20 gay movies that actually have happily-ever-after endings

Not in the mood for another sad, gay movie?

There are a lot of important gay movies that don’t have the happiest endings for gay characters, especially when those movies try to tackle important topics like homophobia or the HIV/AIDS crisis. Despite some depressing representations, it’s also important to see happy reflections of gay life in media. If you’re just in the movie for a fun film with a happily-ever-after ending, check out these 20 movies!

1. Red, White & Royal Blue

Red, White, and Royal Blue is a sweet and charming rom com that you can stream on Amazon Prime. It follows a growing love affair between the son of the President of the United States and a Prince of England. Although it didn’t deserve the rating it got, it’s a cute and heartwarming movie that reminds you about the power of gay love.

2. God's Own Country

A young, trouble farmer falls in love with a Romanian migrant worker in 2017’s God’s Own Country. Their relationship grows in Yorkshire, and the visuals in this film are incredible. Outside of that, the story is vulnerable and warm and this is a movie that will leave you smiling for days.

3. Were the World Mine

If you didn’t think A Midsummer Nights Dream could get any gayer, you haven’t seen Were the World Mine. This 2008 musical has some killer songs that were never given their proper chance to shine. The story follows a gay high school student who discovers a love potion to make his small town more accepting and open minded, and this is a great film to watch anytime you need a pick-me-up.

4. Handsome Devil

Handsome Devil is a 2016film that depicts what it’s like to be gay at an all boys boarding school. The movie takes on some pretty deep topics like masculinity in sports, but does so with a sense of humor. In the end, the film reminds us all that it gets better, and sometimes that’s all we need.

5. Pride

Pride is a 2014 film that tells the true story of a group of gays in lesbians in 1980s London who team up to raise money for Welsh coal miners. One of the best parts is seeing what the characters achieve throughout their lives and offers a deeper understanding into how people from different backgrounds can come together and care for each other.

6. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is one of the most iconic staples in gay film (seriously, if you haven’t seen it, stop right now and fix that). This film covers everything from discrimination to community support. This humorous and heartwarming movie teaches us all we need to know about self-acceptance, friendship, and the power of individuality and inclusivity.

7. Fire Island

Fire Island hit the streamwaves on Hulu in 2022 and took the gays by storm. One of the more compelling love stories is between Charlie and Howie, with the tension between the two of them rising for the whole movie. Although there was no exact confirmation on what happened with the two after the movie ended, we’re still there for that final kiss.

8. Moonlight

Moonlight isn’t exactly a “fun” movie, but it ultimately becomes an uplifting coming-of-age tale that explores the sexuality and identity of the main character, Chiron. Despite some of the roadbumps along the way, Chiron finds support and love within the community that raised him, and the ending scene of Chiron learning to accept himself for who he is and to love who he wants knows exactly how to tug at the heart strings.

9. Beautiful Thing

The 1996 British film Beautiful Thing follows Jamie, a teenage boy who is infatuated with his classmate, Ste. While Jamie is bullied in school, Ste is dealing with an abuse at home. Jamie’s mother, Sandra, offers Ste an escape from his alcoholic father, which results in Jamie and Ste sharing a bed and a kiss. While Sandra is initially shocked by her son’s relationship, she comes to accept it. The final scene shows Ste and Jamie celebrating their relationship openly, with Sandra at their side. 

10. Shelter

The 2007 movie Shelter follows Zach, an aspiring artist who puts his college dreams on hold to help out his family. He falls for his best friend’s brother, Shaun, but struggles with his feelings. While their families are initially uncomfortable, they accept the relationship by the end of the film. If you’re looking for an uplifting story about romantic love and families with a final scene that’s uplifting, check out Shelter. 

11. The Way He Looks

The romantic coming-of-age drama The Way He Looks has a happy falling in love with your best friend and riding off into the sunset ending that so many straight high school romance movies have. The film follows Leonardo, a blind high school student, as he falls for new student Gabriel. It’s also available to stream on Netflix.

12. The Birdcage

The 1996 comedy The Birdcage (the American remake of La Cage aux Folles) follows Armand, the owner of a drag club in South Beach called The Birdcage and is partner Albert who’s drag persona Starina is the club’s star attraction. When Armand’s son Val announces he’s marrying a woman with ultraconservative parents, Armand and Albert try to pull off a ridiculous farce. The all-star cast (Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, and Dianne Wiest), over the top situations, and light tone make this the perfect movie for an evening where you just don’t feel like watching anything heavy. 

13. Maurice

The 1987 British drama Maurice is based on the E.M. Forster novel of the same name. The film is set in early 20th century England and follows Maurice Hall from his childhood to early adulthood. Maurice struggles with his feelings, but eventually meets his life partner Alec Scudder. Though society condemns their relationship, they’re willing to give up anything to be together.

14. Latter Days

Latter Days is full of ridiculous rom-com tropes, but this movie about a gay party boy and his closeted Mormon missionary neighbor falling in love is fun to watch. While there's definitely some heartbreak, the movie ultimately has an uplifting ending. 

15. Boys (Jongens)

This Dutch coming-of-age film explores 15-year-old Sieger’s first love as he falls for Marc. While there are a few melancholy moments, the end makes it clear that Sieger is on a journey of self-acceptance, Marc will be a part of that journey. The film is streaming on Netflix.

16. Touch of Pink

Sometimes you just need some good romantic comedy fluff. Touch of Pink never takes itself too seriously (see: Kyle MacLachlan playing the ghost of Cary Grant), which makes it a fun, endearing film. Alim movies to London to get away from his conservative family. When he comes out to his mother and faces problems with his boyfriend Giles the ghost of Cary Grant gives him advice that often seems to do more harm than good. 

17. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a 1995 romantic comedy that’s set in Manhattan during the height of the AIDS epidemic—but hear me out. Rather than going doom-and-gloom, the movie follows title character Jeffrey, who is afraid of falling in love with someone who might die. He swears off sex because of the AIDS crisis, and then meets and falls for Steve, an HIV positive man. He realizes he has to confront his fears to live and love fully. There are also some awesome cameos by Patrick Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, and Nathan Lane. 

18. Big Eden

This 2000 romantic comedy follows Henry Hart, a New York City artist who returns to his rural hometown in Montana to take care of his grandfather. The townsfolk welcome Henry back and are accepting of his sexuality. Henry has to confront his unresolved feelings for his high school friend Dean Stewart, but he’s oblivious to the feelings of Pike Dexter, the Native American owner of the town’s general store. While films about rural gay life often focus on hardships, Big Eden is unique. The entire film is devoid of homophobia. 

19. Love, Simon

The groundbreaking 2018 film (based off of Becky Albertalli's young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) follows the story of typical, suburban high school senior Simon Spier as he tries to navigate life after being blackmailed and threatened with outing by one of his classmates while also trying to figure out the identity of his anonymous, romantic, online pen pal named Blue.

Although there are serious themes and instances of casual homophobia throughout the movie, like most teen rom-coms, the ending is really sweet and gives the audience a feeling of hope for the titular character and his life as a newly-out, gay man.

20. Bros

Bros does seem to follow a pretty formulaic Hollywood Rom-Com formula, but the chemistry between Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane can not be overlooked even by traditional Hollywood standards. And, if you ever wondered what someone in love looks like look no further than the looks Luke's character Aaron throws around. We can all only dream of finding that look of love which carries us to the end of this amazing breakthrough comedy!