Scene from “Mapplethorpe”
For an unflinching look at queer art history, director Ondi Timoner’s biographical drama Mapplethorpe (2018) leads Netflix’s June Pride Month arrivals.
Starring Matt Smith (Doctor Who, House of the Dragon) in a highly transformative performance, the film chronicles the meteoric and controversial rise of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. It follows his journey from a young artist discovering his sexuality in the underground New York City art scene of the 1970s and 1980s to becoming a visionary who pushed the boundaries of erotic imagery and free speech.
The biopic captures his complex relationships – most notably with his lifelong friend and muse, Patti Smith (played by Marianne Rendón) – and his tragic death from AIDS-related complications in 1989. For anyone interested in the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity, artistic censorship, and New York’s subculture era, it stands out as a major mid-month addition.
What Else is New and Queer on Netflix (June 2026)
Beyond the spotlight biopic, Netflix is filling out its June lineup with a mix of international romances, indie dramas, and high-profile documentaries.
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You Can Live Forever(2022) – June 4: A tender, melancholic indie drama about a queer teenager sent to live with her aunt in a devout Jehovah’s Witness community, who finds herself falling into a forbidden romance with the daughter of a congregation leader.
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I’m the Most Beautiful Count (Season 1) – June 5: Netflix expands its Thai BL (Boys’ Love) catalog with this time-travel romance. The series centers on Prince, a polarizing modern queer singer who wakes up in the body of a young nobleman in the historical Thonburi Kingdom.
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This Love Doesn’t Have Long Beans (Season 1) – June 5: Another anticipated Thai BL import, this workplace romantic-comedy follows an aspiring basil stir-fry chef training under a stern, legendary restaurant owner.
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Chris & Martina: The Final Set (2026) – June 29: A heavy-hitting sports documentary tracking the lifelong rivalry, deep friendship, and parallel health battles of tennis icons Chris Evert and trailblazing lesbian athlete Martina Navratilova.
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