14 Queer Films to Warm Your Heart for Valentine's Day

February is the month of romance. Over the years, queer cinema has explored all kinds of love stories. From secret crushes to unexpected love connections to soulmates finally finding one another, gay movie romances prove that queer men can find their happy endings. This week's listicle spotlights 14 queer films that will warm your heart this Valentine's Day. Leave a comment below if we missed any of your favorites. Warning: Spoilers Ahead! 

Latter Days
Star-crossed lovers were at the heart of this 2003 romantic drama. Young Mormon missionary Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss) finds himself coming of age and questioning his faith when his mission places him next door to the free-spirited, openly gay Christian (Wes Ramsey). As Aaron's eyes open more to the possibility of having feelings for another man, he's placed into direct conflict with his family and his fellow missionaries. Romance blossoms between Aaron & Christian, but the mounting challenges of the outside world prove difficult to overcome. The star-crossed lovers get torn apart but ultimately learn whether the power of love and acceptance can reunite them.

 

Analysis Paralysis
The 2018 romantic comedy follows Tyler (Jason T. Gaffney), a young author who is unlucky in love, mostly because he suffers from an anxiety disorder that causes an inability to take action without imagining how each possible choice he makes could go wrong. When he takes an interest in his handsome neighbor, Shane (Kevin Held), his analysis paralysis kicks into overdrive, while he tries to push through and take a chance at love. Plagued by disastrous, yet humorous, fantasies, Tyler manages to strike up a romance with Shane. Despite the obstacles of Tyler's condition and feelings of doom for their future as a couple, in the end true love just may win the day. 

 

eCupid
While the 2011 romantic comedy begins with a relationship on the rocks, at its heart is a story of true love. Marshall (Houston Rhines) is soon turning 30 and his 7-year relationship with Gabe (Noah Schuffman) is feeling stale. This leads Marshall to put his romantic fate into the hands of an otherworldly internet app promising to find his perfect match. But when the app begins omnisciently controlling his life, he gets more than he bargained for in the romance department. While the influx of male attention is fun at first, Marshall eventually finds himself conflicted until he realizes his heart's true desire may be the love he gave up in the first place by ending things with Gabe.

 

My Fake Boyfriend 
Escaping a toxic romance is the conceit of this 2022 romantic comedy. Andrew (Keiynan Lonsdale) has trouble resisting his cheating ex Nico (Marcus Rosner), leading him to create a fake boyfriend (Jaden Goetz) on social media, with the help of his best friend Jake (Dylan Sprouse). While this seems to help his relationship woes temporarily, it happens just in time for Andrew to find sparks flying with handsome chef Rafi (Samer Salem). On top of that, Nico's jealousy over Andrew's fake romance leads him to attempt reconciliation. Now, Andrew must find a way to disconnect from his fake boyfriend and come clean to Rafi if he has any hope of finding real love.  

 

Perfect Endings
Writer and photographer João (Artur Volpi) is ready for love in this Brazilian romantic comedy from 2024. As he jumps back into the dating pool, he finds his revolving door of romantic prospects beginning to bleed over into his writing, as he wonders if real life will ever match the perfect relationship he puts on the page. His various attempts at romance lead to humorous consequences, as he grows more frustrated by all of the queer love happening for others around him, including his ex-boyfriend Hugo (Sidney Santiago Kuanza) who is also dating again after the end of their 10-year relationship. In order to find love, João must learn that reality can't be controlled like a script. 

 

Bonus Track 
The 2023 UK teen comedy centers on 16-year-old George (Joe Anders), an outgoing teen with grand musical aspirations, who looks to prove himself to the doubters in his small town. When newcomer Max (Samuel Small) takes an interest in him, the two make a romantic and musical connection. While teaming up to compete in the school talent show, romance blossoms between the two with Max, the son of a musician, helping to unleash George's inner rock star. But when their kiss leads to a public scandal due to Max's celebrity dad, Max disappears, leaving George to reckon with his sexuality. When the talent show calls, young love experiences a reunion worthy of song.

