Written by Mariane Tremblay
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June 1st marked the beginning of Pride Month, so our team decided to curate a list of LGBTQIA2S+ movies to watch this month.
Just as it has always been important to us to promote women filmmakers and female-centred stories, it is also important to highlight queer stories, especially as a large part of our team is part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and because there is still a long way to go in terms of queer representation in both the world and in art. Film, in particular, remains a powerful way to reflect, challenge, and expand these narratives.
So here is a list of 17 movies and series to watch for Pride Month, and all year round.
Anaïs in Love (2021)
Directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet
Directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet, Anaïs in Love, to me, is a testament of love for middle-aged women. Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier) is a free-spirited young woman who is going through her quarter-life crisis. When she breaks up with her boyfriend after yet another argument, she moves on by getting involved in a relationship with a married and older man she met at a party. But what she didn't expect was to become obsessed with his wife, Émilie (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), who happens to be a famous writer. Admiring her and her work, Anaïs goes to extensive ends to meet her and spend time with her. And in a way, I oddly relate to this character, as I, too, like so many other queer girls, look up to middle-aged women. — Laurine
Where to watch: Available to watch on ICI TOU.TV, Prime Video, and to rent or buy at home
Beau Travail (1999)
Directed by Claire Denis
Claire Denis’ Beau Travail does not explicitly depict queerness, but rather portrays it in its subtext, with moments of lingering tension subverting what is most often seen in war and action films. This visually and thematically stunning film grapples with hypermasculine military culture, even more so at the time of its release, with its famous final scene representing a sense of liberation from both its confines and the internalized shame surrounding queerness. This is a must-see film for cinephiles, not just because it is one of Denis’ most notable films, but because of what it offers to the war genre. — Megan
Where to watch: Available to watch on the Criterion Channel, HBO Max, and to rent or buy at home
Bottoms (2023)
Directed by Emma Selligman
This campy film is the perfect Pride month flick, acting as a satirical commentary on common tropes in teen and coming-of-age films. With hilarious performances from Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Nicholas Galitzine, and many more, Emma Seligman perfectly creates a world that celebrates queerness through the representation of three-dimensional queer protagonists. It’s fun, light-hearted, and extremely unserious, making it the ideal raunchy comedy film. — Megan
Where to watch: Available to watch on Crave Canada, and to rent or buy at home
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Directed by Ang Lee
Based on Annie Proulx’s novel of the same name, Brokeback Mountain remains a landmark in LGBTQ+ cinema, telling the heartbreaking love story between two men whose relationship spans decades. Anchored by unforgettable performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, the film examines the devastating consequences of repression and societal expectations. Director Ang Lee creates a sweeping romance here, with the emotional honesty helping bring queer stories to mainstream audiences at the time of the release. As a Pride Month selection, Brokeback Mountain serves as both a moving love story and a reminder of the struggles many LGBTQ+ individuals have faced throughout history in pursuit of happiness. — Sarah
Where to watch: Available to watch on Crave Canada, Netflix, and to rent or buy at home
Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)
Directed by Toshio Matsumoto
Through a blend of fiction and documentary, Funeral Parade of Roses delivers a maximalist, loud, and avant-garde portrait of the revendication of one’s sense of self. Absolutely singular, it throws itself at you, screams inhibitions, and dances around the freedom of its characters and the narrative it uses to represent them. A particularly majestic editing allows the deconstruction of gender and a recalibration as to what it means to feel woman, the violent nature of feeling trapped inside the wrong body, and euphoria in finally finding yourself, and finding a community through it. Ahead of its time, and perhaps still ahead of ours. — Kenza
Where to watch: Available to watch on Kanopy
Go Fish (1994)
Directed by Rose Troche
Go Fish follows Max (Guinevere Turner), a lesbian in her twenties, having troubles with relationships and looking for her great love. When her friend sets her up with an older woman, she learns to navigate their relationship as well as discover herself and find her own voice. The film, through the lens of romance, offers an intimate glance into the urban lesbian community in the 90s Chicago. Philosophical explorations with an opening scene that has entered my list of greatest movie openings, and discussions about internalised homophobia and sexism, representation and erasure, love and its expectations. Discussions that are still happening to this day in the community, or even often circling through my mind. It is purposely awkward in its form as it makes a point of lesbians barely existing on paper, on film, or in archives, and with that, their entire lives, the ways in which they interact, think, challenge, and exist. An absolute must-watch. — Kenza
