From the educational to the entertaining, there’s no shortage of great films that shine a light on the transgender community. In a fun and casual setting, watching a movie that features trans characters or discusses trans issues is a great way to engage your friends, to get them thinking, and to get them talking. Well-rounded and compassionate portrayals of transgender experiences can even promote empathy and allyship to those who may not know any gender-diverse people in real life!
We've compiled a list of movies below. What’s your pick to watch first? (And if you’re hosting a movie night, share a photo or two with us on social media. You might inspire others to take action, too.)
“I Saw the TV Glow” (2024)
In this film, two outcast teenagers connect over their favorite TV show and begin to question their identities. Jane Schoenbrun is the author and director of this teenage horror/drama film and is a gender-nonconforming individual. Schoenbrun says this film is a metaphor for gender dysphoria and the transgender experience. The main characters are queer and gender-nonconforming and the film becomes a glimpse into what it's like to realize one's identity does not correspond with their assigned sex.
Available on Hulu, Max, and Amazon Prime.
“Nimona” (2023)
This science fantasy animated film offers numerous portrayals of queer identity through the normalized portrayal of gay relationships, transgender identity, and other queer characters. When a knight is falsely accused of a crime, a shape-shifting teenager helps to prove his innocence and faces consequences for being “different.” The creator of the film, ND Stevenson, identifies as trans-masculine and non-binary. “Nimona” was cancelled multiple times due to objections from networks because of the normalized LGBTQ+ portrayal.
Available on Netflix.
“Paris is Burning” (1990)
This documentary focuses on drag queens in New York City and their "house" culture, which offers community and support for these performers, who are marginalized by society. This documentary explores Black and Latino gay and transgender experiences and offers important documentation of queer rights from the late 1980s.
Available on Hulu, Max, and Amazon Prime.
“Joyland” (2023)
In this drama/romance Pakistani film, the director explores the budding romance between a cisgender man and transgender woman. The film was met with many anti-trans protests along with support for the film from trans advocates. The movie features Alina Khan, the first trans-woman and actress to have a lead role in a Pakistani film. While the movie does not centralize on the trans experience, it sparked conversations in many Pakistani communities.
Available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and YouTube.
“Mutt” (2023)
This drama film follows one day in the life of a trans-masculine character who reunites with many people they were estranged from due to transitioning. The movie reflects upon being deadnamed, the experience of facing personal questions about medical care, and other aspects of the trans experience.
Available on Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime.
No spoilers here: It's going to take more than a movie night to change the political landscape around trans rights. However, we know that stories and conversations are a great place to start.
