Focus Features

SUBSIDIARY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

AND RICHARD ELLIS, DOWTON ABBEY ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER AND MAX BROWN AS THOMAS BARROW Summary of 2019 Findings

8

films released theatrically in 2019 under studio & official imprints

1

total number of LGBTQ-inclusive films

13%

percent of LGBTQ-inclusive films of studio total releases

In 2002, USA Films, Universal Focus, and Good Machine teamed to form Focus Features. Focus Features produces and distributes its own films, establishing an impressive record of critically acclaimed and popular LGBTQ-inclusive films including Brokeback Mountain (2005), Milk (2008), The Kids Are All Right (2010), Pariah (2011), and Boy Erased (2018), in addition to distributing foreign films.

Captive State

WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: 2549 THEATERS This post-apocalyptic drama follows a group of rebels trying to fight off their new alien overlords. One rebel is Daniel, who works in a gay bar and meets others there. It is unclear if Daniel is gay himself or is working at the bar as a cover to get access to the rebels. Unfortunately, he dies before we can discover more backstory. GLAAD did not count the character in its tally.

Downton Abbey

WIDEST THEATRICAL RELEASE: 3548 THEATERS The finale film to the British TV series of the same name, Downton Abbey continues with the Crawley family and their staff as they prepare for a visit from the royal family. The staff includes the family’s gay butler, Thomas. Thomas meets Richard, one of the royal staff who encourages Thomas to meet him at a bar in town. At the bar, Thomas meets another man who takes him to a warehouse meeting full of gay men, a community gathering Thomas has never experienced. Thomas finally feels a sense of freedom, dancing and enjoying himself. The police raid the warehouse and Thomas is arrested, but Richard is able to get him out of jail by using his status as a member of the royal staff. When Richard departs for London, he leaves Thomas with a gift and a kiss. It was a welcome change for a period drama to see Thomas’ more uplifting story and the respect his character was treated with. Downton Abbey is nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.