It is an ever-popular pastime to proclaim the Top 10, 25, 50, 100, etc. greatest LGBT films of all time. The month of June has brought a greater abundance of such lists than ever before and not surprisingly they all have a great deal of overlap — reflecting a general agreement about such classics as Paris is Burning, Brokeback Mountain, Milk, Parting Glances, etc. Certainly there are oversights and slight variations from list to list but any of them would be a great starting point for building your Netflix queue. In the spirit of yet more list-making, here’s our list of the lists (with out thumbs up and thumbs down notations on the pros and cons of each).
Earlier this month Indiewire’s /bent blog came forth with their Reader’s Poll: The 25 Most Important LGBT Films. Thumbs Up: Indiewire has very helpfully embedded trailers and clips for all of the entries so you can get a sample to help you decide what you really want to see. Thumbs Down: No descriptions or editorial evaluation since it’s a reader’s poll.
From The Advocate we have the Top 175 Essential Films of All Time for LGBT Viewers.
Thumbs Up: Short blurbs give a sense of context for each film along with thumbnail poster art for every single title. Thumbs Down: You’ll have to watch a commercial to access the content on the site and, to be honest, the list is so long that some of the choices start to seem like they don’t really warrant the label, “essential.”
Fandor.com’s Keyframe showcases a much more manageable list of just 25 Essential LGBTQ Films (with a sidebar of an additional 25 and a substantial list of notable filmmakers and other prefatory info gesturing towards other significant films.
Thumbs Up: In depth information about each film’s historical significance as well as links to watch several of the films on Fandor.com. Thumbs Down: Limited extra visuals (no trailers or poster art, just a few stills).
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And lastly, probably our favorite just because it is so visually satisfying and such a great site, The Best LGBT Films of All Time list on MUBI.com.
Thumbs Up: This list (and the Mubi.com site) is wonderful to navigate and features a highly visual design showcasing lovely images from each film. You can also create your own lists and contribute your comments on each film as well as reading the reflections of other Mubi.com users. Thumbs Down: You have to sign-in to Mubi.com to view the descriptions and experience the full site (but it’s worth it!).
Mezaien
The HOMOS, movies are just the best! WHY? because they have hot sexy sweet Yume men in them.
tdx3fan
I hated Brokeback Mountain, and I am overly offended by any list that includes it as a gay movie. It was not a gay movie. It was a movie about two straight guys that liked to fool around in the mountains. They by no mean ever identify as gay or even really recognize their same sex romance. That means, so much of what we use to define a gay couple is replaced by but sex ha ha in this movie.
Tobi
I’m surprised The Fluffer didn’t make any of the lists?!
Kidomega123
@tdx3fan: I wont debate with you as to why you hated the movie; different strokes for different folks, right? But something to keep in mind is that film was set in the early 1960s in rural Wyoming, a time and place when being gay could literally get you killed; which is what eventually happened to one of the main characters. Their unfulfilled romance was more a victim of the times and not necessarily a lack of wanting or desire on their behalf. To suggest that they weren’t really that into each other would be a gross misrepresentation of the story.
cvdixon29
@tdx3fan: I hate that you hated Brokeback Mountain. I found it to be a very good movie. I loved the story line , but was also sad that they never were able to be together as a couple.