161 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of All Time

Critics Consensus: An illuminating and urgent call to action, Welcome to Chechnya portrays the horrors of the mass persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in the Chechen Republic with tenacity and tenderness.

Synopsis: Activists risk their lives to confront Russian leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his government-directed campaign to detain, torture and execute LGBTQ Chechens.

Starring: Olga Baranova, David Isteev, Maxim Lapunov

Directed By: David France

Critics Consensus: An absorbing and affectionate tribute to a unique individual, Mucho Mucho Amor should prove fascinating for Walter Mercado fans as well as first-timers.

Synopsis: Puerto Rican astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado discusses his life, career and post-fame seclusion.

Starring: Walter Mercado

Directed By: Kareem Tabsch, Cristina Costantini

Critics Consensus: In telling one couple's story, A Secret Love pays understated yet powerful tribute to a lifetime of choices and sacrifices made in the name of enduring devotion.

Synopsis: A former baseball player keeps her lesbian relationship a secret from her family for seven decades.

Starring: Pat Henschel

Directed By: Chris Bolan

Critics Consensus: We Were Here revisits the crises facing the gay community in the early 1980s -- and offers a powerful tribute to the inspiring resolve shown at a time of turmoil.

Synopsis: During the 1970s, San Francisco became a safe haven for the gay and lesbian community, providing a place where one could live openly, away from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Boneberg, Ed Wolf, Daniel Goldstein, Guy Clark

Directed By: David Weissman, Bill Weber

Critics Consensus: Beautifully filmed and performed, Mäedchen in Uniform avoids easy melodrama with its sensitive handling of oft-sensationalized subject matter.

Synopsis: After the death of her mother, teenage Manuela (Hertha Thiele) is sent off to a boarding school run by the autocratic Fräulein von Nordeck (Emilia... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hertha Thiele, Dorothea Wieck, Emilia Unda

Directed By: Leontine Sagan

Critics Consensus: Moving without resorting to melodrama, BPM offers an engrossing look at a pivotal period in history that lingers long after the closing credits roll.

Synopsis: Nathan is a young man who joins an AIDS activist group in 1990s Paris. As he attends the weekly meetings, he learns that some members... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Antoine Reinartz

Directed By: Robin Campillo

Critics Consensus: Endearing and heartfelt, Will & Harper is an ode and testament to long-lasting love, acceptance and evolution within a friendship.

Synopsis: Three years ago, Will Ferrell was filming a movie when he received a most surprising email: his‬ dear friend of nearly 30 years was coming... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

Directed By: Josh Greenbaum

Critics Consensus: Kokomo City is a rousing docu effort that illuminates trans lives within a world of adverse circumstance and invariable optimism.

Synopsis: In the wildly entertaining and refreshingly unfiltered documentary KOKOMO CITY, filmmaker D. Smith passes the mic to four Black transgender sex workers in Atlanta and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, Dominique Silver

Directed By: D. Smith

Critics Consensus: Moonlight uses one man's story to offer a remarkable and brilliantly crafted look at lives too rarely seen in cinema.

Synopsis: A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes

Directed By: Barry Jenkins

Critics Consensus: Depicting the refugee experience through vivid animation, Flee pushes the boundaries of documentary filmmaking to present a moving memoir of self-discovery.

Synopsis: FLEE tells the story of Amin Nawabi as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amin, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh

Directed By: Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Critics Consensus: A quiet, moving rumination on loneliness and newfound intimacy, God's Own Country marks an outstanding directorial debut for Francis Lee.

Synopsis: A young farmer numbs his frustrations with drinking and casual sex until a Romanian migrant worker sets him on a new path.

Starring: Josh O'Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones, Ian Hart

Directed By: Francis Lee

Critics Consensus: A beautifully acted depiction of being caught between a rock and a hard place, Good One confronts difficult emotions and yields a striking feature debut for writer-director India Donaldson.

Synopsis: In India Donaldson's insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy, Sumaya Bouhbal

Directed By: India Donaldson

Critics Consensus: Almodovar weaves together a magnificent tapestry of femininity with an affectionate wink to classics of theater and cinema in this poignant story of love, loss and compassion.

Synopsis: New friends help a woman (Cecilia Roth) struggling to get her life in order after her son's (Eloy Azorín) death.

Starring: Cecilia Roth, Eloy Azorín, Marisa Paredes, Penélope Cruz

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: With stunning honesty that's achingly bittersweet, Joyland tackles gender and sexual fluidity in a repressed patriarchal society with wisps of hopefulness.

Synopsis: The Ranas--a happily patriarchal joint family--yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line. Their youngest son secretly joins an erotic... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani

Directed By: Saim Sadiq

Critics Consensus: Angry, powerful, and stirring, How to Survive a Plague is a brilliantly constructed documentary about the activists who pushed for action to combat the AIDS epidemic.

Synopsis: In the late 1980s, members of Act-Up and other AIDS activists battle indifference and hostility to bring attention to the disease and play a huge... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Barr, Jim Eigo, Ann Northrop, Larry Kramer

Directed By: David France

Critics Consensus: Paris Is Burning dives into '80s transgender subculture, with the understated camera allowing this world to flourish and the people to speak (and dance) for themselves.

Synopsis: This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: André Christian, Freddie Pendavis, Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija

Directed By: Jennie Livingston

Critics Consensus: Disclosure engrossingly illuminates the history and effects of the way transgender lives are depicted onscreen -- and outlines how much progress still needs to be made.

Synopsis: A look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of this on American culture.

Starring: Laverne Cox, Bianca Leigh, Jen Richards, Alexandra Billings

Directed By: Sam Feder

Critics Consensus: Like the cheekily named store at this documentary's center, Circus of Books proves there are countless stories below the surface if we're only willing to look.

Synopsis: In 1976 a couple take over an adult book store, and the store becomes the biggest distributor of gay porn in the United States.

Starring: Karen Mason, Rachel Mason, Larry Flynt, Jeff Stryker

Directed By: Rachel Mason

Critics Consensus: Alternately horrific and uplifting, Call Me Kuchu exposes heinous systematic brutality with a clear eye and admirable precision.

Synopsis: In Uganda, openly gay David Kato and his fellow activists work to defeat new legislation in their country that would make homosexuality punishable by death.

Starring: David Bahati

Directed By: Katherine Fairfax Wright, Malika Zouhali-Worrall

Critics Consensus: My Beautiful Laundrette is fast and all over the place because it has so much to say, and show, including a highly watchable fresh-faced Daniel Day-Lewis.

