When searching for films featuring LGBTQ+ families, the selection is often limited. The queer cinema landscape has traditionally been dominated by stories centered around coming out, romantic relationships, sex comedies, and biographical dramas about historical figures. When family dynamics do appear, they are typically framed through the lens of a queer character’s relationship with their biological family—whether it’s dealing with the rejection or acceptance from straight parents, siblings, or grandparents—or the formation of found families comprised of like-minded friends.
This trend is not particularly surprising. Although queer couples have always found ways to create families and raise children together, it’s only in recent years, with the hard-earned victories for legal marriage and adoption rights, that LGBTQ+ individuals have come to envision family life—no matter its form—as an attainable aspiration.
However, cinema has been slower to catch up, likely due to the scarcity of films focused on LGBTQ+ characters and the assumption that audiences are more drawn to dramatic tales of oppression, first love, or carefree singles.
Nevertheless, there are films that focus on LGBTQ+ families that are not only uplifting and heartwarming but also serve as examples of what queer family life can look like.
The Kids Are All Right
Lisa Cholodenko’s 2010 film, The Kids Are All Right, blends emotional depth with humor. The story follows Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), the teenage children of a lesbian couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore), as they seek out their biological father, Paul (Mark Ruffalo), and begin developing a relationship with him.
The film received critical acclaim, winning two Golden Globe awards—Best Picture in the Musical or Comedy category and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Bening)—and was nominated for four Academy Awards.
The Birdcage
A landmark gay comedy, The Birdcage (1996) is often remembered for Robin Williams and Nathan Lane’s extravagant performances as a devoted but frequently bickering middle-aged gay couple. The film also features stellar comedic contributions from Dianne Wiest, Christine Baranski, and the late Gene Hackman, earning a 1997 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast. Directed by Mike Nichols, with a script by Elaine May, the film’s sharp wit and slapstick humor deliver laughs, but it also offers tender moments that highlight the extent to which this queer couple is willing to go for their only son, who is attempting to impress his conservative future in-laws.
Our Son
Parenthood can place immense pressure on even the strongest relationships, and marriages sometimes falter—this is as true for LGBTQ+ couples as it is for heterosexual ones. Our Son (2023), directed by Bill Oliver, delves into this painful reality. The film follows the disintegrating marriage of gay couple Nicky (Luke Evans) and Gabriel (Billy Porter), documenting their divorce and their contentious custody battle over their young son, Owen (Christopher Woodley), with both humor and emotional depth.
Housekeeping for Beginners
In Housekeeping for Beginners, the third feature from Macedonian-Australian director Goran Stolevski, Dita (Anamaria Marinca) is left to care for her partner’s two young children after her partner’s death. Despite having never desired to be a mother, Dita begins to rebuild a family, aided by middle-aged gay housemate Toni (Vladimir Tintor) and his 19-year-old lover (Samson Selim). The film was awarded the Queer Lion at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and was selected as Macedonia’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards.
Ideal Home
On the lighter side of LGBTQ+ cinema, Ideal Home (2018), directed by Andrew Fleming, offers a comedic take on family life. The film centers around Erasmus Brumble (Steve Coogan), a flamboyant celebrity chef whose relationship with his pragmatic business and romantic partner, Paul (Paul Rudd), is tested when they are unexpectedly tasked with caring for his 10-year-old grandson. With a mix of bro-comedy and a touch of Absolutely Fabulous humor, Ideal Home may lean toward the lighter, more humorous side of queer cinema, but it is undeniably entertaining.
