Top 20 Highest-Grossing LGBTQ+ Films

The following list highlights the top 20 highest-grossing LGBTQ+ films, celebrating diverse stories and characters that have resonated with audiences worldwide. Here, we present a brief overview of each film along with its total worldwide box office gross.

20. Bad Education (2004) – $19.5 million Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, Bad Education is a Spanish film that explores themes of sexual abuse and identity. The narrative weaves through past and present, uncovering complex relationships and dark secrets in a gripping story that grossed $19.5 million worldwide.

19. Call Me By Your Name (2017) – $42.2 million This romantic drama, directed by Luca Guadagnino, tells the tender love story between Elio and Oliver in the summer of 1983 in Italy. Call Me By Your Name captivated audiences with its lush cinematography and heartfelt performances, earning $42.2 million globally.

18. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) – $47.8 million Starring Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo as drag queens on a cross-country road trip, this comedy-drama charmed viewers with its humor and heart, grossing $47.8 million worldwide.

17. Capote (2005) – $49.9 million Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning performance as Truman Capote in this biographical film about the writing of In Cold Blood brought in $49.9 million. The film delves into Capote’s complex relationship with a murder case that changed his life.

16. Milk (2008) – $54.6 million Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant, chronicles the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk was critically acclaimed, and the film grossed $54.6 million worldwide.

15. Dallas Buyers Club (2013) – $55.2 million This biographical drama tells the story of Ron Woodroof, who battles the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies to provide AIDS patients with alternative treatments. The film, starring Matthew McConaughey, grossed $55.2 million globally.

14. Monster (2003) – $58.5 million Charlize Theron’s transformation into serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster earned her an Academy Award. The film explores Wuornos’s tumultuous life and her relationship with her lover, Selby. It grossed $58.5 million worldwide.

13. In & Out (1997) – $63.9 million In & Out is a comedy that follows a small-town teacher (Kevin Kline) who is outed by a former student during an Oscar acceptance speech. The film’s humorous take on sexuality and stereotypes resonated with audiences, earning $63.9 million globally.

12. The Danish Girl (2015) – $64.2 million Based on the life of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe, The Danish Girl stars Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander. The film explores Lili’s transition and the impact on her marriage, grossing $64.2 million worldwide.

11. Moonlight (2016) – $65.3 million Moonlight is an Oscar-winning film that tells the coming-of-age story of a young black man grappling with his identity and sexuality. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film’s poignant narrative and powerful performances led to a worldwide gross of $65.3 million.

10. Love, Simon (2018) – $66.6 million This groundbreaking teen romance follows Simon, a high school student who struggles to come out while finding love. Love, Simon was a critical and commercial success, grossing $66.6 million worldwide and being praised for its heartfelt portrayal of young love.

9. The Favourite (2018) – $96.2 million Set in early 18th-century England, The Favourite revolves around the rivalry between two cousins vying for the favor of Queen Anne. The film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, combines dark comedy and historical drama, grossing $96.2 million globally.

8. The Hours (2002) – $108.8 million Featuring a stellar cast including Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman, The Hours interweaves the lives of three women connected by Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway. The film grossed $108.8 million worldwide and was acclaimed for its intricate storytelling.

7. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) – $139.6 million This genre-bending film follows an exhausted woman who discovers she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a catastrophe. Everything Everywhere All At Once, celebrated for its creativity and heart, grossed $139.6 million worldwide.

6. Brokeback Mountain (2005) – $178.1 million Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain tells the heartbreaking story of two cowboys, played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, who fall in love in 1960s Wyoming. The film’s powerful narrative and stunning performances led to a worldwide gross of $178.1 million.

5. The Birdcage (1996) – $185.3 million Starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, The Birdcage is a comedy about a gay couple who must play it straight for a conservative family. The film’s humor and warmth made it a box office hit, earning $185.3 million worldwide.

4. Rocketman (2019) – $195.3 million Rocketman is a musical biopic that tells the life story of Elton John, from his early years to his rise to fame. Starring Taron Egerton, the film’s vibrant musical numbers and emotional depth resonated with audiences, grossing $195.3 million globally.

3. Philadelphia (1993) – $206.7 million Tom Hanks stars as a lawyer fired for having AIDS in this groundbreaking film that brought issues of homophobia and discrimination to the forefront. Philadelphia was a critical and commercial success, earning $206.7 million worldwide.

2. The Imitation Game (2014) – $233.6 million Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the mathematician who helped crack the Enigma code during World War II. The Imitation Game explores Turing’s contributions and the challenges he faced due to his sexuality, grossing $233.6 million globally.

1. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) – $910.8 million This biographical film about Queen’s lead singer, Freddie Mercury, captivated audiences with its electrifying music and emotional storytelling. Bohemian Rhapsody became a global sensation, grossing an astounding $910.8 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing LGBTQ+ film to date.

These films have not only achieved commercial success but have also made significant cultural impacts, telling stories that resonate with audiences around the world.