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55 Essential LGBTQ+ Movies To Add To Your Watchlist
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in a scene from the film 'The Birdcage.' In 1895, William Kennedy Dickson made the short The Dickson Experimental Sound Film. The 'film' is a single shot of two men dancing closely while a third plays a violin. This clip is often cited as the beginning of LGBTQ film. As long as there have been films, queer cinema has existed. However, it took many years for queer movies to be explicit and open. As acceptance started to trickle into American society in the 1970s, Hollywood began to make openly LGBTQ movies. Internationally, gay films have also exploded since the silent era. While early on, these films were not often well received, the genre of queer cinema continued to grow and develop. Now, many queer and gay movies come out every year and to celebrate 55 years of pride, here are 55 essential LGBTQ movies. There have always been queer people in films. From actors to directors, many iconic figures in the industry have been LGBTQ. However, that doesn't mean their stories were always allowed to be told. Many early movies (especially Hollywood films) had gay themes but weren't explicit in their depictions of gay life, including films like Rebecca, The Maltese Falcon and Rebel Without a Cause. While these are important films for LGBTQ history, they are not considered on this list. This list also doesn't include LGBTQ documentaries, which is a thriving genre in itself. Instead, this list looks at definable and explicitly queer scripted media, specifically movies with at least one LGBTQ main character and at least part of the plot connecting to LGBTQ life. Since the 1980s (and really the 1990s), these films have become a lot more common. This list seeks to represent many genres from queer Westerns to Comedies, and tries to rank them by quality and not genre. However, this list does take into account factors like how central to the plot the queerness of the film is and historical context for the ranking as secondary factors. La Mission is about an ex-con father who has to reconsider his personal beliefs when he learns his son is gay. Set in San Francisco's Mission District, the film explores machismo in a historically Latino community. While it often skews into melodrama, it is a film with something to say and show about a city known for two prominent communities. Directed by Peter Bratt, the movie stars his brother Benjamin Bratt, as well as Jeremy Ray Valdez, Max Rosenak, Erika Alexander and Jesse Borrego. It isn't a perfect film, but it still feels like a bit of a hidden gem. It is still only one of a couple of American movies that looks at queer identities in the Mexican American community (if you are looking for more, Quinceañera and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe are also great choices). Here's where you can find La Mission. John Cameron Mitchell in the film 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch' Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a cult-dark comedy-musical based on Stephen Trask's 1998 stage musical of the same name. Written, directed and starring John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig follows an East German Pop star on a journey of fame, gender expression and love. While the movie was groundbreaking in 2001 for its portrayal of a gender-nonconforming character, it has drawn controversy and criticism for prompting fear around gender-affirming care and its use of the cis-gay gaze. (The titular Hedwig goes through a botched 'gender reassignment surgery' early in the film.) However, many still value the film as queer cinema. If you are looking for more trans musicals, 2005's 20 Centimeters is another interesting film in the genre. Here's where you can find Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Guests attend the HBO Max Drive-In Premiere of Unpregnant in 2020. There are a lot of great high school comedies that feature a central queer character navigating friendship and love that have come out in the last 15 years. Notable entries include 2013's GBF, 2018's Blockers, 2019's Booksmart, 2021's Plan B (which is a very similar film to this entry) and 2022's Crush, among others. However, Unpregnant feels like a hidden gem in the category. Unpregnant follows two teen former best friends who go on a road trip from Missouri to Albuquerque when one finds out that she cannot access an abortion in her home state. Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, the film stars Haley Lu Richardson, Barbie Ferreira, Breckin Meyer, Giancarlo Esposito, and Betty Who. It is a story about friendship that uses its more political themes to its advantage. Here's where you can find Unpregnant. Tim Curry on a lobby card from the 1975 musical comedy 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' It is hard to talk about The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a queer film. It certainly is one, but it is also a strange and surreal send-up that has become more of a cultural phenomenon. Roger Ebert once called The Rocky Horror Picture Show less of a movie and 'more of a long-running social phenomenon.' The musical follows a young couple stuck at a mansion owned by a transvestite mad scientist. It is both a parody of and a love letter to 1960s B-movies, and it often feels like one itself. It is arguably best enjoyed at a midnight screening that usually comes with an interactive element and cult crowd. While the movie is hard to divorce from the spectacle, the actual film is better than it sometimes receives credit for. It stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is crass, disjointed and sexual, but that is the point. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. Here's where you can find The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Is Bound a perfect film? No. But it is an iconic one. The film is the directorial debut of The Wachowski sisters. Bound is an erotic neo-noir thriller about a woman who uses a new affair to escape her boyfriend and rip off the mob. It stars Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon and Joe Pantoliano. While intimacy coordinators were not the norm in the 1990s, sex educator Susie Bright served as a consultant on the film's iconic sex scene. The film was also one of the first films to feature lesbianism but not be completely about lesbianism. While the movie was initially met with mixed reviews and led the Wachowskis to be derivatively compared to everyone from Quentin Tarantino to the Coen Brothers to Hitchcock, it has become a cult hit. Here's where you can find Bound. There is a micro genre of low-budget, early 2000s gay romantic dramedies that either are based on plays or feel like they are. Many, but not all, of these films center around an ethnic minority or specific community and gay acceptance. This genre is not usually included on best-of lists, but there is something deeply nostalgic and charming about it. Notable entries include A Touch of Pink, Later Days, Jeffrey, Sordid Lives and All Over the Guy. The genre is also not really dead. 2025's A Nice Indian Boy, while made 20 years later than most of these films, thematically fits in perfectly (and is an excellent watch in its own right). One of the best of this mini-genre is arguably Mambo Italiano. The movie is based on the life of screenwriter Steve Galluccio. It follows a young man struggling to come out in a conservative Italian enclave in Quebec. Directed by Émile Gaudreault, the film stars Luke Kirby, Claudia Ferri, Peter