 

The 10 Year Plan
Best friends Myles and Brody are total opposites when it comes to romance in this 2014 romantic comedy. The hopeless romantic Myles (Jack Turner) is looking for his Mr. Right, while Brody (Michael Adam Hamilton) is more interested in his next hookup. The two make a pact that if they are both single in a decade, they will just get together themselves. Nearly ten years later, Myles & Brody are both still single. Realizing the clock is ticking on their pact, both go out of their way to find a love connection in order to avoid becoming a couple. Things get even more complicated when both friends take an interest in the charming Hunter (Adam Bucci), threatening their friendship.

 

Breaking Fast 
This 2020 heartwarming romantic comedy follows Mo (Haaz Sleiman), a practicing Muslim living in West Hollywood and facing the single life after heartbreak. When he crosses paths with the charming all-American Kal (Michael Cassidy), sparks fly, despite their different backgrounds, as the two men find many things in common, including their shared love of Superman. When Kal surprises Mo by offering to break fast with him during the holy month of Ramadan, Mo wonders if he may in fact have found his perfect match. Their love connection isn't without obstacles, but the strength of that connection shines through, leading to a happy ending that transcends cultural differences.

 

The Thing About Harry 
This 2020 television movie is a tale of will-they/won't-they as former high school rivals Sam (Jake Borelli) and Harry (Niko Terho) cross paths years later, forming a friendship after Harry comes out as pansexual, surprising the gay Sam. The potential sparks between them hit several roadblocks, including Sam's notion that friends could never fall in love. Despite sleeping together, the two continue to fight the romantic connection between them especially as their history is dragged into the present. But when the two finally find the courage to admit their feelings for one another, they discover that the years of ups and downs in their relationship have actually led them to true love. 

 

Love, Simon 
The 2018 coming of age classic tells the story of Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a teen keeping his homosexuality a secret from his family, friends, and classmates. He takes comfort in online chats with another closeted teen, but when one of his classmates discovers his online secret, it's not long before Simon is forced to come to terms with his identity and reconcile it with his various relationships. Throughout the narrative, Simon remains in contact with his mystery pen pal and finds himself developing a crush that has him wondering about the boy's true identity. In the end, Simon finds peace within himself and gets a happy ending as his crush reveals himself for a feel-good kiss.

 

Fire Island 
This 2022 romantic comedy, based Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," follows a group of friends headed to the titular hot spot looking forward to a vacation of fun and sex. While Noah (Joel Kim Booster) isn't looking for love, his best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) yearns for a love connection. When their friend group crosses paths with another, Howie is instantly drawn to Charlie (James Scully), while Noah clashes with Charlie's pal Will (Conrad Ricamora). Their attempts at a sex-filled weekend are unable to escape the trappings of potential romance, forcing both Noah & Howie to reckon with their hearts' true desires while contending with obstacles on multiple fronts.

 

Were the World Mine
Romance is off the table for outcast gay teen Timothy (Tanner Cohen) at the start of this 2008 fantasy musical. But when he is cast as Puck in his all-boys school production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," he is able to create a flower that causes anyone around him to fall in love with the first person they see, regardless of gender. His crush Jonathon (Nathaniel David Becker) now reciprocates his feelings. His jock tormentors find themselves falling for each other and soon the town is turned upside down. Timothy finally finds what he feels is the perfect love, but learns that no spell can last forever. However, when things return to normal, Timothy just might get a real happy ending. 

 

A Nice Indian Boy 
The clash between culture and homosexuality is at the heart of this 2024 romance. While the openly gay Naveen (Karan Soni) has kept his traditional Indian family at arm's length when it comes to his personal life, things change when he meets and falls in love with Jay (Jonathan Groff), a white man who was adopted by Indian parents. Pressured by Jay after their engagement, Naveen takes him home to meet his family, bringing years-old conflicts to the surface. The love story deals with themes of self-acceptance and unconditional love. Naveen & Jay look to cement their love in a traditional Indian ceremony, ultimately discovering that family doesn't have to be an obstacle to love. 

 

Red, White & Royal Blue 
This 2023 romantic comedy presents a classic tale of enemies-to-lovers, as the feud between Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the U.S. President, and the British Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) threatens to cause an international incident. However, when sparks secretly fly between the two political figures, the scandal could pose political problems for Alex's mother's re-election campaign. With Henry worried about his family's reaction to his sexuality, Alex looks to take a chance on a real romance. Despite obstacles, both Alex & Henry find support from friends and family, encouraging them to embrace love, despite its challenges, leading them to come out to the world.