15 Gay Films Of 2025 – Out Now Or Coming Soon!
From steamy thrillers to tender dramas, 2025 is shaping up to be a standout year for queer cinema. From cinematic releases to streaming services, there’s plenty to add to your must-see list and plenty of big names: Paul Mescal, Alexander Skarsgard, Jacob Elordi, Josh O’Connor, Zane Phillips, Bowen Yang, Russell Tovey, Dylan O’Brien, Olivia Colman, and Jennifer Lopez. Here’s our curated list of 15 must-see films that explore love, identity, and everything in between.
The Parenting
Planning a relaxed weekend getaway to introduce your parents to your partner sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? Not in The Parenting. This horror-comedy sees a gay couple’s carefully laid plans go awry when they encounter unexpected supernatural forces. Featuring Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn, this film was released on Max in March 2025, bringing its unique blend of horror and comedy to home screens.
Pillion
The film stars Alexander Skarsgård as Ray and Harry Melling as Colin. According to the official synopsis, Skarsgård plays Ray, the “impossibly handsome leader of a motorbike club”. Melling’s character, Colin, begins as a “weedy wallflower letting life pass him by”. That changes when Ray takes him on as his submissive, pulling him out of suburban monotony and into a world of kinky, queer bikers, introducing him to a series of transformative firsts. This intriguing project had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on May 18, 2025, where it reportedly earned an impressive 7-minute standing ovation
I Don’t Understand You
Get ready for a horror-comedy with a twist in I Don’t Understand You. Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells star as a wealthy Los Angeles couple celebrating their 10th anniversary with a trip to Italy. They’re also on the verge of adopting a baby, but their idyllic babymoon takes a dark turn as a series of unsettling incidents challenge them. The film premiered at SXSW in 2024, with Rotten Tomatoes critics calling it “unapologetically fun” with “effective performances.” Look for its release on June 6, 2025.
Strangers On A Beach
Zane Phillips and Jelani Alladin star in Strangers On A Beach, a queer erotic thriller set in 1983 San Francisco, where a killer targets gay men. Written and directed by Michael Schwartz, the short film blends danger and desire as one man risks everything for a kiss. It premieres this June at New York’s Big Apple Film Festival.
The Wedding Banquet (2025)
Ang Lee’s (Brokeback Mountain) beloved 1993 classic, The Wedding Banquet, receives a fresh and contemporary reimagining. Set in San Francisco, this romantic comedy centres on a gay man, brought to life by the wonderfully funny Bowen Yang, as he navigates a complicated web of cultural expectations, family pressures, and generational differences. Directed by Andrew Ahn, this updated version is poised to bring new laughter and perhaps a few knowing smiles. Released last month.
Plainclothes
This romantic thriller unfolds in 1990s New York City. An undercover police officer, tasked with entrapping gay men, finds his professional boundaries and personal desires dangerously blurring when he starts developing feelings for one of his targets. Starring the compelling Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey, Plainclothes is directed by Carmen Emmi, who has shared that the lead characters were inspired by a news report, and his own life experiences. Released by Magnolia Pictures.
Sauna
From Denmark, Sauna offers a tender and intimate exploration of a burgeoning romance. The narrative is set against the distinctive backdrop of Copenhagen’s gay sauna scene, focusing on the developing connection between Johan, a gay man, and William, a trans man. Directed by Mathias Broe, this romantic drama premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and saw a wider release in April.
Twinless
Prepare for a darkly comedic journey with Twinless. The film introduces us to two men who forge an unlikely connection at a support group specifically for individuals who have lost their twin. What begins as a bond over shared and unique grief soon spirals into a sexually intense and complex friendship. Hailing from the United States and directed by James Sweeney, this film stars the charismatic Dylan O’Brien. After making its premiere at Sundance, Twinless is scheduled for a cinema release by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions in September 2025.
Viêt and Nam
Themes of love, longing, and the weight of circumstance are at the core of Viêt And Nam. This poignant Vietnamese romantic drama tells the story of two young coal miners who are deeply in love. Following its international festival debut, Viêt And Nam received a wider release in select regions in March 2025, bringing its emotionally resonant story to a broader audience.
Young Hearts
Do you remember the overwhelming intensity of your first love? Young Hearts, an evocative coming-of-age film from Germany, beautifully captures that feeling. The story follows a 14-year-old boy in Berlin whose world is transformed when he falls deeply in love with his new neighbour. Following its international festival premiere, Australian audiences had the opportunity to see it at the Adelaide Film Festival on October 30, 2024, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival on November 16, 2024, and the Mardi Gras Film Festival on February 13, 2025. Wider availability is anticipated.
Jimpa
Complex family dynamics and the search for understanding take centre stage in Jimpa. Directed by Sophie Hyde, the film boasts a stellar cast including Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, and Aud Mason-Hyde. The narrative follows a mother and her trans nonbinary child as they travel to Amsterdam to visit the mother’s estranged gay father. This pivotal visit unearths long-held family secrets and prompts new, profound understandings about identity, acceptance, and connection. This powerful and moving cinematic experience offers audiences a profound look at family and identity.
Blue Moon
Director Richard Linklater is at the helm for Blue Moon, a drama exploring the life of Lorenz Hart, the gay lyricist of the iconic Rodgers And Hart songwriting duo. Ethan Hawke takes on the role of Hart, with Andrew Scott, celebrated for his brilliant and nuanced portrayals of queer characters, playing Oscar Hammerstein II. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 18 February 2025, where Andrew Scott won the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance.
Kiss Of The Spider Woman
Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna star in a new musical adaptation of Kiss Of The Spider Woman, Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel and a classic of queer literature. The story follows the unlikely friendship between two cellmates in an Argentinian prison: Molina, a gay hairdresser (played by Tonatiuh), and Valentin (Luna). Lopez plays a glamorous film star imagined by Molina as The Spider Woman. The film premiered at Sundance to a standing ovation and strong reviews, and is set for release on 10 October 2025.
On Swift Horses
Based on Shannon Pufahl’s novel, On Swift Horses takes us to the post-WWII American West. The story follows Muriel and Lee, newlyweds trying to build a life, but Muriel finds herself drawn to the allure of horse racing and Lee’s charismatic, gambling brother, Julius. This drama explores themes of desire, identity, and the search for belonging against a backdrop of smoky casinos and dusty racetracks. With a cast including Diego Calva, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Jacob Elordi, the film was released in April 2025.
The History Of Sound
Prepare for an emotional WWI-era drama with The History Of Sound. Starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, the film follows two young men, Lionel and David, who are tasked with recording the lives, voices, and music of their fellow countrymen. As they embark on this journey across the United States, a profound and transformative love story unfolds between them. Directed by Oliver Hermanus, this film promises a poignant exploration of connection and memory. Look out for festival news and a potential release in 2026.
