People look to film as an outlet when their own reality isn’t as desirable. And, a sizable segment of society that definitely finds solace in movies is the LGBTQ+ community. A number of LGBTQ+ people have depended on cinema to learn more about themselves—and what they want in life.
The 2010s featured many high-profile LGBTQ+ films like Call Me By Your Name, Moonlight, Blue Is the Warmest Colour, and Love, Simon. However, there are plenty other similarly themed movies that flew under radars. To help close out a decade full of diverse narratives in cinema, here are ten underrated LGBTQ+ films from the last ten years.
4th Man Out (2015)
In what feels like a Judd Apatow movie, 4th Man Out entails one man’s experience with coming out to his three best friends. His worries disappear when said friends end up being more encouraging than discouraging. They even try to help him with dating.
4th Man Out is a feel-good comedy that’s more relaxed than anxious. There are so many wonderful films that showcase coming out as being traumatic and upsetting. But, if you want something equally affecting and uplifting in addition to just being a tad more lighthearted, then definitely seek this movie out.
Method (2017)
In this tense South Korean drama, two male actors find themselves at odds as they prepare for a play they’re starring in. They have contrasting personalities, which makes the process entirely difficult. But as the pair continues to play gay characters in love, the actors develop feelings for one another.
Method isn’t exactly a perfect love story as it’s more about obsession and manipulation. The main characters get so lost in their roles that they lose focus of what’s real and what’s not.
Boy Meets Girl (2014)
In a very small town in Kentucky, a trans woman named Ricky makes a new friend, Francesca, who is wowed with her fashion-making prowess. Although Francesca is engaged to a man, she then develops romantic feelings for Ricky. Meanwhile, Ricky’s best friend questions how he feels about her.
Boy Meets Girl is a micro-budgeted indie drama that offsets its low production value with sex positive writing and inspiring characters. Trans voices gravitate to this movie because of its endearing, fleshed-out protagonist who reminds us that love is love.
Jack & Diane (2012)
Riley Keough proves she’s a chameleon actress, whereas Juno Temple is the indie darling who is still waiting for her dues. Together, their chemistry in Jack & Diane is astounding. The titular characters are two teenage women who meet and fall head over heels. However, their union triggers a kind of terrifying energy that manifests into something else altogether.
Jack & Diane is a romantic horror movie that defies genres. It’s chaotic, disruptive, and a perfect manifestation of the overwhelming emotions that come with love and passion.
A Date for Mad Mary (2016)
After serving a stint in prison, social outcast Mary finds herself in a pickle—she needs a date to her friend’s wedding. Otherwise, she can’t go. But, Mary has been ruled as ‘undateable,’ and she fears she won’t ever find that ‘plus one.’ That all changes, though, when Mary meets someone—and that someone happens to be a woman.
Based on Yasmine Akram’s one-woman play 10 Dates with Mad Mary, this Irish romantic drama is a lovely coming-out tale with a frank and beautiful subplot about friendship, too.
1985 (2018)
In 1985, a gay man living in New York returns to his conservative, Southern Texas hometown for Christmas. There, he reacquaints himself with his family and former best friend. In the meantime, he musters up the courage to tell them a long-held secret he may not be able to share with them later.
Yen Tan’s heartbreaking, black-and-white drama taps into the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Cory Michael Smith and his co-stars give riveting performances that should not be overlooked.
Closet Monster (2015)
Owing a fair amount of inspiration to Xavier Dolan’s works, this coming-of-age drama is stylish, clever, and unforgettable. It concerns a teenage artist who is dealing with childhood trauma. He’s also saddled with a shaky home life on top of questions about his own sexuality. The walls of his psyche soon come down, and he has to confront his inner ‘monster.’
Closet Monster is a motionless movie that breaks molds and seizes your attention from start to finish. Director Stephen Dunn unleashes a wave of surrealism that will leave you eager and breathless.
Saturday Church (2017)
Pose alums Indya Moore and Mj Rodriguez co-star in this heartfelt film about a teen struggling with their identity. They then find a sanctuary full of other inner-city transgender and non-binary people.
Saturday Church is notable for its diverse cast and a stirring message about self-love. It includes introspective musical numbers, too, that make the film stand out even more so. It’s not a subtle film by no means, but it makes you feel good and ready when it comes to accepting one’s own self.
God’s Own Country (2017)
Call Me By Your Name won over critics and audiences alike in 2017, while also catapulting the careers of its two leads. That same year, a drama called God’s Own Country experienced less of a heralded debut. It lacked the same fanfare in spite of its stellar performances and unfeigned story. To so many’s disappointment, it got lost in a year with so many other good films.
In God’s Own Country, a troubled Yorkshire farmer caring for his parents falls for a migrant worker from Romania.
And Then We Danced (2019)
Just trying to see And Then We Danced in Georgia alone is a daunting task. This is mainly because of the conservative nature of the country. Nevertheless, the director opted to make a movie that undoubtedly ruffled feathers. Protesters even tried to stop it from being screened.
Anyone who has had the pleasure of watching And Then We Danced will find a cathartic, hopeful movie that challenges the status quo. In it, a down-on-his-luck man named Mareb is trying to learn the Georgian dance. He’s been constantly told he’s too ‘soft’ to learn this masculine routine. When he develops a rival in his class, Mareb discovers why he’s having so much trouble communicating his feelings through dance.
