8 LGBTQ+ Films You May Have Missed in 2022
As we get close to finishing out the year leading up to awards season and holiday flair, it is time to reflect on some of the movies that might have gone unnoticed along the way. With box office disappointments to studio marketing gone wrong, there tends to be some content every year that gets lost in the shuffle. However, there's still time to catch up and stream some of our recommendations for the LGBTQ+ films you may have missed in 2022.
"Fire Island"
Directed by Andrew Ahn, "Fire Island" is a heartwarming story of a group of gay male friends who travel to the infamous New York island every summer for vacation, but love might be on the docket this time. Not as heavily promoted as Billy Eichner's "Bros" and initially released during Pride Month, the film is a genuine exploration of sex, drugs, and good times set against the backdrop of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." "Fire Island" is outrageously funny and seductive, mainly due to its creative dialogue by writer and star Joel Kim Booster. This love letter to queer friendship and casual sex mirrors what many of us strive to achieve in our personal lives.
"Fire Island" is now streaming on Hulu.
"The Invisible Thread"
While making a documentary for a school project about his two gay fathers and Italian LGBTQ+ rights, Leone (Francesco Gheghi) is thrust into his own romantic entanglement with his classmate Anna (Guilia Maenza). Tragedy strikes when it's discovered that one of his fathers is having an affair, leading to legal discourse about separation and uncertainty about which one of Leone's parents is his biological father. Painful to watch at times with queerness and parental rights at the forefront of Leone's journey, "The Invisible Thread" is a touching reminder that family and the law might still be dysfunctional in 2022, but it's the power of love that binds us.
"The Invisible Thread" is now streaming on Netflix.
"Beauty"
Attempting to transcend race and sexual identity, "Beauty" demonstrates the struggles of upstart singer Beauty (Gracie Marie Bradley) as she prepares for her time in the spotlight. As fame begins to take control of her closeted life, the oppression of her god-fearing parents (Niecy Nash and Giancarlo Esposito) seems to hold her down. Daringly written by Lena Waithe, "Beauty" is a solid portrayal of the juxtaposing worlds of religion and identity told through the eyes of a star in the making. With a runtime of 95 minutes, it's a quick reveal of one person's transformation as she tries to share her art with the world around her.
"Beauty" is now streaming on Netflix.
"My Fake Boyfriend"
After a year of harrowing dramas, it's nice to know that romantic comedies still exist to bring us a bit of lightheartedness. "My Fake Boyfriend" is the dose of farce that's been missing this year as it highlights the unlucky in love Andrew (Keiynan Lonsdale), who lets his best friend (Dylan Sprouse) create a social media campaign of Andrew posing with a fictional beau. To keep Andrew's ex-boyfriend from knowing the truth, the two go along with their plan until Andrew meets a sexy new man (Samer Salem). Wacked out to its core, "My Fake Boyfriend" is a fun romp through sexual escapades and romantic hijinks for the Gen Z era. Surrounded by a cast that includes "Modern Family" alum Sarah Hyland and smoldering Canadian actor Marcus Rosner, "My Fake Boyfriend" is a refreshing take on love and casual encounters.
"My Fake Boyfriend" is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
"Crush"
Falling through the cracks of coming-of-age stories this year, "Crush" takes us back to those days in high school when all we wanted to do was get a little more time with the popular person who made our hearts flutter. Rowan Blanchard stars as Paige, a creative artist who joins her school's track team to get closer to her childhood crush, Gabriela (Isabella Ferreira), only to start falling for Gabriela's sister AJ (Auli'i Cravalho). "Crush" will make you laugh with its sweet depiction of young love triangles, various interpretations of art, and modern-day queerness. It's a story for everyone, but with women of color in lead roles, "Crush" really hits all the marks of a well-intentioned romantic comedy.
"Crush" is now streaming on Hulu.
"Bros"
Arguably the most talked about and highly marketed film on this list, Nicholas Stoller and Billy Eichner's "Bros" is the first romantic comedy released by a major studio to feature an openly LGBTQ+ principal cast. Breaking barriers across the board, "Bros" stars Eichner as Bobby Lieber, an annoyingly crass and honest interpretation of the actor in fictional form. Navigating through hookup apps and societal pressure, Bobby meets the impossibly hot Aaron (Luke Macfarlane), and the two discover they have nothing in common but a willingness to keep seeing one another. Backed by jokes aimed at the straight community and Hallmark Christmas movies, "Bros" may not have been a blockbuster draw for many folks this year. Still, its themes of sexual exploration, modern love, and acceptance transcend its lackluster box office haul.
"Bros" is now available for rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple.
"Three Months"
During a routine screening as he prepares to graduate high school, Florida teenager Caleb (Troye Sivan) discovers he may have been exposed to HIV. As he waits three months before the results trickle in, Caleb embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads to love in the most unexpected ways. A triumphant turn by singer Troye Sivan in a beautifully crafted dramedy, "Three Months" is witty, honest, and moving as it's surrounded by gay icons Judy Greer and Ellen Burstyn. Nuanced and emotionally comedic, this is one that shouldn't go by the wayside during your next movie night.
"Three Months is now streaming on Paramount+.
"Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story"
There hasn't been a shortage of documentaries available to viewers this year, but ones focusing on the trans community tend to be few and far between. Enter "Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story," a marvelous peek into the life of California-based trans skateboarder Leo Baker. As the movie chronicles Baker's struggles with acceptance as a trans man in a sport tailored to a punk rock style, their influence on a new generation of kids is dissected as Baker lives out their Olympic dreams. It's a monumental achievement by directors Nicola Marsh and Giovanni Reda, who seem to understand Baker inside and out and the players that make up a dividedly competitive sport.
"Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story" is now streaming on Netflix.