Miller, Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno and Mary Walsh. The film didn't receive great reviews, but looking back, there is something sweet and charming about this era of gay comedic filmmaking. Here's where you can find Mambo Italiano. Princess Cyd is a coming-of-age story about a girl who lives with her aunt in Chicago for a summer. There, she develops feelings for a non-binary barista. Non-binary representation is especially rare in films, and Princess Cyd explores it in an understated way. Directed by Stephen Cone, the film stars Rebecca Spence, Jessie Pinnick, Ro White, James Vincent Meredith, Matthew Quattrocki and Tyler Ross. It is a true indie that looks at women, sexuality, trauma and relationships in a way that won't be for everyone. Here's where you can find Princess Cyd. Divine (center) in the 1974 John Waters film 'Female Trouble.' A discussion of early queer cinema is not complete without the works of director John Waters and his muse Divine. Arguably, this spot should be taken by his 1972 film Pink Flamingos. It is a more iconic film with higher highs. However, this writer (in good conscience) cannot foist Pink Flamingos onto the unsuspecting or recommend it whole heartily to a general audience. Water's 1974 follow-up, Female Trouble, is much more 'palatable' (yes, an NC-17 film that prominently features child abuse and is dedicated to a member of the Manson Family is the more palatable one, even if it comes with multiple content warnings). Female Trouble follows Dawn Davenport from running away from home as a high school student, to getting pregnant, to a life of crime. The film stars Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole and Edith Massey. The film is the second in Waters' 'Trash Trilogy' with Pink Flamingos and 1977's Living Dangerously. The films are connected by the same cast and an exploration of camp, beauty and filth. These movies won't be for everyone, and if you are looking for a more PG or PC Waters experience, 1981's Polyester or 1988's Hairspray may be a better choice. Here's where you can find Female Trouble. I Love You Phillip Morris is based on the life of Steven Jay Russell and the book I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks by Steve McVicker. It follows a family man who, after a harrowing car accident, decides to be his authentic self, leading to a life of running cons, prison breaks and a gay love affair with Phillip Morris. Directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, it stars Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor. The film is a black comedy that really works, with an outstanding central performance from Carrey. Here's where you can find I Love You Phillip Morris. Were the World Mine is partially a coming-of-age story and partially a retelling of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. It follows a gay high school student who is cast as Puck in a school production of the play, only to become a modern-day Puck in his conservative town. The film is a dreamy and sweet cult classic musical that feels wholly original. It was written and directed by Tom Gustafson. Were the World Mine stars Tanner Cohen, Wendy Robie, Judy McLane, Zelda Williams and Jill Larson. Here's where you can find Were the World Mine. Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington on the set of " Philadelphia" in 1993. The further queer cinema marches into the future, the more Philadelphia feels slightly cliche or dated. But make no mistake, Philadelphia is a groundbreaking film full of excellent acting. The film was important for trying to make non-LGBTQ moviegoers understand HIV/AIDS. It is an early Hollywood film to address the epidemic, show the homophobia around it and uplift gay characters. Philadelphia follows an HIV+ attorney who approaches a personal injury lawyer to help him sue his former employer for discrimination. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it stars Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen and Antonio Banderas. The film was nominated for four Oscars; Hanks won for Best Actor and Bruce Springsteen won the award for Best Original Song for "Streets of Philadelphia." Here's where you can find Philadelphia. Passages is a beautifully chaotic film about a tumultuous affair. The film follows a male same sex couple as one decides to start an affair with a young woman. Directed by Ira Sachs, the film stars Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Rogowski's performance is awe-inspiring, in a film with overall great performances. It is a raw, complex and often uncomfortable film that is deeply human. People can be toxic, and Passages doesn't shy away from that. Here's where you can find Passages. Director Luca Guadagnino is an icon of 21 century queer film and Call Me By Your Name is the film that really put him on the map. Set in 1980s Northern Italy, the film follows a 17-year-old boy who falls for a 24-year-old graduate student who works with his father. The film is based on André Aciman's novel of the same name. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel and Victoire Du Bois. It is a beautiful and stylish film that captures the pain of ill-fated first loves and the complexities of coming-of-age. While the central age gap between the characters drew some criticism, the film was met with critical praise. The film was nominated for four Oscars, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. Here's where you can find Call Me By Your Name. Bottoms is a wacky comedy about two high schoolers who start a fight club to try to hook up with cheerleaders. Directed by Emma Seligman, the movie stars Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Nicholas Galitzine, Miles Fowler, Dagmara Domińczyk and Marshawn Lynch. It is much more surreal than many other queer high school comedies and is wonderfully inventive. While Bottoms feels new, there is also something nostalgic about it, especially for fans of earlier indie gay comedies and B-horror films (which is often the same audience). If you want more gay movies from Seligman and Sennott, their 2020 collaboration, Shiva Baby, is also worth watching. Here's where you can find Bottoms. The 'Love Lies Bleeding' Los Angeles premiere screening on March 5, 2024. There is a lot happening in Love Lies Bleeding. It feels part Bound, part Thelma and Louise and part Titane, but also wholly original. It is violent, sexy and bizarre, but it all kind of works. The film follows a gym manager who must protect her new bodybuilder girlfriend from her criminal family. Directed by Rose Glass, it stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco and Ed Harris. John Waters said of the film, "[This] hilarious, bloody film noir is the best movie of the year, one that Russ Meyer might have made if he had been a lesbian intellectual addicted to steroids.' Here's where you can find Love Lies Bleeding. Ian Mc Kellen as James Whale. Based on Christopher Bram's 1995 novel Father of Frankenstein, Gods and Monsters is a fictionalized look at the last days of James Whale, who was best known for directing Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein in the 1930s. Directed by Bill Condon, the film stars Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave and Lolita Davidovich. The film was nominated for three Oscars, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. Here's where you can find Gods and Monsters. D.E.B.S. is a highly wacky lesbian comedy that paved the way for later wonderful queer comedy films like Bottoms and Drive Away Dolls. D.E.B.S. follows a group of young girl spies when one of their