12 Best Movies To Watch Like My Policeman

"My Policeman" is both a love story and a story about learning to love yourself. Set in the mid-20th century and based on Bethan Robert's 2012 novel, the film follows closeted gay police officer Tom Burgess (Harry Styles), who falls in love with museum curator Patrick Hazlewood (David Dawson) while married to local school teacher Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin).

With his career and social life at threat if his secret relationship is ever made public, Burgess must navigate a world where homosexuality is still illegal. At its heart, "My Policeman" is a deeply emotional love story, but it's also a stark reminder of the oppression queer people had to contend with in 1950s England.

If you enjoyed the film and are looking for more of the same, there are a number of other similar movies that may be right up your alley. From stories of secret love to gay romances and period dramas, these films all have something in common with "My Policeman" that should appeal to those who enjoyed the Amazon release.

Hitting cinema screens in 1987, "Maurice" is a romantic drama film directed by "A Room with a View" filmmaker James Ivory and co-written by Kit Hesketh-Harvey. Based on the novel of the same name by E. M. Forster, it follows the titular Maurice (James Wilby) through his sexual coming of age as a gay man in early 20th-century England. Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves support as Maurice's two primary love interests throughout the film.

It shouldn't be surprising that there are some notable similarities between "Maurice" and "My Policeman." In fact, Bethan Roberts' own novel was partly based on the real life of E. M. Forster, who obviously took inspiration from his own life for the "Maurice" novel (per The Guardian). Both movies take a deep look at the societal pressures that gay men faced earlier in the 20th century and the harsh realities of keeping relationships hidden away.

"Maurice" wasn't a huge financial success, but it did prove a hit with critics and viewers. Roger Ebert noted that the film is "so handsome to look at and so intelligently acted that it is worth seeing just to regard the production." Further, retrospective examinations of the movie have suggested that it was undervalued when released and deserves to be seen by more people (per The Guardian). If you loved "My Policeman," it's a great next watch.

One of the more obvious recommendations for any fan of "My Policeman" is "Another Country." The 1984 romantic drama is set in the first half of the 20th century, not too far before the events that take place in the 2022 film, with a cast that includes Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, and Robert Addie.

Unlike "My Policemen," there's no love triangle at the heart of the story, and the relationships of the main character aren't really the center of attention. The narrative follows Guy Bennett — one of the only openly gay pupils at his public school — and Tommy Judd — an outsider due to his Marxist beliefs. After a crackdown at the school prompted by the suicide of a student who was caught in a sexual relationship with another boy, Bennett starts to come to terms with his own sexuality, while also understanding how he may be forced to keep that part of his identity hidden away.

Released to a positive reception from most critics, "Another Country" is a compelling story led by an exceptional cast of future stars, and it should easily satisfy fans of "My Policeman."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

2021's "Operation Hyacinth" tells the story of the titular secret police initiative — a mass effort by the government of communist Poland to surveil, record, and blackmail members of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1980s (via Gay City News). It's not a love story like "My Policeman," but it is an affecting period piece that explores the oppression routinely faced by queer people throughout recent history.

The story follows Robert Mrozowski (Tomasz Ziętek) as he investigates a spree of murders against gay men in Warsaw. When his superiors are unwilling to act and find the actual killer, he takes it upon himself to investigate the crimes. As he does, he starts to discover his own sexuality and develops feelings for a mysterious informant. With Mrozowski doing everything he can to uncover the truth, he faces a series of roadblocks from his fellow officers and society at large.

Grim and heavy but deeply affecting, "Operation Hyacinth" rightfully earned great reviews upon its release. It's definitely darker than the story in "My Policeman," but it's absolutely a movie that warrants a watch.

Directed by noted Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, "The Dreamers" is a 2003 movie inspired by the novel "The Holy Innocents" by author Gilbert Adair. The writer also penned the screenplay for the film, which stars Michael Pitt, Eva Green, and Louis Garrel.

The plot of "The Dreamers" follows American exchange student Matthew, who arrives in Paris and quickly strikes up a friendship with twins Isabelle and Théo. His relationship with both siblings quickly turns intimate, yielding a complicated love triangle and a lot of sexual experimentation. As Matthew's relationship with Isabelle progresses, Théo becomes jealous of the pair, leading to further complications and discussions about what the three want.