Synopsis: In a seedy corner of London, Omar (Gordon Warnecke), a young Pakistani, is given a run-down laundromat by his uncle (Saeed Jaffrey), who hopes to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Gordon Warnecke, Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth

Directed By: Stephen Frears

Critics Consensus: An illuminating documentary that dispels misinformation and creates an informative space for the intersex community to reach Every Body through the trials and tribulations of gender expression and life.

Synopsis: EVERY BODY is a revelatory investigation of the lives of intersex people. The film tells the stories of three individuals who have moved from childhoods... View Full Synopsis

Starring: River Gallo, Alicia Roth Weigel, Sean Saifa Wall

Directed By: Julie Cohen

Critics Consensus: A singularly rich period piece, Portrait of a Lady on Fire finds stirring, thought-provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance.

Synopsis: In 1770 the young daughter of a French countess develops a mutual attraction to the female artist commissioned to paint her wedding portrait.

Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino

Directed By: Céline Sciamma

Critics Consensus: For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.

Synopsis: A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.

Starring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano

Directed By: Alice Wu

Critics Consensus: Sensitively written and beautifully acted, Girl Picture captures the whirlwind of teenage emotions without sacrificing narrative maturity and depth.

Synopsis: Best friends Mimmi and Rönkkö work after school at a food court smoothie kiosk, frankly swapping stories of their frustrations and expectations regarding love and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Aamu Milonoff, Linnea Leino, Sonya Lindfors, Cécile Orblin

Directed By: Alli Haapasalo

Critics Consensus: Warm, funny, and quietly profound, Appropriate Behavior serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer, director, and star Desiree Akhavan.

Synopsis: A secretly bisexual Brooklynite from a traditional Persian family struggles with her identity and the disintegration of her relationship with her girlfriend.

Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Scott Adsit, Halley Feiffer

Directed By: Desiree Akhavan

Critics Consensus: Buoyed by Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff's appealingly sweet performances, A Nice Indian Boy navigates cultural mores and romance with an infectiously kind heart.

Synopsis: Naveen Gavaskar is a self-effacing, soft-spoken doctor with a boisterous mother, seemingly perfect sister and quiet father. The Gavaskars are outwardly accepting of Naveen's sexuality... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg

Directed By: Roshan Sethi

Critics Consensus: Fast-paced, funny, and fresh, Booksmart does the seemingly impossible by adding a smart new spin to the coming-of-age comedy.

Synopsis: Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high school peers. But on the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis

Directed By: Olivia Wilde

Critics Consensus: Pain and Glory finds writer-director Pedro Almodóvar drawing on his own life to rewarding effect -- and honoring his craft as only a master filmmaker can.

Synopsis: An aging Spanish film director in the middle of a creative crisis revisits memorable events of his past.

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Asier Etxeandia, Penélope Cruz, Leonardo Sbaraglia

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: All of Us Strangers examines profound grief and love through a fantastical lens that is always grounded on human emotion.

Synopsis: One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

Directed By: Andrew Haigh

Critics Consensus: A brilliant forum for Penélope Cruz's talent, Parallel Mothers reaffirms the familiar pleasures of Almodóvar's filmmaking while proving he's still capable of growth.

Synopsis: Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Penélope Cruz, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: The Handmaiden uses a Victorian crime novel as the loose inspiration for another visually sumptuous and absorbingly idiosyncratic outing from director Park Chan-wook.

Synopsis: With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong

Directed By: Park Chan-wook

Critics Consensus: A ruefully funny calling card for debuting director Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby transcends its sitcom setup with strong performances and satisfying insights.

Synopsis: While at a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend.

Starring: Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Danny Deferrari

Directed By: Emma Seligman

Critics Consensus: Gently devastating in its compassion, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises to the end.

Synopsis: When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sakura Andô, Eita Nagayama, Soya Kurokawa, Mitsuki Takahata

Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda

Critics Consensus: Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it's an old-fashioned comedy at heart -- and a pretty wonderful one at that.

Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan

Directed By: Sean Baker

Critics Consensus: An urgent drama grounded in its observant depiction of reservation life, Fancy Dance establishes director/co-writer Erica Tremblay as a rising filmmaking talent.

Synopsis: Since her sister's disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay, Shea Whigham

Directed By: Erica Tremblay

Critics Consensus: Framed by great work from director Sidney Lumet and fueled by a gripping performance from Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon offers a finely detailed snapshot of people in crisis with tension-soaked drama shaded in black humor.

Synopsis: When inexperienced criminal Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) leads a bank robbery in Brooklyn, things quickly go wrong, and a hostage situation develops. As Sonny and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon

Directed By: Sidney Lumet

Critics Consensus: Bridging times past with issues that are still current, Blue Jean resonates intellectually and emotionally thanks to thoughtful direction and authentic performances.

Synopsis: England, 1988 -- Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing gays and lesbians, forcing Jean, a gym teacher, to live a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun

Directed By: Georgia Oakley

Critics Consensus: The People's Joker uses classic characters in impressively inventive ways, working within a familiar framework to tell an invigorating story of self-acceptance.

Synopsis: In the absurdist autobiographically-inspired dark comedy, a painfully unfunny aspiring clown (Vera Drew as Joker the Harlequin) grapples with her gender identity while unsuccessfully attempting... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Vera Drew, Lynn Downey, Kane Distler, Griffin Kramer

Directed By: Vera Drew

Critics Consensus: In tune with the emotion and tribulations of childhood, Tomboy is a charming movie that treats its main subject with warmth and heart.

Synopsis: A 10-year-old girl (Zoé Héran) moves into a new neighborhood and decides to dress like a boy.

Starring: Zoé Héran, Malonn Lévana, Sophie Cattani, Mathieu Demy

Directed By: Céline Sciamma

Critics Consensus: Gods and Monsters is a spellbinding, confusing piece of semi-fiction, featuring fine performances; McKellen leads the way, but Redgrave and Fraser don't lag far behind.

Synopsis: Once a powerful Hollywood director best known for Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale (Ian McKellen) is long since retired and in increasingly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich

Directed By: Bill Condon

Critics Consensus: Led by a Maddie Ziegler performance that's as funny as it is fearless, Fitting In takes a boldly provocative look at the assumptions and expectations surrounding modern femininity.

