21 awesome LGBTQ+ movies about high school

Want to see your own high school experience reflected?

High School is such an intense time — especially for queer kids. You learn so much about who you are and experience so many firsts. Some kids spend that time in the closet, while a lucky few are free to be out and proud. But no matter what it's a time of growth and first experiences. Whether that's first love, profound or even toxic friendships, heartbreaks, or simply discovering who it is you're meant to me.So, it's also incredibly powerful and affirming to see these life experiences — and aspirational experiences — reflected on the big screen.

Whether you’re trying to make it through high school, or you just want to reflect on the time of your life (you wouldn’t return to if someone paid you) these 20 movies about being an LGBTQ+ teenager are must-see.

Crush

This sweet high school rom-com features actors Rowan Blanchard and Auli'i Cravalho who are star-crossed lovers who find a surprising romance when they have to work together as partners on their track team. It may be your standard rivals-to-lovers rom-com scenario but the sapphic twist plus their on-screen chemistry makes it's a charming delight.

Where to watch: Hulu

Do Revenge

While we'd all love to look back at our high school years and think we behaved well, oftentimes we, well, weren't. Do Revenge —which is inspired by other beloved, classic teen movies like Mean Girls and Heathers — sees queen-bee Drea Torres (Camila Mendes) teaming up with outcast, lesbian Eleanor Levetan (Maya Hawke) to "do revenge" against classmates who wronged them. This film is not only a cathartic story of anti-heroes it offers a unique twist on the trope of the "predatory lesbian." It's clever and just a little mean in the best way.

Where to watch: Netflix

Alex Strangelove

Alex Truelove has it all figured out. He's got a great school life and girlfriend and is looking forward to his future. Then everything gets complicated and messy when Elliot enters his life. A charming gay kid Elliot awakens something in Alex that forces him to confront his own identity. Many a queer kid can relate to that first queer awakening moment when you just know. This take on that tale is sweet, hilarious, and moving.

Where to watch: Netflix

But I’m a Cheerleader

This satirical cult classic follows Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne), a high school cheerleader who is sent to a residential conversion camp to cure her lesbianism. At the camp, Megan falls in love with Graham (Clea Duvall) and embraces her sexual orientation. There's a reason that 25 years later this movie remains a lesbian favorite. The chemistry between Duvall and Lyonne is palpable, and its message of queer joy and embracing yourself fully hits just as hard today.

Plus, the supporting cast includes forever fan faves including Melanie Lynskey, and RuPaul as the “ex-gay” Mike. The amazing soundtrack, camp set design, and awesome performances make this a must-see high school comedy.

Where to watch: Plex

Mean Girls (2024)

Obviously the original is a classic and queer inclusive, but the 2024 musical update is gay, gay, gay thanks to Auli'i Cravalho's out and proud take on Janis, Jaquel Spivey's scene stealing performance as Damaian and queen of the Sapphic's Reneé Rapp's turn as Regina George. Gays embraced the original, but this musical remake embraced us back!

Where to watch: Prime Video

G.B.F.

In this 2013 comedy, three high school cliques led by Fawcett (PLL’s Sasha Pieterse), Caprice (Xosha Roquemore), and ‘Shley (Andrea Bowen) are at war. When Tanner (Michael J. Willett) is outed, he finds himself cast as a potential Gay Best Friend to the clique queens, who force Tanner to choose between popularity or true friends. Natasha Lyonne appears in a supporting role as a teacher, Ms. Hoegel.

Where to watch: Tubi

The Prom

Talk about wish fulfillment in the movie! What queer kid in small-town America wouldn't want Broadway stars to descend on their hometown and turn it into a musical in support of their gay love? But seriously, this one from producer and director Ryan Murphy is so cute and features an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Ariana DeBose, and Tracy Ullman.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love

Before starring in The L Word as Tina Kennard, Laurel Holloman played 17-year-old Randy in this 1995 romantic drama. Randy is mocked by other students for her tomboyish appearance, works at a gas station, and lives with her lesbian aunt Rebecca and her girlfriend. Evie (Nicole Ari Parker) stops by in a Range Rover to get her tires serviced, and Randy recognizes her from school and talks to her. Evie lives with her cultured well-off mother, but despite their different circumstances, they fall in love. This movie was not only groundbreaking at the time, but still remains one of the sweetest sapphic love stories set to celluloid.

