Box Office Theory's Official Top 100 LGBT+ films of all time | a countdown 🌈 💗 | #85-#81 (Pg 3) #100-#86 listed pg2)

[Kalo]

Well here we are folks! I finally competed BOT's scoring for the first ever Top 100 LGBT films of all time!

 

It took a lot of work and I probably spent about 20 of the last 48 hours compiling lists but they are now completed.

 

I am so grateful to live in a country that allows us to live free of fear of who we are, and it is really interesting to see how the LGBT movement has affected Cinema over the last 100 years or so, there were some brave filmmakers who were incorporating LGBT content and stories in films when it was still illegal to be openly LGBT! we are as old as time and our stories have been told on film pretty much since it's inception, although now obviously there is much more content and you can make it completely openly although there are still some old and cliché stereo types being used, and we still have a long ways to go, we have come along way from where we were. sadly there are still some countries where simply being part of the LGBT community is still illegal and punishable by imprisonment (or even worse!) I pray for those people to find protection and freedom like I have in the US.

 

 

Anyways on a less somber note I am very excited to share this countdown with you. which could not have been made without the help of BOT members special thanks to:

 

@Krissykins, @ringedmortality, @toutvabien, @TalismanRing, @JWR, @nydedan, @joselowe, @The Panda, @LegionWrex, @AN9815, @solaris, @Potiki, @Kalo, @Tower, @Fanboy, @Valonqar, @WorkingonaName, @Fancyarcher, @Arlborn, @Arsal, @Arsal, @Jake Gittes, @von Kenni, @Cap, @ListenHunnyUrOver, @across the Jat verse, @Barnack

 

26 lists were submitted and accepted for this countdown and 339 Titles were listed. of those only 2 titles received over 1,000 points and 98 titles received over 100 points... almost all the top 100!

 

I will will be listing the top 100 films in this countdown, 10 honorable mentions (101-110). and gifs/images of the remaining 339 titles.

 

 

There were a couple films that made the top 100 that I originally said probably wouldn't be eligible, I decided to include them because, almost all titles are pretty overwhelmingly LGBT content friendly and I decided they had enough LGBT parallels to be worth talking about from that perspective, I'm not 100 percent sure if titles 101+ were all eligible I am giving them their little gifs because it's fun to see what people listed and due to the somewhat fluid nature of LGBT films it would take a century to shift through what is and isn't eligible. 

 

So without further ado lets get this 🌈 countdown started! 

 

 

 

 

 

On technical Note:

Spoiler

There were some lists with odd numbers to my scoring system that I had to adjust slightly I did my best to incorporated them as systemically as possible. like if a list had 40 titles I counted it as a top 50 and the bottom 5 or so received less points ect.. after some deliberation I also decided to include 2 lists  that were under 10 (but at least 5) and give them a scoring system of half a top 10 (so 1 received 50 points 2 40 ect..) I was pretty lenient with this countdown, but in the end I wanted to show appreciation for what people contributed to the countdown. I can't please everyone but hopefully most will be happy with it. 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:20 AM by Kalo

[Kalo]

Could an admin please tag this thread 

[ChipDerby]

I know I didn't vote but Portrait of a Lady on Fire better finish #1

[Kalo]

I am going to take a break before listed top 100. been working on this all morning. I will resume this evening, feel free to discuss and speculate.

[Arlborn]

Not a movie I love, but it’s  hard to see past Brokeback Mountain for number one, isn’t it? I’ll be very surprised if it isn’t at least top 2.

 

With that said, I’m excited for this countdown!

 

Edited August 27 by Arlborn

[Cap]

Birdcage or bust, people.

 

[Kalo]

5 hours ago, ChipDerby said:

I know I didn't vote but Portrait of a Lady on Fire better finish #1

 

Should have submitted a list then, it was an incredibly competitive top 5. 

[Kalo]

#100 Plan B (2010) - Directed by Marco Berger 

 

96 Points | 3 Lists

 

 

"So I came up with plan B"

 

Top 10 Placements: 1

 

Country of Origin: Argentina

Language: Spanish 

Awards: N/A

Box Office: N/A

Availability: Amazon on DISC

Genre: Romance | Comedy | Drama

 

"At the end of the day, it's a sweet little story that turns a familiar plot on its head in a positive way." -Amanda Jane Stern; Film Inquiry 

 

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A (1 review, positive)   

METACRITIC: N/A

LETERBOXD: 3.3 out of 5

 

About the film: 

 

Written and directed by Marco Berger and made in Argentina, it is his first of a long list of future length LGBT stories. the film has a simple premise of a man named Brono (Manuel Vignau), who is dumped by his girlfriend and decides to befriend her new lover Pablo (Lucas Ferraro) in hopes to win her back. instead he builds a close friendship with him and may have the potential to become something more.

