In the past, queer media has trended towards tragedy. From forbidden romances ending with the separation of lovers to tragic deaths, LGBTQ+ films are tearjerkers more often than not.
The trope of burying your gays, emerging from early anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Hollywood, reinforces the idea that queer people cannot have or don’t deserve a happy ending. Even now, after mandates on queer media have been lifted, there is still a disproportionate amount of LGBTQ+ character death in modern productions.
The films on this list defy the trope by giving their characters happy endings. That’s not to say they are sob-proof, but any tears you may shed will be dry by the time the credits roll. These movies, both old and new, showcase queer resilience and pride above all else. Sit back, relax, and make your way through the watchlist!
There’s only one person who can tell you who you are, and it’s not Sue Sylvester; it’s RuPaul in a tracksuit. There’s no better place to start than with this bubblegum pink classic starring Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall. This film, about a lesbian cheerleader forced to go to a conversion camp, doesn’t take itself too seriously, resulting in sapphic hijinks, corny displays of affection, and a climactic wedding objection.
Revenge may be sweet, but Kristin Stewart in a muscle tank is sweeter. Steroids and steamy sex fuel this sapphic bloodbath, and it is a must-watch for anyone who was Team Bella back in the 2010s. Don’t let the bodily fluids deter you, our heroines each end up in one piece, although one of those pieces is more colossal than the other.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
In a film that has a lot to say, My Beautiful Laundrette doesn’t shy away from its queerness. The movie focuses on Omar, a Pakistani British man, and his old childhood friend, a newly minted British nationalist, Johnny. As they rekindle their romance, the star-crossed lovers face Thatcher-era politics, racism, and violence, but unlike in Romeo and Juliet, the pair live to see another laundry day.
Before she was pumping it up in The Substance this year, Margaret Qually was delivering a fierce performance in Drive Away Dolls. This absurdist lesbian road trip comedy is rife with shenanigans, motel showers, and dildos. Our Thelma and Louise kiss in this one, and they don’t die at the end. Yippee Ki-Yay gay!
Lesbians. Spies. Lesbian spies. Enough said.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe (2023)
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe is for the kids who never wore shoes outside and never learned how to swim. During the runtime, we grow with Ari (Max Pelayo) and Dante (Reese Gonzales), showing that the Mexican American experience isn’t one thing, that it varies from family to family. With a heart at its core, this film will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
There are many wigs in this one, but Robin Williams isn’t the one wearing them. Two opposite families are dragged together by their newly engaged kids, in an LGBTQ+ film where conservatives and queer people clash. With one of Robin Williams’s most heartfelt performances, The Birdcage is unapologetically camp, and it will leave you begging for more.
Nothing says “happy ending” more than a fistfight on a football field. Bottoms brought sapphic idiots and heartthrob Ruby Cruise to the big screen in 2024. With anxious monologues from Ayo Edibiri and a knockout performance from Rachel Sennott, the girl gets the girl in this one.
Everyone asks for a 2000s rom-com with lesbians, and here it is! Although at times silly, Saving Face showcases the queer Asian American experience, specifically centred around Will (Michelle Krusiec) and her mother, played by Joan Chen. The film even ends in an airport, and what‘s more romantic than airport security?
If you watch any film on this list for the ending, make it this one. It has everything you’ll ever want from a 2000s romp, and you’ll find yourself shouting “You’re a w*nker number nine” for quite a while after.
Luca Guadanino’s smash hit of 2024, Challengers filled theatre seats in sets of three last spring. If you’ve ever looked at a love triangle and thought “Why don’t they all just kiss,” this is the film for you. This tense two hours underscored by techno music satisfies all in the end, including throuple truthers everywhere.
At first glance, this drama seems to fit the mould of other rural gay romances, but its happy ending sets it apart from other LGBTQ+ films like Brokeback Mountain or My Own Private Idaho. Plus, the film features lots of baby lambs – although some may argue that Josh O’Connor is cuter.
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995)
This one’s for the girlies that were a little too close to their childhood best friend, girlies that wore vests, girlies that still wear vests, girlies who wanted to live in a house full of women, and girlies that still want to live in a house full of women. The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love keeps it light while simultaneously focusing on subjects such as interracial relationships, queer family dynamics, and homophobia.
Another breath of fresh air, Fanfic breaks the trend of the LGBTQ+ films before it by letting its trans character live—and live happily at that. This coming-of-age movie was also the first to feature a transgender actor in Poland, marking a significant cultural achievement. Angsty yet sweet, Fanfic showcases the importance of family, both biological and found.
“Banned in Kenya. Embraced by the world.” Rafiki tells a tale of a forbidden romance between Kena (Samantha Mugatsia) and Ziki (Sheila Munyiva). The film’s open-ending faced backlash from the Kenya Film Classification Board who asked director Wanuri Kahiu to alter it, claiming it was too optimistic. Nevertheless, Rafiki dares to portray queerness in a region that seeks to suppress it, and the ending almost makes up for all the tears. Almost.
Please be warned, this film contains depictions of conversion therapy and assault. Viewer discretion is advised.
The star-studded cast of Nimona, featuring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, and Eugene Lee Yang, brings the animations to life in a movie that is fun for all audiences. The titular character, Nimona, a shapeshifter that twitches when in a form for too long, has resonated with LGBTQ+ viewers at home.
Not only is there gender-bending, but the film also features a gay friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers arc that is easier to follow than the trope suggests. Even if animation isn’t your thing, you should give Nimona a watch. It might just surprise you!
A message of hope for those who feel like they cannot transition later in life. This documentary, featuring Will Ferrell and Harper Steele of SNL, shows that it is never too late to embrace who you are. Showcasing trans joy in a country that is actively trying to silence LGBTQ+ people, Will & Harper is a must-watch for anyone looking to take a journey of their own.
These 17 LGBTQ+ films prove that being part of the queer community doesn’t constitute a fictional death sentence. Not every queer story has to be a drama. Not every queer character has to suffer. The gays deserve to be as stupid and happy as any straight person on screen. So go and enjoy these snippets of queer joy, and save the sadness for another day.
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