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These romantic movies set the perfect mood for a romantic date night!
20th Century Studios, Amazon Prime, Freeform
Deciding on what to do on a date can be anxiety-inducing. Should you make a reservation at a fancy restaurant? Go for a hike at sunset? Maybe see a drag show? But if you want the opportunity to snuggle up with your boo…and maybe more…then watching a movie at home is the perfect choice.
Now that you’ve decided to stay in, what movie should you pick?
The perfect movie pick can make or break a date night. The only problem with these gay romantic films is that you’ll actually want to watch all of them until the very end. But don’t worry. There’s still plenty of time to chill later. Here are 15 perfect date night picks!
1. Red, White & Royal Blue
Amazon Prime
Red, White & Royal Blueis an unfairly R-rated Amazon movie that tells the story of international love between the President's son and the Prince of England. It's based on a novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston and stars Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine as the leads, a pairing we still wish would have become manifested in real life.
Why you should pick it: Not only is this film fun from start to finish, but it’s brimming with sexual tension. And if you’ve been fighting with your beau, this enemies-to-lovers movies is the perfect choice to get you back in the mood.
Where to watch:Prime Video
2. Love, Simon
20th Century Studios
Back in 2005, Brokeback Mountain became the first major Hollywood film that centered on gay love, but Love, Simonwas the first one to focus on a gay teen in 2018. It stars Nick Robinson as 17-year-old Simon Spier, and this sweet and uplifting coming-out story has been praised for dealing with topics like coming out on your own and the ramifications of someone else outing you.
Why you should pick it:Love, Simon will make you remember what it felt like to be young and in love again before adult responsibilities wore you down. Date night could use that kind of unbridled optimism!
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime
3. The Thing About Harry
Freeform
Fans of formulaic rom-com plots should check out Peter Paige's 2020 movie The Thing About Harry, about former enemies turned lovers. Credited as the first outright gay rom-com, it follows Sam (Jake Borelli) and Harry (Niko Terho) as former high school rivals who reunite in adulthood. They've both come out of the closet when they reconnect, and their emotional reunion makes this a warm and lighthearted romance.
Why you should pick it: Sad movies don’t always make a great date night watch (unless crying on your date's shoulder leads to them comforting you in fun ways), so picking a rom-com is an easy choice. Plus, don’t you want to be the smarty pants who introduced your date to the very first gay rom-com?
Where to watch:Fubo
4. Stranger By the Lake
Les Films du Losange
Who doesn't like a little darkness and a bunch of erect penises in their romance flicks? If that sounds like you, check out the French film L'Iconnu du Lac or Stranger By the Lake. This romance is also a psycho-sexual thriller but is also well known for containing a lot of sex. The sex is also unsimulated, and since it takes place on a nude beach and centers around the fun and dangers of cruising, it almost feels like you're watching a scripted OnlyFans video.
Why you should pick it: If you’re hoping to put your date in the mood to turn your movie night into more of a Netflix and chill kind of vibe. The thriller-style plot is fascinating enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen, but the hot, sexy scenes are likely to have you turning toward your partner instead.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime
5. The Way He Looks
Strand Releasing
The Way He Looks is a 2014 Brazilian coming-of-age romance that follows Leo, a blind high school student, and Gabriel, a new student at school. Leo’s best friend Giovana is interested in Gabriel, but Leo and Gabriel slowly become closer. The Way He Lookswon the Teddy Award for the best LGBT-themed feature and the FIPRESCI Prize for the best feature in the Panorama section.
Why you should pick it:The Way He Looks is the perfect movie to choose if you’re hoping to wow your date with your film knowledge. Not only will the award-winning movie have you swooning over the romance, but your date will believe you’re a true film buff.
Where to watch:Kanopy, rent on Amazon Prime
6. Boys
Paramount Pictures
Jongens, translated as Boys, is a 2014 film from the Netherlands. The film follows Sieger, a fifteen-year-old boy who lives with his widowed father and his brother. Sieger, along with two other boys — Tom and Marc — are chosen to represent their local athletics team at a national championship relay. Marc and Sieger begin a secret relationship, with Sieger insisting he’s not gay. Over the course of the film, Sieger learns to accept his sexual orientation.
Why you should pick it: If you want your date to like you for more than your hunky looks, show them this foreign film that will have you looking well-traveled and cultured. And if things go really well and you want to extend date night, make it a double feature with The Way He Looks. Spoiler alert: They make the perfect pairing because both are romantic coming-of-age films that end with cute couples riding away together on bikes
Where to watch:Prime Video, Roku, Kanopy
7. Weekend
Peccadillo Pictures
Weekend is an award-winning and critically acclaimed film that Roger Ebert once called “a smart, sensitive, perceptive film.” The movie follows two men, Russell and Glen, who start a sexual relationship the week before Glen plans to leave the country. Considering it’s directed by Andrew Haigh, who also helmed Looking and All of Us Strangers, you know it’s going to be amazing.
Why you should pick it: If you want to watch a truly excellent movie, this is the way to go. Plus, it’s about a one-night stand that turns into something more, so why not impress your date with this film and hope that when you take him to bed after the credits roll, he invites you on a second date!
