The Advocate's Top 175 Essential Films of All Time for LGBT Viewers

The Advocate's Top 175 Essential Films of All Time for LGBT Viewers's icon

Created by MovieDearest.

Favorited 26 times, disliked 1 time, added to 26 watchlists.

Published June 23, 2014 on Advocate.com:

"Everyone agrees a set of movies exists that are must-sees for any LGBT viewer. We just don't agree on which ones.

Dare ask a gay man for his list, and he's likely to rattle off a few that come to mind quickly and then make amendments to it for the rest of your adult lives. Women don't start with the same list. Some movies are incredibly impactful on depictions of trans people or those living with HIV, or mark major firsts in film. Some are too campy to ignore (at least not if you want to keep up at brunch). The bottom line is there are legions of reasons why a movie could be considered "essential" to the LGBT community.

We've ventured into the tricky territory of ranking which are most essential. To accomplish this feat, everyone on staff was asked for a top 10, then we asked readers for theirs, and finally began the arguing — always politely. Television movies aren't included (sorry, The Laramie Project, An Early Frost, and Gia). Television series aren't included either (apologies to Tales of the City, AbFab, and Angels in America). The result is potentially a guide for anyone who wants to examine our roots through film.

Oh, and we reserve the right to amend it for the rest of our lives. — The Editors"

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  1. 160 new

    Mulholland Dr.

    2001 — a.k.a. Mulholland Drive, in 26 top lists Check
  2. 95 new

    Sunset Blvd.

    1950 — a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard, in 35 top lists Check
  3. 23 new

    The Wizard of Oz

    1939, in 38 top lists Check
  4. 75 new

    Some Like It Hot

    1959, in 35 top lists Check
  5. 18 new

    All About Eve

    1950, in 25 top lists Check
  6. 149 new

    Dog Day Afternoon

    1975, in 23 top lists Check
  7. 117 new

    Rebecca

    1940, in 23 top lists Check
  8. 1 new

    Brokeback Mountain

    2005, in 21 top lists Check
  9. 36 new

    Strangers on a Train

    1951, in 17 top lists Check
  10. 124 new

    Rebel Without a Cause

    1955, in 16 top lists Check
  11. 129 new

    A Streetcar Named Desire

    1951, in 15 top lists Check
  12. 47 new

    La vie d'Adèle

    2013 — a.k.a. Blue Is the Warmest Colour, in 13 top lists Check
  13. 4 new

    Cabaret

    1972, in 24 top lists Check
  14. 142 new

    Todo sobre mi madre

    1999 — a.k.a. All About My Mother, in 18 top lists Check
  15. 64 new

    Rope

    1948, in 10 top lists Check
  16. 30 new

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    1975, in 13 top lists Check
  17. 120 new

    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

    1962, in 15 top lists Check
  18. 44 new

    Thelma & Louise

    1991, in 13 top lists Check
  19. 151 new

    Mildred Pierce

    1945, in 17 top lists Check
  20. 135 new

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    2012, in 2 top lists Check
  21. 122 new

    Clueless

    1995, in 8 top lists Check
  22. 130 new

    Gilda

    1946, in 13 top lists Check
  23. 100 new

    Mean Girls

    2004, in 4 top lists Check
  24. 105 new

    Chun gwong cha sit

    1997 — a.k.a. Happy Together, in 13 top lists Check
  25. 73 new

    Dallas Buyers Club

    2013, in 2 top lists Check
  26. 79 new

    The Crying Game

    1992, in 11 top lists Check
  27. 34 new

    My Own Private Idaho

    1991, in 10 top lists Check
  28. 90 new

    Heathers

    1988, in 7 top lists Check
  29. 94 new

    Heavenly Creatures

    1994, in 7 top lists Check
  30. 141 new

    Morte a Venezia

    1971 — a.k.a. Death in Venice, in 13 top lists Check
  31. 43 new

    Pink Flamingos

    1972, in 13 top lists Check
  32. 168 new

    Fucking Åmål

    1998 — a.k.a. Show Me Love, in 6 top lists Check
  33. 6 new

    Philadelphia

    1993, in 4 top lists Check
  34. 84 new

    X2

    2003 — a.k.a. X2: X-Men United, in 5 top lists Check
  35. 98 new

    The Color Purple

    1985, in 8 top lists Check
  36. 2 new

    Milk

    2008, in 3 top lists Check
  37. 77 new

    Far from Heaven

    2002, in 10 top lists Check
  38. 42 new

    The Hours

    2002, in 7 top lists Check
  39. 9 new

    Boys Don't Cry

    1999, in 7 top lists Check
  40. 50 new

    A Single Man

    2009, in 2 top lists Check
  41. 3 new

    Paris Is Burning

    1990, in 12 top lists Check
  42. 72 new

    The Talented Mr. Ripley

    1999, in 6 top lists Check
  43. 12 new

    The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

    1994, in 6 top lists Check
  44. 7 new

    Bound

    1996, in 6 top lists Check
  45. 53 new

    Mysterious Skin

    2004, in 3 top lists Check
  46. 26 new

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch

    2001, in 9 top lists Check
  47. 20 new

    Weekend

    2011, in 6 top lists Check
  48. 127 new

    Orlando

    1992, in 7 top lists Check
  49. 121 new

    Grey Gardens

    1975, in 10 top lists Check
  50. 146 new

    The Kids Are All Right

    2010, in 6 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jun 25, 2014; source