In spring this middle-aged gay man's fancy turns to—what else?—movies. Looking over the crop of releases over the coming season, the number of LGBT-tinged films seems a bit low. But fear not, there are plenty of enticing titles to look forward to ( and a nice group of queer-themed movies is heading our way by the end of the year ). Unless otherwise noted, the opening date listed refers to a theatrical run or digital availability.
March
Home—An animated sci-fi kids' film is about the unlikely friendship between an earthling girl ( voiced by Rhianna ) and a friendly alien ( voiced by out actor Jim Parsons ) who embark on a road trip to save humanity. March 7
Serena—When was the last time there was a drama centered on a logging empire? Well, that's just what this 1920s set epic starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper as the power couple at the center of the drama is focused on. March 14
Cupcakes—Out Israeli writer-director Eytan Fox's latest, an LGBT film-festival favorite, is a comedic look at a ragtag group of friends ( including their mega-gay ringleader ) who enter the EuroVision song contest on a lark and make it to the finals. March 18
The Riot Club—Hunger Games and The Host's hotties Sam Claflin and Max Irons and a passel of other hunky white young actors star in this fictional drama about two randy English lads whose hijinks within the elitist Riot Club at Oxford College are the definition of "spoiled rotten." March 21
Open Up To Me—As part of its monthlong EU Film Festival, the Gene Siskel Film Center ( 164 N. State St. ) is screening this trans drama from Finland. March 27 and 31
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief—Director Alex Gibney's expose of the Church of Scientology is creating nearly as much buzz for HBO as the network's recently aired multi-part documentary Jinxed about murder suspect Robert Durst. The long controversial movement, steeped in secrecy and rumored to be a home to closeted gay actors, has increasingly gone on the defensive as more of its once high-ranking leaders and numerous celebrity members have defected. March 29
April
Woman in Gold—LGBT audience fave Helen Mirren stars in this true story as an elderly Jewish woman who seeks to recover artwork and valuables stolen from her family by the Nazis 60 years earlier. Ryan Reynolds plays her eager-beaver lawyer. April 1
Furious 7—Will seven be the lucky number for this internationally popular series of movies about hot guys ( the late Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson ) who love hot, fast cars and tersely speak to each other in monosyllabic words before putting the pedal to the metal? Only the box office will tell. April 3
Desert Dancer—British heartthrob Reece Ritchie ( Hercules; Prince of Persia ) stars as a young man who starts a dance troop deep in the desert, away from the prying eyes of the conservative Iranian government. Slumdog Millionaire's Frieda Pinto co-stars. April 3
Boy Meets Girl—Trans actress Michelle Hendley stars in this coming of age teenage relationship drama, a popular draw on the LGBT film-festival circuit last year, from writer-director Eric Schaefer. April 7
Self/less—Ben Kingsley, Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Goode ( The Imitation Game, Stoker, A Single Man ) co-star in this quasi-remake of Seconds ( the 1966 Rock Hudson sci-fi drama ) about a dying man reborn in the body of a younger one who subsequently uncovers the unsavory and criminal truth behind the organization responsible for his rebirth. April 17
Blackbird—Our African-American director Patrik-Ian Polk ( Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom ) helms this gay themed drama centered on a closeted gay teenager ( newcomer Julian Walker ) whose angelic voice shines in the local Gospel choir while his illicit desires for his muscular best friend are causing him unending anguish. Mo'Nique and Isaiah Washington co-star in this LGBT film-festival favorite. April 24
May
Avengers: Age of Ultron—The summer blockbuster season starts with this ultimate collection of comic book superheroes, back for their second outing. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson play the heroes, and James Spader is the voice of the baddie, a maniacal, Transformer-sized robot determined to rid Earth of humans. Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie and Elizabeth Olsen co-star. May 1
Far from the Madding Crowd—Late gay director John Schlesinger's 1967 romantic film adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel, set in the English countryside, starred Julie Christie as the gorgeous lass fought over by a trio of would-be lovers played by Terence Stamp, Peter Finch and Alan Bates. Carey Mulligan ( The Great Gatsby ) steps into Christie's role in this remake, with Tom Sturridge, Michael Sheen and Matthias Schoenaerts as the suitors. May 1
Cinema Q V—The fifth annual Cinema Q film series returns to the Chicago Cultural Center. The series, co-presented by the Queer Film Society, Reeling, and the Legacy Project is a free, weekly after work group of movies presenting the best in queer cinema. The line-up includes I Am Divine, Violette, Beautiful Boxer and Death In Venice. May 7, 14, 21, 28
Pitch Perfect 2—The Barden Belles, the female collegiate a cappella group, is back. This time, the group is trying to win an international singing contest. Anna Kendricks ( Into the Woods ), Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld and Brittany Snow once again lift their voices in song and offer plenty of comedic snark between tunes. May 15
Mad Max: Fury Road—The apocalyptic Australian movie series that made Mel Gibson an international sensation in the early 1980s is remade by its original director, George Miller, this time starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult and Zoe Kravitz co-star. May 15
Tomorrowland—A sci-fi mystery from Disney Studios purportedly based on their same named theme park area. George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie and Kathryn Hahn co-star. May 22
Poltergeist—"They're here…," said little Carol Ann in Tobe Hooper's 1982 paranormal suburban mystery thriller that Steven Spielberg produced. Now they're been reimagined in what is reportedly a much darker vision of the original. Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris and Rosemarie Witt co-star. Zelda Rubinstein's character, the diminutive psychic Tangina, has morphed into several different characters. May 22
San Andreas—The disaster epic, one of my favorite guilty-pleasure genres, strikes again with this man-versus-the-elements big-budget schlock. Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino head the cast. May 29
