What's not to love about sports from a gay perspective? You've got elite athletes, amazing bodies, intense rivalries, sweat, heart, and those sexy uniforms!
The first season of beloved hockey romance Heated Rivalry is now over, and the Winter Olympics don't start for a few weeks, so where are people supposed to find their queer sports content? Thankfully, the world of sports has been a fertile playground for queer storytellers for years, and that extends to moviemaking.
The following queer films all center on or feature queer athletes in sports like soccer, wrestling, swimming, rugby, boxing, and tennis. Some feature gay men, some are about queer women, and some even feature trans athletes. If you're looking for something to scratch your queer sports itch, check out these 21 films!
'Cassandro'
Gael García Bernal stars in this sports biopic as Saúl Armendáriz, a gay wrestler from El Paso who creates the flamboyant wrestling personality Cassandro and becomes known as the "Liberace of Lucha Libre." As Cassandro embarks on his rise to the top of the sport, he challenges the super-macho world of wrestling.
Streaming on Prime Video
'Challengers'
Luca Guadagnino's epic tennis film stars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist as longtime friends and rivals who get tangled in a love triangle with tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan (Zendaya). The film then jumps ahead years, as the two face off in a homoerotic tournament with Tashi watching.
Streaming on Prime Video
'Nyad'
Annette Bening stars as long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad in this Netflix biopic where Jodie Foster plays her longtime best friend and former partner. The movie follows Diana at age 60 as she pursues her lifelong dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida across the open ocean.
Streaming on Netflix
'10Dance'
Based on a Boy Love manga, this new dance movie follows two competitive male dancers who start as rivals, but soon have to team up for a dance competition and develop feelings.
Streaming on Netflix
'Battle of the Sexes'
Emma Stone and Steve Carell star in this historical sports movie about the 1973 tennis match in which lesbian tennis star Billie Jean King played against abrasive, aging men's pro Bobby Riggs.
Streaming on HBO Max
'And Then We Danced'
This Swedish film set in Georgia follows Merab, a male competitive dancer who is on track for a spot in the National Georgian Ensemble with his partner, Mary. Then, he meets a new, rebellious male dancer and sparks an intense rivalry and romance.
Streaming on Tubi
'Christy'
Sydney Sweeney stars in this biopic of lesbian boxer Christy Martin. Martin rose to prominence in the boxing world with the help of her trainer and manager-turned-abusive-husband, until one day, when he attempted to murder her after he found out she was gay.
Available to rent on Google Play
'Beautiful Boxer'
Asanee Suwan stars as Parinya Charoenphol, also known as Nong Toom, a Thai boxer and Muay Thai fighter who came out as transgender and fought against male opponents.
Streaming on Netflix
'Crush'
This 2022 coming-of-age rom-com stars Rowan Blanchard as Paige, an artsy student who has an unrequited crush on the school's track star Gabby. After she gets accused of vandalizing the school, Paige must join the school's track team, where she meets Gabby's rebellious sister, AJ (Auliʻi Cravalho).
Streaming on Hulu
'Mario'
This Swiss film from 2018 follows an up-and-coming football player in Switzerland named Mario who is trying to make the leap to a higher division of play when a new player from Germany joins his team. As Mario and his new teammate get closer, they have to keep their relationship a secret.
Streaming on Tubi
'The Novice'
Isabelle Fuhrman stars in this intense sports drama about a collegiate rower who becomes too obsessed with her sport. Fuhrman plays Alex Dall, a freshman at Wellington College who joins the Novice Rowing Program with the hopes of making the varsity team.
Streaming on AMC+
'Personal Best'
This 1982 sapphic film follows two young female track-and-field athletes, Chris and Tory, who train together, fall in love, and attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Streaming on Prime Video
'Backspot'
This queer coming-of-age drama stars Devery Jacobs as an ambitious cheerleader who is chosen, along with her girlfriend, for an elite all-star cheer squad.
Streaming on YouTube
'Signature Move'
This 2017 comedy stars Fawzia Mirza (who also co-wrote the film) as a 30-something Pakistani, Muslim lesbian named Zaynab. As she takes care of her mother, Zaynab meets and falls for a Mexican woman named Alma and joins the world of lady lucha libre.
Streaming on Tubi
'Punch'
Tim Roth stars as a former pro boxer named Stan whose son, Jim, is taking up his mantle in this 2022 film. As Jim prepares for his first title fight, he begins a relationship with a local gay singer named Whetu.
Streaming on Dekkoo
'National Anthem'
This 2023 film from Luke Gilford follows Dylan, a young construction worker who joins a group of queer rodeo workers, performers, and stars. There, Dylan meets Sky, a trans woman (played by Eve Lindley) and champion barrel racer.
Streaming on Hulu
'Handsome Devil'
Fionn O'Shea stars in this coming-of-age movie as Ned, a shy student at a rugby-obsessed all-boys boarding school in Ireland. There, he befriends Conor (Nicholas Galitzine), his new roommate and a star rugby player. The two boys struggle with masculinity, growing up, and homophobia.
Streaming on Tubi
'Jongens'
Jongens, known in English as Boys, follows two teen boys, Sieger and Stef, who are chosen to represent their local athletics club in the national championship relay race. As they train, they develop a romance.
Streaming on Tubi
'The Pass'
Russell Tovey and Arinze Kene star in this drama about a pair of longtime friends and soccer teammates who kiss one night in a hotel room. It follows them throughout their careers, tracking the impact of their kiss.
Streaming on Tubi
'Water Lillies'
Water Lilies, from director Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), follows a group of teen girls on a synchronized swimming team in Paris as they come of age and explore their sexualities.
Streaming on The Criterion Channel
'Skate Kitchen'
Inspired by a real-life group of female skaters based in New York City who call themselves the "Skate Kitchen," this movie stars Rachelle Vinberg as a teen who befriends the group, with the real skaters playing fictionalized versions of themselves.
Streaming on Tubi
