These films documented the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day feels like a fitting day to highlight films that have documented the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the years.
From Philadelphia to Rent to The Normal Heart to Bohemian Rhapsody, these movies tell stories of people who lived with HIV and, unfortunately, didn't have access to modern-day medications that are widely available in 2025. Despite all the progress we've made in recent years, it's always important to remember the impact that this epidemic has had on our queer existence as a collective.
Scroll through to see our list of movies about HIV & AIDS that everyone should consider watching.
'An Early Frost' (1985)
The first major movie (televised or theatrical) to deal with the AIDS epidemic was 1985's An Early Frost, cowritten by Queer As Folk creator Ron Cowen.
In the film, actor Aidan Quinn plays a gay man getting ready to disclose to his family that he's living with HIV. An Early Frost was watched by over 34 million people overall. It also garnered 14 Emmy nominations and won three of those awards.
An Early Frost is available for purchase on DVD.
'Parting Glances' (1986)
Steve Buscemi's first major film role was in Parting Glances, in which he played a gay man living with HIV. The director, Bill Sherwood, unfortunately died of AIDS-related complications in 1990 without completing another film.
Parting Glances is streaming on Fandor.
'Tongues Untied' (1989)
Marlo Riggs's Tongues Untied documentary explored Black gay culture in the 1980s, including the loss of many people living with HIV.
Tongues Untied is streaming on The Criterion Channel.
'Longtime Companion' (1989)
Longtime Companion was the first film with a wide theatrical release to tackle HIV and AIDS. The title was taken from the words used by the New York Times's description of the partner of someone who had died from an AIDS-related illness.
Longtime Companion is streaming on The Roku Channel.
'The Living End' (1992)
In classic Thelma & Louise-style, 1992's The Living End tells the story of two men living with HIV who happen to be running away from the law.
The Living End is available on-demand via Strand Releasing.
'Zero Patience' (1993)
The indie musical titled Zero Patience centered on a 19th century English explorer who, for the first time, met a patient living with HIV.
Zero Patience is available on-demand via Strand Releasing.
'And the Band Played On' (1993)
Starring Ian McKellen and Lily Tomlin, And the Band Played On is a film about the discovery of HIV.
And the Band Played On is streaming on Max.
'Philadelphia' (1993)
In 1993's Philadelphia, Tom Hanks plays a wronged lawyer who gets fired after it is disclosed that he's living with HIV.
Philadelphia is available on-demand for purchase/rental on Apple TV+.
'The Cure' (1995)
In The Cure, a boy finds out that his best friend is living with HIV. That boy subsequently plans a trip to New Orleans in the hopes that he can find a solution.
The Cure is available for purchase on DVD.
'Jeffrey' (1995)
A young gay man in New York believes that he'll avoid the HIV/AIDS epidemic if he stays celibate. However, things get complicated when he falls for a man living with HIV.
Jeffrey is streaming on Tubi.
'Kids' (1995)
Chloë Sevigny plays a teenage girl living with HIV in 1995's Kids.
Kids is streaming on Kanopy.
'Boys On the Side' (1995)
Mary-Louise Parker plays a woman living with HIV who embarks on a road trip with a recently single lesbian (Whoopi Goldberg) and a young woman escaping an abusive relationship (Drew Barrymore). The result is the 1995 classic Boys On the Side.
Boys On the Side is streaming on Prime Video.
'It's My Party' (1996)
Eric Roberts plays a man dying from AIDS-related complications who throws a party before he plans to kill himself. It's My Party is one of the first films to address the topic of someone living with HIV and making the choice to die on their own terms.
This movie was based on the life of Harry Stein, who reportedly had romantic connections to director Randal Kleiser.
It's My Party is available for purchase on DVD.
'Gia' (1998)
Gia, a 1998 biopic about supermodel Gia Carangi — who died of AIDS-related complications — was one of Angelina Jolie's breakthrough roles.
Gia is streaming on Max.
'The Hours' (2002)
The Hours is a cinematic masterpiece that connects three women of different generations through Virginia Woolf. One of them (played by Meryl Streep) plans an award party for her best friend who is living with HIV.
The Hours is streaming on The Criterion Channel.
'The Trip' (2002)
The Trip, released in 2002, follows the love story between a young conservative man and a gay rights activist. That journey takes a sharp turn when one of them receives an HIV diagnosis — and a new chapter in this saga begins.
The Trip is streaming on Prime Video via Dekkoo.
'Rent' (2005)
Released in 2005 as a feature film, Rent is one of the most iconic musicals of all time. Overall, it's also a beautiful portrait of friendship and community set against the AIDS-ridden East Village at the turn of the millennium.
Rent is streaming on Hoopla.