Like "My Policeman," "The Dreamers" is a story about sexual awakening and discovery, channeled through the main character. Both films also deal with how the world might perceive their respective lovers if their secrets were exposed. "The Dreamers" has more going on than just a love story, however, as it's also loaded with political themes tied to the Paris student riots of 1968. The film received somewhat mixed reviews, with some feeling that it didn't live up to its potential. However, Roger Ebert awarded it four stars, praising the artistry and poignant story and calling the film "extraordinarily beautiful."

Like many of the other films that are a good match for "My Policeman," 2009's "A Single Man" is based on a novel. This time it's from author Christopher Isherwood, with fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford taking on directing duties and adapting the story with screenwriter David Scearce. The film stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore in the two lead roles, with the likes of Matthew Goode and Nicholas Hoult taking supporting parts.

As in the book, the film follows an English professor named George who's struggling through life since the death of Jim, his partner of 16 years. Seeing no real future other than one filled with pain, George considers ending his own life, but a series of chance encounters convince him that life is still well worth living. Through interactions with several other queer men and his relationship with his best friend Charley, George rediscovers a sense of joy, albeit just before a bittersweet ending.

"A Single Man" is a pretty heavy emotional movie, taking viewers into the mind of the main character as he struggles with constant turmoil. He isn't forced to hide his sexuality from the rest of the world like Tom Burgess of "My Policeman, but he does have to contend with a woman in Charley who consistently disregards his lack of attraction to her. The film earned great reviews upon release and is definitely worth checking out, but be prepared for some tears along the way.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

A television film produced by the BBC, "Christopher and His Kind" is an adaptation of the autobiography of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. It tells the true story of Isherwood as he left England for Germany and encountered a collection of friends and lovers before attempting to return to his home country with his partner Heinz Neddermeyer. Featuring "Doctor Who" and "House of the Dragon" star Matt Smith in the lead role, the cast also includes Douglas Booth, Toby Jones, and Imogen Poots.

"Christopher and His Kind" is an obvious choice for fans of "My Policeman" for a couple of reasons. It's yet another period drama, largely taking place in the 1930s, although the setting is somewhat different as Germany is the location where much of the action happens. It's also a story of persevering in the face of oppression, with the rise of the Nazi regime playing a major role in the story. And of course, there's a deep romantic relationship at the heart of the story, with Isherwood and Neddermeyer trying to find a place where they can settle down and live in peace.

The film received plenty of praise from critics, with Sam Wollaston of The Guardian calling it "a tender, touching, personal story of self-discovery."

"Jules and Jim" is a 1962 French film from director François Truffaut, who also co-wrote and produced the release. Following a series of events set around World War I, the narrative charts the lives of friends Jim, Jules, and Catherine. The three bond over their love of the Bohemian lifestyle and both men fall for Catherine, a woman who ultimately goes to extreme lengths to get what she wants.

Both "Jules and Jim" and "My Policemen" are tragic tales of love triangles that cause a huge amount of hurt to all involved. In the 2022 film, Marion's reaction to Tom and Patrick's results in serious consequences. "Jules and Jim" has a similar arc, telling a familiar tale about the potential ramifications that can come from doomed relationships. Just be prepared for the somber ending.

Critically acclaimed, "Jules and Jim" helped set the standard for love triangles in all movies that were to follow. Kevin Maher of The Times called it "a near perfect film," and you may find yourself agreeing after you watch it.

The 2020 Netflix film "The Boys in the Band" is based on Mart Crowley's 1968 play of the same name. Directed by Broadway legend Joe Mantello, the film features a cast made up of openly gay actors that includes Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, and Zachary Quinto.

The story follows a group of friends — all adult gay men — who've gathered for a birthday party in Manhattan. Things get a bit complicated when host Michael (Parsons) receives a call from his old college friend Alan (Brian Hutchison), who later joins the festivities. His arrival sparks a series of arguments, confrontations, confessions, and reconciliations that can be difficult to watch at times because of the sheer emotional intensity of it all.

