I recently read an article in them. about the trope we in the LGBTQ+ community know all too well: If there’s a queer person in a movie or TV show, chances are they’re going to die. Because we deserve better than that, the article listed a handful of queer films with happy endings!
Writer James Factora included classics like The Birdcage and But I’m a Cheerleader, but they are definitely missing a few that I think need to be added to the list. No better time to catch up on some feel-good films than summer, so as an elder–hey, I’m a millennial–I offer the following for your consideration:
This one is cheezy. If the early aughts don’t feel that long ago, just check out this movie and you’ll really feel like you’ve been transported back in time. In this sweet and corny film, young surfer and aspiring artist Zach falls for Shaun, his buddy’s older brother, while dealing with his own complicated family dynamics. There’s surfing, there’s graffiti, there’s nary an iphone to be seen.
I love the book from which this film was adapted, and while I was literally the only person in the theater when I went to see it, I wish more people knew about this one. Beautifully shot, this is the story of Ari and Dante, two young Mexican-American teens growing up in 1980s Texas. If you haven’t read the book, I absolutely recommend you do that first, then watch this lovely film and tell your friends.
Okay, okay, I know. The movie. It doesn’t hold a candle to the real thing. (See what I did there? iykyk) But not everyone got to grow up taking the LIRR into NYC to see Rent on Broadway over and over again, so until someone finally revives this rock musical based on the opera La Bohème, the film adaptation will simply have to do. Is it the happiest ending? That’s up for debate. Did I always leave the theater feeling energized and certain that I would someday live the life of a bohemian? Absolutely.
You guys. I haven’t seen this one in many years. Starring Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck (I mean, come on) this was a truly mainstream queer comedy that was way ahead of its time. Sure, we can nit-pick about the ways this script isn’t entirely PC, but this one is a fun, ridiculous throwback with some hilarious comedic timing from legend Bob Newhart. A gay happy ending in a 90s rom-com? I’m telling you, it happened.
Based on the best-selling young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this movie follows a closeted teen who falls for a mystery classmate – on the internet! This one’s a heart-warming, feel-good, queer high school romance, and the ending will leave you with a big dumb smile on your face. The film inspired the TV series Love, Victor starring Michael Cimino. I whole-heartedly recommend this show, which ran for 3 seasons and helped me beat my pandemic dread.
This one’s not a movie, but it is a stand-alone episode of Black Mirror. If you haven’t seen San Junipero (2016), watching this feels like a fever dream. How to explain it? Imagine a beach town at sunset, forbidden romance, and the idea that the after-life is merely a simulation. Trust me, you gotta see this.
Okay queers, time to pump up the AC, grab a pint of ice cream, and lose yourself in some feel-good LGBTQ+ entertainment.
Hey there. Laura Leigh here. I’m a wife, writer, mama, small business owner, podcast host, and the Head of Content here at Pink Robin.
I love supporting the queer community and bringing shared experiences to life.
If you have a story to tell, I’m here for it.
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Pink Robin, We’re a home for queer millennial voices—no fame, no filters, no perfection required. The stories of queer people are beautiful, bold, and deeply worth telling.
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