A good gay or LGBTQ film DVD starts with the right film and the right edition. A familiar title can lead to an imported disc, a different adaptation, or a Blu-ray that will not work in a DVD-only player. This guide brings together six narrative films and documentaries with publisher-listed DVD options, followed by practical checks for older favorites.
For a British gay romance, start with My Beautiful Laundrette or Weekend. For a lesbian love story, consider Desert Hearts or Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Pariah offers a coming-of-age drama, while Paris Is Burning documents a particular ballroom community. These are editorial selections based on the films and their documented editions, rather than a ranking from hands-on disc testing.
Six LGBTQ films to consider on DVD
The five Criterion editions below are the North American DVD releases. Criterion identifies its DVDs as Region 1, so check your player before importing them. Its format and subtitle FAQ also explains its English-subtitle policy. Choose the DVD option on each product page; the same page may initially display Blu-ray details.
1. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985): British social comedy and romance
Stephen Frears directs this story of a young British Pakistani man building a laundry business with a former school friend. Gordon Warnecke and Daniel Day-Lewis play the central pair. Its interest extends beyond their relationship to family expectations, racism, class and ambition, making it a useful choice for viewers who want social context alongside romance.
Edition to check: Criterion’s one-disc DVD, spine 767. The publisher lists a 98-minute English-language film and English subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. A separate one-disc Blu-ray is also listed. The shared page describes a restored transfer, but that does not turn the DVD into a high-definition disc.
2. Weekend (2011): a focused contemporary relationship drama
Andrew Haigh’s film follows two men whose brief meeting becomes an important conversation about their lives and what they want. Tom Cullen and Chris New star. It is a compact choice for viewers interested in dialogue and character rather than a sprawling historical story. Match the director and year carefully: other films share this title.
Edition to check: Peccadillo’s DVD option. The distributor specifies English audio, English SDH subtitles, a 97-minute running time and DVD-9 PAL format. It lists a UK 18 classification. The page does not clearly state the DVD region code or disc count, so ask the seller to confirm those details before importing. PAL compatibility and region compatibility are separate checks; a low price is not enough if the disc will not play.
3. Desert Hearts (1985): an independent lesbian romance
Donna Deitch’s film places an unexpected relationship in the Nevada of 1959. Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau lead the cast. This is a good starting point for someone building a collection around women-directed queer cinema or looking for a period setting without choosing an epic-length film.
Edition to check: Criterion’s one-disc DVD, spine 902. The listed running time is 91 minutes, the language is English, and English SDH subtitles are included in the publisher’s specifications. Criterion separately sells a one-disc Blu-ray. Compare the format selected at checkout, especially when another retailer groups different releases under one product heading. Do not assume an older used edition has the same transfer, subtitles or supplements.
4. Pariah (2011): identity, family and coming of age
Dee Rees’s feature centers on Alike, a Black teenager in Brooklyn, played by Adepero Oduye. Family expectations and the difficulty of expressing herself are central to the drama. Choose it for a personal story about finding a voice, while allowing for emotionally difficult material rather than treating every coming-of-age film as light viewing.
Edition to check: Criterion’s one-disc DVD, spine 1083: 86 minutes, English, with English SDH listed. The BBFC’s content advice flags domestic abuse, discrimination, strong language and sexual references. Those descriptors help explain the tone; they should not be mistaken for a US age rating or a promise that every international disc carries the same classification.
5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019): a French period romance
Céline Sciamma directs Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel in a story about a painter and the woman she has been commissioned to portray. Its emphasis on observation, art and a developing relationship makes it a distinct alternative to the English-language selections here. Choose it when a period setting and a deliberately measured story appeal.
Edition to check: Criterion’s one-disc DVD, spine 1034. The film is listed at 121 minutes in French. Criterion’s general policy provides optional English subtitles for its non-English-language features. Do not infer an English dub or additional subtitle languages from that. A separate Blu-ray edition is available, and references to a 4K master describe the source used for a release, not the playback format of the DVD.
6. Paris Is Burning (1990): ballroom culture in documentary form
Jennie Livingston’s documentary records New York’s ballroom scene through the people participating in it, including Black and Latino queer communities. It is a useful companion to fictional stories because it preserves voices, performance and community life from a specific time and place. The subjects include discrimination, poverty and AIDS, so plan for more than a celebratory dance film.
Edition to check: Criterion’s two-disc DVD, spine 1018. The feature is 76 minutes in English, with English SDH listed. The Blu-ray version is one disc, which makes disc count a useful cross-check when shopping used. The additional DVD does not mean there are two feature films. Ask whether both discs are included if the seller’s photographs show only the case.
Two familiar titles that need extra care
Beautiful Thing: Hettie Macdonald’s 1996 film remains a relevant gay coming-of-age choice, but the BFI edition currently listed is a Region B Blu-ray, catalogue BFIB1507. BFI specifies English, English hearing-accessibility subtitles, 91 minutes and a UK 15 certificate. That listing should not be used as proof of the specifications of a secondhand DVD. If you need DVD specifically, request a clear photograph of that edition’s back cover.
The Boys in the Band: distinguish the 1970 William Friedkin film from the 2020 Netflix version. The title alone does not identify the adaptation or establish that a listing is a licensed DVD. Check the year, cast, distributor and physical format together, and avoid transferring specifications between the two films.
Before you buy: the disc checklist
- Match the player: a DVD-only player cannot play Blu-ray. For imports, compare the actual region marking and video format with your player’s manual. Sony explains the separate Blu-ray region system; its letters should not be confused with DVD region numbers.
- Verify accessibility: English dialogue, English translation subtitles, SDH and audio description are different features. If one is essential, obtain edition-specific confirmation rather than relying on a review of the film.
- Check the whole package: match distributor, barcode, disc count and catalogue number where available. A restoration, anniversary label or new cover does not establish which extras are included.
- Judge value carefully: compare delivered cost and seller returns, inspect used-disc condition, and confirm that every disc is present. Do not pay a collector premium merely because a seller calls an edition rare.
For a first purchase, choose the story you most want to revisit, then confirm that the precise edition suits your equipment and accessibility needs. A small collection of compatible, complete discs is more useful than a long list selected only by a search keyword.
