10 Highest Grossing 2023 Films featuring Out Gay Actors

With a rise in casting of LGBTQ+ performers in genre projects like science fiction, superhero, and animated feature films, it's no surprise that many popular films from 2023 included out gay actors in their extended casts. This list spotlights the highest grossing films at the United States box office that featured queer male performers. 

Haunted Mansion - $67.6M
The Disney film Haunted Mansion follows single mom Gabbie who looks to excise the ghosts that she discovers living in her new home, forcing her to call upon a team of wacky spiritual experts for help. Daniel Levy plays a small but pivotal role in the film as Vic, the owner of Crump Manor, the original home of the film's ghost antagonist. Vic plays tour guide to characters that visit the mansion. Levy brings his humor to the role, as Vic regales visitors with his history on stage and screen, and even plays music on the mansion's piano.

Blue Beetle - $72.4M
The feature film introduction of the DC superhero Blue Beetle included a villain role for comedic actor Harvey Guillén. Known for playing the lovable human familiar Guillermo on What We Do in the Shadows, Harvey changed things up for the big screen as his character Dr. Sánchez was a key antagonist for Jaime Reyes. Working under the orders of the villainous Victoria Kord, Sánchez is charged with retrieving the scarab that Jaime uses to transform into the superhero Blue Beetle. 2023 was a big year for Guillén who is the only actor to appear twice on this list.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - $93.2M
Based on the popular role playing game, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves presented the action adventure tale of a charming thief and his band of unlikely heroes who seek to retrieve a lost relic, only to cross paths with dangerous forces looking to halt their quest. Justice Smith played the supporting role of Simon Aumar, a half-elf sorcerer battling self-esteem issues that interfere with his magic. Simon builds confidence over the course of the adventure, allowing him to help his team while under great pressure. Justice is no stranger to popular fantasy films given his past role in the Jurassic World franchise. 

M3GAN - $95.1M
The third-highest grossing horror film of 2023 was the surprise hit M3GAN, the tale of a life-like doll created by robotics engineer Gemma to comfort her grieving niece Cady after the loss of her parents. When M3GAN's evolving programming causes her to take a protective role over Cady, anyone who wrongs the little girl becomes a target for elimination. Out comedian Brian Jordan Alvarez played the supporting role of Cole, a member of Gemma's team responsible for creating M3GAN in secret. When the robot goes on a rampage, Cole is attacked and left for dead by M3GAN.

Trolls Band Together - $96.3M
The third feature-length film in the animated Trolls franchise continued the series' popularity with Trolls Band Together and featured four queer actors in the voice cast. Poppy must help Branch on his journey to reunite with his boy band brothers after one of them, Floyd, is kidnapped. With its heavy reliance on music, it's no surprise that Floyd was voiced by gay recording artist Troye Sivan, playing the on-screen brother of Justin Timberlake's Branch. The film also included a wink to Timberlake's boy band past with roles for his NSYNC bandmates, including out performer Lance Bass voicing the troll Boom. The cast also featured Andrew Rannells voicing one half of the film's twin antagonists, Veneer. Rounding out the gay cast was Emmy winner RuPaul Charles, who provided the voice of Miss Maxine, a troll priest who presides over a key wedding.  

The Flash - $108.1M
Ranking #24 in overall domestic box office, The Flash has the distinction of being the only film to gross over $100M featuring a queer lead actor in 2023. Despite his personal legal dramas, Ezra Miller returned to his role as Barry Allen in the character's first solo feature film, which found The Flash using his super speed to change the past. His attempt to save his family leads to a world without superheroes, putting him on a new mission to save the future. Miller got to portray multiple versions of the hero, as he teamed up with himself, Supergirl, and an aging Batman.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - $130.4M
The latest installment in the Shrek universe of films was Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which saw the titular feline hero fighting for the last of his nine lives, putting him on an epic quest to find the Last Wish. Puss would also find himself with a new sidekick in the form of the adorable Perrito, voiced by Harvey Guillén. Perrito acts as a therapy dog for Puss, aiding him in his grand adventure. Quickly branded by audiences as a scene stealer, Guillén's vocal turn as an adorable pooch made up a sizeable portion of the film and it's popularity.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - $157M
The fifteenth highest grossing film of 2023 was the latest entry in the action franchise, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. For the sequel, the heroic Autobots found themselves on a globetrotting adventure, meeting a new faction of Transformers known as the Maximals who join them in their battle to protect earth. The planet is in danger from the approaching Unicron. Known as the Chaos Bringer, Unicron looks to consume all life within the universe. Character actor Colman Domingo lent his voice to the film's principal antagonist, bringing it to life on the big screen.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 - $358.9M
Landing fourth overall at the domestic box office, Marvel found another hit as the Guardians franchise continued. The third and final installment in the series, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, featured out actor Nico Santos in the supporting role of Recorder Theel, who was responsible for collecting scientific information and assisting in the experiments of the film's villainous High Evolutionary, along with his counterpart Recorder Vim. As a supporting villain, Santos appeared in several scenes during the film and even met his end at the hands of leading man Star-Lord (Chris Pratt).

Barbie - $636.2M
The highest grossing film of the year was the Greta Gerwig comedy Barbie. Full of heart, humor and deeper meaning relating to gender equity, the film struck a chord with audiences across the country. The supporting cast also included two out gay actors in Ncuti Gatwa & Scott Evans, who both played Kens. Living in Barbie Land where their lives are dictated by the whims of the Barbies, the Kens become affected by the patriarchy of the outside world, leading their culture to be forever changed. Gatwa & Evans appear throughout the film supporting lead Ken, Ryan Gosling, and have the distinction of providing the film's only kisses, as they both got to smooch Gosling on the cheek during the Kens' dance-fight sequence.