 

What I know about the film:

I am a big Marco Berger fan actually and have actually seen this film, I can see that it is kind of hard to find unless you want to spend $45 to order it on Amazon. I think it's on youtube. and some other sites I wont name. because it is such a small film and kind of hard to find I'm a bit surprised it made the top 100. there is actually a newer film titled Plan B from 2021 that shows up in searches first. I think it is an LGBT+ film as well believe it or not.

This was one of my latter films of his I have seen, and it's good, but it is definitely lower quality at least on a technical standpoint then some of his newer films. but for being made on a shoe string budget it is pretty good, the story is simple and sweet, the actors just kind of look like your averagely attractive Joes so that may be refreshing if your tired of watching movies with unrealistically attractive leads. 

 

Cultural impact/ relevance

 

Plan B continues a trend of successful sub-genre LGBT Lain American released films that began in the 1980s and has grown to a vary large collection of films; Marks the beginning of Marco Bergers feature length directorial career.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 28 by Kalo

[abracadabra1998]

Didn't submit a list because I don't feel I've seen enough LGBTQ movies, but I'm hyped to add some to my list after this countdown. Thanks for organizing it!

[ListenHunnyUrOver]

Mulholland Drive for #1

[Kalo]

#99 Sauvage / Wild (2018) - Directed by Camille Vidal-Naquet

 

99 Points | 2 Lists

 

 

"Your made to be loved"

 

Top 10 Placements: 1

 

Country of Origin: France 

Language: French

Awards: Cannes film festival WINNER: Rising Star Award (Félix Maritaud) 4 other noms, Chicago International Film Festival 1 Nom, César Awards 1 nom (best Foreign film)

Box Office: Dom: $61.6k WW: $317.5k 

Availability: Streaming on Strand Releasing, rent on Amazon Prime. 

Genre: Drama

 

"French filmmaker Camille Vidal-Naquet offers a raw and riveting portrait of a gay male sex worker (the quietly devastating Félix Maritaud) and the aching tenderness he brings to his brutal profession." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone. 

 

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% 

METACRITIC: 75%

LETERBOXD: 3.5 out of 5

 

About the film: 

 

In french filmmaker Camille Vidal-Naquet's directorial debut, Leo (played magnificently by Félix Maritaud) a homeless gay sex-worker, looks for genuine love on the foreboding streets of Strasbourg. 

 

What I know about the film:

I didn't watch this film until I had created this countdown and was looking for films to watch, I had heard of this movie and seen the poster around the internet, it's brutal sounding plot may have kept me away, but in the end Leo's Maritaud unbelievably good looks drew me in, (like seriously he is like fantasy level gorgeous to me lol), this movie is pretty much everything the reviews say it is, brutal, raw, graphic, sexy and strangely romantic, this movie could easily come off as gratuitous or even cheesy under the wrong hands but director, Camille Vidal-Naquet crafts a hauntingly beautiful film with fantastic cinematography, which is propelled by the star creating performance of Félix Maritaud, imbodying the stray dog like characteristics of Leo, wild untamed and lovable. it's still kind of fresh for me, but I would consider it one of the best LGBT films I have seen to date.

 

 

 

Note of caution this film is extremely graphic, with graphic nudity, sex scenes and even some disturbing scenes of violence, it's not rating in the US, but it got an 18 in France, would probably be NC-17 here as it's up there with "Blue is the warmest color" as one of the most sexually explicit films I have ever seen.    

 

 

Cultural impact/ relevance

 

Puts Camille Vidal-Naquet'on the map as a critically acclaimed director, cements Félix Maritaud as a credible rising star in France after already having made is critically acclaimed future debut in 2017's 120 BPM, pushes the envelope of LGBT french cinema further by telling unique, intimate stories, with post-modernist themes.  

