QUEERING THE 2015 SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

Summer has come to an end and so have the Summer Blockbusters—that’s the time when the Hollywood studios premiere their action packed popcorn extravaganzas. These films, while fun, deal more in explosions and special effects than rich characters and complex storylines. It’s rare to see any queer characters in big summer tent pole movies, and 2015 was no different. Looking back at this year’s movie crop there wasn’t much LGBT, but their big name movies stars have played gay in the past.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

The eagerly anticipated sequel to The Avengers, this film had all the super powered action and hot heroes you expect in a Marvel movie. While there are no queer heroes yet, our two scientist heroes, Iron Man and the Hulk, have previously turned pink enough times for the whole team.

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man)

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1995): This film stars Holly Hunter who returns home to her dysfunctional family for Thanksgiving. Downey plays her gay younger brother Tommy, who brings his new boyfriend to dinner. This film is a fun holiday gem directed by out lesbian Jodie Foster.

WONDER BOYS (2000): In this Oscar nominated film Downey plays gay book editor to English professor Michael Douglas (more about him later), who falls for and eventually sleeps with college student Tobey Maguire.

Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk)

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (2010): Ruffalo won an Oscar for playing Paul, the unbeknownst sperm donor father to the two children of a lesbian couple played by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore.

THE NORMAL HEART (2014): In this award-winning and critically acclaimed film Ruffalo stars as Ned Weeks as a gay activist attempting to raise awareness around HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

A feast for the senses, this fifth Mad Max film is an amazing non-stop action fest with an underlying powerful tale of female empowerment. The stars can carry the action, and in the past they’ve also carried a few rainbows.

Tom Hardy (Mad Max)

ROCKNROLA (2008): In this lesser known Guy Ritchie film Hardy plays Handsome Bob, a thief on the night before his court case who admits his love for is crime partner played by Gerard Butler. This film was even nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.

Charlize Theron (Furiosa)

MONSTER (2003): Theron give an Oscar winning performance as Aileen Wuornos, a real life Florida prostitute, serial killer, and lesbian in love with Selby played by Christina Ricci.

Nicholas Hoult (Nux the Warboy)

A SINGLE MAN (2009): Holt plays Kenny, a young student of the main character George Falconer (Colin Firth) who is mourning the death of his boyfriend. Kenny’s attraction to Falconer sparks life into the single man.

ANT-MAN

In the newest Marvel superhero film thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit.

Michael Douglas (Hank Pym)

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA (2013): Douglas won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the flamboyant and decadent pianist Liberace in this look at his secret love life.

Paul Rudd (Scott Lang)

OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION (1998): In this classic queer film, Rudd plays opposite Jennifer Aniston as her gay best friend with whom she falls for wants to help her raise her child.

ENTOURAGE

The boys from the hit HBO show of the same name were back with their money, movies, babes, and fame. If you never watched the show before, you probably don’t care.

Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold)

RUSH HOUR 2 (2001): The straightest of all straight men in this year’s blockbusters once played the gayest of gay stereotypes…a queeny Versace salesman. This small yet offensive part even included frosted hair, stereotypical lisp, and grabby hands that had Chris Tucker calling him “sweetness” and “honey lips.” They can’t all be gold.