Everyone is familiar with the standard American romantic comedy plot: heterosexual male meets heterosexual girl, they connect, but later have a dispute that drives them apart. They eventually return to each other after becoming lost. Many fans of romantic comedies adore this format, but it’s time to broaden your horizons. LGBTQ+ films and gay and queer romantic comedies abound, and titles like Love, Simon, Bros, and Happiest Season are just a few examples of these.
Due in large part to the fact that it was one of the first popular gay romantic comedies, Love, Simon generated a lot of interest and excitement when it was released in 2018. The movie business is still attempting to diversify its offerings, but films like Love, Simon, Prom, Bros, Fire Island, and Happiest Season are significant because they give a wider audience access to more LGBTQ+ romance storylines. I wanted to highlight some excellent LGBTQ+ films and gay romantic comedies for this list. Despite the fact that some may not adhere to the conventional romantic comedy genres, all tell incredibly interesting and enjoyable love stories.
In Love, Simon, Nick Robinson
Alex Strangelove
The Netflix original movie Alex Strangelove is about virgin Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), who intends to become infatuated with Claire (Madeline Weinstein), but finds it difficult to do so. Later, when he meets Elliot (Antonio Marziale), he begins to have sexual identity issues.
You’ll definitely be cheering at the final kiss in Alex Strangelove because it has such a nice ending. The inclusion of real-life coming-out tales in the credits, however, strengthens the movie even more. It gives the movie more context and demonstrates the value of coming-of-age films.
Visit Netflix to watch Alex Strangelove
Boy Meets Girl
A transsexual lady named Ricky (Michelle Hendley) in the film Boy Meets Girl develops feelings for another woman named Francesca. Both women’s lives are complicated by this relationship, especially because of Francesca’s fiance and Ricky’s best friend Robby. Boy Meets Girl contains a lot of fascinating and engaging things. The first is that there aren’t many romantic comedies with transgender individuals as the main protagonists (and even fewer acted by transgender people), nor are there many films featuring transgender people who are sexually fluid.
Boy Meets Girl exploits its status as a truly endearing romantic comedy to inform viewers about what it’s like to be transgender. It accomplishes this both through her friendship with Francesca and through Ricky. Additionally, it’s good to have a transgender character that is largely embraced by her friends, family, and community in a movie. Boy Meets Girl was directed by Eric Schaeffer.
On Tubi, watch Boy Meets Girl.
Buy or rent Boy Meets Girl from Amazon.
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Bros
In Bros Bros, two gay men who shun relationships are followed by Bobby (Billy Eichner) and Aaron (Luke Macfarlane). They set up a date with the intention of keeping things light, but soon find themselves falling in love. The complete LGBTQ+ cast of The Bros is made up of actors and actresses.
Many of the traditional rom-com cliches are used in Bros, but that is part of what makes it endearing. Although it is familiar with and adores romantic comedies, it modifies them to fit the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. It emphasizes the fact that finding love and dating isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor.
The comedy movie Bros has a lot of heart and charm.
Bros on Peacock, stream
But I’m A Cheerleader
But one of the most well-known LGBTQ+ movies is probably I’m a Cheerleader. A teenage girl named Megan (Natasha Lyonne) is sent by her parents to a conversion treatment camp in Jamie Babbit’s satirical movie. She meets Graham there.
Although the movie But I’m a Cheerleader is satirical, at its core, it’s a romantic comedy. The classic opposites-attract romance between Megan and Graham blossoms into love, respect, and in this movie’s case, hope. Even though the world of But I’m a Cheerleader is against them, they will fight together as long as they have each other. The performances of RuPaul and Cathy Moriarty as the conversion treatment camp leaders are amusing.
On Paramount+, watch But I’m A Cheerleader.
Fire Island
A Pride and Prejudice retelling with some traditional enemies to lovers plotting is Fire Island. In Fire Island, there is a lot of presumption, judgment, and misunderstanding. James Scully, Conrad Ricamora, Joel Kim Booster, and Bowen Yang are members of the Fire Island cast.
Both friendship and passion play major roles in the narrative of Fire Island. These buddies are there for one another no matter what, and that includes supporting one another during their major, romantic relationship.
Watch Fire Island online at Hulu.
Imagine Me And You
What would be the worst possible scenario for your wedding? falling for a different person. Ol Parker’s film Imagine Me and You opens with Heck’s (Matthew Goode) and Rachel’s wedding. Rachel observes Luce, the florist, as she makes her way down the aisle. Luce and Rachel must decide whether to give in to their feelings for one another or resist them.
The uncommon romantic comedy cliche of an actual respectable romantic rival appears in Imagine Me and You. Heck was shown as being such a wonderful and good guy that you felt terrible for him, but this just strengthened the film’s message. Heck and Rachel have a wonderful relationship, but once you’ve found your soul mate, there’s no turning back. In the movie Imagine Me and You, there is an irrefutable connection that makes you ready to sacrifice everything for the right person.
Jeffrey
Based on a play, Jeffrey Jeffrey is a gay love comedy. It concerns a man who truly enjoys sex yet forgoes it. As a result of the AIDS crisis, sex has lost its appeal for Jeffrey (Steven Weber), who was formerly a promiscuous man. He now fears contracting the illness or losing someone he cares about to it. When Jeffrey meets Steve, the guy of his dreams, his mission to avoid having sex is severely derailed.
Patrick Stewart, Christine Baranski, Victor Garber, and Sigourney Weaver also make cameos in Jeffrey’s cast. Jeffrey was helmed by Christopher Ashley. The movie is a quirky one about not being afraid to love and live, even if it deals with the AIDS crisis.