Where to watch: Available to watch on Prime Video and Tubi
Imagine Me & You (2005)
Directed by Ol Parker
Directed by Ol Parker and starring Pieter Perabo and Lena Heady, Imagine Me & You is a sweet and uplifting rom-com about unexpected love between two women, a lesbian florist, and a woman happily married to a man (Matthew Goode). When Rachel (Perabo) is starting to fall for Luce (Heady) despite being married to Hank (Goode), she must decide whether to remain in a stable, socially expected relationship or begin a new adventure with Luce—an uncertain relationship, but one that opens the possibility of living more authentically. Imagine Me & You is, to me, a must-watch for Pride Month, as it's about embracing who you truly are. — Maria
Where to watch: Available to rent or buy at home
Montréal, ma belle (2025)
Directed by Xiaodan He
Following the story of Feng Xia (Joan Chen), a Chinese immigrant rebuilding her life in a new country, and Camille (Charlotte Aubin), Montréal, Ma Belle is a moving portrait of identity, belonging, and connection in the heart of Montréal, which feels like a living, breathing character in itself. Described by the director as "a love letter to Montreal," the movie takes us on a tender and painful, yet deeply human journey between the two women, which makes it a perfect movie to watch during Pride Month. — Maria
Where to watch: Available to rent or buy at home
Moonlight (2016)
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Directed and co-written by Barry Jenkins and based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s semi-autobiographical play "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue," Moonlight is one of the most powerful and intimate films ever made about identity, love, self-discovery, and growing up. Following Chiron across three stages of his life, the film explores the intersections of race, masculinity, and sexuality with remarkable empathy and quiet emotional depth. Jenkins crafts a visually stunning coming-of-age story that remains deeply personal while speaking to the universal experiences of longing and acceptance. Additionally, it is a rare portrayal of the internal struggles many Black men in America go through when simply trying to exist peacefully as themselves. For Pride Month, Moonlight is an essential watch that celebrates the importance of embracing one’s authentic self and finding your safe space. — Sarah
Where to watch: Available to watch on Crave Canada, Netflix, Tubi, and to rent or buy at home
Pluribus (2025)
Ever since the pilot aired, Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus quickly became an acclaimed and well-loved TV show. From the writing, directing, and acting to the editing, imagery, and the blue and yellow color coding… this show has everything for people to love it. There is only one season of nine episodes so far, and it has already had a huge impact.
Pluribus follows a successful but grumpy writer, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), navigating her life in a world in which everybody has been assimilated into a peaceful and content hive mind, after an alien virus infected humanity but 13 people, including her.
There are so many things to say about Pluribus, but one of the reasons why it is such a remarkable and well-loved show is that the main character, Carol, is a lesbian, and although it is a key part of the story, it is not the main focus. It would almost be anecdotal if there wasn’t this underlying internalised homophobia and deep trauma in her. And I guess what I’m trying to say is that regardless of her sexuality, the story would be the same, but there wouldn’t be all those layers to her character. Seehorn gives one of the best performances I’ve ever seen—the way she manages to express emotions in minimal movements and words is spectacular. And Seehorn is very protective of Carol, as the rest of the cast is, and it is so refreshing to see—she will not let anyone speak badly of our beloved character.
In our current political climate, I love that they unapologetically stand on the fact that she is a lesbian, being unafraid of using the exact word, which feels great. She is a rightfully angry queer woman who just lost her wife, and she is going to save the world! — Laurine
Where to watch: Available on Apple TV+
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Directed by Céline Sciamma
This French film, directed by Céline Sciamma, is a stunningly beautiful historical romance that captures the intensity of connection and the fleeting nature of love. Set in eighteenth-century France, the film follows a painter and her subject as their relationship gradually blossoms into something deeper. Sciamma creates a mesmerizing atmosphere through striking visuals, thoughtful storytelling, and extraordinary performances from Noémie Merland and Adèle Haenel. A perfect, sapphic Pride Month watch, Portrait of a Lady on Fire celebrates queer love with immense tenderness, passion, and a sense of emotional authenticity that lingers long after the credits end. — Sarah
Where to watch: Available to watch on MUBI Canada, and to rent or buy at home
Queer (2024)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
The first time I watched Luca Guadagnino's Queer, I didn't like it. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Then I rewatched it, and it's when it all clicked, and I just fell in love with this movie.