own falls for the super villain, Lucy Diamond. Directed by Angela Robinson, the film stars Sara Foster, Jordana Brewster, Meagan Good, Devon Aoki and Jill Ritchie. While the film was met with mixed reviews, it has become a cult classic. This film can't be taken too seriously, but that is part of its magic. Here's where you can find D.E.B.S. A still from 'Mädchen in Uniform.' While many think that the LGBTQ films started in the 1970s, there have been 'queer' films since the late 1800s. There are a couple of pre-Nazi German films that explored LGBTQ themes, including 1919's Different from the Others and 1928's Sex in Chains. However, the best remembered is Mädchen in Uniform. The film follows a girl who falls in love with a teacher at an all-girls boarding school. Directed by Leontine Sagan, the film stars Hertha Thiele and Dorothea Wieck. Mädchen in Uniform is based on a play, and while some of the overt LGBTQ themes were toned down, the film is still rather explicit, especially for 1930s standards. Joseph Goebbels banned the movie in Germany, and uncensored versions weren't available in many markets until the 1970s. Here's where you can find Mädchen in Uniform. A view of movie posters at the 'My Old Ass' Canadian special screening. My Old Ass isn't a typical LGBTQ film. It almost feels understated in its queerness. It isn't a movie about being LGBTQ it is just about queer people. That said, it is a beautifully inventive coming-of-age/time-travel film. The film follows a teen who is contacted by a future version of herself through a cell phone. My Old Ass is a profoundly human film about aging, love and the young people of today. Directed by Megan Park, the film stars Maisy Stella, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks and Aubrey Plaza. Here's where you can find My Old Ass. Pride is based on the true story of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign. It follows a group of gay activists who become involved in the 1984 British miners' strike in a small village in Wales. Directed by Matthew Warchus, Pride stars Ben Schnetzer, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West and Andrew Scott. Pride is an incredibly sweet look at acceptance and collective liberation while still being genuinely funny. It received the Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. Here's where you can find Pride. Fire Island is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set on New York's historically gay vacation destination, the Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove. Directed by Andrew Ahn, the film stars Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, Margaret Cho, Matt Rogers and Joel Kim Booster (who also wrote the screenplay). Fire Island works surprisingly well as an Austen retelling, while still being a fun gay romcom. It understands that Austen's work is a satire on class relations and explores this theme, coupled with race in the LGBTQ+ community. The film does a wonderful job of capturing the feel of the Long Island barrier island as well. Here's where you can find Fire Island. Mysterious Skin is a difficult movie to watch. It follows two young boys who are sexually abused; as they grow up, one becomes obsessed with aliens and the other turns to sex work to deal with their trauma. The film was directed by Gregg Araki, who is a noted figure in New Queer Cinema and it is easily among his best projects. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jeff Licon, Bill Sage, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Elisabeth Shue. It was originally going to receive an NC-17 rating, but was released without a rating in the U.S. While it tackles a difficult subject, psychologists have praised it for its realistic depiction of the long-term effects of sexual abuse. Here's where you can find Mysterious Skin. It is hard to talk about American LGBTQ+ films without Brokeback Mountain. Based on the Annie Proulx short story of the same name, this sweeping Western follows two ranchers who embark on an affair lasting 20 years. Directed by Ang Lee, the film stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams and Randy Quaid. It was nominated for eight Oscars, winning Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. While the film is far from the first gay movie, it helped popularize queer prestige Hollywood films as a bankable genre. Brokeback Mountain was chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2018. Here's where you can find Brokeback Mountain. John Cazale and Al Pacino in 'Dog Day Afternoon.' "Attica! Attica!" Dog Day Afternoon making it onto this list is a bit of a spoiler for this film. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film contains an early example of trans representation. It follows a small-time criminal forced into a hostage situation at a Brooklyn bank after a robbery goes wrong. SPOILER WARNING: As the film progresses, it turns out the robber was motivated because his transgender wife needed money for a gender-affirming surgery. The film doesn't age perfectly but it is an incredible film that is also an essential film in early queer cinema. It stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick and Charles Durning. The film was a success, both with critics and at the box office, and was nominated for six Academy Awards. While it won Best Original Screenplay, it was based on a true story chronicled in a Life magazine article called "The Boys in the Bank" by P. F. Kluge and Thomas Moore. Here's where you can find Dog Day Afternoon. Weekend is a simple yet memorable film about two men who hook up the weekend before one plans to leave the country. There are a couple of notable movies about short-term queer rendezvous, including 2016's Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo, 2010's Room in Rome and 1999's Trick. However, Weekend is easily the dreamiest and most impactful. Directed by Andrew Haigh, the film stars Tom Cullen and Chris New. Haigh is probably better known for his later gay film, 2023's All of Us Strangers, making Weekend feel like a bit of a hidden gem. While it was a darling of the independent and festival circuits, it received some pushback from the catholic church and was banned from some cinemas in Italy. Here's where you can find Weekend. While The Normal Heart is a TV movie (it premiered on HBO), it is one of the better films made about the AIDS epidemic. The film is based on Larry Kramer's landmark theater piece of the same name. It follows the beginnings of HIV in the 1980s in NYC and the artists and activists who started to fight against a growing epidemic. Directed by Ryan Murphy, The Normal Heart stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts. It was nominated for six Primetime Emmys, winning for Outstanding Television Movie. It is a beautiful film that has a reverence for its source material and queer history. Here's where you can find The Normal Heart. Nathan Lane and Robin Williams in 'The Birdcage.' ' 'You look tired' means 'you look old.' And 'you look rested' means 'you've had collagen.'" The Birdcage is a highly quotable 1990s queer comedy. Based on the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles, The Birdcage follows a South Beach club owner and his drag queen partner who are forced to play it straight when their son comes home from college with a fiancée from a conservative political family. The film stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski and Calista Flockhart. Parts of this film age terribly (for example, Azaria plays a gay Guatemalan maid). However, The Birdcage feels partially like a time capsule in the history of queer parenting. It is surprisingly timely, in an era for queer families and conservative baby boomer parents. The Birdcage is also extremely funny, with excellent central performances by Williams and Lane. The film was groundbreaking as one of the first major studio films to star gay characters. It won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction. Here's where you can find The Birdcage. A poster for Bob Fosse's 1972 drama 'Cabaret' starring Liza Minnelli. 