LGBTIQ+ films to see at the Ritz Cinemas 85 films in 85 days

The Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, Sydney are celebrating their 85th birthday by screening 85 iconic films in 85 days. From The Wizard of Oz (1939) to the first Australian screening of The Green Knight (2021), their biggest retro program ever has a film from every year of the Ritz’s storied history.

At Queer Screen, we’re keen to see them all, and we’ve put together a list of the films on show for a discerning queer audience. Check them out and book now at the Ritz.

Queer Screen is proud to have the support of Ritz Cinemas as a fabulous venue and Festival partner.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

From the subtextual queerness of the ‘friends of Dorothy’ to the enduring legacy of Judy Garland, the Wicked Witch of the West and more, The Wizard of Oz is a gem.

Screening: Tuesday 26 July, 6:30pm

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

James Dean is an enduring movie star, his life sadly cut short in his prime and his life subsequently becoming the subject of a great deal of conjecture even until today. But that doesn’t detract from his heartthrob status, then and now, for queer and straight people.

Screening: Thursday 11 August, 6:30pm

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Marilyn Monroe is hard to pass up, and paired with a cross-dressing Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, this may not be a queer film per se, but it’s certainly a camp one!

Screening: Monday 15 August, 7:00pm

Pink Flamingos (1972)

The first overtly queer film on the list, directed by the iconic John Waters and starring the even more iconic Divine, Pink Flamingos is a seminal queer cult classic that must be seen again and again.

Screening: Sunday 28 August, 6:00pm

Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Baz Luhrmann’s feature film directorial debut is a celebration of ballroom dancing, Australian culture and life viewed through a queer lens.

Screening: Saturday 17 September, 6:30pm

Clueless (1995)

A 90s high school comedy based on Jane Austen’s Emma, starring Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd may have only the slightest of gay content with one queer character, but it’s a pillar of 90s fashion, teen comedy and a classic in may queer circles to this day.

Screening: Tuesday 20 September, 6:30pm

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Brokeback Mountain needs no introduction. It’s a queer classic that is well worth a watch on the big screen every time it shows up.

Screening: Friday 30 September, 6:30pm

The Babadook (2014)

This may not appear at first sight to be a queer film, however thanks to a Netflix programming error and some prolific memes, the titular Babadook has become something of a (joking) queer icon. Regardless, this Australian horror film is a great watch, whether you think the Babadook supports queer rights or not.

Screening: Sunday 9 October, 6:30pm