Kissing Jessica Stein
Kissing Jennifer Westfeldt’s character, Jessica, is followed by Jessica Stein as she decides to meet a woman who posts a personal ad seeking love. Jessica and Helen (Heather Juergensen) hit it off right away. They begin dating, a relationship that Jessica maintains a secret from her friends and family, but there is a major snag: Jessica isn’t ready for intimacy with Helen.
The connection between two bisexual women is examined in Kissing Jessica Stein. One who is very aware of her sexuality and another who is unsure of her goals for both her personal life and her romantic relationships. The movie has a really intriguing finish that some people would really enjoy, while others might find it to be a waste of time. Kissing Jessica Stein demonstrates a relationship that advances both women’s understanding of their own desires and goals in both love and life. Kissing Jessica Stein was directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld.
Visit Hulu to watch Kissing Jessica Stein.
Love, Simon
Nick Robinson plays Simon, a gay adolescent who is afraid of coming out. He is confident that his friends and family will be encouraging, but he is still anxious about coming out to the public. Simon makes the decision to write to another kid who anonymously discloses being gay on the website of their high school. They experience love.
Love, Simon succeeds because to the chemistry between the lead characters, much like earlier romantic comedies with excellent protagonists like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, even if the majority of their love story takes place online. In addition to engrossing you in a romance between two individuals who hardly interact in person, the movie also raises the intriguing question of who is “Blue?”
Love, Simon is a wonderful coming-of-age tale about a young man who falls in love and discovers how to be fearlessly himself. Love, Simon was directed by Greg Berlanti of the Arrowverse, and it genuinely makes you care about Simon’s happiness.
Romeos
German film Romeos Romeos is about Lukas, a male trans character. Since Lukas is still transitioning, he is self-conscious of his appearance and is attempting to conceal his gender identity. He notices that Fabio appeals to him. At first, Lukas is drawn to Fabio because he embodies the manliness he aspires to, but their connection develops with time.
Sabine Bernardi, the director, presents yet another excellent transgender story. Romeos kind of walks the edge between comedy and drama, but just Fabio and Lukas’s lustful eyes are enough to make Romeos entertaining.
Romeos can be seen on Vudu.
Saving Face
A successful physician named Wil (Michelle Krusiec) has an upsetting change of circumstances when her pregnant mother Gao (Joan Chen) moves in with her. At this time, Wil also starts dating a dancer named Vivian. Gao is unaware that Wil is a lesbian despite the fact that she is out to her friends.
Anyone who was raised by a strict or conventional parent understands the struggle of attempting to always satisfy them. Wil is in this situation, but it’s also about Wil knowing who she is but being hesitant to reveal it to the outside world. Vivian and Wil immediately make you want to support them. Saving Face is a tremendously humorous movie in addition to being a really good love tale. Gao, as well as a few of Wil’s other friends and family members, are hilarious.
The Half Of It
The Half Of It was directed by Alice Wu. Saving Face was also directed by her. Smart but socially awkward Ellie (Leah Lewis) offers her other students essay writing assistance. One day, Paul (Daniel Diemer), a decent athlete who is rather simpleminded, begs her for assistance in creating a love letter for his sweetheart Aster (Alexxis Lemire). Ellie harbors a covert infatuation on Aster as well.
The Half of It begins by claiming that it is not, at least not in the conventional sense, a love story. I concur. You are interested in Aster and Ellie’s relationship, but you care more about their friendship and both of their personal development than you do about their romantic relationship. It’s a charming mashup of romantic comedy and coming-of-age stories.
The Thing About Harry
The Fosters and co-creator of Good Trouble, Peter Paige, directed The Thing About Harry, a Freeform original film. Sam (Jake Borelli), who was bullied in high school, is compelled to go on a road trip with Harry at the beginning of the movie. Sam discovers during the trip that Harry has changed significantly from his high school years and that the main reason he bullied him was because he was trying to hide the fact that he is pansexual.
From beginning to end, The Thing About Harry is a romantic suspense thriller. When you believe Harry and Sam will finally find happiness, a bizarre new impediment surfaces. Fortunately for the movie, Harry and Sam are endearing characters, so you keep hoping that they will succeed even though the story keeps tearing them apart. Unfortunately, The Thing About Harry is only available for purchase on a few services and for streaming on a few others, including the Freeform app.
The Way He Looks
Daniel Ribeiro is the director of the gay romantic comedy The Way He Looks in Portugal. It follows Gabriel, a new student, as he quickly bonds with blind high school classmate Leo (Ghilherme Lobo). Two adolescent guys are drawn to one another in The Way He Looks because of their personalities, spirits, beliefs, etc. rather than their physical appearances. It’s a very sweet movie that succeeds due of the chemistry between Leo and Gabriel.
The Way He Looks is another non-dramatic movie. There is some disagreement between Leo and Gabriel in their developing relationship, but it never feels fatal. Throughout the entire film, viewers are left with the impression that they will overcome any challenges they encounter. There’s never a real sense that these characters won’t get together.
Booksmart, Wild Nights with Emily, Appropriate Behavior, and In and Out are further movies to take into account. I made an effort to find as many films that represented various LGBTQ+ identities (gay, bisexual, questioning, transgender, lesbian, pansexual, etc.) for this list. However, the market for LGBTQ+ films and gay and lesbian romantic comedies is expanding rapidly, so maybe in a few years, this list will be even longer.