'So do I.' The queerness of Cabaret is at once quiet and incredibly loud for the 1970s. The musical was originally rated X, partially due to its homosexual and bisexual characters. Based on the Broadway musical of the same name and Christopher Isherwood's 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin, Cabaret follows a young queer Englishman's travels through Berlin's nightlife in the final days of the Weimar Republic. Directed by Bob Fosse, the film stars Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Joel Grey. The film was controversial upon its release, not only for having LGBTQ characters, but also for its depictions of historical antisemitism and the rise of the Nazi party. However, the film still won eight Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Actress. Here's where you can find Cabaret. Everything Everywhere All at Once, isn't as obviously a queer movie as other films on this list (which has affected its ranking.) There is a lot going on. It is a martial arts, multiverse, dramedy action movie. However, at its center is the story of a mother learning to accept her LGBTQ daughter and her life more generally. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, it stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu. While the film was originally written for Jackie Chan, it was rewritten for Yeoh. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Here's where you can find Everything Everywhere All at Once. Fire is the first film in Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy (along with 1998's Earth and 2005's Water). The film follows two sisters-in-law who are unhappy in their respective marriages, as their relationship develops into something more. The film stars Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi. The film is one of the first Bollywood films to depict homosexual acts and specifically lesbianism. Fire was extremely controversial and even led to right-wing attacks against theaters showing it. In 2010, film critic Shohini Ghosh wrote a book Fire: A Queer Film Classic which also explores the backlash and impact of the film. For those interested in early queer Indian cinema, 1971's Badnam Basti is another must watch (while it was thought to be lost, it was rediscovered in 2019). Here's where you can find Fire. There are a couple of lesbian films based on real-life crimes, and Heavenly Creatures is easily among the best (other notable ones include Lizzie, Monster, and Can You Ever Forgive Me?) Heavenly Creatures is based on the Parker–Hulme murder case, where two young girls conspired to kill one of their mothers in 1950s New Zealand. Directed by Peter Jackson, the film stars Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It is a very stylish and affecting movie that deals with its dark themes well. Here's where you can find Heavenly Creatures. Joan Cusack and Kevin Kline in 'In & Out.' In & Out is an '90s Hollywood gay comedy that feels surprisingly fresh today. Directed by Frank Oz and written by Paul Rudnick, In & Out follows a small-town high school teacher who is outed by a former student in an Oscar acceptance speech weeks before his wedding to a woman. In & Out stars Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Tom Selleck, Matt Dillon, Debbie Reynolds, Wilford Brimley and Bob Newhart. The film was nominated for one Oscar (for Best Supporting Actress for Cusack), which feels rare for a romcom. Rudnick was inspired by Tom Hanks' Oscar acceptance for his role in another great LGBTQ film, Philadelphia, in which he thanked his drama teacher and a gay high school classmate. Here's where you can find In & Out. My Own Private Idaho is a very loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. The film follows a narcoleptic sex worker and his best friend as they search for family from Oregon to Rome. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film stars River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. The film has garnered an enormous cult audience and it is a landmark in New Queer Cinema. It is a quiet tragedy elevated by outstanding performances, stylized set pieces and a heady source material. Here's where you can find My Own Private Idaho. From Korea's Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden follows a pickpocket and a con man who try to seduce a wealthy Japanese woman out of her inheritance in the early 1900s. The film is based loosely on Sarah Waters' novel Fingersmith, with the setting moved from Victorian Britain to Japanese colonial rule in Korea. The Handmaiden is a highly entertaining queer thriller that drips with style. Emily St. James wrote in a review for Vox, 'The Handmaiden is a nearly flawless movie. Every frame, every movement of the camera, every performance feels perfectly calibrated for maximum effect.' The film stars Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong. Here's where you can find The Handmaiden. Sean Baker has made a name for himself directing and writing films about marginalized communities and sex workers. His film Tangerine follows two transworkers on a hectic Christmas Eve leading up to one of their singing performances at a local bar in Los Angeles. It stars Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor and Karren Karagulian. The film was partially notable for being filmed on three iPhone 5S phones. The two leads also did not have much, if any, previous acting experience. Tangerine won't be for everyone. It is loud, raw and tragically funny. Trans writer Morgan Collado said of the film in a mixed review for Autostraddle, 'Seeing some of my experiences reflected in that film was really important and some of the ways they handle sex work and relationships is real. I appreciated the nuance in how they displayed men and their relationships to trans women.' Here's where you can find Tangerine. Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving in 'The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert.' The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is one of two films about three drag queens on a cross-country road trip in the mid-90s. While its American counterpart, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar is an LGBTQ classic in its own right, Priscilla has a lot more depth and craft. It is an icon of 1990s Australian film. Directed by Stephan Elliott, it stars Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp and Guy Pearce. Not everything in this film ages well, but at its heart, there is so much to love about its look at queer families, the beauty of the outback and the joy of '90s drag. It has earned a cult status and an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. The film was turned into a Broadway Musical in 2006, and in 2024, a sequel to the film was announced. Here's where you can find The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Mitchell Lichtenstein, Winston Chao and May Chin pose on set of the movie 'The Wedding Banquet.' The Wedding Banquet follows a queer Taiwanese man who lives in New York with his Jewish boyfriend. He plans on marrying a tenant to keep her from being deported to Mainland China and to keep his parents off his back. However, when his parents arrive for the wedding, his life is thrown into chaos. The film stars Winston Chao, Gua Ah-leh, Lung Sihung, May Chin and Mitchell Lichtenstein. The film is the second in director Ang Lee's 'Father Knows Best' Trilogy (three films starring Lung that examine themes of Confucian families and changing cultures), with 1991's Pushing Hands and 1994's Eat Drink Man Woman. While the film is essentially a romcom, it doesn't shy away from exploring the complex dynamics of 1990s queer and immigrant culture. The Wedding Banquet was nominated for a Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar and a Golden Globe. In 2023, it was also chosen for preservation at the Library of Congress. While an English Language remake starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran was made in 2025, the original is better. Here's where you can find The Wedding Banquet. Milk is a biopic that tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California and his assassination in 1978. Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film stars Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna and James Franco. The film is arguably one of the best if not the best example of a queer biopic genre (along with films like Wilde, Capote, Bessie and Frida, which are also all worth a watch). Milk received eight Oscar nominations, winning for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. Here's where you can find Milk. God's Own Country is a quiet and sensitive romance. The film follows a young English farmer and a Romanian migrant worker who fall for each other during the lambing season in Yorkshire. Written and directed by Francis Lee, the film stars Josh O'Connor and Alec Secăreanu. The film feels like a hidden gem overshadowed by other, more famous films like Brokeback Mountain and Desert Hearts. However, it deftly wrestles with the themes of intimacy, masculinity, loneliness and place. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and won their World Cinema Directing Award. Here's where you can find God's Own Country. Harvey Fierstein and Matthew Broderick in 'Torch Song Trilogy', 1988. Torch Song Trilogy barely hides its off-Broadway roots. Based on the collection of plays by the same name, Torch Song follows a Jewish New York City drag queen through love, loss and adoption. The film is a funny yet heartbreaking look at the 1970s LGBTQ experience in New York. Directed by Paul Bogart, the film stars Anne Bancroft, Matthew Broderick, Brian Kerwin and Harvey Fierstein (who wrote both the screenplay and play that it is based on). While the film was made in the late 1980s, it captures an earlier version of the community, notably one pre-AIDS epidemic. Torch Song Trilogy features a fantastic performance by Fierstein that shouldn't be ignored. Here's where you can find Torch Song Trilogy. Saving Face is an infectious lesbian romcom with surprising depth. The film follows a closeted surgeon, her pregnant mother and her relationship with a divorced dancer in New York's Chinese community. Director and writer Alice Wu was pressured to rework the script for white characters, which she pushed against, even when it was hard to find actresses who could speak both Mandarin and English. While this complicated the film's production, focusing on Chinese American culture is an essential part of the film. Saving Face stars Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen and Lynn Chen. Wu would go on to direct The Half of It, which is another must-watch queer film. Here's where you can find Saving Face. Can You Ever Forgive Me? is based on the real life of Lee Israel. It follows Israel as she forges letters from deceased celebrities, as her writing career was failing. While other LGBTQ bio-pics are often uplifting, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a look at a real and flawed queer person. The film is made by superb performances by Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant. Directed by Marielle Heller, the film deftly explores success, alcoholism and guilt that will be loved by those with queer sensibilities or appreciation for the bygone great minds of New York City. The film was nominated for three Oscars. Here's where you can find Can You Ever Forgive Me?. Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together is a tragic and meandering slice-of-life narrative that explores isolation and belonging. The film follows a tumultuous gay couple from Hong Kong who visit Argentina, and a Taiwanese coworker who also calls Buenos Aires home. The film stars Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung and Chang Chen. The film is a staple of New Queer Cinema. While critically praised, the film was also met with censorship (even of its poster in some markets). The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or and won the award for best director at the Cannes Film Festival. Here's where you can find Happy Together. The Favourite is a lesbian period dark-absurdist comedy about Queen Anne and her twisted relations with her staff. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. While the film does have some historical backing, much of the film is speculative or slightly ahistorical. It is easily among Lanthimos' most accessible films; however, that may not be saying much. It is a perverse, rich and engaging film that made it onto multiple 'Best Movies of the 21st Century' lists. It was nominated for nine Oscars, winning for Best Actress for Coleman. Here's where you can find The Favourite. Directed by Dee Rees, Pariah follows a black teenager as she realizes that she is a butch lesbian. The film stars Adepero Oduye, Kim Wayans and Aasha Davis. It is a beautifully shot and emotionally deep film about acceptance and discovery. The film won the NAACP Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture. Oduye also received praise for the film and her amazing central performance. Coming-of-age films (especially those that center around coming out) can feel unoriginal, but Pariah feels bold, new and necessary for the genre. Here's where you can find Pariah. Sometimes also called 120 BPM (Beats per Minute), BPM is a French film about the beginnings of ACT UP Paris and AIDS activism in France. Directed by Robin Campillo, the film stars Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel and Antoine Reinartz. It's a deeply affecting and intimate movie that captures the feeling of the queer community in a pivotal moment. The film won six César Awards, including Best Film. It also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Here's where you can find BPM. Carol is a deeply moving romance film that follows a love affair between a wealthy married mother and a young photographer. The film stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Set in the 1950s, the film explores love, motherhood, homophobia and the repression of the '50s. Directed by Todd Haynes, Carol earned six Academy Award nominations and nine BAFTA Award nominations. Writer Phyllis Nagy started writing the project in 1997 based on the 1952 romance novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. Carol took a long time to make, largely due to studios not believing that audiences would come to see a film helmed by two women. Here's where you can find Carol. Natasha Lyonne in 'But I'm a Cheerleader.' But I'm a Cheerleader follows a teen girl sent to a conversion therapy camp. The directorial feature debut from Jamie Babbit, the film stars Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Melanie Lynskey and RuPaul, in a rare