Although this time of year can sometimes feel overwhelmingly busy, every once in a while, we found ourselves with some much-needed downtime. So, have a free afternoon and unsure of what to do? Look no further than this list of amazing queer films to watch during Pride. 

Bottoms (2023)

For fans of satirical comedy, Bottoms is the perfect pick. Best friends PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) start a high school fight club, with the ulterior motive of attracting girls, after a rumour that the pair spent the summer at a juvenile detention centre goes haywire. They quickly find themselves out of their depth as the plot continues to unravel and the situations they wind up in become more and more ridiculous.

Moonlight (2016)

Academy Award-winning Moonlight explores the difficulties the main character, Chiron, faces as a Black gay man, including the physical and emotional abuse he endured. The film tells the story through three stages of Chiron’s life: childhood (Alex R. Hibbert), adolescence (Ashton Sanders), and early adult life (Trevante Rhodes). 

Pride (2014)

Based on a true story, Pride recounts how London-based gay and lesbian activists lent their support and money to the British miners’ strike in 1984. Featuring Irish actor Andrew Scott in the cast, the film is a great way to learn about a small piece of LGBTQ+ history. 

Will & Harper (2024)

When comedian Will Ferrell’s best friend of 30 years, Harper Steele, comes out as a trans woman, the two embark on a cross-country road trip to process the new stage of their relationship. As the only documentary on this list, Will & Harper is a comedic yet heartfelt intimate portrait of what friendship truly means. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Stunningly beautiful French film, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, is the story of a brief forbidden affair set in 1770’s France. Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to secretly do the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) just by observing her features, as Héloïse is reluctant to be painted due to her desire to stay unwed.

Booksmart (2019)Best friends and academic overachievers Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) realise they have missed out on making memories of their teenage years, unlike the rest of their classmates, in pursuit of academic greatness. They decide to cram four years of missed fun into one chaotic night filled with drug trips, romance, and mature realisations to prove that they are not just ‘booksmart’.  

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
As a psychological thriller, I Saw the TV Glow narrates the story of how two isolated teenagers, Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Jack Haven), bond and obsess over a mysterious late-night TV show called The Pink Opaque. As Owen’s life derails under circumstances not of his choosing, his view of reality begins to crack under the glow of the television. 

My Old Ass (2024)
In the heat of the summer, 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella) comes face-to-face with her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza) during a mushroom trip. Older Elliott begins handing out warnings about what younger Elliott should and shouldn’t do, causing her to truly think about what matters to her during this coming-of-age summer.  

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Ending our list of films to watch during Pride on a high note, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an incredibly campy cult classic musical. Sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) become stuck with a flat tyre during a storm and, while seeking shelter, come across the mansion of Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a self-described “transvestite” scientist creating a muscular man called Rocky.   

All of these films are absolute must-sees, especially during Pride!

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