Synopsis: A coming-of-age "traumedy" that follows 16-year-old Lindy (Maddie Ziegler) who is unexpectedly diagnosed with a reproductive condition, MRKH syndrome. The diagnosis upends her plans to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Maddie Ziegler, Emily Hampshire, Djouliet Amara, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

Directed By: Molly McGlynn

Critics Consensus: Good Manners adroitly juggles disparate tonal shifts while taking a uniquely smart and sensitive look at female relationships.

Synopsis: A mysterious and wealthy woman hires a lonely nurse named Clara to be the nanny of her soon-to-be born child. When a full moon brings... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Isabél Zuaa, Marjorie Estiano, Cida Moreira, Miguel Lobo

Directed By: Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra

Critics Consensus: Call Me by Your Name offers a melancholy, powerfully affecting portrait of first love, empathetically acted by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.

Synopsis: It's the summer of 1983, and precocious 17-year-old Elio Perlman is spending the days with his family at their 17th-century villa in Lombardy, Italy. He... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

Critics Consensus: Elevated by a remarkable Franz Rogowski performance, Passages adds another smart, deeply humanistic film to director/co-writer Ira Sachs' estimable filmography.

Synopsis: Celebrated filmmaker Ira Sachs (Love is Strange) makes a breathtaking return with PASSAGES, a fresh, honest and brutally funny take on messy, modern relationships, starring... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Erwan Kepoa Falé

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Critics Consensus: Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.

Synopsis: Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Aasha Davis, Charles Parnell

Directed By: Dee Rees

Critics Consensus: Dark, stylish, and captivating, Heavenly Creatures signals both the auspicious debut of Kate Winslet and the arrival of Peter Jackson as more than just a cult director.

Synopsis: Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse, Diana Kent

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Critics Consensus: It may be a chamber piece but Weekend's revelations on modern sexuality expand far beyond the modest setting.

Synopsis: A gay man's (Tom Cullen) weekend-long encounter with an artist (Chris New) changes his life in unexpected ways.

Starring: Tom Cullen, Chris New, Jonathan Race, Laura Freeman

Directed By: Andrew Haigh

Critics Consensus: The Crying Game is famous for its shocking twist, but this thoughtful, haunting mystery grips the viewer from start to finish.

Synopsis: Irish Republican Army member Fergus (Stephen Rea) forms an unexpected bond with Jody (Forest Whitaker), a kidnapped British soldier in his custody, despite the warnings... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Forest Whitaker, Jim Broadbent

Directed By: Neil Jordan

Critics Consensus: Princess Cyd defies coming-of-age convention to offer a sweetly understated - yet deeply resonant - look at pivotal relationships.

Synopsis: A 16-year-old girl visits her aunt in Chicago for the summer. While there, she falls for another girl, and she and her aunt challenge each... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rebecca Spence, Jessie Pinnick, Malic White, James Vincent Meredith

Directed By: Stephen Cone

Critics Consensus: Being 17 rides the roiling emotions of adolescence through a coming-of-age melodrama whose narrative turbulence smartly reflects the confusion of its protagonists.

Synopsis: When his mother takes in a bully whose own mother is ill, the son of a soldier must learn to live with the boy who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandrine Kiberlain, Kacey Mottet Klein, Corentin Fila, Alexis Loret

Directed By: André Téchiné

Critics Consensus: Led by an outstanding Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once lives up to its title with an expertly calibrated assault on the senses.

Synopsis: Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong

Directed By: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.

Synopsis: Severe, pale-eyed, handsome, Phil Burbank is brutally beguiling. All of Phil's romance, power and fragility is trapped in the past and in the land: He... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Directed By: Jane Campion

Critics Consensus: Shaped by Todd Haynes' deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.

Synopsis: Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy

Directed By: Todd Haynes

Critics Consensus: Lust and violence collide to powerfully pulpy effect in Love Lies Bleeding, a well-acted addition to writer-director Rose Glass' growing body of exceptional work.

Synopsis: From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco

Directed By: Rose Glass

Critics Consensus: Subtle and tender, A Fantastic Woman handles its timely, sensitive subject matter with care.

Synopsis: A transgender singer faces scorn and discrimination after the sudden death of her older boyfriend.

Starring: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Küppenheim

Directed By: Sebastián Lelio

Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a tremendously talented cast, the breezily entertaining Fire Island proves there are still fresh ways to update Austen.

Synopsis: Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn's "Fire Island" is an unapologetic, modern-day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Critics Consensus: Stylish, sensual, and smart, The Duke of Burgundy proves that erotic cinema can have genuine substance.

Synopsis: Two entomologists (Sidse Babett Knudsen, Chiara D'Anna) play ritual games of dominance and subservience.

Starring: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Chiara D'Anna, Eugenia Caruso, Monica Swinn

Directed By: Peter Strickland

Critics Consensus: Affectionate without sacrificing honesty, Behind the Candelabra couples award-worthy performances from Michael Douglas and Matt Damon with some typically sharp direction from Steven Soderbergh.

Synopsis: World-famous pianist Liberace (Michael Douglas) takes much-younger Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) as a lover, but the relationship deteriorates when Liberace takes other bedmates and Thorson... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Dan Aykroyd, Scott Bakula

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Critics Consensus: Sexy, smart, and darkly humorous, Stranger by the Lake offers rewarding viewing for adult filmgoers in search of thought-provoking drama.

Synopsis: Franck falls in love with Michel, an attractive, potent and lethally dangerous man.

Starring: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, Patrick d'Assumçao, Jérôme Chappatte

Directed By: Alain Guiraudie

Critics Consensus: While its premise is ripe for comedy -- and it certainly delivers its fair share of laughs -- Priscilla is also a surprisingly tender and thoughtful road movie with some outstanding performances.

Synopsis: When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam (Guy Pearce) and transsexual Bernadette (Terence... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter

Directed By: Stephan Elliott

Critics Consensus: Thanks to Emmy-worthy performances from a reputable cast, The Normal Heart is not only a powerful, heartbreaking drama, but also a vital document of events leading up to and through the early AIDS crisis.

Synopsis: In the 1980s New York, a writer and his friends join forces to expose the truth about the emerging AIDS crisis to both the government... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons

Directed By: Ryan Murphy

Critics Consensus: My Name Is Pauli Murray educates and uplifts in equal measure while paying stirring tribute to a largely unsung -- yet hugely important -- individual.

Synopsis: Fifteen years before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat, a full decade before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned separate-but-equal legislation, Pauli Murray was... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Patricia Bell-Scott, Dolores Chandler, Brittney Cooper

Directed By: Betsy West, Julie Cohen

Critics Consensus: Anchored by Sean Penn's powerhouse performance, Milk is a triumphant account of America's first openly gay man elected to public office.