performance out of drag. Notably, the film had to be edited to dodge an NC-17 rating due to gay themes. The film is a camp cult classic that wasn't well received by straight reviewers when it first came out. However, it has become a favorite with gay audiences. While many reviewers have revisited the movie after it found a cult status in the LGBTQ+ community, Roger Ebert somewhat presciently wrote in 2000 that it was 'the kind of movie that might eventually become a regular on the midnight cult circuit.' The film has an iconic pastel look which has often been referenced in other queer media. In 2021, Muna and Phoebe Bridgers paid homage to the film in their music video 'Silk Chiffon." Here's where you can find But I'm a Cheerleader. Cecilia Roth and Eloy Azorin in 'All About My Mother' by Pedro Almodovar. Pedro Almodóvar is a staple of Spanish cinema and All About My Mother is easily one of his best films. While there are things that feel slightly dated in the film, it feels like required viewing for those interested in the history of Trans representation in cinema. All About My Mother is a comedy/melodrama about a grieving mother, a pregnant nun and a trans sex worker who form a bond between women. The film looks at gender, faith, identity and the AIDS pandemic. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. It stars Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña, Antonia San Juan and Penélope Cruz. If you are looking for more queer films by Almodóvar, Strange Way of Life and Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom are great options. Here's where you can find All About My Mother. A movie poster for 'The Watermelon Woman.' The Watermelon Woman is a deeply creative film. Part mockumentary, part romcom, The Watermelon Woman follows an aspiring Black, lesbian filmmaker as she tries to research the life of a fictional queer Black actress in the 1930s and navigate her own relationship with a white woman. The film was written, directed and stars Cheryl Dunye. It also stars Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson and Cheryl Clarke. The film is a great example of the type of low budget filmmaking that is at the heart of queer cinema genre. The Watermelon Woman has a meta quality, especially as it approaches Black and lesbian representation. The film stirred some controversy; it was partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and some were upset that the grant was given to a film that featured a lesbian sex scene. In 2021, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation, which feels especially poignant given that Dunye tried to use the Lesbian Herstory Archives and the Library of Congress for production. However, accessing their resources was beyond the film's budget. Here's where you can find The Watermelon Woman. I Saw The TV Glow is a strange and wonderful trans-allegory psychological horror film. It follows two teenagers who become obsessed with a 1990s TV show called The Pink Opaque and their diverging lives after. Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the film stars Justice Smith and Jack Haven. The film is part of Schoenbrun's 'Screen Trilogy' and the spiritual sequel to 2021's We're All Going to the World's Fair. I Saw The TV Glow is a stylish and interesting look into the trans experience to those who know what they are looking at. It was also a notable Oscar snub in 2025. Here's where you can find I Saw The TV Glow. A 1961 lobbycard for 'Victim' staring Dirk Bogarde. Victim isn't a good gay movie for 1961 standards; it is so much more than that. The film follows a closeted barrister who tries to expose a blackmailer targeting queer men in 1960s London, even if it means being outed himself. The stakes of this noir are incredibly high, given that homosexuality wasn't decriminalized in Britain until 1967. The film is a seething critique of the so-called "blackmailer's charter," aka the criminalization of consensual homosexual acts, making it easy to blackmail the LGBTQ community without them being able to go to the police. There is thus something extremely real and risky about Victim. Directed by Basil Dearden, Victim stars Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms and Dennis Price. It was the first UK film to name homosexuality and treat it with sympathy. The film's release was highly controversial. In the U.S., a seal of approval from the Motion Picture Production Code was refused. However, it is credited with helping shape attitudes towards the gay community in Britain. While it came out over 60 years ago, it still feels necessary, especially as threats to the LGBTQ+ community have risen in recent years. Here's where you can find Victim. A Fantastic Woman follows an aspiring transgender opera singer/waitress as she grieves the death of her older boyfriend. The Chilean film is a sensitive and tender look at loss, identity and passion. Directed by Sebastián Lelio, the film stars Daniela Vega and Francisco Reyes. The film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Vega became the first transgender person to be a presenter at the Oscars. The film's success also became an important factor for LGBTQ+ rights in Chile after lawmakers used the film's Oscar win to push for a pro-trans bill in the Chilean Senate. Here's where you can find A Fantastic Woman. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a beautiful and masterfully made lesbian romance about an 18th-century love affair between a female portrait painter and an unhappy bride on a small French Island. Directed by Céline Sciamma, the film is heartbreaking and beautiful, exploring art, the female gaze and unspoken love. Sciamma is a powerhouse of French LGBTQ cinema with other notable works like Girlhood and Tomboy (which are other must-watches). However, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is her most impressive and haunting work. The film also won the Queer Palm at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Here's where you can find Portrait of a Lady on Fire. After the screening of the film 'Moonlight,' a conversation with guests was held with filmmaker ... More Julie Dash and cast members Trevante Rhodes, Andre' Holland, Naomie Harris, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Barry Jenkins and Rhea L. Combs. Moonlight is a heartbreaking coming-of-age drama that follows a boy through childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight explores sexuality, identity, manhood, parenthood and the Black experience. Moonlight was nominated for eight Oscars and became the first LGBTQ+ film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture (after an embarrassing mistake at the 89th awards show). The film stars Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe and André Holland. Here's where you can find Moonlight. Bottom Line From rom coms to tragedies, these films capture the vibrant lives of a complex and thriving community. Whether you are queer, an ally or simply interested in film history, these LGBTQ+ classics are must watches this June. There are many amazing films about lesbians. From 1931's Mädchen in Uniform to 2024's Love Lies Bleeding, there is a long history of lesbianism in film. If you are looking for a more dramatic work, Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Dee Rees' Pariah are must-watches. However, when it comes to comedies, Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman is a classic. It follows a young Black Lesbian filmmaker as she tries to research a forgotten queer star of the 1930s. Another great comedy is Jamie Babbit's But I'm A Cheerleader. It is a