10 Movies Like God’s Own Country You Need To See

God’s Own Country is one of those LGBTQ-oriented films that seems designed to pull at the heartstrings. Its story of an English sheep farmer who falls in love with an immigrant is very much of the moment, and in many ways, it can be seen as the English version of the hit American film Brokeback Mountain.

There’s a rawness to the film and the emotions that it manages to capture which makes it a truly exceptional gay drama. However, there are quite a few other films out there that ably capture the powerful love that exists between queer men.

10 Weekend (2011)

Most romantic films go in with the assumption that the featured couple will not only end up together, but will also, presumably, spend the rest of their lives together. This film breaks new ground by showing that love doesn’t have to be about a long-term romance but can instead flourish in the tiny, ephemeral moments, chance encounters that, as the film’s title suggests, might last no more than a weekend. The acting is exceptional, the cinematography beautiful, and the story both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

9 Shelter (2007)

The mid-2000s seemed to be something of a golden age for gay romances—at least those of the independent variety. While they rarely starred big names and showed some signs of having small budgets, there was still something distinctly charming about their innocence. That is certainly the case with Shelter, which focuses on a struggling young artist surfer and his romance with his elder brother’s good friend. It’s a touching and beautiful film with a simple story told well.

8 Brokeback Mountain (2005)

It probably went without saying that Brokeback Mountain would appear on this list. After all, it still stands as one of the most financially successful queer films ever made. There’s no question that it’s a haunting film about the nature of love and desire in a repressive world, and it’s made all the more exquisite by both Ang Lee’s inspired direction and the top-notch performances delivered by both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s one of those loves stories totally guaranteed to stand the test of time.

7 Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name, based on the novel of the same name, is about many things, including the pain of growing up and discovering true love, only to have that love end in disappointment and heartbreak. The romance here between the young Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and American graduate student Oliver (Armee Hammer) is a powerful one, rendered all the more potent by the ways in which the camera captures the lush and romantic atmosphere of a summer in Italy.

6 Moonlight (2016)

This film has earned a deserved reputation as being one of the finest films of the last decade. Directed by the brilliant Barry Jenkins, it’s a nuanced and poignant look at queer men of color.

Split into three parts, each of which focuses on a young man as he grows up, it’s a truly haunting film about the nature of love and about the way in which queer men of color have to contend with both racism and homophobia. It definitely deserved its Best Picture Oscar, even if the ceremony itself was marred by a botched announcement of the win.

5 Maurice (1987)

Those who enjoyed the British aspect of God’s Own Country will also find much to love about Maurice. Based on the E.M. Forster novel of the same name, it takes place in Edwardian England and focuses on the titular Maurice and his sexual awakening in a culture that views homosexuality as being nothing less than a disease and an aberration. It’s a bit slow-moving, but it’s definitely worth watching the ways in which it examines Maurice’s burgeoning sexuality and his eventual happiness.

4 Beautiful Thing (1996)

Beautiful Thing, another British film, is a touching queer coming-of-age story about two young men who fall in love while navigating the pitfalls of their rather lower-class life. There are some truly touching parts of the film, and there is definitely a potent chemistry between the two young leads who manage to capture the innocence of youth and first love.

What’s more, the film also heavily features the music of Mama Cass, which is guaranteed to make any film better.

3 Latter Days (2003)

One of the most enduringly popular elements of the romance is the meeting of opposites, and that’s precisely what drives the plot of Latter Days, a film in which a playboy meets a Mormon. The sparks, of course, fly, and the film is all about the ways in which each of them has to examine their lives and the assumptions that they’ve made about their lives. Though it has its lighter moments, it also has some moments of significant dramatic tension.

2 The Way He Looks (2014)

The Way He Looks actually started out as a short film before being expanded to a feature length. It’s a moving story about a young blind man who starts to fall in love with one of his classmates. There’s a powerful and poignant innocence to this film, and it deals with blindness in a way that is sensitive rather than sensationalistic. However, there’s no question that it ‘s the love story that’s the heart of this film, and it’s always nice to see a queer movie with a happy ending.

1 Bangkok Love Story (2007)

One of the remarkable things about Brokeback Mountain is how influential it became, not just in the United States, but abroad, as well. There are good reasons why Bangkok Love Story, a Thai production, is seen as that country’s answer to Ang Lee’s film. There’s a certain measure of brutality to its lover story, and, while there is tenderness between the two leads, the truth is that this is a very violent and visceral sort of love story.

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