Synopsis: In 1972, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and his then-lover Scott Smith leave New York for San Francisco, with Milk determined to accomplish something meaningful in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna

Directed By: Gus Van Sant

Critics Consensus: Worthwhile as both a well-acted ensemble piece and as a smart, warm statement on family values, The Kids Are All Right is remarkable.

Synopsis: Lesbian couple Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) have been together for almost 20 years and have two teenage offspring named Joni and Laser,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska

Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko

Critics Consensus: Held aloft by remarkable performances from John Lithgow and Alfred Molina, Love Is Strange serves as a graceful tribute to the beauty of commitment in the face of adversity.

Synopsis: A recently married gay couple (John Lithgow, Alfred Molina) are forced to move into separate households after they lose their home.

Starring: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Cheyenne Jackson

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Critics Consensus: Earnest without being didactic and uplifting without stooping to sentimentality, Pride is a joyous crowd-pleaser that genuinely works.

Synopsis: Realizing that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gays and lesbians lend their support to striking coal... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine

Directed By: Matthew Warchus

Critics Consensus: Sexually charged and riddled with tension, Femme redresses the noir genre and may leave audiences biting their nails to the nub.

Synopsis: With his performances as Aphrodite Banks, Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Candyman) has a place among London's celebrated drag artists. One night after a show, he steps... View Full Synopsis

Starring: George MacKay, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Aaron Heffernan, John McCrea

Directed By: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping

Critics Consensus: Farewell, My Queen transcends its gaudy period trappings to offer an affecting historical drama built on timeless - and timely - themes.

Synopsis: Marie Antoinette develops a relationship with a reader during the last days of the French Revolution.

Starring: Léa Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Virginie Ledoyen, Xavier Beauvois

Directed By: Benoît Jacquot

Critics Consensus: In the Summers homes in on emotional insights even as its narrative wanders, suggesting a bright future for writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza.

Synopsis: Siblings Violeta and Eva live in California with their mother, but every summer they travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to spend time with their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Residente, Sasha Calle, Lio Mehiel, Dreya Castillo

Directed By: Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio

Critics Consensus: Applying a fresh coat of paint on a chosen family story, Housekeeping for Beginners makes for a cozy, uplifting watch.

Synopsis: From acclaimed filmmaker Goran Stolevski comes a story exploring the universal truths of family, both the ones we're born into and the ones we find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anamaria Marinca, Alina Serban, Samson Selim, Vladimir Tintor

Directed By: Goran Stolevski

Critics Consensus: Compassionate, emotionally detailed, and populated with resonant characters, The Way He Looks leaves a warmth that lingers.

Synopsis: A blind teenager's life and world is changed with the arrival of Gabriel.

Starring: Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, Tess Amorim, Selma Egrei

Directed By: Daniel Ribeiro

Critics Consensus: With moving performances from its leads, Slow takes its time exploring the simple and complex depths of emotional relationships.

Synopsis: Dancer Elena and sign language interpreter Dovydas meet and form a beautiful bond. As they dive into a new relationship, they must navigate how to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kestutis Cicenas, Rimante Valiukaite, Dovile Silkaityte, Matas Dirgincius

Directed By: Marija Kavtaradze

Critics Consensus: Dallas Buyers Club rests squarely on Matthew McConaughey's scrawny shoulders, and he carries the burden gracefully with what might be a career-best performance.

Synopsis: In mid-1980s Texas, electrician Ron Woodroof is stunned to learn that he has AIDS. Though told that he has just 30 days left to live,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O'Hare

Directed By: Jean-Marc Vallée

Critics Consensus: Love, Simon hits its coming-of-age beats more deftly than many entries in this well-traveled genre -- and represents an overdue, if not entirely successful, milestone of inclusion.

Synopsis: Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year-old Simon Spier, it's a little more complicated. He hasn't told his family or friends that he's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Tony Hale

Directed By: Greg Berlanti

Critics Consensus: Hedwig and the Angry Inch may very well be the next Rocky Horror midnight movie. It not only knows how to rock, but Hedwig's story has an emotional poignancy.

Synopsis: A German emigrant living in a trailer in Kansas is the victim of a botched sex-change operation. Adapted from the critically acclaimed off-Broadway rock theater... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Pitt, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask

Directed By: John Cameron Mitchell

Critics Consensus: Udo Kier's layered performance lends Swan Song a nuance and poignancy that offset its potentially outlandish story.

Synopsis: Legendary actor Udo Kier stars as retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger, who escapes the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing home after learning of his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie

Directed By: Todd Stephens

Critics Consensus: Ang Lee's funny and ultimately poignant comedy of manners, The Wedding Banquet reveals the filmmaker's skill across genres.

Synopsis: Wai-Tung (Winston Chao) and his boyfriend (Mitchell Lichtenstein) live happily as a gay couple in New York City. Wai-Tung has not been open about his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Winston Chao, May Chin, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Sihung Lung

Directed By: Ang Lee

Critics Consensus: An auspicious debut for writer-director Cheryl Dunye, The Watermelon Woman tells a fresh story in wittily irreverent style.

Synopsis: An aspiring black lesbian filmmaker researches an obscure 1940s black actress billed as the Watermelon Woman.

Starring: Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson

Directed By: Cheryl Dunye

Critics Consensus: Summertime (La Belle Saison) presents a well-acted, beautifully framed period romance that offers a refreshing perspective on its era in the bargain.

Synopsis: In 1971, Carole and Delphine meet and fall in love. When Carole follows Delphine back to her family farm, the two find lesbianism and feminism... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cécile de France, Izïa Higelin, Noémie Lvovsky, Kévin Azaïs

Directed By: Catherine Corsini

Critics Consensus: Unpregnant puts a compelling twist on the road trip comedy -- and treats its sensitive subject with heart.

Synopsis: A pregnant teen and her former best friend embark on a road trip from Missouri to New Mexico.

Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferreira, Giancarlo Esposito, Alex MacNicoll

Directed By: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Critics Consensus: While Passing's delicate approach has a dampening effect on its story, debuting director Rebecca Hall makes the most of an impressive cast -- and handles thorny themes with impressive dexterity.

Synopsis: In 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who's passing as... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård

Directed By: Rebecca Hall

Critics Consensus: Boasting a stellar performance from Lily Tomlin and some powerfully empathetic work from writer-director Paul Weitz, Grandma is a dramedy that shouldn't have to ask you to visit.