cult classic that follows a girl who is sent to conversion therapy, where she finds her people. While arguable Christmas movies, Carol and Tangerine, made this list, they aren't the typical Hallmark-style Christmas movies that many might be looking for. For more 'traditional' Christmas rom-coms, 2021's Single All the Way is a great choice. The movie follows a gay man who goes home for the holidays with his best friend, just to realize he might be the one. Directed by Michael Mayer, the movie stars Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Robertson, Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy. Another sweet choice is 2019 Let It Snow. The film follows a group of teens through several interconnected stories during winter break, one of which centers on a lesbian couple. Directed by Luke Snellin, the film stars Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson, Mitchell Hope, Jacob Batalon and Joan Cusack. There are many great gay comedies. Many have made this list (including In & Out, Saving Face, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and more), but if you are looking for even more queer comedies 1998's Edge of Seventeen is a great choice. The film follows two gay high schoolers in 1980s Ohio. Directed by David Moreton, it stars Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych, Stephanie McVay and Lea DeLaria. Desiree Akhavan's Appropriate Behavior (2014) leans a bit more dramedy, but it's an underrated gem about a Brooklyn Bisexual Persian woman rebuilding her life after a breakup. For a more straightforward comedy, Booksmart is an excellent choice. It follows two girls as they try to attend a party on the last day of high school. Directed by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart stars Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis. When it comes to gay Westerns, the most famous is easily 2005's Brokeback Mountain. The western follows two ranchers who start a 20-year love affair. Directed by Ang Lee, the film stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams and Randy Quaid. A more recent gay Western is 2021's The Power of the Dog, which follows a rancher whose repression leads him to bullying. The film was divisive, but it is worth watching for fans of Westerns. Directed by Jane Campion, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee. While not explicitly gay Westerns, lesbian themes in Westerns have existed since their heyday. Movies like1954's Johnny Guitar and 1953's Calamity Jane are often cited for their queer themes and imagery. For those interested in movies about trans people, A Fantastic Woman is a must-watch. The 2017 Chilean film follows a transgender woman after the death of her boyfriend. Directed by Sebastián Lelio, the film stars Daniela Vega and Francisco Reyes. 2024's I Saw the TV Glow is another great choice. The film is more allegorical in nature, but it follows two teens who become obsessed with a TV show from the 1990s. Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the film stars Justice Smith and Jack Haven. While it didn't quite make this list, 2020's Cowboys is another wonderful film about a father trekking across Montana with his 10-year-old trans son. Directed by Anna Kerrigan, it stars Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell, Sasha Knight and Ann Dowd.
CNN
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Popeye' with Robin Williams was the most ‘coked-up film set,' according to exec Barry Diller
We are just now learning that the 1980 movie 'Popeye' had more going on during filming than has previously been revealed. Barry Diller, chairman of IAC, shared some tea about the film during a recent conversation at New York City's 92nd Street Y with interviewer and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Diller, who was the chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures from 1974 to 1984, was asked by Cooper what was the 'most coked-up film set' that he'd ever visited, according to Entertainment Weekly. 'Coked-up film set? Oh, Popeye,' Diller reportedly said. 'By the way, you can watch it. If you watch 'Popeye,' you're watching a movie that — you think of it in the thing that they used to do about record speeds, 33 [RPM], whatever. This is a movie that runs at 78 RPM and 33 speed.' The musical comedy starred Robin Williams in the title role of the cartoon character and Shelley Duvall as that character's famous love interest, Olive Oyl. When Cooper asked Diller if he 'instantly knew' about the drug use, the executive responded, 'Knew it? You couldn't escape it.' 'They were actually shipping in film cans at the time. Film cans would be sent back to LA for daily processing film,' Diller said. 'This was shot in Malta. And we found out that the film cans were actually being used to ship cocaine back and forth to this set. Everyone was stoned.' Williams died at the age of 63 in 2014. Duvall died last year at the age of 75. CNN has reached out to Paramount Pictures for comment.
CNN
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Popeye' with Robin Williams was the most ‘coked-up film set,' according to exec Barry Diller
We are just now learning that the 1980 movie 'Popeye' had more going on during filming than has previously been revealed. Barry Diller, chairman of IAC, shared some tea about the film during a recent conversation at New York City's 92nd Street Y with interviewer and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Diller, who was the chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures from 1974 to 1984, was asked by Cooper what was the 'most coked-up film set' that he'd ever visited, according to Entertainment Weekly. 'Coked-up film set? Oh, Popeye,' Diller reportedly said. 'By the way, you can watch it. If you watch 'Popeye,' you're watching a movie that — you think of it in the thing that they used to do about record speeds, 33 [RPM], whatever. This is a movie that runs at 78 RPM and 33 speed.' The musical comedy starred Robin Williams in the title role of the cartoon character and Shelley Duvall as that character's famous love interest, Olive Oyl. When Cooper asked Diller if he 'instantly knew' about the drug use, the executive responded, 'Knew it? You couldn't escape it.' 'They were actually shipping in film cans at the time. Film cans would be sent back to LA for daily processing film,' Diller said. 'This was shot in Malta. And we found out that the film cans were actually being used to ship cocaine back and forth to this set. Everyone was stoned.' Williams died at the age of 63 in 2014. Duvall died last year at the age of 75. CNN has reached out to Paramount Pictures for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robin Williams' ‘Popeye' Had the ‘Most Coked-Up Film Set' and ‘Everyone Was Stoned,' Says Former Studio Boss: ‘They Were Shipping' Cocaine in Film Canisters