 

 

Edited August 28 by Kalo

[Kalo]

#339 | Monster Pies (2013) | 1 Point average placement: 100

 

#338 | Gohatto (taboo) (1999) | 1 Point average placement: 75

 

#337 Caligula (1979) | 1 Point average placement: 41 

 

#336 Let the Right One in (2008) | 1 Point average placement: 41 

 

#335 The Wizard of Oz (1939) | 1 Point average placement 40

 

#334 4th Man Out (2015) | 1 Point Average placement 19

 

#333 Badhaai Do (2022) | 1 Point average placement: 6

 

[Krissykins]

I really need to see Sauvage. That poster was all over Berlin when I was there at the time of release. 

[Kalo]

 

 

#97 TIE! - PART 1: A Special Day /Una giornata particolare (1977) - Directed by Ettore Scola

 

100 Points | 1 List

 

 

"We always end up conforming to what others think, even when they're wrong"

 

1# Placements: 1

 

Country of Origin: Italy 

Language: Italian 

Awards: 2 Academy Award Nominations Best Foreign Language film and best actor (Marcello Mastroianni) 1 Golden Globe Win (best foreign language film) and 1 nom (best film, drama), César Awards winner (best Foreign film)

Box Office: N/A

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV. 

Genre: Drama

 

"It is a moving film by Scola about gender stereotypes, the social condition of women and the overwhelming way in which fascism condemned the dignity of working class people. " - Yasser Medina, Cinefilia

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% 

METACRITIC: N/A

LETERBOXD: 4.2 out of 5 (#186 of top 250)

 

About the film

 

Set in the late 1930s the film depicts the first meeting between fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler,

Spoiler

 Antonietta a neglected housewife is forced to stay home from a parade her husband is attending, and has a chance encounter with her neighbor Gabriele, who is not attending for reasons of his own, that day would change their outlook on life forever. 

 

What I know about the film

 

Until @von Kenni had listed it in the countdown, I had never heard of the film, from the results, it looks like not many others did either, but after reading about it, it sounds amazing and I look forward to watching it. 

 

 

Cultural impact/Relevance 

 

Adds to director Ettore Scola's rather impression filmography as a critically acclaimed Italian film maker, is important landmark landmark in Italian cinema for it's depiction of the early rise of fascism in 1930s Italy, and how it affected the working class, one of the first films to show persecution of homosexuals by fascist regimes. made its mark at the 1978 oscars with 2 nominations, Won a golden globe for best foreign. is currently sitting at 186 in Letterbox's top 250 rated films.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 28 by Kalo

[Kalo]

 

 

#97 TIE! - PART 2: My First Summer (2020) - Directed by Katie Found

 

100 Points | 1 List

 

 

"Maybe we can start by breathing together."

 

1# Placements: 1

Country of Origin: Australia 

Language: English 

Awards: Nominee best indie film (AACTA)

Box Office: N/A

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV, Youtube. 

Genre: Drama | Romance 

 

"My First Summer is an immersive bedazzled daydream of teenage girlhood, with all its highs and lows" - Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; ABC Radio (Australia) 

 

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: N/A (4 reviews, all positive) 

METACRITIC: N/A

LETERBOXD: 3.9 out of 5

About the film

 16-year-old Claudia lives a lonely existence on a remote property that all changes when a spirited girl named graces wanders into her garden.

  

What I know about the film

 

Honestly very little, I think I had seen the poster for the film before and thought it was a very pretty poster. after reading about what the film is about, it sounds like a sweet coming of age romance, so I will probably check it out eventually. 

 

 

Cultural impact/Relevance 

 

Yet another first time director, Katie found won the jury award for best director for this film (LMILFF) actresses also won the jury ward  for best performances Markella Kavenagh and Maiah Stewardson (LMILFF). Katie Found also won best young filmmaker special jury award (MILGFF). furthers exposure of LGBT coming of age stories in Australia.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 28 by Kalo

[TalismanRing]

6 hours ago, Kalo said:

 

 

#97 TIE! - PART 1: A Special Day /Una giornata particolare (1977) - Directed by Ettore Scola

 

100 Points | 1 List

 

 

"We always end up conforming to what others think, even when they're wrong"

 

1# Placements: 1

 

Country of Origin: Italy 

Language: Italian 

Awards: 2 Academy Award Nominations Best Foreign Language film and best actor (Marcello Mastroianni) 1 Golden Globe Win (best foreign language film) and 1 nom (best film, drama), César Awards winner (best Foreign film)

Box Office: N/A

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV. 

