80s gay movies

The 80s saw the rise of independent cinema and, with it, LGBTQ+ stories. Here are the best of those movies, ranked. LGBTQ-related films released in the s are listed in the following articles. Dear millennials, the generation born during the '80s, these are the gay-themed movies — some wonderful, some wonderfully terrible — worth your time. Below are five influential queer movies from the '80s that shifted gay storytelling that you can watch during Pride Month.

Set in Thatcher's London, Omar (Gordon Warnecke) and Johnny (Daniel. As it was less important for movies to appeal to the widest audience possible, these small studios were more willing than ever to take a chance on LGBTQ+ tales. The s were an exciting time for cinema. Independent studios were rising in number and prominence, so movies were being made on a smaller budget.

This meant that a greater range of stories was being told, and new approaches were being explored as the lower budgets required smaller audiences to make back the investment. As a result, the 80s are home to some of the most iconic movies the community has to offer. Beyond just queer cinema, the aesthetics of the 80s make for delightful and charming filmmaking. All the performers are excellent in these roles and the minute run-time never allows them to overstay their welcome.

The original Fame is jam-packed with energy and charm. But, you may not remember them as being this good.

lgbt movies 1950s

There are few movies that achieve the intense, engaging feel that is so prevalent here. For the theater-inclined, this is the perfect dose of vigor and theatricality. Another Country tells part of the fascinating story of Guy Burgess, a British diplomat who was also a Soviet spy. The two found their way together, largely by default, as a result of a shared otherness — Guy as a result of his sexuality, Tommy because of his Marxist political views.

While they are mostly left alone, the events that take place here lead Guy to his disillusionment in Britain and desire to head east to the U. It's a compelling look at the way wealth, politics, and sexuality intersect in upper-class British society. The World According to Garp is an interesting and quirky movie. Garp and Jenny Fields. The melodrama here simply places The Color Purple firmly in the 80s movie canon.

Her solution, of course, is to pretend to be a man and work as a female impersonator. Julie Andrews' performance and the movie's playful attitude toward gender and its expression are what make it so enjoyable. Related: Underrated Comedy Movies of the '80s, Ranked. With its release in , Parting Glances was one of the first movies to confront the AIDS epidemic, and it did so with honesty and care.

The relationships in this movie, both romantic and platonic, are laced with tenderness and warmth which makes the experience of watching Parting Glances extra immersive.

To have a movie about the AIDS crisis, made during it, and written and directed by someone directly affected by it Bill Sherwood is incredibly precious. The story is about a James Dean fan club that reunites 20 years after his death. We see them spend time together in the present day and also in the past, which fleshes out their dynamics and grudges.

In regard to Joanne, the trans character, there are obviously moments that are phrased and expressed differently than we might expect now. However, Joanne is still complex, sensitive, and real. Directed by Greta Schiller and Robert Rosenberg, the movie is an essential compilation of valuable interviews and archival footage that would have been otherwise lost. It's particularly significant that the directors spoke to a number of women and people of color because those are voices that are frequently left behind.

Maurice is based on E. With a plot that is unpredictable and engaging, there is nothing to dislike here. The movie is beautifully shot, and its romances are equally well drawn.