Only three months into the year, 2024 has already seen buzzy queer-themed titles like Love Lies Bleeding and Drive-Away Dolls make it onto the big screen. The rest of the year has a long list of hotly anticipated films that are slated to follow. From an intimate documentary about everyone’s favourite 1980s lesbian folk-rock duo to a surrealistic horror flick about the growing pains of being trans, here are some upcoming movies by or about LGBTQ2S+ people for you to enjoy this spring.
Housekeeping for Beginners (in North American theatres now)
The latest feature from Of an Age director Goran Stolevski was the winner of the Queer Lion at last year’s Venice Film Festival and the Macedonian entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards. After her girlfriend is diagnosed with cancer, a woman who never wanted to be a parent is forced to raise her two daughters. She enlists the help of her longtime gay pal, and the four of them form an unconventional family. It is a tender exploration of the universal truths of familial bonds, whether by blood or by choice.
Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All (in American theatres April 10)
Nearly four decades after their debut, folk-rock legends and lesbian icons Indigo Girls are finally getting the music documentary treatment. Whether you are a longtime fan or just spent last summer belting out “Closer to Fine” after watching Barbie, the doc offers a thorough breakdown of the band’s illustrious career, as well as a peek behind the curtain at the two very distinct personalities that make up the beloved duo.
Challengers (in theatres worldwide April 26)
After scandalizing the internet with its steamy trailer last year and its release getting delayed by the SAG strike, the hotly anticipated feature from Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino is finally here. Zendaya plays a tennis player turned coach whose past love triangle is coming back to haunt her as she tries to get her husband (played by Mike Faist) out of a competitive slump. While the film takes place in the world of tennis, the trailer promises plenty of sweaty action off the court.
I Saw the TV Glow (in theatres worldwide May 3)
After making a splash in 2022 with their low-budget debut We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, non-binary filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun once again steps into the world of horror. One of the buzziest titles from this year’s Sundance Film Festival follows two teenagers who bond over a mysterious TV show. As the two main characters drift apart following the show’s cancellation, their realities begin to blur and the movie unveils itself as a haunting trans allegory. If that is not enough to sell the movie to you, how about a soundtrack packed with queer icons including Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail?
Cora Bora (in American theatres June 14)
Hacks breakout star and “Hi Gay!” meme icon Megan Stalter stars in this dramedy, which premiered at last year’s SXSW Festival. Stalter plays a millennial struggling in both her career as a musician and her relationship with her girlfriend. She goes on a mission to win back her love and forges a new path in life along the way. Fans of Stalter’s offbeat humour will be in for a treat, as she showcases her full range and then some in her first lead film role.
Sing Sing (in North American theatres July)
After earning his first Oscar nomination this year for Rustin, Colman Domingo is showing no signs of slowing down. His next film premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival alongside Rustin. Based on a true story, Domingo plays a wrongfully incarcerated man at the titular correctional facility who starts a theatre troupe among the inmates. The film follows the group as they try to stage an original production while battling the harsh realities of prison. It is a heartfelt story of art as rehabilitation, and Domingo’s powerhouse performance is already garnering buzz for next year’s Oscars.
Cuckoo (in North American theatres August 9)
A young woman leaves her American home to live with her father in the German Alps, where everything is not quite as it seems. Sounds like a typical setup for a haunted house movie? The clue to the sinister plot lies in the title. Described as The Stepford Wives meets Rosemary’s Baby, the second feature from director Tilman Singer is earning praise for star Hunter Schafer’s magnetic performance.
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