"The Boys in the Band" is a different type of drama film compared to "My Policeman." There's a wider group of main characters and no central love triangle. However, it does deal with rejection and how people deal with the trauma they've experienced — something that Tim, Patrick, and Marion all have to grapple with in "My Policeman" — as well as the pain caused by suppressing your own identity. As many critics have said, it's also just a riveting film from start to finish.

Directed by Oliver Hermanus, "Beauty" is a 2011 South African film starring Deon Lotz, Roeline Daneel, Sue Diepeveen, and Charlie Keegan. The story follows François van Heerden (Lotz), an openly racist and homophobic white man in denial about his own attraction to men. He leads a double life to protect his own status and his family. Although he has regular affairs with other men, François ends up becoming infatuated with one of his daughters' boyfriends — a male model named Christian. When his affection for the younger man becomes an obsession, François goes down a dark path with violent ends.

"Beauty" was a success at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Queer Palm award and being nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award. It also proved to be a hit with critics, with many reviews praising the performance of Lotz in particular. The film isn't for the faint of heart, and the subject matter gets pretty heavy towards the end, but the film is undeniably powerful.

Based on Paul Rudnick's play of the same name (and adapted by Rudnick himself), 1995's "Jeffrey" is a story about struggle and love during the AIDS epidemic. The plot tracks the eponymous Jeffrey, a gay man living in New York City who's hesitant to fall in love because he fears losing those he cares about to the virus. However, that's before he meets and falls in love with a man named Steve. As his feelings for Steve grow, Jeffrey has to confront his own fears so that he can fully enjoy their time together or risk losing it all. The cast stars Steven Weber as Jeffrey and features the likes of Patrick Stewart, Michael T. Weiss, Sigourney Weaver, and Bryan Batt.

In many ways, "My Policeman" is a film about people accepting who they are and choosing to live a life of happiness rather than hiding themselves away. "Jeffrey" is the same in that respect, with the story ultimately being about overcoming fear and instead embracing love above all else. Having earned strong reviews, the film manages to capture the essence of what made the play so successful, with particular praise for Stewart's performance as the flamboyant decorator Sterling.

Kevin Smith isn't someone you'd typically associate with romantic films. After all, he's the man responsible for comedy flicks like "Clerks," "Mallrats," and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." Yet, in 1997 the filmmaker released "Chasing Amy," a comedy-drama starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee.

Affleck and Lee play Holden and Banky, two friends and comic book artists who meet fellow comic artist Alyssa (Lee) at a convention. Holden immediately falls in love with her, but things get more complicated when he learns that she's a lesbian. From there, the dynamic between the three characters only gets more complicated, leading to some major confrontations. The situation becomes worse when Banky finds out some sensitive information about Alyssa's past.

In terms of its queer representation, "Chasing Amy" is far from a perfect movie. It's received a fair share of criticism for seemingly upholding the deeply harmful stereotype that lesbians can be "converted" by straight men who try hard enough (per AV Club). However, in more recent years, some have jumped to the film's defense, calling it a messy but complex look at sexuality, jealousy, and entitlement with more going on than some have given it credit for. At its core, it's a complicated love triangle, much like "My Policeman." The film was a big financial success and drew rave reviews from critics as well.

The 2005 Western romantic drama "Brokeback Mountain" is directed by Ang Lee and stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the two lead roles. The film, which is based on a short story by Annie Proulx, played a significant role in bringing queer cinema into the mainstream, opening up opportunities for filmmakers to tell stories that they might otherwise not have been able to (via Insider).

The plot follows two cowboys who end up falling in love while working together on the titular Brokeback Mountain herding sheep. However, the pair can never live happily together as life gets in the way, with each man marrying and having children. While they obviously continue to have feelings for each other, the relationship remains strained.

"Brokeback Mountain" was met with near-universal acclaim from critics and quickly became a huge hit, winning numerous awards including several Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. The Library of Congress has even included the movie in the National Film Registry for preservation. Much of the praise centered on the deeply emotional story and the performances from both Ledger and Gyllenhaal. Philip French of The Guardian called the story of "Brokeback Mountain" "extremely moving, tragic even." If you haven't watched this classic yet, now is a great time.