This Is What It Looked Like When 'Brokeback Mountain' Premiered 18 Years Ago

"I wish I knew how to quit you!"

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Brokeback Mountain is turning 18 in 2023! (Feel old yet?)

It's hard to believe, but it's already been 18 years since Ang Lee's groundbreaking, Oscar-winning gay romantic drama first premiered in theaters. Telling the story of the decades-long love affair between American cowboys Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), Brokeback was a critical success at the time of release and won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. More importantly, it was heralded for its heartfelt and authentic depiction of queer love and is regarded as a major turning point in regard to queer storytelling in mainstream media.

To celebrate the release of the film, Focus Features held premiere events in Los Angeles on November 29, 2005 and in New York City on December 6, 2005. Earlier in the year, Brokeback also premiered at the 2005 Venice International Film Festival as well as the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Much of the talent was at these events, including main heartthrobs Jake Gyllenhaal and the late, great Heath Ledger, as well as their co-stars Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini, Kate Mara, director Ang Lee, as well as other notable celebs!

Scroll through to see throwback photos from Brokeback Mountain's Los Angeles and New York premieres and press tour. And if you want to revisit the classic, Brokeback Mountain is available to rent/own on Amazon Prime Video.

Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Ang Lee & Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Ang Lee, Linda Cardellini, & Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Anne Hathaway @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Anne Hathaway, Ang Lee, Heath Ledger, & Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, & Heath Ledger @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Michelle Williams & Heath Ledger @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, & Anne Hathaway @ the Toronto International Film Festival, September 2005

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Heath Ledger @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Kate Mara @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Ang Lee & Anne Hathaway @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Michelle Williams & Heath Ledger @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Sofia Coppola @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger & Ang Lee @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Michelle Williams & Heath Ledger @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Kyan Douglas @ the New York Premiere, December 2005

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Heath Ledger, Ang Lee, Jake Gyllenhaal, & Anne Hathaway @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Heath Ledger, Ang Lee, & Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Venice International Film Festival, September 2005

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Ang Lee & Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Linda Cardellini @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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Jake Gyllenhaal @ the Los Angeles Premiere, November 2005

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