Ah, the bisexual awakening movie. At this point, it’s basically its own genre. These are the films people look back on and say: “Wait… why was I equally obsessed with him and her?” Or sometimes just her. They’re messy, campy, sexy, and often way queerer than they were ever intended to be, probably. Whether it was the double crush factor, queer-coded tension, or a cast that was just too hot to handle, these films live rent-free in bisexual history.
Here are 10 iconic picks that unlocked something for a whole generation:
The Mummy (1999)
This one needs no introduction. Brendan Fraser’s rugged adventurer and Rachel Weisz’s whip-smart librarian were simply too much hotness in one movie. Their chemistry had us questioning which one we were more jealous of. And the answer, as always, is both.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
I go both ways. Megan Fox oozing sapphic menace? Amanda Seyfried serving doe-eyed devotion? That infamous kiss? The campiness of it all? No explanation needed. This movie basically raised a generation of queer teens.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank-N-Furter shattered gender lines in sequins, heels, and a corset, a glam-rock mad scientist who was campy, chaotic, and utterly irresistible. He didn’t just flirt with everyone on screen, he seduced the audience too, teaching a generation that attraction doesn’t have to follow rules. And while Curry was commanding the spotlight, Susan Sarandon was quietly stealing hearts as Janet, gorgeous in her lingerie and discovering her own desires along the way. Together, they made The Rocky Horror Picture Show feel like a queer awakening wrapped in fishnets and glitter.
Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Gerard Butler’s brooding Phantom, Patrick Wilson’s golden-boy Raoul, and Emmy Rossum’s angelic Christine, it was impossible to pick just one. Between the swirling capes, soaring vocals, and heavy camp, this movie had us hooked.
Star Wars (2002)
Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala in that backless meadow dress, Hayden Christensen’s angsty Anakin Skywalker smoldering under his Jedi robes, and Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan still serving beard-and-robe elegance? This was a bisexual trifecta in space.
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Antonio Banderas as the smoldering, swashbuckling Zorro. Catherine Zeta-Jones as the whip-smart, sword-wielding beauty who can hold her own. Their legendary sword-fight-turned-flirtation is basically bisexual cinema at its finest — dangerous, sexy, and impossible to pick just one side. For many, this film was a full-on awakening dressed up as a period adventure.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
This is a new one but we had to include it. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian turn up the heat in a sweaty, neon-soaked love story that’s equal parts pulpy thriller and queer fever dream. Stewart smolders with her usual cool detachment, while O’Brian brings raw, muscular intensity as the kind of buff, commanding woman who makes bisexuals everywhere weak in the knees. Together, they flex, fight, and flirt their way through a romance that already feels like a modern cult classic in the bisexual canon.
Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise
There’s a reason Heartstopper showed Nick Nelson immediately googling “bisexual” after watching — this movie was the blueprint. For countless fans, it sparked that first dizzying wave of bi panic: Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom’s smoldering chemistry left jaws on the floor, while Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow had us cackling one second and swooning the next.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt as married assassins trying to kill each other (and look impossibly hot while doing it)? The sexual tension is off the charts.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
“Lay All Your Love on Me” with Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper was way too hot. I had to jump in the ocean after.
Honorable Mentions
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep’s unhinged, campy rivalry, with Bruce Willis caught in the middle, made vanity and vengeance look deliciously queer.
Disney & Animated Films
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001): Milo’s nerdy adventurer vibes and Princess Kida’s warrior energy made this a double-feature crush that confused plenty of young viewers in the best way. Plus Audrey and Helga? Next question.
Hercules (1997): Megara’s sultry sarcasm and Hercules’ wide-eyed muscle himbo energy were a bisexual’s dream combo.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988): Obvious reasons.