Synopsis: A misanthropic poet (Lily Tomlin) takes her granddaughter (Julia Garner) across Los Angeles in search of the money she needs to terminate her unwanted pregnancy.

Starring: Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer

Directed By: Paul Weitz

Critics Consensus: Narratively challenging and visually haunting, We're All Going to the World's Fair adds a uniquely ambitious and unsettling entry to the crowded coming-of-age genre.

Synopsis: Late on a cold night somewhere in the U.S., teenage Casey (Anna Cobb in her feature debut) sits alone in her attic bedroom, scrolling the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Cobb, Michael J. Rogers

Directed By: Jane Schoenbrun

Critics Consensus: Harrowing yet stirring, Boys Don't Cry powerfully commemorates the life -- and brutally unjust death -- of transgender teen Brandon Teena.

Synopsis: Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III

Directed By: Kimberly Peirce

Critics Consensus: Empathetic and well-acted, The Fallout uses the aftermath of teen trauma to grapple with the experience of grief.

Synopsis: Bolstered by new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances, high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) begins to reinvent herself, while re-evaluating her relationships with her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp

Directed By: Megan Park

Critics Consensus: A soulful exploration of sexual fluidity with a vivid Americana backdrop, National Anthem earns a salute.

Synopsis: Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a soft-spoken 21-year-old construction worker, is the de facto father figure to his little brother and works odd jobs to help the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park, Rene Rosado

Directed By: Luke Gilford

Critics Consensus: Great performances and evocative musical numbers help Cabaret secure its status as a stylish, socially conscious classic.

Synopsis: In Berlin in 1931, American cabaret singer Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) meets British academic Brian Roberts (Michael York), who is finishing his university studies. Despite... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Michael York, Helmut Griem

Directed By: Bob Fosse

Critics Consensus: A naturalistic depiction of teenage life, Show Me Love has a charming, authentic feel.

Synopsis: Teens Elin (Alexandra Dahlström) and Agnes (Rebecca Liljeberg) are schoolmates. Elin is upbeat and popular, while Agnes is morose and friendless. And both girls are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecca Liljeberg, Erica Carlson, Mathias Rust

Directed By: Lukas Moodysson

Critics Consensus: With an outstanding starring performance from Benedict Cumberbatch illuminating its fact-based story, The Imitation Game serves as an eminently well-made entry in the "prestige biopic" genre.

Synopsis: In 1939, newly created British intelligence agency MI6 recruits Cambridge mathematics alumnus Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to crack Nazi codes, including Enigma -- which cryptanalysts... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear

Directed By: Morten Tyldum

Critics Consensus: Thrillingly provocative and original, Titane reaffirms writer-director Julia Ducournau's delightfully disturbing vision.

Synopsis: Titane: A metal highly resistant to heat and corrosion, with high tensile strength alloys, often used in medical prostheses due to its pronounced biocompatibility.

Starring: Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon, Garance Marillier, Laïs Salameh

Directed By: Julia Ducournau

Critics Consensus: Propulsive and over-the-top, Bottoms is an instant high school comedy classic that feels both current and nostalgic.

Synopsis: BOTTOMS, a refreshingly unique raunchy comedy, focuses on two girls, PJ and Josie, who start a fight club as a way to lose their virginities... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber

Directed By: Emma Seligman

Critics Consensus: A humorous cocktail with a twist of coming-of-age drama, My Old Ass doesn't throw out the wisdom with the reckless abandon of youth, and the effects are hallucinogenic.

Synopsis: In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler

Directed By: Megan Park

Critics Consensus: My Summer of Love is a moody, bittersweet love story featuring outstanding performances from the leads.

Synopsis: When upper-class Tamsin (Emily Blunt) meets working-class Mona (Natalie Press) they are immediately drawn to each other. Although coming from different worlds, the two find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Natalie Press, Emily Blunt, Paddy Considine, Dean Andrews

Directed By: Paul Pavlikovsky

Critics Consensus: The main character may be hard to like, but Anaïs in Love offers a well-acted and breezily humorous take on its admittedly well-worn themes.

Synopsis: ANAIS IN LOVE is a buoyant French comedy from filmmaker Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet. Boasting a playfully magnetic performance by star Anaïs Demoustier, the film follows a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anaïs Demoustier, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Denis Podalydès, Jean-Charles Clichet

Directed By: Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet

Critics Consensus: Keep the Lights On is a mysterious, sexy journey deep into the love affair of two men that always manages to stay true to life.

Synopsis: Substance abuse and emotional and physical distance threaten the relationship between a gay filmmaker (Thure Lindhardt) and his longtime lover (Zachary Booth).

Starring: Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson, Paprika Steen

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Critics Consensus: Bros marks a step forward in rom-com representation -- and just as importantly, it's a whole bunch of fun to watch.

Synopsis: Universal Pictures proudly presents the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love. Maybe. They're both... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, TS Madison, Monica Raymund

Directed By: Nicholas Stoller

Critics Consensus: Led by moving performances from Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, Supernova is a heartbreaking look at the emotional toll that comes with accepting mortality.

Synopsis: Sam (Academy Award winner Colin Firth) and Tusker (Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci), partners of twenty years, are traveling across England in their old camper... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood, Peter MacQueen

Directed By: Harry Macqueen

Critics Consensus: Fear Street Part Three: 1666 sends the slasher series back in time for a trilogy-concluding installment that caps things off on a screaming high note.

Synopsis: The origins of Sarah Fier's curse are finally revealed as history comes full circle on a night that changes the lives of Shadysiders forever.

Starring: Kiana Madeira, Ashley Zukerman, Gillian Jacobs, Olivia Welch

Directed By: Leigh Janiak

Critics Consensus: Using the artist's own words to tell her fascinating story, Frida is an absorbing documentary for novices and faithful fans alike.

Synopsis: An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo. Told through her own words for the very... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Fernanda Echevarría

Directed By: Carla Gutierrez

Critics Consensus: With its trio of outstanding performers volleying their star power back and forth without ever dropping the ball, Challengers is a kinetic and sexy romp at court.

Synopsis: From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist, A.J. Lister

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

Critics Consensus: A beautiful, epic Western, Brokeback Mountain's love story is imbued with heartbreaking universality thanks to moving performances by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Synopsis: In 1963, rodeo cowboy Jack Twist and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar are hired by rancher Joe Aguirre as sheep herders in Wyoming. One night... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris

Directed By: Ang Lee

Critics Consensus: Raw, honest, powerfully acted, and deliciously intense, Blue Is the Warmest Color offers some of modern cinema's most elegantly composed, emotionally absorbing drama.

