SimilarScreen
The Normal Heart

The Normal Heart

To win a war, You have to start one

20147.72h 13m

Overview

The story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

Directed by Ryan Murphy
Written by Larry Kramer
Produced by Alexis Martin Woodall, Scott Ferguson
0

Top Cast

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo

Ned Weeks

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer

Felix Turner

Taylor Kitsch

Taylor Kitsch

Bruce Niles

Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons

Tommy Boatwright

Alfred Molina

Alfred Molina

Ben Weeks

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts

Dr. Emma Brookner

Joe Mantello

Joe Mantello

Mickey Marcus

BD Wong

BD Wong

Buzzy

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Groff

Craig

Stephen Spinella

Stephen Spinella

Sanford

Themes & Keywords

new york cityaidsgay clubbased on play or musicalhivmale homosexualityepidemiclgbtfire island1980sgay theme

About The Normal Heart

The Normal Heart is a drama film released in 2014 exploring themes of new york city, aids, gay club, based on play or musical, hiv, male homosexuality. Directed by Ryan Murphy, it stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch. The story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

Movies Similar to The Normal Heart

Discover titles like The Normal Heart — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Normal Heart

If you enjoyed The Normal Heart, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The Normal Heart.

Longtime Companion
35% Match

During the summer of 1981, a group of friends in New York are completely unprepared for the onslaught of AIDS. What starts as a rumor about a mysterious "gay cancer" soon turns into a major crisis as, one by one, some of the friends begin to fall ill, leaving the others to panic about who will be next. As death takes its toll, the lives of these friends are forever redefined by an unconditional display of love, hope and courage.

House of Boys
35% Match

It is 1984. Frank is a determined English teenager who runs away from high school to find an alternative gay lifestyle in Amsterdam. He finds a home and a job at the "House of Boys", a bar-cum-brothel run by a strict Madame who has an eye for what his punters crave. Frank works his way up from barman to on-stage dancer and falls in love with some of his housemates, Jake. The first intimations of what is described as 'the gay cancer', casts a long shadow over Frank's tight-knit group of friends. Yet despite the troubles that cloud the hopes and dreams of young Frank, his perseverance, along with support from a willing doctor, will carry him through.

Philadelphia
35% Match

Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.

Love Is Strange
34% Match

After 39 years together, Ben and George finally tie the knot, but George loses his job as a result, and the newlyweds must sell their New York apartment and live apart, relying on friends and family to make ends meet.

Rent
34% Match

Rent(2005)

Movie6.8/10

In New York City's gritty East Village, a group of bohemians strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

The Boys in the Band
34% Match

A witty, perceptive and devastating look at the personal agendas and suppressed revelations swirling among a group of gay men in Manhattan. Harold is celebrating a birthday, and his friend Michael has drafted some other friends to help commemorate the event. As the evening progresses, the alcohol flows, the knives come out, and Michael's demand that the group participate in a devious telephone game, unleashing dormant and unspoken emotions.

Buddies
34% Match

Buddies(1985)

Movie8.2/10

David, a naive graduate student, has volunteered to work as a 'buddy' for people dying of AIDS. Assigned to the intensely political Robert, a lifelong activist whose friends and family have abandoned him following his diagnosis, the two men, each with notably different world views, soon discover common bonds, as David's inner activist awakens and Robert's need for emotional release is fulfilled.

The History Boys
33% Match

The story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students at a Yorkshire grammar school in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Bounced between their maverick English master, a young and shrewd teacher hired to up their test scores, a grossly out-numbered history teacher, and a headmaster obsessed with results, the boys attempt to pass.

Bohemian Rhapsody
33% Match

Singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen in 1970. Hit songs become instant classics. When Mercury's increasingly wild lifestyle starts to spiral out of control, Queen soon faces its greatest challenge yet – finding a way to keep the band together amid the success and excess.

The Trip
31% Match

The Trip(2002)

Movie6.1/10

When 19-year-old gay-rights activist Tommy and 24-year-old Alan first meet in 1973, they find themselves on the opposite sides of the political coin...

Drown
31% Match

Drown(2015)

Movie5.5/10

Len is a Surf Lifesaving champion, a legend in the cloistered surf club just like his father. When the younger, faster, and fitter Phil arrives at the club, Len’s legendary status starts to crumble. Then Len sees Phil arriving in the company of another man. Phil is gay.

Moonlight
31% Match

Moonlight(2016)

Movie7.4/10

The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.

Dallas Buyers Club
29% Match

Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.

Rent
29% Match

Rent(2019)

Movie6.7/10

The story of several friends in New York City facing financial poverty, homophobia, AIDS, and, of course, rent.