Where to watch: The Criterion Channel

Prom Dates

Oof prom date drama, am I right? Jess and Hannah promised each other that they would have the PERFECT prom and everything was on track until the day before the big night they both get dumped. They have 24 hours to get their dream formal back on track. This funny and charming film is the answer to the '90s high school comedies once soley the domain of straight teens.

Where to watch: Hulu

Anything's Possible

Based on a true story, this unbelievably sweet film stars trans actress Eva Reign as a trans high schooler named Kelsa experiencing her first love story with cutie classmate Khal. This film marked Billy Porter's directorial debut and is an exercise in pure trans joy. While it may not be your cookie-cutter rom-com with the standard ending, it's poignant, hopeful, and honest in a way few films of this genre are. It's a genuine delight.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Bottoms

After all who amongst us hasn't tried starting an underground fight club to try and get laid by the cheerleaders? But in all seriousness, this film stands out not only for its excellent casting of Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebri in its lead roles (also lest we forget Nicholas Galitzine as a total himbo jock), but it lets them be bad, horny, and lovable all at the same time.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Blackbird

This 2014 drama tells the story of Randy Rousseau, a gay teen in a small Baptist town. His younger sister has been missing for years, and his family feels like it’s unraveling. Mo’Nique and Isaiah Washington star as Randy’s parents. This film stands out from the pack for bringing how complicated it can be to be queer in a religious setting. Sadly plenty of queer teens can relate all too well to Randy's struggles.

Where to watch: Not currently available

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This 2014 coming-of-age drama based on the Stephen Chbosky novel of the same name follows Charlie (Logan Lerman), who is struggling with depression and uneasy about starting high school. Two seniors, Sam (Emma Watson), and her gay stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller) take him under their wing. This film really highlights the power of finding a chosen family, and that you're never too young to find your tribe.

Where to watch: Hulu

Pariah

This 2011 drama written and directed by Dee Rees follows 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) who slowly comes to terms with her identity as a butch lesbian and eventually comes out to her unaccepting parents. If you've ever felt like an outsider in your community or your family it's impossible not to connect to Alike's journey to empowerment.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

The Way He Looks

This 2014 Brazilian romantic drama follows Leonardo, a blind high school student who struggles with independence and falls in love with a new student named Gabriel. This movie serves as a much-needed, and sadly rare, exploration of queerness and disability.

Where to watch: Kanopy

Geography Club

This comedy-drama based on the Brent Hartinger novel of the same name follows 16-year-old Russell (Cameron Deane Stewart), who is going on dates with girls while having a secret relationship with football quarterback Kevin, and will do anything to keep his secret from his teammates. He falls in with other LGBTQ+ students who form a secret support group that they call the Geography Club.

Where to watch: Tubi

 The Curiosity of Chance

This 2006 comedy is set in 1980s Europe at an international high school and follows gay student Chance Marquis who is bullied for his sexual orientation. When he discovers self-expression through drag, he realizes the only way he’ll ever fit in is by standing out. Drag artists frequently share stories of how drag saved their lives, so it's importatnt to see that story represented in film.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Edge of Seventeen

This 1998 high school dramedy is set in Sandusky, Ohio in 1984. Eric is an Eurythmics-obsessed teenager who is coming to terms with his sexual orientation, and dreams of moving to New York after graduation. While thankfully stories of queer joy are becoming more common, when this film was released that was not necessarily the case. So it was a breath of fresh air to see a gay coming-of-age tale that leans into the joy — and awkwardness — of becoming the queer person you were meant to be.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Love, Simon

The 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.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Booksmart

Olivia Wilde's 2019 feature directorial debut, Booksmart is a hilarious coming-of-age film that stars IRL queer actress/Lady Bird star Beanie Feldstein and Unbelievable's Kaitlyn Dever as smart-as-hell high school seniors Molly and Amy as they try to live it up on their last night as high schoolers. One of the storylines in the film centers around Amy (Dever), an out lesbian, trying to muster up the courage to tell her crush she likes her. Genuinely funny and heartfelt Booksmart is arguably one of the best films about friendship and queerness, ever.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

Beautiful Thing (1996)

A British film based on a play of the same name follows a teen who realizes he’s gay after he falls for a male classmate. The two boys discover each other and their sexualities to a soundtrack of Cass Elliot and The Mamas and the Papas. This marked another one of the early, and still rare examples of queer stories with an optimistic and joyful approach.

Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video