As soon as upon a time, “Oscar-winning LGBTQ films” gave the impression of an oxymoron. Then Hollywood began increasing the varieties of tales it produced. The Academy had no selection however to take discover.
From appearing to modifying, a big physique of labor has tackled matters round sexuality and gender, and picked up some Oscars alongside the way in which.
The next record captures the perfect of the perfect. Anybody trying to curate an emotionally concerned binge session want look no additional:
Cabaret (1972)
No record about Oscar-winning LGBTQ films can go with out mentioning probably the most iconic considered one of all: the long-lasting Cabaret. Starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Helmut Griem, this scorching musical follows the formation of an surprising love triangle towards the rise of the Hitler in Nineteen Thirties Berlin.
Cabaret swept the forty fifth Academy Awards in 1973 with 8 out of 10 wins — together with Minnelli for Greatest Actress and David Bretherton for Greatest Movie Enhancing. Critics throughout the U.S. praised the movie’s tenacity and willingness to sort out powerful matters such like polyamory, political corruption, and the challenges of dancing in heels.
Canine Day Afternoon (1975)
When most individuals say they’ll do something for love, they imply transfer throughout nation or hand over smoking. Within the Oscar-winning LGBTQ film Canine Day Afternoon, Al Pacino’s character Sonny Wortzik goes quite a bit additional by robbing a financial institution to boost cash for his associate’s gender-affirming surgical procedure.
The movie earned Frank Pierson a win for “Greatest Unique Screenplay” on the forty eighth Academy Awards in 1976. Primarily based on a real occasion, Canine Day Afternoon consists of the long-lasting scene of Sonny confronting the police whereas passionately yelling “Attica! Attica” in reference to the notorious Attica Jail Insurrection.
Kiss of the Spider Girl (1985)
Kiss of the Spider Girl joined the pantheon of Oscar-winning LGBTQ films with its launch. Also called O Beijo da Mulher Aranha, two jail inmates, performed by Raul Julia and William Damage, interrogate societal gender expectations towards the harrowing backdrop of political strife in Brazil.
Damage’s efficiency earned him a win for Greatest Actor on the 58th Academy Awards in 1986. His character has a extra specific connection to trans identification in Manuel Puig’s guide. But, the love between Luis and Julia’s Valentin Arregui forces the latter to confront uncomfortable truths about his masculinity.
The Crying Sport (1992)
An surprising bond turns into unexpected deception in The Crying Sport. A British soldier held captive by the Irish Republican Military turns into mates with considered one of its members. His request for the opposite man to observe over his girlfriend slowly transforms right into a forbidden romance between the 2.
The LGBTQ film didn’t precisely sweep the sixty fifth Academy Awards in 1993. Neil Jordan, nevertheless, walked away with the award for Greatest Unique Screenplay statue. Jaye Davidson didn’t win for his portrayal of the transwoman who stole their hearts, however the impression of his position nonetheless resonates to today.
Philadelphia (1993)
When younger queer individuals start searching for media illustration, they ultimately encounter Oscar-winning films like Philadelphia. The movie boldly tackles the terrifying realities of attempting to cover one’s LGBTQ identification within the midst of the AIDS Disaster sweeping throughout the U.S. within the early Nineties.
Impressed by a real occasion, Philadelphia obtained 5 nominations on the 66th Academy Awards in 1994. Tom Hanks received for Greatest Actor and Bruce Springsteen received for Greatest Unique Track. Queer generations afterward, although, obtained to see slightly of their lives depicted on a critically-acclaimed stage.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of Desert (1994)
By the point The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert grew to become an Oscar-winning film, mainstream LGBTQ illustration had misplaced its spark. A lot of it centered round tragedy. As compared, this Stephan Elliott-directed romp felt like a breath of contemporary air in a windowless room.
No marvel Lizzie Gardiner and Tim Chappel took residence awards for “Greatest Costume Design” on the 67th Academy Awards in 1995. The movie contained a myriad of outfits befitting three drag queens boldly making their means throughout the Australian outback searching for greater and higher alternatives.