Where to watch:AMC+, The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Mubi, PlutoTV, Roku
8. 'God's Own Country'
Miracle Film Distribution
Johnny (Josh O’Connor) is hard on the outside, disinclined to be vulnerable, and the labor of caring for his family’s farm and his ailing father seems to be taking a toll on him emotionally. The arrival of Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu), a Romanian migrant worker who's there to lend an extra hand, shakes up Johnny’s life. Though Johnny sleeps with men occasionally, he discards them easily. But Gheorghe’s presence is different. For Johnny, Gheorghe represents the complexity of masculinity, that it does not have to be defined by hardness, meanness, and power. It makes him understand that masculinity can be soft, caring, gentle, tender, and compassionate. That’s how director Francis Lee approaches the film, textural and tactile, in its emotional and sexual moments. For God’s Own Country, queerness is of the earth.
Why you should pick it: This is the film for you if you ogled Josh O’Connor inChllengersbut want to watch a love story centered just on two men. This movie is sure to have you and your date drooling over O’Connor and feeling all the feels because of the emotional plot.
9. Boy Culture
TLA Releasing
Boy Culture is a 2006 film adapted from Matthew Rettenmund’s 1995 novel of the same name. The film follows an escort who describes his romantic relationships with his two roommates and an older client. Not only is it a smartly written romance with a ton of heart, but it won Best Screenplay at Outfest in Los Angeles.
Why you should pick it: When you’re trying to find love by dipping your toe into the dating pond, why not turn on a movie that critiques modern gay dating and hookup culture. Maybe you and your date can unlearn some bad habits together!
Where to watch:Dekkoo
10. Big Eden
Wolfe Video
Big Eden is a romantic comedy that follows Henry Hart, a successful gay New York artist who returns to his rural Montana hometown to care for his grandfather. Henry is forced to confront his unresolved feelings toward his high school friend Dean while being completely oblivious to Pike’s feelings toward him. The film is so good it won awards at several LGBT film festivals, including Outfest, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
Why you should pick it: Do you love a Hallmark movie about someone moving back to their small hometown but get sick of watching straight couples falling in love? Then you and your date should curl up next to a fire and watch Big Eden. If nothing else, it’ll make you and your honey start talking about taking a vacation to Montana!
Where to watch:Netflix, Prime Video, Roku, Tubi, Kanopy
11. North Sea Texas
Peccadillo Pictures
North Sea Texas is a 2011 coming-of-age Flemish drama that follows Pim, a teen boy who lives with his troubled mother and falls in love with his best friend, Gino. The film received positive critical reviews, and tries to tackle the themes of sexuality, gender identity, and the struggle to belong, all wrapped up in a sweet teen romance.
Why you should pick it: This dreamy-looking film set in the ‘70s is the perfect choice if you and your date want to be transported to another place and time but also have time to chat and snuggle while the movie is playing.
Where to watch:Tubi, Fandango at Home
12. Rag Tag
Adaora Nwandu
Rag Tag is a British-Nigerian drama that premiered at the 2006 San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival. The film follows two childhood friends, Raymond (known to his friends as Rag) and Tagbo (or Tag for short), who are reunited after losing touch for years and take their relationship to the next level. This low-budget foreign film will have you smiling at the beautiful relationship between Rag and Tag even when you’re taken aback by the bigotry on display from the people around them.
Why you should pick it: This is the perfect pick if you know your date loves foreign films and is also as sick to death of all white gay films as you are. Fair warning that the movie deals with homophobia, but the love between the two leads will make you feel warm and fuzzy.
Where to watch:Tubi
13. In the Grayscale
TanTan Films
In the Grayscale is a 2015 Chilean drama that follows Bruno, an architect who has separated from his wife and is starting to explore his bisexuality. Bruno meets Fer, an out gay history teacher to whom he has a strong attraction while working on a public monument in Santiago. Not only are the men at the heart of the story nice eye candy, but the queer plot line and affecting characters make this one worth a watch.
Why you should pick it: If you and your paramour want to watch something of substance, with complex characters and themes that will provide you with endless fodder for conversation once the credits roll.
14. Pit Stop
Wolfe Video
Pit Stop is a 2013 American film that follows two gay men in a small town in Texas who begin to build a relationship through their interactions at the local gas station. This uplifting story about the power of lovewon the Texas Grand Jury Prize at the 2013 Dallas International Film Festival.
Why you should pick it: If you grew up in or are currently living in a small town, then this stunning story about two gay men falling in love in small-town Texas is the perfect choice for date night.
Where to watch:Prime Video, Roku, Kanopy
15. Beginners
Focus Features
Beginners is a 2010 romantic comedy-drama following Oliver, who is reflecting on the life and death of his father Hal. The film is based on the true-life coming out of writer and director Mike Mills’ father at age 75. The film is filled with flashbacks of recently out Hal exploring his life as an openly gay man and enjoying his relationship with Andy, his much younger lover.
Why you should pick it: This is the movie to pick if you want your date night to be a wholesome good time. Starring Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor, this rom-com will have you and your date believing in the power of family and love by the time it’s over.
Where to watch:Netflix
| 04/04/24