Genre: Drama

 

"It is a moving film by Scola about gender stereotypes, the social condition of women and the overwhelming way in which fascism condemned the dignity of working class people. " - Yasser Medina, Cinefilia

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% 

METACRITIC: N/A

LETERBOXD: 4.2 out of 5 (#186 of top 250)

 

About the film

 

Set in the late 1930s the film depicts the first meeting between fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler,

  Reveal hidden contents

 Antonietta a neglected housewife is forced to stay home from a parade her husband is attending, and has a chance encounter with her neighbor Gabriele, who is not attending for reasons of his own, that day would change their outlook on life forever. 

 

What I know about the film

 

Until @von Kenni had listed it in the countdown, I had never heard of the film, from the results, it looks like not many others did either, but after reading about it, it sounds amazing and I look forward to watching it. 

 

 

Cultural impact/Relevance 

 

Adds to director Ettore Scola's rather impression filmography as a critically acclaimed Italian film maker, is important landmark landmark in Italian cinema for it's depiction of the early rise of fascism in 1930s Italy, and how it affected the working class, one of the first films to show persecution of homosexuals by fascist regimes. made its mark at the 1978 oscars with 2 nominations, Won a golden globe for best foreign. is currently sitting at 186 in Letterbox's top 250 rated films.

 

 

 

 

Great film -  which I sadly forgot about

[Kalo]

#96 The Watermelon Woman (1996) - Directed by Cheryl Dunye

 

100 Points | 3 Lists (wins tie with #97-#98 film by receiving more votes)

 

 

"Let me assure you, the hip swinging lesbian style isn't my forte"

 

Country of Origin: USA 

Language: English 

Awards: Winner Cinema eye Legacy Award Cheryl Dunye

Box Office: $2k

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance 

 

The Watermelon Woman is quite smart, remarkably sophisticated filmmaking for a first-time director.- Achy Obejas; Chicogo Tribune 

 

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% 

METACRITIC: 74

LETERBOXD: 4 out of 5

 

 

About the film

 

While Working at a video store, a young black woman named Cheryl attempts to create about film about a black actress from the 1930s who is known for playing the "Mammy" roles.

 

What I know about the film

 

I didn't know much before I looked it up, I think it was in my list of to watch LGBT films, it sounds like it is a pretty good funny movie so I will need to watch it at some point

 

Cultural Impact/Relevance

Cheryl Dunye not only stars and directs this movie, she is the first out black woman ever to direct a film, for that reason alone I would say that it is culturally significant  and should be seen by anyone interested in woman's rights, LGBT history or black history. it put black lesbians' as filmmakers on the map, in 2022 it Cheryl Dunye won an honorary cinema eye legacy award for the film, in 2021, it won the national film preservation award. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 30 by Kalo

[Kalo]

#95 Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) - Directed by Marielle Heller

 

100 Points | 4 Lists (wins tie with #96 film by receiving more votes)

 

 

"This next song goes out to all the agoraphobic junkies who couldn't be here tonight."

 

Country of Origin: USA 

Language: English 

Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars including best actress (Malissa McCarthy), Best Supporting actor (Richard E. Grant) and best adapted screenplay (Nicole HolofcenerJeff Whitty) 3 (BAFTA Noms, same as Oscars) 3 Critics choices (same) and 2 Golden Globe Nominations (McCarthy and Richard E Grant).

Box Office: $8.8m Dom $12.4m WW

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV

Genre: Crime | Comedy | Drama |  

 

About the film

 

When A Best Seller author falls out of touch with current tastes, She turns her art for to deception. 

 

What I know about the film

 

I saw adds for it pop up during awards season, it's premises didn't intrigue me enough at the time to explore it further, but I really Like Malissa McCarthy (when she is working on something good anyways). And this is based on a true story I believe so it sound a lot more interesting now that I have looked for into. will have to watch it now.

 

Cultural Impact/Relevance

 

Furthers the envelope about what LBPT stories can be about, (that don't all have to me romances, coming of age tales ect...), is Malisa McCarthy's second Oscar Nomination after Bridesmaids in 2011. Some people actually saw it in theaters unlike most in the countdown so far... 

 

 

 

 

[von Kenni]

On 8/28/2023 at 9:03 AM, Kalo said:

 

 

#97 TIE! - PART 1: A Special Day /Una giornata particolare (1977) - Directed by Ettore Scola

 

100 Points | 1 List

 

 

"We always end up conforming to what others think, even when they're wrong"

 

1# Placements: 1

 

Country of Origin: Italy 

Language: Italian 

Awards: 2 Academy Award Nominations Best Foreign Language film and best actor (Marcello Mastroianni) 1 Golden Globe Win (best foreign language film) and 1 nom (best film, drama), César Awards winner (best Foreign film)

Box Office: N/A

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV. 

