11 cult classic queer movies to watch in Pride Month and beyond

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) is a rock musical that tells the story of Hedwig Robinson, a queer musician, directed by and starring (in the titular role) John Cameron Mitchell. She undergoes a botched sex change operation—leaving her with an “angry inch” of flesh—and the film follows her journey to achieve stardom from East Berlin to the United States.

This high-energy flick sees Robinson form a band, fall in and out of love, confront her identity and find her path to happiness and self-fulfilment. And of course, the soundtrack will stick with you for a long time.

Paris Is Burning (1990) is a poignant documentary directed by Jennie Livingston that provides an intimate look into the Harlem drag ball scene of the 1980s. Primarily focusing on the African American and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, it shares how these balls served as a place of refuge and encouraged self-expression for individuals who faced marginalisation and discrimination in their everyday lives.

It explores the many terms born from ball culture, for example introducing the “houses” which act as families for many and explains the role of dance-offs and how the concept of “voguing”—a dance style inspired by supermodels’ poses—serves as a medium for competition without aggression. This documentary also sheds light on the harsh realities faced by the drag community including poverty and the HIV/AIDS crisis, and has been celebrated for its cultural significance, exploration of subcultures and its impact on LGBTQ+ representation. 

Fire (1996) is a critically acclaimed Indian movie directed by Deepa Mehta that explores themes of love, desire and the repression of women in traditional Indian society. Set in the middle-class neighbourhoods of New Delhi, the story centres around Radha (Shabana Azmi) and Sita (Nandita Das), who find themselves stuck in loveless marriages and bond over their shared dissatisfaction and loneliness. They develop a romantic connection and their love affair serves as a means of escape from their oppressive circumstances to offer them a sense of liberation.

This queer movie delves into the complexities of sexuality and desire within the context of a conservative society, where same-sex relationships are often stigmatised. It sparked controversy in India upon its release due to its depiction of a lesbian relationship. Today, it’s known for its thought-provoking narrative, sensitive exploration of taboo themes and powerful performances, cementing it as a landmark in LGBTQ+ representation in Asia.

Tomboy is a thoughtful exploration of childhood, identity formation, and the nuances of gender identity. Directed by Céline Sciamma, the French drama follows the experiences of 10-year-old Laure (Zoé Héran), who moves to a new neighbourhood with her family.

Upon arriving, she introduces herself as a boy named Michäel, and her androgynous appearance allows her to assimilate into a group of boys. She forms close friendships, particularly with a girl named Lisa who develops romantic feelings for “Michäel”. Laure’s secret identity creates a complex dynamic, and the film sensitively navigates her relationships, experiences of first love and grappling with her evolving understanding of gender identity.

Julian Jarrold’s musical comedy Kinky Boots (2005) follows the journey of Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton), a young man who inherits his family’s struggling shoe factory in Northampton, England. Faced with the imminent closure of the factory and the loss of jobs for the community, he comes up with an unconventional idea to save the business: he forms an unlikely partnership with a drag queen named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and together they venture into producing fetish-themed boots for a niche market.

It received critical acclaim for its uplifting and heartwarming story that celebrates individuality, catchy musical numbers and vibrant performances and was adapted into a successful stage musical, which premiered in 2012 with music written by gay icon Cyndi Lauper.

Taiwanese movie Spider Lilies is a 2007 romantic drama directed by Zero Chou that reflects on memory, identity and personal connections in the digital age. Jade and Takeko’s lives intersect in unexpected ways: the former, a webcam performer, seeks to reclaim her childhood memories by tattooing herself with a spider lily design, while the latter, a tattoo artist, is haunted by a traumatic event from her past and seeks solace in her art.

Their initial encounter sparks a connection and a tender romance begins to blossom, however, both women must confront their emotional obstacles and come to terms with their pasts. This queer movie underscores how the digital world can both facilitate and complicate our search for understanding and self-expression.

The Queen (1968) is a documentary directed by Frank Simon that provides a rare insight into the preparations and events surrounding the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest in New York City.

It focuses on the experiences of the drag queens—including the iconic Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to set up the House of LaBeija which features in the aforementioned documentary Paris is Burning—who participate in the pageant, highlighting their personal stories, aspirations, and challenges. It explores themes of self-expression and the pursuit of acceptance and recognition within the subculture of drag performance and was ahead of its time in challenging societal norms during a period where LGBTQ+ visibility was limited.

Themes of grief, language barriers and human connection are at the heart of Hong Khaou’s 2014 movie, Lilting. Richard (Ben Whishaw) is a British man grieving the loss of his partner, Kai (Andrew Leung), who died in an accident. Determined to make a connection with Kai's Cambodian Chinese mother, Junn (Cheng Peipei), who speaks little English, he hires a translator to help facilitate conversation.

Junn is unaware of her late son’s homosexuality and Richard tries to reveal his relationship with Kai and bridge the gap between them. The film explores the struggles of navigating cultural and linguistic differences while attempting to find solace and understanding, as well as the power of communication as the pair find ways to connect and share their emotions.

Tangerine (2015) offers an authentic, compassionate and, at times, comedic portrayal of transgender characters, delving into themes of friendship, love, identity and survival while providing a glimpse into the lives of those overlooked by society.

It tells the story of transgender sex workers Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) as they navigate the streets of Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. The former, who has just been released from a short stint in prison, discovers that her boyfriend and pimp, Chester, has been unfaithful to her. Fuelled by anger and a desire for revenge, she goes on a mission to find his new girlfriend, Dinah, and confront them both. The film, directed by Sean Baker who won this year’s Palme d’Or award at Cannes Film Festival for Anora, was shot exclusively using iPhones and gained praise for his unique approach to filmmaking.

While the Club Kids scene in New York City of the late ’80s and ’90s is best remembered for its creative ensembles and major parties, it had a dark underbelly, as highlighted by the 2003 movie by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Party Monster. Based on real events, the film revolves around notorious club promoter Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin), his rise to fame alongside friend and mentor James St James (Seth Green) and his involvement in the murder of fellow clubgoer Andre “Angel” Melendez (Wilson Cruz).

The film offers a glimpse into a subculture defined by flamboyant fashion, outrageous personalities and decadent lifestyles and delves into themes of obsession and the destructive nature of fame and excess—a different angle that fleshes out the complexity of LGBTQ+ communities.

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