‘Brokeback Mountain’ Returns to Theaters for 20th Anniversary Pride Reissue

Ang Lee’s 2005 film ‘Brokeback Mountain’ returns to theaters in June 2025 to mark its 20th anniversary and Pride Month. Based on Annie Proulx’s short story, the film portrays the forbidden love between two cowboys, Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger), set against the scenic backdrop of Wyoming. The line “I wish I knew how to quit you” became an iconic expression of their doomed romance. While the film received critical acclaim and eight Oscar nominations, it was also subject to parody and shorthand references like ‘the gay cowboy movie.’ Despite losing the Best Picture Oscar to ‘Crash,’ the film had a deep cultural impact and marked a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream cinema. Film critic Alonso Duralde called it a watershed moment in queer film history, particularly for its wide distribution by Focus Features and the involvement of high-profile talent. As it returns to theaters, ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is being reexamined not just as a cinematic achievement, but as a cultural landmark that helped reshape Hollywood’s treatment of same-sex love stories.