ’80s and ’90s,The Strolltells the unapologetic tale of why so many of these women were forced to turn to sex work. It also provides a dark history of the Meatpacking District of New York, and how a strip of this area became famously known as “the stroll” — a hotspot where trans women engaged in sex work to survive. This all came about as a result of the persecution they faced that prevented them from being able to get conventional jobs; being forced to turn to lifestyles that often brought more horrifying struggles for them to face daily.
A Tragic True Story Told With Heart
From the camerawork to the lighting, every aspect of the documentary has one and only one focus: to provide an unfiltered look at the lives of Black Trans sex workers. Directors Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker may have relied on actual interviews to create drama, but the good-natured humor and breezy vibe of the film make it all the more touching. Told fromthe viewpoints of various transgenderwomen who lived and walked the streets during this tumultuous period of history in the city, it’s a riveting, must-see film.
12Desert Hearts (1985)
Revolving around Vivian Bell, a 35-year-old English Professor from Columbia University who’s awaiting the finalization of her divorce, the film follows her journey as she meets Cay, a free-spirited sculptor. The women click, and Cay soon helps Vivian explore her true self. Although their relationship is by no means an easy, straightforward one, Cay is instrumental in bringing Vivian to realize who she may have always been underneath, amid Cay’s turbulent feelings for another woman named Frances who owns the lodge where they first meet.
A Triumphant and Bold Film
A romantic drama adapted from a novel,Desert Heartswas a triumphant film that boldly examined lesbian relationships at a time when it was still thought of as being a no-go topic for movies. Written and directed by Donna Deitch, it explores a tender love between these women, making it passionate without ever sensationalizing it. With exceptional performances driving it all,Desert Heartsprovideda pioneering moment for LGBTQ+ cinemaand has since been reevaluated as a significant film for this reason. Most importantly, though, it’s a beautiful romance.
11Je Tu Il Elle (1974)
A film by the late Chantal Ackerman, who is often hailed as one of thegreatest Arthouse directors of all time,Je Tu Il Elleis a French-Belgian offering that was known for its minimalist style and poignant themes. Translating asI, You, He, She, Ackermanplayed the main character, Julie, herself, and depicted her isolation and loneliness in a brilliantly ambiguous manner. As the character interacts with a male driver, she later finds herself sharing a prolonged romantic scene with her ex-girlfriend which defines the film’s boldness and fearless approach.
Erotically charged but still telling a tale of desolation, the film jolts its way from Julie’s initial loneliness and morbidly bare life to her escapades that seem anything but. However, it’s the way the film comes full circle that captures the true tragedy of its underlying sadness. Given that Ackerman was a Jewish lesbian woman who reportedly died from suicide after being hospitalized for depression,Je Tu Il Elleseems even more melancholic now and engenders audiences to ponder how much, if any, of her own inner struggles were poured into the film.
Best LGBTQ+ TV Series You Should Be Watching
This list comprises the best LGBTQ+ television series that you should be watching right now.
10Unpregnant (2020)
When 17-year-old Veronica learns she’s pregnant, she initially wants an abortion until she learns that she cannot have one in Missouri without parental consent. Since this isn’t a requirement in New Mexico, Veronica enlists her former best friend, Bailey, who knows about the pregnancy, to drive her there. Along the way, the girls come across all sorts of issues, like needing to avoid Veronica’s boyfriend (the baby’s father), evading the cops, and being practically abducted by an unhinged pro-life couple.
A Female Buddy Film With a Far Deeper Heart
Billed as a female-buddy, road trip comedy-drama,Unpregnantwas alsoan underrated coming-of-age storythat grappled with some poignant issues such as teen pregnancy and abortion. But beyond the obvious, the movie also beautifully portrays teen friendship with humor. The support you need in such a time when received from someone who “gets you” makes all the difference, andUnpregnantdeals with the emotion incredibly well. A terrific film filled with some great moments that examine deep issues with nuance,Unpregnantwas nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie.
A Spanish drama directed by Pedro Almodóvar,Bad Educationtells the intricate tale of two childhood friends named Enrique and Ignacio. When the friends are reunited many years later, we find that the latter is now living asa trans woman named Àngela. She presents a manuscript to Enrique since he’s a film director. The manuscript proves telling for the plot as it details their traumatic experiences as children at the hands of a Catholic priest, and sets in motion a complex tale of pain, revenge, and intrigue in the process.
A Beautifully Told Story Where Reality Isn’t Always Apparent
Told through a series of nonlinear scenes, the film delves into the characters' past and present, highlighting what happened to them along the way, though it isn’t always clear exactly which parts of them are ever actually real. Amid brilliantly nurtured themes of love, identity, and trauma, the film serves as a courageous depiction of what is often considered very taboo topics in Catholic households.
8Happy Together (1997)
The plot revolves around Lai Yiu-Kai and Ho Po-Wing, who travel from Hong Kong to Argentina. During their trip, Po-Wing abandons Lai, and the latter tries to save money to return to his country. Po-Wing reappears in his life and the two try to go through the hardships of living in a new country together.
Wong Kar-wai Is the Master of Romance
Happy Togetheris a Hong Kong drama and romance film that was released in 1997 and was directed bythe iconic Wong Kar-wai. The cast consisted of Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, and Chen Chang. It is considered one of the best LGBT films of all time and won an award for Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival that year. The characters are simply fascinating, and the director’s signature filming style features a bold use of colors, masterful angles, and an overall atmosphere of struggle and longing.
7Behind the Candelabra (2013)
Behind the Candelabra
The film’s plot centers on Walter Liberace, a well-known pianist. One day, he meets Scott Thorson, a guy who works as an animal trainer for movies. He’s much younger than Liberace and both are from different social strata. So begins a five-year relationship, which will be full of much love, but also insecurity, jealousy, and other uncomfortable situations.
Two Phenomenal Performances
Behind the Candelabrais a drama film that premiered in 2013 at the Cannes Film Festival. It wasdirected by Steven Soderberghand was based on the storyBehind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace. It starred Matt Damon and Michael Douglas and won three Emmy Awards. Both Douglas and Damon were phenomenal in their roles, bringing emotion and sensitivity to the story. The storytelling approach was also unique, making the film a total stand-out.
