Hannibal, Avatar Aang and Shirtless Spock — Plus Brad Pitt's v-line in Troy
Hannigram hive rise!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is back and it's reminded me that I'd like to boldly go into a room with Ethan Peck where there are no others.
If those handlebar ears aren't your thing, here's Peck out of Vulcan drag.
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Queer and Now
Everything new in the world of queer TV and film
— Hannibal is coming to Netflix US on July 27th. If you haven't seen this delectable cult classic still, just know that there's no straight reason for this show to exist.
— Did Heartstopper Forever end Nick and Charlie's story on a high? I'd argue no, not quite, but that doesn't matter because Heartstopper: Ending on a Hi arrives today with new behind-the-scenes footage on Netflix.
It's hard to say goodbye, but I am VERY excited to watch it regardless because my amazing friend, Digital Spy TV journalist Janet Leigh, was invited to share her expertise in this farewell special. Check out all the incredible stuff Janet gets up to on her Instagram here.
— Down Under Vs The World starts today. Is Raven actually a contestant? Why does she use so much tan?
My biggest question though is why are we scheduling so many Drag Race spinoffs at the same goddamn time, because Drag Race México: Latina Royale also starts soon on July 30th.
Let's hope there's no rigga morris for Alexis Mateo now that this makes her the queen who's competed most in Drag Race herstory.
— Welsh gay drama On The Sea is now out in UK cinemas and I can't recommend it enough.
As I said back when it premiered at BFI Flare:
"Set in a remote fishing community, the film explores forbidden desires in this harsh, rural environment where queer lust can no longer be denied. Heartfelt, elegant, and ruggedly beautiful, put this one on your radar asap before its wider release."
— I was really impressed by Tomorrow's Too Late, a documentary that dives deep into the life of musician Dylan Holloway and his transition.
Terry Loane's film provides a rare glimpse of the struggles and euphoria that come with being true to yourself, sharing intimate personal footage of Dylan's journey from X-Factor finalist to trans icon.
Check out Tomorrow's Too Late exclusively at The Arzner London’s LGBTQ+ cinema before... Well, before it's too late!
— Over a decade after The Legend of Korra hit a new milestone for queer storytelling in children's animation, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender picks up on that thread by making Fire Lord Zuko real fruity for another man.
Our bi king is a king for real in the new film, and that's not all I liked about it. Check out my review at GamesRadar and then come back so I can bend your ear some more here at Cruising Cinema.
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43 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2026 Ranked (so far)
Plus where to watch them
In need of something new and extremely gay to watch? Look no further than my ranking of the 43 best LGBTQ+ movies released this year so far.
Check out the link below to see where your faves end up - includes 6 new additions today.
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Queer Awakenings
You know, the hotties who "turned" you gay.
Being gay is NOT a choice. How do I know? Because I was always going to be gay after seeing this as a kid.
The Odyssey this. The Odyssey that. What you "Odyssey" is Brad Pitt's v-line in Troy.
Is that sweat? Or is it blood? Either way, I'm good with it.
Did director Wolfgang Petersen choose to take this gay-ass story and make it straighter than those aforementioned v-lines I can't stop thinking about?
Yes. Yes he did. In most versions of Homer’s Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus like to horse around with each other, but Troy reimagines the pair as cousins. Kissing cousins? You tell me.
On the plus side, Petersen didn't skimp on the hotties, gifting us with Eric Bana in a skirt and Orlando Bloom in a curly mop I would have given anything to run my hands through.
Insert your own Trojan condom joke in here.
Reply with your own Queer Awakenings or email me at: cruisingcinema7@gmail.com.
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Out Takes
Queer hidden gems you need to see
As anyone who watched Glee or Bring It On will tell you, cheerleading is even gayer than you think. Lord knows Eliza Dushku changed my brain chemistry in the role of Missy Pantone.
Backspot (2023) goes one further though, making queerness central to the narrative without resorting to the usual conflicts you might find in a coming-of-age film like this one.
Set in the world of competitive cheerleading, D. W. Waterson's feature debut stars Devery Jacobs as Riley, a queer Native teen who struggles to hit the high standards of competing she sets for herself.
If you've watched Reservation Dogs, you already know just how extraordinary Jacobs is when it comes to writing and directing as well as acting.
Watching her take the lead in Backspot elevates what could have just been mere sporting cliche, especially when filtered through that queer Native lens.
I should also mention that the iconic Evan Rachel Wood also appears as a lesbian cheerleading coach. Actually, I should have led with that because my god she is great in this one.
If that wasn't somehow enough to pull you in, The Odyssey star Elliot Page also helped produce Backspot (as if I couldn't love him more).
For more info, check out my interview with Devery Jacobs that I conducted for Digital Spy back in 2023 when Backspot premiered at BFI Flare (here).
Check out where you can watch Backspot at this link below.
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44 Best LGBTQ+ TV Shows of 2026 Ranked (so far)
Plus where to watch them
Do you want gay shit? Of course you do. Do you want to spend hours looking for it? Obviously not. Thankfully, I'm here to help with this ranking of the 44 best LGBTQ+ shows I've seen so far this year.
Check out the link below to see where your faves end up, including five new additions.
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And just like that, we've come to the end of Cruising Cinema today. As a thank you for making it this far, here's Jonathan Bailey with a reminder to drink your milk. See you next Tuesday!
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