On Swift Horses LGBTQ Film: Plot, Cast & Streaming

There’s a reason people keep asking if On Swift Horses is an LGBTQ movie. The film openly includes queer characters and themes, yet many critics argue it doesn’t dig deeply enough into those experiences.

Release Year: 2024 ·
Runtime: 119 min ·
Director: Daniel Minahan ·
Cast: Will Poulter, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Diego Calva, Jacob Elordi ·
Genre: Historical romantic drama ·
Based On: Novel by Shannon Pufahl

Six key details at a glance: the film’s director, cast, runtime, genre, source material, and release year.

Is On Swift Horses an LGBTQ movie?

Yes, On Swift Horses is a romance drama with LGBTQ+ themes, including queer characters and same-sex attraction. The film is explicitly tagged as LGBTQ+ on major platforms. But the label alone isn’t the whole story.

What is the LGBTQ representation in On Swift Horses?

• The film features queer characters: Julius (Jacob Elordi) has a romantic relationship with a man, and Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) explores her own sexuality.
• Themes of queer love, autonomy, and self-discovery are central to the narrative.
• Critics have noted that while the film acknowledges queer experiences, it doesn’t delve into them as thoroughly as the premise promises. Headstuff reviewer Ciarán O’Rourke described it as “meticulously curated Americana without much depth” in a 2025 review.

The implication: the LGBTQ content is present but some viewers and critics find it surface-level.

Does the film center on queer characters?

Not exclusively. The story follows both Muriel and Julius, with Muriel’s arc taking up significant screen time. Julius’s queer romance drives part of the plot, but the film also focuses on Muriel’s secret horse gambling and her own awakening. It’s more of an ensemble love story than a single-protagonist queer narrative.

The pattern: the film broadens its scope beyond queer identity, which may explain why some feel the queer themes are underdeveloped.

The pattern: the film’s LGBTQ content is present but critics say it lacks depth.

What is the plot of the book On Swift Horses?

The question is common because the film is an adaptation of Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel. Both share the same basic plot, though the film makes some adjustments.

What is the story about?

• Set in 1950s post-Korean War California and San Diego.
• Muriel (Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) start a new life. Their quiet existence is shaken when Lee’s brother Julius (Jacob Elordi) returns from the war.
• Julius is a gambler. He falls for a card cheat, leading to a dangerous love triangle. Meanwhile, Muriel begins secret horse betting and explores her own desires, including queer attraction.

How does the film adaptation differ from the book?

The film retains the core plot: Muriel’s road trip, Julius’s risky romance, and the intersecting lives in 1950s California. But critical early reactions suggest the film streamlines some of the novel’s interior monologue and emotional complexity, focusing more on visual storytelling. The trade-off: a lush period piece that sacrifices some depth for pacing.

What this means: readers of the novel may find the film lighter on psychological detail, though the essential arc remains intact.

What this means: the film streamlines the novel’s psychological complexity for visual storytelling.

How to watch On Swift Horses in the UK?

Streaming rights vary by region, and UK viewers have a few options.

Is On Swift Horses available on Netflix UK?

Yes, On Swift Horses is streaming on Netflix in select regions, including the UK (subscription required). However, availability can change, so it’s worth checking directly on Netflix UK or using a service like JustWatch for real-time updates.

What other streaming services offer On Swift Horses?

• Rent or buy: available on ROW8 from $5.74, Fandango at Home $5.99, Prime Video $5.99, Apple TV $5.99.
• No free streaming options as of latest data.
• Apple TV lists the film with a 53% rating and 16+ age classification.

Why this matters: for UK viewers who don’t have Netflix, buying or renting digitally is the most reliable path. Use JustWatch to check current UK-specific rights.

Why is it getting removed from Netflix?

Netflix licenses content for limited periods, and removal dates depend on regional contracts.

Why do movies leave Netflix?

Streaming rights are temporary. Distributors like Sony Pictures Classics — which handled On Swift Horses — negotiate windows with platforms. When the contract ends, the title leaves until re-licensed.

When will On Swift Horses leave Netflix?

The exact removal date for On Swift Horses is not publicly specified. Typically, Netflix announcements are region-specific and may not be widely advertised. Viewers should watch for in-app notifications or check the “expiring soon” section.

The pattern: this is standard practice for licensed content. The film’s departure date remains unclear, so fans should plan to watch soon if they only have Netflix access.

Were Julius and Muriel in love?

Julius and Muriel are married in the film, but their relationship is strained by Julius’s pursuit of a man and Muriel’s own journey.

What is the nature of Julius and Muriel’s relationship?

• Julius and Muriel are married, but their bond is tested when Julius begins a relationship with a male card cheat.
• Muriel, in turn, embarks on a secret life of horse betting and queer exploration, creating distance between them.
• The question of whether they are “in love” in a romantic sense is ambiguous — the film shows their marriage as both genuine and frayed.

Are they romantic partners?

Yes, they are a married couple, but the film depicts their relationship as evolving into a more complex, platonic bond as both pursue separate desires. Viewers asking this question are often trying to understand the emotional core: is the story about their marriage or about their individual liberations? The answer is both, but the film leans toward individual arcs over a unified romantic narrative.

The trade-off: the marriage serves as a backdrop for each character’s personal discovery, rather than a central romance.

The film’s handling of queer themes has drawn mixed reactions. Below, a key critical verdict:

“Meticulously curated Americana without much depth.”

— Ciarán O’Rourke, Headstuff review

“The script is really beautiful, lyrical.”

— Daisy Edgar-Jones, speaking to ELLE magazine

For audiences, the bottom line is that On Swift Horses offers a visually rich period drama with LGBTQ+ elements, but it falls short of fully satisfying those seeking deep queer representation. Critics and viewers alike are left to weigh the film’s aesthetic strengths against its narrative restraint. For UK viewers on Netflix, the clock is ticking: watch it while it’s streaming, or prepare to rent it later.

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