Todo Sobre Mi Madre (1999)
Whereas most Oscar-winning LGBTQ films have been in English, Todo Sobre mi Madre tells a narrative completely in Spanish. The movie explores sexuality, gender, and religion by way of its essential character’s makes an attempt to course of her grief and channel her parental urges towards taking good care of her new-found household.
Also called All About My Mom, the movie received Greatest International Language Movie on the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000. Roger Ebert, the notoriously powerful critic with the Chicago Solar-Occasions, praised the movie for its super capacity to strike a novel steadiness between severe drama and brightly-colored satire.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Boys Don’t Cry tells the tragic, real-life story of Brandon Teena, a 21-year-old transman brutally assaulted and murdered in 1993. The Oscar-winning LGBTQ film held again on the depravity of Teena’s demise. But it surely precisely depicted the all-too-common risks confronted by transgender individuals worldwide.
Hilary Swank took residence the award for Greatest Actress, considered one of two nominations obtained on the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000. Whereas most critics liked the movie, journalist Noelle Howey felt that many had missed its main message, which warned of continuous violence towards queer individuals within the U.S.
Monster (2003)
Monster has develop into of probably the most iconic Oscar-winning LGBTQ films. Charlize Theron actually disappeared into her portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Christina Ricci held her personal as Wuornos’ girlfriend, however Theron’s efficiency remained on everybody’s thoughts for years.
Naturally, Theron received for Greatest Actress on the 76th Academy Awards in 2004. She later referenced the long-lasting position in a Saturday Night time Dwell sketch and an episode of Arrested Growth. The popular culture impression of Monster has since elevated the depts of immersion actors will dive into for a task.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain follows the tragic romance between two closeted ranch palms in Sixties Wisconsin. With a memorable rating and an much more unforgettable forged, this movie has stood the check of time just by displaying the tumultuous highs and lows of an surprising love story.
The movie received a lot of the nominations it earned on the 78th Academy Awards in 2006 — together with Ang Lee for Greatest Director. The business success of this Oscar-winning LGBTQ film reminded studios of the viability of daring storytelling. Too unhealthy the movie’s poignant ending left audiences heartbroken.
Capote (2005)
Translating the lives of actual LGBTQ individuals into films can get very difficult. Sony Leisure took an opportunity anyway with the Oscar-winning movie Capote. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Truman Capote left critics in awe of his capacity to immerse himself so fully into the position.
Capote obtained 5 nominations on the 78th Academy Awards in 2006. Hoffman took residence one of many greatest with Greatest Actor in a Main Function. Toby Jones (greatest identified for enjoying Zola within the Captain America films) additionally performed his personal model of Capote in Notorious, however lacked Hoffman’s charisma.
Milk (2008)
In 1977, Harvey Milk grew to become the primary brazenly homosexual official elected within the U.S. after a historic win in San Francisco. Sean Penn later shared Milk’s life with the world within the Oscar-winning LGBTQ film Milk. The movie follows his rise into politics and the assassination that took him away too quickly.
Of the numerous nominations obtained on the 81st Academy Awards in 2009, Sean Penn received for Greatest Actor and Dustin Lance Black for Greatest Unique Screenplay. Some agreed with the accolades obtained by Penn. Others had harsher opinions of his efficiency. Both means, he had all of Hollywood abuzz.
Dallas Consumers Membership (2013)
Typically, the perfect treatment for bigotry comes from strolling in another person’s wrestle. Matthew McConaughey’s character learns the laborious means within the movie Dallas Consumers Membership. His physician diagnoses him with AIDS and it drives him to determined measures to seek out drugs for himself and others.
McConaughey and Jared Leto made historical past on the 86th Academy Awards in 2014. They grew to become the fifth set of actors to win Greatest Actor and Greatest Supporting Actor for a similar film. Primarily based on a real story, Dallas Consumers Membership has earned the label of “must-watch” within the class of Oscar-winning LGBTQ films.
The Imitation Sport (2014)
Most individuals don’t know the story of real-life cryptanalyst Alan Turing. Even much less know the impression of his work as a homosexual man whereas enduring ramped homophobia in STEM. Oscar-winning film The Imitation Sport wowed viewers and taught them about probably the most influential LGBTQ individuals in historical past.