Barry Diller's book tour for his recently published memoir 'Who Knew' hit New York City's 92Y, where moderator Anderson Cooper asked Diller during a Q&A to reveal 'the most coked-up film set' he ever visited during his tenure as the CEO of Paramount Pictures. The former studio executive had the answer almost immediately: Robert Altman's 'Popeye' (1980). 'Coked-up film set? Oh, 'Popeye,'' Diller answered (via Entertainment Weekly). 'By the way, you can watch it. If you watch 'Popeye,' you're watching a movie that — you think of it in the thing that they used to do about record speeds, 33 [RPM], whatever. This is a movie that runs at 78 RPM and 33 speed.' More from Variety Making the Public Domain Even More Horrifying: Modest Proposals for Turning 1920s Classics Into Slasher Fare, From Mickey to Hemingway (Column) Robin Williams Called Conan O'Brien After 'Tonight Show' Firing and Sent Him Out on a Bike Ride: 'You're Gonna Be Fine. Ride Around, You'll Feel Better' Robin Williams Was the First Person to Visit Christopher Reeve in the Hospital and Made Him Laugh by Pretending to Be a Russian Colon Doctor Diller served as the head of Paramount Pictures from 1974 until 1984. His illustrious tenure at the studio included the releases of hit movies such as 'Saturday Night Fever,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Grease' and 'Beverly Hills Cop,' among other classics. But it's Altman's 'Popeye' that earns the distinction of having the most 'coked-up film set.' 'You couldn't escape it,' Diller said about the drug use on the movie's set. 'They were actually shipping in film cans at the time. Film cans would be sent back to L.A. for daily processing film. This was shot in Malta. And we found out that the film cans were actually being used to ship cocaine back and forth to this set. Everyone was stoned.' Robin Williams starred as the title character in 'Popeye,' which marked the comedian's first big-screen acting role after making a name for himself on hit television series 'Happy Days' and its spinoff 'Mork & Mindy.' The film co-starred Altman regular Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. The movie was a box office success with $60 million worldwide (unadjusted for inflation), nearly double its production budget. Reviews, however, were mixed. Variety wrote in its original 'Popeye' review: 'It is more than faint praise to say that 'Popeye' is far, far better than it might have been, considering the treacherous challenge it presented. But avoiding disaster is not necessarily the same as success. To the eye, Robin Williams is terrifically transposed into the squinting sailor with the bulging arms. But to the ear, his mutterings are not always comprehensible.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
90s child star breaks silence after fans fear over her 'disappearance'
Mrs. Doubtfire star responded to recent claims that she has 'vanished' following the peak of her career. The actress, 46, who starred as the eldest Hillard daughter Lydia in the classic 1993 family film, hit back at the assertion after she was named in an article on The List titled: 'Once-popular child stars who completely vanished'. Jakub reposted the article to her Instagram, writing, 'Big news, everyone. I've just found out that I have "completely vanished."' 'Was it my current lack of popularity that made me vanish?' Jakub, who also starred in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day, questioned in her caption. 'I'm not sure how I was able to evaporate entirely (have I been a wizard all along?), but as soon as we have more information, I'm sure this publication will let you know.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The actress starred as the eldest Hillard daughter Lydia in the classic 1993 family film alongside the late Robin Williams; Pictured in a still Her fans took to the comments to agree with the star, with one joking, 'With superpowers like that they need you in the next marvel movie.' Another added, 'I was about to go on a rant in your defense until I saw this was posted by you. 'She's still around! She does a great email newsletter! She's on social media!'' 'Oh my goodness! Please keep us updated if you reappear!' another quipped. 'I want to learn this trick,' another added. Despite stepping back from her career, Lisa has been active on social media. Jakub now works as a yoga instructor and also runs mindfulness retreats for veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aside from Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, her other roles included the 1997 Comedy/Romance The Beautician and the Beast and Rambling Rose (1991), where she starred alongside Laura Dern. Last year Lisa revealed that her late onscreen father, Robin, defended her after she was expelled from high school while filming Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993. Lisa played one of Robin's three onscreen children in the classic comedy film, alongside Matthew Lawrence and Mara Wilson. The actress shared that Williams had noticed she was upset and when she told him her school kicked her out he personally wrote a letter to her principal. 'I got thrown out of high school on Doubtfire,' Jakub said while appearing on a Mrs. Doubtfire reunion episode with her movie siblings Mara and Matthew, on Lawrence's Brotherly Love podcast. 'The amazing thing was Robin saw that I was upset,' she recalled. 'He asked me what was going on. I explained. He wrote a letter to my principal saying that he wanted them to rethink this decision, that I was just trying to pursue my education and my career at the same time and could they please support me in this.' Lisa explained that she was expelled due to the filming schedule. 'I'm Canadian. I was attending high school in Canada, then I left for four months to film the movie. We were going to set up this system, pre-internet, where I'd mail my school work back and forth to the school. We did that for a while.' However, the school decided that the system was not going to continue. 'My school in Canada sent a note saying, "You know, this isn't working for us anymore. Don't come back."' Jakub was in the ninth grade at the time and remembered being heartbroken by the news. 'It was just so heartbreaking, because you know I had this life that was very unusual and that was the one normal thing.' Though Robin's letter did not get her re-admitted, Jakub shared that her principal had proudly displayed the letter in his office. 'This principal got the letter, framed the letter, put it up in the office … and didn't ask me to come back,' she said. Lisa later got her GED and studied writing at the University of Virginia. Based on the novel Madame Doubtfire, the 1993 movie stars Robin as a floundering voice actor called Daniel who gets divorced and loses custody of his children. Daniel comes up with a harebrained scheme to see more of his little ones - go into drag as a Scottish nanny and get hired by his ex-wife Miranda (Sally Field). After decades struggling with bipolar disorder and addiction, Robin committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63 by hanging himself with a belt. To mark 30 years since the film's release, its director Chris Columbus fondly told Business Insider he kept 'four cameras' running at all times to 'keep up with' Robin. In fact, Robin was such a whirlwind of improvisation that Chris still has '972 boxes of footage' from Mrs. Doubtfire - and hopes to use some of it in a documentary. 'Early on in the process, he went to me: "Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you're up for it, is I'll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let's play,"' Chris recalled. 'By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that's exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off and it was something to behold.' Chris revealed that he hopes to go back into his massive stockpiles of footage from Mrs. Doubtfire to piece together a documentary about Robin's process. 'There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from Doubtfire - footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage - in a warehouse somewhere and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that footage,' he said. 'We want to show Robin's process. There is something special and magical about how he went about his work and I think it would be fun to delve into it.'
