Uncover the Hidden Gems of 2024's Queer Film Scene

Challengers

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers brought a burst of cinematic pleasure in April. Zendaya's tennis threesome movie was a blast, with her making her "little white boys" compete for her affection on a random court in New Rochelle. Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor shared a memorable churro scene, and the movie was filled with gay eye candy in a sauna. It was unadulterated joy on the silver screen.

During an otherwise anxious year, this movie provided a much-needed escape. The ebullient joy and homoeroticism made it a standout, and it kept audiences entertained long into 2024.

Stress Positions

Theda Hammel's Stress Positions is a nerve-wracking satire about solipsistic millennials during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown. With a cast of mostly unsavory characters like Terry Goon (played by a brilliant John Early), Bahlul (Qaher Harhash), Karla (Hammel), and Vanessa (Amy Zimmer), the film exposes the hypocrisies of a certain subset of "liberals" through comically grotesque conversations about race, gender, class, and sexuality.

Hammel keeps all the moving parts intact, reveling in the distaste with a sly smile and a winking grin. It's a unique take on the pandemic era that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

Problemista

Julio Torres' Problemista is a cerebral and whimsical feature debut. Starring Torres and Tilda Swinton, the film follows Alejandro as he tries to earn his dream job at the Hasbro toy company to stay in the US. Through surrealist imagery and humor, Torres infuses a sense of sly joy into this tale about navigating the immigration system.

If you love visual metaphor, humor, and a stacked queer cast, this cathartic satire about our current capitalist nightmare is a must-watch. It takes viewers on a magical journey through a confusing maze of life.

I Saw the TV Glow

Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw the TV Glow is a strange and sad exploration of identity. Set in 1996, it follows Owen, a lonely teen obsessed with a monster-of-the-week TV show. When Maddy disappears and then returns, it challenges Owen to think about his life and the blurring of reality and fiction.

It's a Lynchian jumble that's hard to make sense of, but that's part of its charm. TV Glow is a gut-wrenching allegory that delves deep into the human experience.

The People's Joker

This unauthorized parody by Vera Drew is a love letter to the Batman source material. Equal parts autobiography and critique of the mainstream comedy world, it's a wild collage of different styles of animation and live-action footage.

Drew created a website for potential collaborators, and the result is a hilarious and touching film. It showcases the power of passion projects and the creativity of a diverse group of artists.

Will & Harper

The Netflix documentary Will & Harper offers a daringly honest look at trans belonging in America. Will Ferrell takes a road trip with his newly out trans best friend Harper Steele, and the result is a refreshingly unvarnished travelog.

It showcases the beauty of their friendship in transition, with Ferrell asking questions and being as articulate or clunky as he needed to be. It's a heartfelt and hopeful story.

Monkey Man

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