Genre: Drama

 

"It is a moving film by Scola about gender stereotypes, the social condition of women and the overwhelming way in which fascism condemned the dignity of working class people. " - Yasser Medina, Cinefilia

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% 

METACRITIC: N/A

LETERBOXD: 4.2 out of 5 (#186 of top 250)

 

About the film

 

Set in the late 1930s the film depicts the first meeting between fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler,

  Reveal hidden contents

 Antonietta a neglected housewife is forced to stay home from a parade her husband is attending, and has a chance encounter with her neighbor Gabriele, who is not attending for reasons of his own, that day would change their outlook on life forever. 

 

What I know about the film

 

Until @von Kenni had listed it in the countdown, I had never heard of the film, from the results, it looks like not many others did either, but after reading about it, it sounds amazing and I look forward to watching it. 

 

 

Cultural impact/Relevance 

 

Adds to director Ettore Scola's rather impression filmography as a critically acclaimed Italian film maker, is important landmark landmark in Italian cinema for it's depiction of the early rise of fascism in 1930s Italy, and how it affected the working class, one of the first films to show persecution of homosexuals by fascist regimes. made its mark at the 1978 oscars with 2 nominations, Won a golden globe for best foreign. is currently sitting at 186 in Letterbox's top 250 rated films.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The movie has a lot of subtext and I love it for it. I watched it twice in a row before submitting my list and realized new things that I had missed with the first viewing. I don't remember how young I was when I saw it first time. Maybe 10 years but I implicitly understood the themes: the outcast gay who couldn't conform and was waiting the inevitable doom, the housewife living a tiresome predetermined role where she tried to find ways to express her creativity in the confinement of her life, and how we all are the same deep down and desire the same things, and how we can find joy from even the smallest moments of life.

 

Seeing the two all-time best Italian actors and my personal favorites in the movie is a joy to watch. I still wonder how Marcello Mastroianni was able to act a gay in the 70s Italian macho culture. It was beautifully done.

[Eric Ross]

On 8/30/2023 at 12:20 AM, Kalo said:

#96 The Watermelon Woman (1996) - Directed by Cheryl Dunye

 

100 Points | 3 Lists (wins tie with #97-#98 film by receiving more votes)

 

 

"Let me assure you, the hip swinging lesbian style isn't my forte"

 

Country of Origin: USA 

Language: English 

Awards: Winner Cinema eye Legacy Award Cheryl Dunye

Box Office: $2k

Availability: rent on Amazon Prime. Google Play, Apple TV

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance 

 

The Watermelon Woman is quite smart, remarkably sophisticated filmmaking for a first-time director.- Achy Obejas; Chicogo Tribune 

 

Reviews;

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% 

METACRITIC: 74

LETERBOXD: 4 out of 5

 

 

About the film

 

While Working at a video store, a young black woman named Cheryl attempts to create about film about a black actress from the 1930s who is known for playing the "Mammy" roles.

 

What I know about the film

 

I didn't know much before I looked it up, I think it was in my list of to watch LGBT films, it sounds like it is a pretty good funny movie so I will need to watch it at some point

 

Cultural Impact/Relevance

Cheryl Dunye not only stars and directs this movie, she is the first out black woman ever to direct a film, for that reason alone I would say that it is culturally significant  and should be seen by anyone interested in woman's rights, LGBT history or black history. it put black lesbians' as filmmakers on the map, in 2022 it Cheryl Dunye won an honorary cinema eye legacy award for the film, in 2021, it won the national film preservation award. 

 

 

 

 

Another interesting detail I'm surprised you didn't mention was how the film sadly destroyed finances and grants given to films by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) because of bigotry and Republicans being Republicans. A lesbian sex scene was in this, some Washington Times writer threw a fit because lesbians and Black women and sex, then Republican rep Peter Hoekstra used this as a vessel that led to the NEA using their funding on a "case-by-case basis", rather than giving funds to art groups in general, which only hurt the diversity of all the projects for everybody.

 

It's a very sad part of this film's legacy, but a necessary one to show how evil conservatism can be in terms of censoring art and the long-lasting damages they have given towards tons of queer artists and queer people in general.