'Life Support' (2007)
Queen Latifah played a woman living with HIV who is overcoming her drug addiction and working with an AIDS outreach group in the 2007 film Life Support.
Life Support is streaming on Max.
'The Witnesses' (2007)
A doctor begins an affair with a young man who soon finds out that he is living with HIV.
The Witnesses is streaming on Hoopla.
'Precious' (2009)
A young woman living with HIV strives for an education and a way out from her mother's abuse. Starring Gabourey Sidibe in the lead role, Precious was an absolute cultural juggernaut.
Precious is streaming on Hulu.
'How to Survive a Plague' (2012)
The How to Survive a Plague documentary follows the AIDS outbreak and the uprising of queer protesters.
How to Survive a Plague is streaming on Philo.
'United in Anger: A History of ACT UP' (2012)
While most people know David France's How to Survive a Plague, 2012 included several films about ACT UP being released.
Directed by ACT UP members Sarah Schulman and Jim Hubbard, United in Anger: A History of ACT UP documented the mechanics behind orchestrating some of the group's biggest demonstrations.
United in Anger: A History of ACT UP is streaming on Kanopy.
'Philomena' (2013)
Philomena is a heartbreaking true story of an Irish woman who searches for a son she had been forced to give up for adoption as a baby. Ultimately, she discovers that he was involved in the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Philomena is streaming on Tubi.
'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013)
After a Texas man finds out he has AIDS, he refuses to die without any resources and smuggles life-saving drugs from Mexico. Starring Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club was nominated for six Oscars and won three of them.
Dallas Buyers Club is streaming on Netflix.
'Behind the Candelabra' (2013)
Behind the Candelabra is a biopic about gay pianist Władziu Valentino Liberace (Michael Douglas) and his relationship with the much younger Scott Thorson (Matt Damon). Liberace died of AIDS-related complications.
Behind the Candelabra is streaming on Max.
'The Normal Heart' (2014)
Larry Kramer's powerful, heartbreaking work comes to life in this HBO film, The Normal Heart, about early HIV/AIDS fighters in New York City.
The Normal Heart is streaming on Max.
'The Companion' (2015)
The Companion is set in 1980s Cuba. The film tells the story of a man who gets assigned to be the companion of a war veteran. That war veteran is living with HIV and has been confined by the government to a sanatorium.
The Companion is streaming on Kanopy.
'Holding the Man' (2015)
The love story of Holding the Man follows a couple from when they first met in high school. However, when one dies from AIDS-related complications, the other struggles to write their story before becoming too ill himself.
Holding the Man is on-demand via Strand Releasing.
'120 BPM' (2017)
120 BPM takes place in Paris in the 1990s. The movie tells the story of an intimate relationship between Sean and Nathan, two members of ACT UP Paris, set against the backdrop of the group's fight to secure medication for people living with HIV.
120 BPM is streaming on Philo.
'Paris 05:59 Theo & Hugo' (2017)
Two young gay men meet at a sex club in the first 20 minutes of Paris 05:59 Theo & Hugo — a very explicit French film about a one-night stand. One of the two is living with HIV, and their encounter leads both of them to go to the hospital to pick up post-exposure prophylaxis together.
Paris 05:59 Theo & Hugo is streaming on Tubi.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' (2018)
Even though Bohemian Rhapsody infamously fudged the details around Freddie Mercury's HIV diagnosis (and its method of storytelling ultimately shamed him, his sexuality, and his HIV status), it nevertheless is one of the few biopics that centers a person of color living with HIV.
Bohemian Rhapsody is streaming on Hulu.
'Howard' (2018)
A genius lyricist, Howard Ashman was behind acclaimed works like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Little Shop of Horrors. In Howard, he becomes the subject. The director of this documentary film tracks not only Ashman's success, but also how that was impacted by him facing complications related to HIV and AIDS.
Howard is streaming on Disney+.
'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' (2021)
Jessica Chastain starred as famous televangelist and gay icon Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. When other Christians like Jerry Falwell were condemning gay people who were dying from AIDS, Faye Bakker publicly supported the gay community and people living with HIV.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye is streaming on FuboTV.
'Tick, Tick... Boom!' (2021)
Based on Rent creator Jonathan Larson's life while creating a musical production, Tick, Tick... Boom! follows the young playwright (Andrew Garfield) in the early 1990s who finds out that his best friend Michael (Robin de Jesús) is living with HIV.
Tick, Tick... Boom! is streaming on Netflix.
'Three Months' (2022)
The Paramount+ film Three Months was a teen drama starring Troye Sivan playing a high school graduate who realizes he was exposed to HIV and has to wait for three months to get the results of his test.
Three Months is streaming on Paramount+.