Graham Moore received Greatest Unique Screenplay on the 87th Academy Awards in 2015. Nonetheless, not everybody walked away from the movie with glowing reward. Turing’s niece accused the movie of downplaying his homosexual identification and relationships in favor of enjoying up his temporary affair with a lady.
The Danish Lady (2015)
Hollywood has all the time liked biographical LGBTQ films — particularly guide diversifications. So, it appears kismet for The Danish Lady to achieve Oscar-winning standing for its portrayal of Danish painter Lili Elbe. Performed by Eddie Redmayne, the movie explains her important position in Nineteen Thirties gender-affirming surgical procedure.
Alicia Vikander walked away from the 88th Academy Awards in 2016 with Greatest Supporting Actress. Nevertheless, she had no selection however to climate the storm of damaging public opinion surrounding her nomination. Whereas some individuals felt she didn’t deserve it, she nonetheless took residence the movie’s solely award that evening.
Moonlight (2016)
Barry Jenkins had artistic expertise previous to directing Moonlight. Nonetheless, his work on probably the most outstanding LGBTQ films landed him with Oscar-winning road cred. The approaching-of-age movie follows Chiron by way of the chaotic phases of his life and coming to phrases along with his sexuality.
Moonlight made headlines for a lot of causes. One among which occurred on the 89th Academy Awards when Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty unintentionally introduced the mistaken winner for Greatest Image. It become one of many funniest award ceremony blunders of 2017 and has continued to reside on in infamy.
Una Mujer Fantástica (2017)
Una Mujer Fantástica tells the heart-wrenching story of a transwoman mourning her boyfriend’s passing. Also called A Implausible Girl, the Oscar-winning LGBTQ film highlights the grief she experiences whereas surrounded by transphobic characters who refuse to acknowledge her humanity.
A Implausible Girl successful for Greatest International Language Movie on the ninetieth Academy Awards in 2018 had historic implications. Daniela Vega grew to become the ceremony’s first transgender presenter. The movie additionally paved the way in which for vital laws modifications in Chile for transgender individuals.
Name Me by Your Identify (2017)
Name Me By Your Identify, like different Oscar-winning LGBTQ films, explores the tragedy of self-exploration. Its fascination with uncovering how its essential characters expertise love and heartache borrows from its literary supply and interprets this shifting love story for the silver display.
James Ivory took residence a win for Greatest Tailored Screenplay on the ninetieth Academy Awards in 2018. Humorous sufficient, although, controversy round age gaps and questionable fruit utilization took priority. Rumors circulated for years of a sequel based mostly on the follow-up novel, however it will definitely died a quiet demise.
The Favorite (2018)
Many individuals nowadays help girls’s rights. However do additionally they help girls’s wrongs? The Oscar-winning LGBTQ film The Favorite requested that query and obtained a convincing “Sure!” Who knew {that a} interval piece a few queer love triangle would flip into such a critically-acclaimed hit?
Of the movie’s many nominations on the 91st Academy Awards in 2019, Olivia Colman took residence probably the most prestigious awards: Greatest Actress. Whereas Colman has loads of her personal expertise, working off the chemistry of Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone gave each on-screen interplay a scrumptious chunk.
Inexperienced E book (2018)
Like many Oscar-winning LGBTQ films, Inexperienced E book research characters by way of the lens of injustice. The movie dives into the real-life friendship between homosexual Black pianist Don Shirley and his straight Italian-American driver Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga as they journey throughout the U.S. within the Sixties.
On the 91st Academy Awards, Mahershala Ali received for Greatest Supporting Actor and the movie itself received for Greatest Unique Screenplay. The drama round its win for Greatest Image, nevertheless, prompted many to significantly rethink the varieties of Black tales celebrated by the Academy and its many prestigious voters.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody tackles the trials and tribulations of the legendary band Queen. The movie largely follows the rise of its legendary lead singer, Freddie Mercury, and profiled the composing strategy of among the band’s most iconic music.
Amongst its many wins on the 91st Academy Awards, Rami Malek made historical past as the primary Egyptian-American actor to win for Greatest Actor.