Synopsis: A French teen (Adèle Exarchopoulos) forms a deep emotional and sexual connection with an older art student (Léa Seydoux) she met in a lesbian bar. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche, Mona Walravens

Directed By: Abdel Kechiche

Critics Consensus: Andrew Ahn lends a tender eye to a humorous and heartfelt remake that boasts loving performances to be embraced by all.

Synopsis: From Director Andrew Ahn comes a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations. Frustrated with his commitment-phobic... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Critics Consensus: A layered, wonderfully-acted, and passionate drama.

Synopsis: When an old friend brings filmmaker Enrique Goded a semi-autobiographical script chronicling their adolescence, Enrique is forced to relive his youth spent at a Catholic... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Fele Martínez, Gael García Bernal, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Lluís Homar

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: A charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos.

Synopsis: Wil is a lesbian, but she does not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan, or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, Jessica Hecht

Directed By: Alice Wu

Critics Consensus: Professor Marston & The Wonder Women winds a lasso of cinematic truth around a fascinating fact-based tale with strong performances from its three stars.

Synopsis: If behind every great man is a great woman, then Harvard psychologist and inventor Dr. William Moulton Marston has the good fortune of having two... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, Connie Britton

Directed By: Angela Robinson

Critics Consensus: Bound's more titillating elements attracted attention, but it's the stylish direction, solid performances, and entertaining neo-noir caper plot that make it worth a watch.

Synopsis: Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Kivel

Directed By: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Critics Consensus: Other People resists easy melodrama, rewarding viewers with a smart, subtle look at family dynamics with a talented cast and a finely calibrated blend of funny and serious moments.

Synopsis: A struggling comedy writer, fresh from breaking up with his boyfriend, moves to Sacramento to help his sick mother. Living with his conservative father and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jesse Plemons, Molly Shannon, Bradley Whitford, Maude Apatow

Directed By: Chris Kelly

Critics Consensus: An outstanding showcase for Devery Jacobs, Backspot is front of the line as an insightful and thrilling sports drama.

Synopsis: An ambitious cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Shannyn Sossamon, Kudakwashe Rutendo

Directed By: D.W. Waterson

Critics Consensus: A tersely told yet deeply felt romance.

Synopsis: Jagger (Yehuda Levi) is the outgoing unit leader of an Israeli Defense Force squad stationed on the Lebanese border; Yossi (Ohad Knoller) is his commanding... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Yehuda Levi, Ohad Knoller, Assi Cohen, Aya Koren

Directed By: Eytan Fox

Critics Consensus: Though the costumes are beautiful and the art direction impeccable, what stands out most from this debut by fashion designer Tom Ford is the leading performance by Colin Firth.

Synopsis: George (Colin Firth) is a college professor who recently lost his lover, Jim, in a car accident. Terribly grief-stricken, George plans to commit suicide. As... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode

Directed By: Tom Ford

Critics Consensus: Wearing its twee heart on its sleeve, Beginners explores the depths of modern, multi-generational romance with wit and depth.

Synopsis: After his mother dies, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is stunned when his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, comes out of the closet.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic

Directed By: Mike Mills

Critics Consensus: With Problemista, Julio Torres' utterly unique sensibilities prove a perfectly cracked lens through which to find the surreal humor in bleak aspects of the human experience.

Synopsis: Alejandro (Julio Torres) is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini

Directed By: Julio Torres

Critics Consensus: Director Andrea Arnold strikes a coming-of-age chord through Nykiya Adams' moving performance, marrying fantasy and reality to the dizzying end.

Synopsis: The long-awaited return to fiction filmmaking from Academy Award-winner Andrea Arnold (American Honey, Fish Tank), BIRD is a tender, striking and extraordinarily surprising coming-of-age fable... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, Nykiya Adams, James Nelson-Joyce

Directed By: Andrea Arnold

Critics Consensus: Bold performances and sensitive, spot-on direction make watching this difficult tale of trauma and abuse a thought-provoking, resonant experience.

Synopsis: One youth (Brady Corbet) becomes obsessed with UFOs, while another (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becomes a gay hustler in the years following a childhood trauma.

Starring: Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jeff Licon

Directed By: Gregg Araki

Critics Consensus: A thought-provoking, insightful look into Iranian youth culture.

Synopsis: An Iranian teenager (Nikohl Boosheri) enters a lesbian relationship, while her brother (Reza Sixo Safai) becomes dangerously obsessed with Islamic fundamentalism.

Starring: Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, Soheil Parsa

Directed By: Maryam Keshavarz

Critics Consensus: A serene, melancholy beauty permeates this meditative portrait of deep friendship and faded glory.

Synopsis: Soon to be a father, Mark (Daniel London) feels the pressure of domestic responsibility closing in, so he is more than happy to accept when... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Oldham, Daniel London, Tanya Smith, Robin Rosenberg

Directed By: Kelly Reichardt

Critics Consensus: Overflowing with ideas as it moves across genres, The Five Devils uses intoxicating magical realism to explore a family's troubled past.

Synopsis: Eight-year-old Vicky has a mysterious gift: she can recreate any scent she comes across, even that of her beloved mother Joanne. When her estranged aunt... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sally Dramé, Swala Emati, Moustapha Mbengue

Directed By: Léa Mysius

Critics Consensus: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood offers plenty of prurient thrills for film fans, but beyond the gossip lies a poignantly illuminating look at decades of sexual mores.

Synopsis: "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" is the deliciously scandalous story of Scotty Bowers, a handsome ex-Marine who landed in Hollywood after World War... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Scotty Bowers, Peter Bart, Stephen Fry, Tony Charmoli

Directed By: Matt Tyrnauer

Critics Consensus: Battle of the Sexes turns real-life events into a crowd-pleasing, well-acted dramedy that ably entertains while smartly serving up a volley of present-day parallels.

Synopsis: The 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs became the most watched televised sports event of all time. Trapped in the media... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Morales

Directed By: Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton

Critics Consensus: David Lynch's dreamlike and mysterious Mulholland Drive is a twisty neo-noir with an unconventional structure that features a mesmerizing performance from Naomi Watts as a woman on the dark fringes of Hollywood.

