An Early Frost (1985)

It revolves around the story of a gay diagnosed with AIDS in 1980s America, not knowing which is worse, he has to break the news to his family. The news is heartbreaking and might ruin the happy family.

It was the very first movie to address AIDS and it was released at a time when diagnosis meant death. The film stars Aidan Quinn, Ben Gazzara, Gena Rowlands and Sylvia Sidney in the lead roles.

KIDS (1995)

A movie about the casualness of AIDS among a group of teenagers residing in New York City. A disturbing yet real portrayal of teens' sex lives where the line between sex and rape is frequently blurred and the heavy drug indulgence is concerning.

The 1995 film is one of the few movies centered around AIDS which delivers a powerful message subtly and not using the word in every other dialogue. It stars Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawsons, and Yakira Peguero in lead roles.

My Brother... Nikhil (2005)

The 2005 drama film stars Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri and Gautam Kapoor. The movie is set in late 80s and early 90s Goa and shows the life of Nikhil who is loved by everyone and is also a State level swimming champion. But, after his AIDS diagnosis, he is disowned by his family and friends.

Nikhil is also sent to prison under the Goa Public Health Act as it is legal to isolate the patient in Goa at that time. It is only his sister Anamika and his friend Nigel who support him and help him find a job. The movie was highly appreciated when it came out. 

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

The story of a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS who does not let fate decide his fall. He finds alternative drugs that can cure AIDS better than the ones approved by the FDA and illegally imports them into the country to start the Dallas Buyers Club to help AIDS patients. 

The movie focuses on the dominant hatred towards homosexuality and AIDS patients during that time. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Dallas Roberts, and Craig Borten in lead roles.

Asmaa (2011)

An Egyptian drama film that is also the first one to present AIDS in a sympathetic manner. Based in Cairo, it shows the story of Asmaa, a woman living in her 40s struggling to survive in a society stigmatized by the disease. The film is heartwarming and ends at an emotional note.

The film also has underlying themes of women's discrimination, subjugation, and oppression. It is in contradiction to the misinformed ads made by Egyptian media in the 80s and 90s. The film stars Hend Sabry, Maged el-Kedwany, Hany Adel, Fatma Adel and Bayoumi Fouad in lead roles.

Longtime Companion (1989)

The film takes its title from the euphemism used by The New York Times during the 1980s to describe the surviving same-sex partner of someone who had died of AIDS. The story revolves around friends and lovers Willy, John, David, Sean, Howard, Paul, Fuzzy, and Lisa and how some of them lose their partners to the deadly disease.

The film is very emotional and empathetic to the loneliness caused to people after an AIDS patient dies. It stars Campbell Scott, Patrick Cassidy and John Dossett.

Phir Milenge (2004)

The 2004 film starring Shilpa Shetty, Salman Khan and Abhishek Bachchan narrates the life story of an ad-woman Tamanna whose world turns upside down after she is diagnosed AIDS positive.

She is fired from her job and she decides to file a lawsuit. After much struggle, a lawyer agrees to fight her case and then the battle in court begins. This is considered the career-best performance of Shilpa Shetty. The film too gained critical acclaim.