Top 10 Gay Themed Films of 2023

2023 featured several films with gay content. This list highlights our favorites from the year based on performances, story and entertainment value. 

Honorable Mentions: Punch, The Mattachine Family, It's a Wonderful Knife, Down Low, Norwegian Dream

Knock at the Cabin (USA)
Based on the book "The Cabin at the End of the World," the mystery thriller from director M. Night Shyamalan presents the twisted tale of Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge), a married couple that visits the titular location with their young daughter Wen. Their peace and quiet is quickly shattered by the arrival of four seemingly dangerous strangers, looking to convince the family to make a life-or-death choice to save humanity. The film's mystery is grounded by great performances from the cast and keeps audiences guessing when it comes to the apocalyptic nightmare foreshadowed by the film's antagonists. 

 

Fireworks (Italy)
Set in a small narrow-minded town in Sicily in 1982, the film tells dual coming of age stories of Nino (Gabriele Pizzurro) and Gianni (Samuele Segreto), two young men living very different lives when they literally collide, leading to a secret romance. Gianni is dealing with the homophobic fallout of being outed, while in a tumultuous relationship with his mother. Living outside of town, Nino busies himself with helping his father with their fireworks business. He finds his life changed dramatically when he and Gianni are spotted in town together, straining his familial relationships, as he comes to terms with his newly discovered feelings for Gianni. 

 

Our Son (USA)
The family drama presents a uniquely modern story as Nicky (Luke Evans) is blindsided by his husband Gabriel (Billy Porter), who reveals his unhappiness with their marriage. The decision to divorce puts the couple in the gut-wrenching position of having to fight over custody of their young son Owen. Gabriel's devotion to the child leaves him heartbroken when Nicky is given temporary custody during the legal battle, given his position as Owen's biological father. The business-minded Nicky struggles with single life, and how to move on from a marriage he didn't realize was falling apart. Their efforts to move forward, while also cherishing their family is handled admirably through strong performances from Evans & Porter.

 

Of an Age (Australia)
This entertaining romance follows Kol (Elias Anton), a 17-year-old Serbian immigrant working as an amateur ballroom dancer when he gets a frantic call from his dance partner pal Ebony who is stranded near a beach with nothing after a wild night. With their performance only hours away, he has to team up with her older brother Adam (Thom Green) to find her, leading to a road trip that turns into a 24-hour life-changing romance for him. But when the day is done, Kol has to face what comes next as Adam reveals his future plans. Kol faces issues of self-doubt, acceptance and peace as his story picks up five years later, bringing him to his next encounter with Adam. Well-directed by Goran Stolevski and charged with the chemistry between Green & Anton, the film draws in it's audience to feel Kol's struggle.

 

Cassandro (USA)
The biographical drama tells the true story of Saúl Armendariz (Gael García Bernal), a gay amateur luchador from El Paso who would rise to international stardom as the exotico character Cassandro. In a time where exoticos were straight wrestlers dressed in drag to portray gay caricatures in the ring, Cassandro connected in a new way with audiences, bringing heart to his performances, despite facing discrimination. Saúl's relationship with his mother Yocasta and his tumultuous romance with fellow wrestler Gerardo (Raúl Castillo) give the biopic weight. Bernal's performance brings the uplifting, and at times tragic, role and film to life.

 

Egoist (Japan)
The Japanese drama follows Kôsuke (Ryohei Suzuki), a fashion magazine editor, who strikes up a romance with his personal trainer Ryûta (Hio Miyazawa), unaware that Ryûta is moonlighting as a hustler to help support his mother. Having lost his own mother as a closeted child, Kôsuke bonds with Ryûta's mother while his romance with Ryûta grows. Kôsuke goes out of his way to share his wealth with the family, despite their protests. When tragedy strikes, he takes on an even bigger role, developing a new understanding of family. The heartfelt and quiet story highlights the feelings of loss and the meaning of true love with strong performances and talented direction.

 

Rustin (USA)
Anchored by a powerful performance from leading man Colman Domingo, the biographical drama explores the life of Bayard Rustin, the civil rights activist who orchestrated the 1963 March on Washington, as he faced harsh racism and homophobia at the time. Inspired to act by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin put his heart and soul into coordinating the freedom march and motivating those around him to fight for civil rights. Rustin's personal relationship with Tom (Gus Halper), a white man, and it's crumbling after Rustin is drawn into his attraction to Elias Taylor (Johnny Ramey) is also showcased. The film provides an insightful look at the mind behind the largest peaceful protest in American history. 

 

Marry My Dead Body (Taiwan)
This "odd couple" comedy is at times funny, heartwarming, sad, and compelling. It puts a gay spin on the rare Asian practice of ghost marriage, the practice of a living person becoming married to a deceased person. A grieving grandmother sets a ghost marriage in motion after her gay grandson Mao-Mao (Po-Hung Lin) dies unexpectedly in a hit & run. She looks to fulfill her promise to him that she would live to see him marry a man after same-sex marriage is legalized in Taiwan. The ceremonial red envelope ends up in the hands of young straight police officer Wu Ming-Han (Greg Han Hsu). Mao-Mao appears to him as a ghost that only he can see. He enlists the homophobic cop's help in fulfilling his dying wishes in order to help him reach reincarnation. Along the way, the two develop a bond that drives Wu Ming-Han to find Mao-Mao's killer and help his family find peace.

 

Nimona (USA)
Based on a graphic novel, the quirky animated action comedy follows Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world who is framed for a high crime, putting him on the opposite side of the law from his boyfriend, the popular knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang), who is left conflicted in his duty to capture his love. Ballister is aided by wild child Nimona, who has the ability to transform herself into any creature, causing Nimona to be outcast and treated as a monster. Nimona relishes being a villain and hopes to be Ballister's sidekick, despite his pleas of innocence. Their bond drives the film as Ballister works to prove his innocence and Nimona works to protect him while working through her own struggles for acceptance.

 

Red, White & Royal Blue (USA)
The romantic comedy presents the rivalry between Britain's spare Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) and Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the American president. When the duo's antics cause an international scandal, they are forced to spend time together to convince the public that they are good friends. In the process, the two fall in love, placing them in even bigger trouble as Henry's position in the royal family conflicts with his sexuality and Alex's mother finds herself fighting for re-election against a conservative rival. The strong chemistry between Galitzine & Perez drives the film and draws in the audience to root for their "forbidden" love in a story that promotes tolerance and acceptance in the face of conflict.