This year saw the introduction of direct LGBTQ+ stories to the MCU universe for the first time, presenting a real shift in mainstream cinema, There are many years where LGBTQ+ experience was egregiously missing from mainstream cinema however, 2021 has been a strong and impactful year. Queer reference is beautifully present in subtext and appears more organic than previous presentations in mainstream cinema, with Oscar-fronting films such as The Power of the Dog presenting glimmers of queer beauty, as well as several other successful films this year portraying refreshing takes on queer existence. Previous Oscar seasons have been abuzz with queer-centric romance successes such as Call Me by Your Name and Moonlight, and this might not seem as immediately apparent when examining this year’s Oscar contenders, however, 2021 has certainly been a strong year for LGBTQ+ cinema.
LGBTQ+ cinema has been historically overlooked, or LGBTQ+ characters fall into tropes which have failed to expand or serve a secondary purpose to central characters when existing in the mainstream.
2021 saw the reopening of many cinemas worldwide, meaning we, once again, were able to experience the screening of lots of incredible films throughout the year in actual theatres.