Synopsis: A dark-haired woman (Laura Elena Harring) is left amnesiac after a car crash. She wanders the streets of Los Angeles in a daze before taking... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Ann Miller

Directed By: David Lynch

Critics Consensus: With a distinctive visual aesthetic that enhances its emotionally resonant narrative, I Saw the TV Glow further establishes writer-director Jane Schoenbrun as a rising talent.

Synopsis: Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show —... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Lindsey Jordan

Directed By: Jane Schoenbrun

Critics Consensus: Precariously walking a tightrope of varying genres and tones, Benedetta provokes salient questions about sexual freedom and its relationship to faith.

Synopsis: Based on a true story, a 17th-century nun becomes entangled in a forbidden lesbian affair with a novice. But it is Benedetta's shocking religious visions... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, Lambert Wilson, Daphne Patakia

Directed By: Paul Verhoeven

Critics Consensus: Empathetic and powerfully acted, Beach Rats takes a clear-eyed yet dreamlike look at a young man's adolescent turmoil.

Synopsis: An aimless teenager on the outer edges of Brooklyn is having a miserable summer. With his father on his deathbed and his mother wanting him... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, Kate Hodge, Nicole Flyus

Directed By: Eliza Hittman

Critics Consensus: As poignant as it is unsettling, Chuck & Buck uses the complex dynamic between two men as fuel for untangling a rich assortment of thought-provoking themes.

Synopsis: "Chuck & Buck" is the story of a childlike young man who becomes fixated on his onetime best friend, now a cool, polished young record... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike White, Chris Weitz, Lupe Ontiveros, Beth Colt

Directed By: Miguel Arteta

Critics Consensus: A vibrant portrait of culture clashes and generation gaps, The Persian Version gains added resonance through its spirited specificity.

Synopsis: Leila is an Iranian American woman who strives to find balance and embrace her opposing cultures. When her large family reunites in New York City... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Kamand Shafieisabet, Bijan Daneshmand

Directed By: Maryam Keshavarz

Critics Consensus: Passionate and powerfully acted, Laurence Anyways sometimes strains to achieve its narrative ambitions (and fill its three-hour running time), but ultimately succeeds.

Synopsis: In the '90s, Laurence tells his girlfriend, Fred, that he wants to become a woman; they confront the prejudices of their friends, ignore the council... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Melvil Poupaud, Suzanne Clément, Nathalie Baye, Monia Chokri

Directed By: Xavier Dolan

Critics Consensus: Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.

Synopsis: In Miami Beach, a gay couple pretend to be man and wife when a son's future father-in-law and family visit.

Starring: Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest

Directed By: Mike Nichols

Critics Consensus: Happy Together's strong sense of style complements its slice of life love story, even if the narrative slogs.

Synopsis: Lai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and his boyfriend, Ho (Leslie Cheung), arrive in Argentina from Hong Kong, seeking a better life. Their highly contentious relationship... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Chang Chen, Gregory Dayton

Directed By: Kar-Wai Wong

Critics Consensus: Colman Domingo is sensational in Rustin, a stirring biopic that shines an overdue light on a remarkable legacy of public service.

Synopsis: The architect of 1963's momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald

Directed By: George C. Wolfe

Critics Consensus: A jolly good time with heartfelt performances and more than enough holiday cheer, all you'll want for Christmas is Happiest Season.

Synopsis: This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go home to the latter's family... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber

Directed By: Clea Duvall

Critics Consensus: Charlize Theron gives a searing, deglamorized performance as real life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, an intense, disquieting portrait of a profoundly damaged soul.

Synopsis: Shortly after moving to Florida, longtime prostitute Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) meets young and reserved Selby Wall (Christina Ricci) and a romance blossoms. When a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Scott Wilson

Directed By: Patty Jenkins

Critics Consensus: Knife + Heart wrings giallo-inspired thrills out of a boldly challenging story that defiantly succeeds on its own stylish merits.

Synopsis: In the summer of 1979, Paris-based filmmaker Anne is a producer of third-rate gay porn. After her editor and lover Lois leaves her, she tries... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Vanessa Paradis, Nicolas Maury, Kate Moran, Jonathan Genet

Directed By: Yann Gonzalez

Critics Consensus: Philadelphia indulges in some unfortunate clichés in its quest to impart a meaningful message, but its stellar cast and sensitive direction are more than enough to compensate.

Synopsis: Fearing it would compromise his career, lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) hides his homosexuality and HIV status at a powerful Philadelphia law firm. But his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas

Directed By: Jonathan Demme

Critics Consensus: Water Lilies is a sharply-observed, provocative coming-of-age story that captures the anxieties of the early teen years.

Synopsis: Set during a sultry summer in a French suburb, Marie is desperate to join the local pool's synchronized swimming team, but is her interest solely... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Pauline Acquart, Louise Blachère, Adèle Haenel, Warren Jacquin

Directed By: Céline Sciamma

Critics Consensus: Framing Agnes may be frustratingly uneven as a work of cinematic storytelling, but that's often outweighed by its thoughtful expansion of established historical narrative.

Synopsis: The pseudonymous Agnes was a pioneering transgender woman who participated in an infamous gender health study conducted at UCLA in the 1960s. Her clever use... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Angelica Ross, Jen Richards, Zackary Drucker, Max Valerio

Directed By: Chase Joynt

Critics Consensus: The Old Guard is occasionally restricted by genre conventions, but director Gina Prince-Bythewood brings a sophisticated vision to the superhero genre - and some knockout action sequences led by Charlize Theron.

Synopsis: A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ability to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and they must fight to protect... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: The movie may be a downer, but it packs an emotional wallop. Some fine acting on display here.

Synopsis: "The Hours" is the story of three women searching for more potent, meaningful lives. Each is alive at a different time and place, all are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris

Directed By: Stephen Daldry

Critics Consensus: A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.

Synopsis: In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert

Directed By: Gus Van Sant

Critics Consensus: Rocky Horror Picture Show brings its quirky characters in tight, but it's the narrative thrust that really drives audiences insane and keeps 'em doing the time warp again.

Synopsis: In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien

Directed By: Jim Sharman

Critics Consensus: G.B.F. explores high school relationship dynamics and teen stereotypes with a refreshingly humorous touch - and surprisingly subtle smarts.

Synopsis: A closeted gay teen (Paul Iacono) wants to join the popular gals' clique, but his scheme backfires when his best friend (Michael J. Willett) is... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse, Andrea Bowen

Directed By: Darren Stein

Critics Consensus: Directed with inventive flair by Tilman Singer while given flavorful personality by stars Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, Cuckoo is a madcap madhouse horror that's on the right side of deranged.

