Pride on Screen: Must-Watch LGBTQIA+ Films, Series & Documentaries That Inspire Understanding and Change

Posterity Consulting
Jun 4
4 min read

This Pride Month, these films and documentaries offer more than entertainment—they’re powerful tools for understanding, compassion, and change. Whether rooted in India’s cultural complexities or exploring global queer histories, each title tells a story that deserves to be seen, felt, and shared.

International LGBTQIA+ Films

Moonlight (A24 / Netflix, US)- Link A poetic, deeply moving coming-of-age story about a Black queer boy growing into manhood. Oscar-winning and essential.
Call Me by Your Name (Netflix / Prime Video, Italy/US)- Link A tender romance between a teenage boy and an older student in 1980s Italy. Bittersweet and visually lush. (Adapted from the novel of the same name)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Hulu, France)- Link Two women fall in love in 18th-century France. A masterclass in visual storytelling and emotional restraint.
Blue Is the Warmest Color (Criterion/Hulu, France)- Link A raw and intimate film about first love and self-discovery between two young women.
BPM (Beats Per Minute) (Hulu, France)- Link Follows ACT UP activists in 1990s Paris as they fight for AIDS awareness. Urgent and political.
A Fantastic Woman (Prime Video, Chile)- Link Centers on a trans woman mourning her partner while battling social discrimination. Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film.
The Handmaiden (Prime Video, South Korea) - Link A twisted, psychological thriller with a powerful lesbian romance at its core.
Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video) - Link An important and joyful queer romance between a British prince and the son of the U.S. president—celebratory and political. (Adapted from the novel of the same name)
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Hulu, US)- Link Explores queer youth caught in the web of conversion therapy. Raw, quiet, and emotionally resonant.

Indian LGBTQIA+ Films

Badhaai Do (Netflix / JioCinema)-Link A gay man and lesbian woman enter a marriage of convenience to escape societal pressure. Warm, funny, and layered with emotion.
Aligarh (Amazon Prime Video)-Link Based on the true story of Prof. Siras, who was fired for his sexual orientation. A heartbreaking, dignified portrait of privacy and prejudice.
Sheer Qorma 2021 (MUBI)- Link A queer Muslim love story starring Shabana Azmi and Divya Dutta. Explores intergenerational acceptance and gender identity.
Evening Shadows (Netflix)- Link A gay son comes out to his conservative South Indian family. A quiet, heartfelt story of familial love and transformation.
My Son is Gay (MX Player / YouTube)- Link A Tamil-language film about a mother’s struggle to accept her son’s sexuality. Emotionally honest and rare in regional cinema.

LGBTQIA+ series—stories that do more than entertain; they educate, uplift, and advocate.

It’s a Sin (HBO Max, UK) -Link A powerful and emotional journey through the lives of young gay men during the 1980s AIDS crisis in London.
Feel Good (Netflix, UK/Canada)- Link A semi-autobiographical dramedy by Mae Martin tackling gender identity, trauma, addiction, and queer love with wit and raw honesty.
Heartstopper (Netflix, UK) - Link A sweet, emotionally resonant teen romance that gently explores coming out, self-acceptance, and queer friendship.
Pose (FX / Netflix, US)- Link A groundbreaking series highlighting Black and Latinx trans women in New York's 1980s ballroom scene, against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic.
Young Royals (Netflix, Sweden)- Link A royal teen must navigate duty and love when he falls for a fellow student. Beautifully layered and introspective.
The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime, US) -Link A modern reboot of the original, continuing the stories of queer women while expanding to include trans and nonbinary characters.
Special (Netflix, US)- Link Follows a gay man with cerebral palsy as he reclaims his independence and queerness, challenging perceptions with humor and heart.
Sex Education (Netflix, UK)- Link Celebrated for its diverse queer representation, this show handles topics like non-binary identity, asexuality, and queer intimacy with empathy and humor.
The OA (Netflix, US)- Link Features queer love and trans representation in a metaphysical, genre-defying narrative. Emotionally rich and philosophically daring.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (Netflix, US)- Link The global phenomenon that brought drag into the mainstream, empowering queer self-expression and artistry with humor, heart, and high heels.
Queer Eye (Netflix, Global)- Link The Fab Five spread love, confidence, and inclusivity through heartwarming transformations that focus on authenticity, healing, and self-worth.

Documentaries (Global & Indian)

International LGBTQIA+ Documentaries

Disclosure (Netflix) -Link A powerful critique of how trans people have been represented in media and how that affects real-world perceptions.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Netflix)- Link Investigates the suspicious death of the legendary Black trans activist while honoring her legacy.
Visible: Out on Television (Apple TV+)- Link A must-watch docuseries tracing LGBTQ+ representation in American TV history—from stereotypes to breakthroughs.
Pray Away (Netflix)- Link Tells the story of former leaders of the "ex-gay" movement and the damage caused by conversion therapy.
Paris Is Burning (Criterion / Apple TV)- Link An iconic look at NYC's ballroom scene, celebrating queer Black and Latinx culture and resilience.
Welcome to Chechnya (HBO)- Link A chilling exposé of anti-LGBTQ+ persecution in Chechnya, filmed with hidden cameras and deepfake protection.
We're Here (HBO)- Link Drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race travel to small U.S. towns to help locals express their identities. A beautiful blend of personal transformation and social impact.

Indian LGBTQIA+ Documentaries

Breaking Free (Netflix / YouTube)- Link Directed by queer activist Sridhar Rangayan, this documentary exposes human rights violations under India's anti-gay law (pre-Section 377 verdict).
Purple Skies (YouTube – Public Service Broadcasting Trust)- Link A moving documentary that profiles lesbian and trans individuals across India, highlighting both resistance and resilience.