Queer is a strange, sensual, and deeply melancholic exploration of desire, identity, and vulnerability. Guadagnino's adaptation of William S. Burroughs' 1985 novel delves into the raw, unfiltered life of a queer man consumed by infatuation, longing, and addiction, capturing the complexities of human connection and the profound loneliness that often accompanies it, particularly within the queer community. The movie offers a close look at a character struggling with his desires, trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and emotional pain, while desperately searching for comfort in brief, but intense connections.
Queer skillfully exposes the tension between the search for love and the fear of rejection, offering a poignant reflection on the emotional toll of desire and the bittersweet beauty of vulnerability. — Mariane
Where to watch: Available to watch on MUBI Canada, HBO Max, and to rent or buy at home
Ratched (2020)
I must say, I completely disagree with everyone who did not enjoy Ratched. The show gave us a complex, beautiful, scary, and rewarding love story between two women who were born at a time when loving each other was the most dangerous thing they could do. Despite the fear of getting caught and what that meant, Gwendolyn Briggs (Cynthia Nixon) and Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson) find a way to be together, allowing their love to win the war. But the true reason this relationship stands out comes down to the fact that both characters were played by queer women. Paulson and Nixon brought a sentiment of realism that most of the time lacks in WLW portrayals. They gave life to these characters in a way that queer women could actually feel it was real. Every character choice they made led to a beautifully believable love story between two women. Sadly, as it usually happens with these love stories, we didn’t get more than one season, but it’s worth the rewatch. — Lara
Where to watch: Available to watch on Netflix
Tár (2022)
Directed by Todd Field
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Directed by Jim Sharman
There are absolutely no rules in this game, and that’s exactly why we love it. A wild, exquisitely campy masterpiece that blends sci-fi, horror, and unforgettable rock anthems into a glorious fever dream. It’s loud, it’s unapologetically transgressive, and it never takes itself too seriously. More than just a cult classic, it stands as an exaggerated, glorious celebration of queer liberation—the ultimate anthem for misfits everywhere. — Giorgia
Where to watch: Available to watch on Disney+ and to rent or buy at home
The World to Come (2020)
Directed by Mona Fastvold
The World to Come is one of the few movies that got such a strong reaction out of me. This period piece is a reminder of how hard life has always been for lesbians and queer women, and still in the present day. And it's really scary how it hasn’t really changed as much…
The movie takes place on the American frontier in the late 19th century. Two women (Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby) find themselves spending most of their time together, while getting closer, to fight isolation and boredom. Fastvold takes us on a slow, rhythmic, and silent journey that carries you away in a strange way, giving you the impression of encroaching on their small space with a certain gentleness that only the feminine gaze can create. Waterston and Kirby sell this love story so easily with their soft-spoken voices dancing together in perfect harmony while looking absolutely gorgeous and ethereal. It is not a feel-good movie as you may have expected; it’s more about homophobia and misogyny, two subjects that still plague our society to this day. And just thinking about it, my heart still aches for them. — Laurine
Where to watch: Available to watch on Tubi and to rent or buy at home
Working Girls (1986)
Directed by Lizzie Borden
Working Girls follows Molly (Louise Smith) as she wakes up next to her partner in bed, prepares herself and their child, and heads to work—a high-priced New York escort agency—spending the day with her and her interactions with colleagues and clients, all the way to getting home. She is a lesbian, recently graduated, who is trying to finance her photography business, and for this reason, has to lie about her job. She goes about her day, centred on catering to men, managing her manager, and reassuring new hires. What appears as a narrative decrying the daily lives of those women who have no choice but to work to make a living, transforms into a rich complexion of what it means to be a lesbian in a patriarchal world, how one protects herself without being outcasted from society by simply not being defined by men’s perception. An unexpected, complex look into the purposely banal and non-sensational days of sex workers, mixed with the expected societal transactions between the genders. — Kenza
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