Synopsis: Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csokas

Directed By: Tilman Singer

Critics Consensus: Outrage walks a difficult moral and ethical line -- and not always successfully -- but despite its flaws, it's a fascinating, provocative look at homosexuality in American politics.

Synopsis: Oscar-nominated documentarian Kirby Dick directs this shocking and passionate indictment of the clandestine hypocrisy of many closeted homosexuals in Washington, D.C. The individuals under scrutiny... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Kirby Dick

Critics Consensus: An authentic portrayal of homosexuality in high school, Get Real is an engaging dramedy that doesn't sermonize its audience nor trivialize its characters.

Synopsis: Steven (Ben Silverstone) spends his school days longing for all-star athlete John (Brad Gorton). But John has a gorgeous girlfriend, and Steven is still in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Silverstone, Brad Gorton, Charlotte Brittain, Stacy Hart

Directed By: Simon Shore

Critics Consensus: A tantalizing glimpse of the bond between two people, the well-acted Strange Way of Life adds a brief but still rewarding chapter to Pedro Almodóvar's filmography.

Synopsis: A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal, José Condessa, Manu Rios

Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar

Critics Consensus: The Intervention's familiar plot is enlivened by complex character dynamics and a likable cast.

Synopsis: A weekend getaway for four couples takes a sharp turn when one of the couples discovers the entire trip was orchestrated to host an intervention... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Clea Duvall, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Vincent Piazza

Directed By: Clea Duvall

Critics Consensus: A phantasmagorical distillation of William S. Burroughs' preoccupations that's by turns meandering and vital, Queer marks one of Daniel Craig's most sterling performances yet.

Synopsis: 1950. William Lee, an American expat in Mexico City, spends his days almost entirely alone, except for a few contacts with other members of the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

Critics Consensus: A terrific performance by Felicity Huffman carries this unconventional but touching transgender road movie.

Synopsis: Right in the midst of important changes in her life, Bree Osborne (Felicity Huffman) learns that she fathered a son, Toby (Kevin Zegers), 17 years... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Graham Greene

Directed By: Duncan Tucker

Critics Consensus: Uncle Frank finds writer-director Alan Ball still untangling the modern American family dynamic, aided by standout work from Paul Bettany and Sophia Lillis.

Synopsis: In 1973, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis) leaves her rural Southern hometown to study at New York University where her beloved Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn

Directed By: Alan Ball

Critics Consensus: Smart, nuanced, and sexy, Concussion transcends its more awkward moments thanks to Robin Weigert's remarkable starring performance.

Synopsis: A fateful blow to the head makes a middle-aged lesbian housewife (Robin Weigert) seek satisfaction as a high-end escort.

Starring: Robin Weigert, Maggie Siff, Daniel London, Ben Shenkman

Directed By: Stacie Passon

Critics Consensus: A solid first feature for writer-director Dan Levy, Good Grief offers a generally affecting look at love after death whose refreshing sincerity only occasionally veers into sentimentality.

Synopsis: Marc (Daniel Levy) was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc's world shatters, sending... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, Luke Evans, Himesh Patel

Directed By: Dan Levy

Critics Consensus: With sensitive direction from Rose Troche and terrific work from co-writer/star Guinevere Turner, Go Fish plays a winning hand.

Synopsis: After leaving behind her girlfriend to attend college in Chicago, young lesbian Max West (Guinevere Turner) is introduced to Ely (V.S. Brodie), a slightly older... View Full Synopsis

Starring: V.S. Brodie, Guinevere Turner, T. Wendy McMillan, Migdalia Melendez

Directed By: Rose Troche

Critics Consensus: A surprisingly sultry performance from Ally Sheedy elevates High Art from pretentious melodrama to compelling -- if still a little pretentious -- romance.

Synopsis: Syd (Radha Mitchell), a low-level editor at a photography magazine eager to establish herself, discovers her neighbor is the once-celebrated downtown photographer Lucy Berliner (Ally... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ally Sheedy, Radha Mitchell, Patricia Clarkson, Tammy Grimes

Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko

Critics Consensus: Amusing and endearing, Red, White & Royal Blue is a cheerfully formulaic rom-com that embraces inclusion without falling back on stereotypes.

Synopsis: Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the President of the United States (Uma Thurman), and Britain's Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) have a lot... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Uma Thurman, Nicholas Galitzine, Sarah Shahi, Ellie Bamber

Directed By: Matthew Lopez

Critics Consensus: Mollica compels as a young man caught between two lives and his performance elevates Sebastian, a provocative if uneven story that explores an artist's quest to find inspiration and authenticity in the name of art.

Synopsis: Max (Ruaridh Mollica) is a 25-year-old aspiring novelist, living in London and paying his dues working at a literary magazine. Frustrated by his own ambitions... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ruaridh Mollica, Hiftu Quasem, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Lara Rossi

Directed By: Mikko Mäkelä

Critics Consensus: The World to Come is made from ingredients that will be familiar to fans of period forbidden romance movies, but they're given fresh life thanks to an excellent cast.

Synopsis: In this powerful 19th century romance set in the American Northeast, Abigail (Katherine Waterston), a farmer's wife, and her new neighbor Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Casey Affleck, Christopher Abbott

Directed By: Mona Fastvold

Critics Consensus: An impressionistic, fragmented look at Reinaldo Arenas, Before Night Falls' imagery manages to evoke a sense of the writer's artistry, and Bardem's strong performance holds the film together. Finally, a biopic done well.

Synopsis: A richly imagined journey into the life and writings of brilliant Cuban author and exile Reinaldo Arenas. It spans the whole of Arenas' life, from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Andrea Di Stefano, Johnny Depp

Directed By: Julian Schnabel

Critics Consensus: An art film to the max, Heartbeats intriguing and appealing premise is sometimes buried by director Xavier Dolan's filmmaking flourishes.

Synopsis: Francis is a young gay man, Marie is a young straight woman and the two of them are best friends -- until the day the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Niels Schneider, Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Anne Dorval

Directed By: Xavier Dolan

Critics Consensus: Karla Sofía Gascón is Emilia Perez in a swaggering musical crime thriller of genre-bending fascination that is also an unapologetically trans story.

Synopsis: From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz

Directed By: Jacques Audiard

Critics Consensus: This fact-based romantic comedy has its flaws, but they're mostly overcome by its consistently sweet, funny tone and one of the best performances of Jim Carrey's career.

Synopsis: Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) becomes a cop, gets married and starts a family, but after a terrible car accident, he vows to be true to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa