It’s that time of year again, and soon we will all want to cosy up on the sofa to watch our all-time favourite Christmas movies. Of course, while we all love the classics, I know that many of you would love to add some lesbian Christmas movies to your watch list this year.Â
Until quite recently, Christmas movies with lesbian characters were practically unheard of. In fact, lesbian representation in any movie was pretty rare, let alone a festive one. I mean, god forbid that a lesbian storyline be joyous and uplifting when they could just kill us off instead.
Thankfully, we are now in 2021, and the “kill your lesbians” trope is slowly becoming a thing of the past (we hope). And with that, the introduction of various lesbian festive movies and tv shows is on the rise.
2020 even saw the first-ever mainstream lesbian holiday movie, and while Happiest Season wasn’t perfect, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Of course, we must continue to push for better lesbian representation on our screens. However, in the meantime, let us be grateful for the progress we’ve made so far.
A few years ago, I would never have imagined I’d be able to collate a list with so many lesbian Christmas movies. So, maybe in another few years, we can double or even triple this list.
But for now, let’s get down to what you came here for. Please note, this list is ranked in no particular order.
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My Top Lesbian Christmas Movies to Watch in 2022
1. Under the Christmas Tree (2021)
Under the Christmas Tree was the highly anticipated lesbian Christmas movie of 2021. It was Lifetime’s first Christmas movie featuring a lesbian romance, and we are thrilled to say it did not disappoint!
The romance is between marketing whizz Alma (Elise Bauman) and Christmas tree whisperer Charlie (Tattiawna Jones). They meet when Charlie finds the perfect tree for the Maine Governor’s Holiday Celebration, which happens to be in Alma’s backyard.
The pair don’t get off to a great start, but it’s not long before sparks fly and a dream Christmas romance blossoms.Â
Sure, the storyline isn’t original; however, we love a stereotypical Christmas movie, don’t we? And it’s without all the lesbian drama that we’ve seen in other festive movies!
‘Under the Christmas Tree’ will be available to watch on Lifetime from December 19th 2021.Â
2. Happiest Season (2020)
Next up, we have what’s probably the most famous lesbian holiday movie on this list. There was a lot of excitement surrounding this movie when its release was announced last year, and rightly so.
Every year we see countless mainstream festive movies flooding our screens, and until 2020 not one of them featured a lesbian character. So yes, the release of Happiest Season was a big deal.
As I mentioned earlier, the movie is far from perfect. Rather than just having a Christmas movie that featured lesbian characters, it was more of a lesbian movie that just happened to be filmed during the holidays.
By that, I mean that it’s the characters’ sexuality that’s the focus of the film. However, there’s no doubt that you’ll still enjoy watching this movie which is based on the director’s (Clea DuVall) real-life experiences.
The story follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who plan to visit Harper’s parents for Christmas. However, unbeknown to Abby, Harper is yet to come out to her parents.
Naturally, this leaves the couple in an awkward position, but they agree to act as friends until Harper comes clean about their relationship.
I won’t say much more in fear of giving too much away; however, what follows is an awkward, and at times hard to watch, series of events.
But does it have a happy ending, as the title suggests? You’ll just have to watch to find out.
‘Happiest Season’ is available to watch now on Hulu and Amazon Prime.Â
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3. A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
When it comes to lesbian representation on screen, Netflix is way ahead of the curve. Therefore it’s no surprise that they have a fair few lesbian Christmas movies within their portfolio. Â
Having watched most of them, A New York Christmas Wedding is up there as one of the most progressive and diverse. That’s because not only is this a queer Christmas movie, but it’s a queer Christmas movie with a woman of colour at its lead.
I should start by mentioning that this movie is an extremely low-budget production, and unfortunately, it shows. But please don’t allow that to overshadow the importance of this movie, and you should watch it nonetheless.
The movie follows Jenny, who gets paid a visit by her guardian angel shortly before her Christmas eve wedding. Like the festive classic A Christmas Carol, the angel shows Jennifer what life might have been like if she hadn’t denied her feelings for her childhood friend, Gabby.
In many ways, this movie is your typical cheesy Christmas rom-com. But don’t we all love a bit of that at this time of the year?
Not to mention we should all celebrate the inclusivity of this movie. So be sure to add this to your watch list this December.
‘A New York Christmas Wedding’ is available to watch now on Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.
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4. Let it Snow (2019)
The next festive movie that forms a part of the Lesbian Netflix collection is Let it Snow.
In this movie, when a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, it brings together a group of high school students. With each of them battling their own demons, their union seems like fate as they help each other in ways they could never have imagined.
One of the subplots of the movie, however, involves a lesbian couple. One of them is out and proud, and the other is struggling to come to terms with her sexuality.
While it may not be the main plot of the film, it still gets a fair bit of airtime, and the queer characters are, in my opinion, the highlight of the movie.
All in all, Let it Snow is every bit cliche and predictable as most Christmas rom-com’s. But it’s got all the feel-good factor that we enjoy about those kinds of movies as well.Â
‘Let it Snow’ is available to watch now on Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.Â
5. Lez Bomb (2018)
After learning that Lez Bomb has the same executive producer as There’s Something About Mary, I had high hopes for this next lesbian movie on Netflix. Â
The movie centres around Lauren (played by Jenna Laurenzo who is also the director) – a lesbian woman who decides to come out to her parents over Thanksgiving dinner.
She shows up with her girlfriend Hailey (Caitlin Mehner), and all is going to plan. That is until her male friend Austin arrives unexpectedly, encouraging her parents to assume that he’s Lauren’s boyfriend.
What follows is a series of comical complications that admittedly feel all too familiar from classic movies such as ‘Meet the Parents’. However, while it may be overrun with tropes and cliches, Lez Bomb is quirky, current, and at times, downright hilarious!Â
‘Lez Bomb’ is available to watch now on Amazon Prime & Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.
6. City of Trees (2019)
Our next lesbian movie set during the holiday season is City of Trees. Here we have an unassuming Christmas movie that probably hasn’t received the credit that it rightly deserves.
The storyline focuses on Ainsley, a twenty-something woman who returns to her small hometown for the holidays for the first time in years. Inevitably, returning home stirs up some old feelings, particularly those for the once-popular girl in school, Sophie.
When the pair are reunited, it’s evident that sparks fly. However, knowing little about Sophie and her sexuality, we are left wondering if anything will happen between them.
I won’t give anything else away, but all things considered, City of Trees is a feel-good holiday romance that is well worth a watch.
‘City of Trees’ is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
7. Season of Love (2019)
I have a real treat for you with this next lesbian Christmas movie, as it features not one but THREE lesbian couples at the centre of its storyline. Â
Season of Love is another Love Actually style of rom-com similar to Let it Snow, whereby each of the couples stories eventually ends up intertwined. Only this time, all of the stories are about queer women.
Besides the cheesy cliches that we all know and love about Christmas movies, there is so much more to appreciate about this movie. For one, nobody dies. For two, there are interracial lesbian relationships.
Last but not least, none of the stories is about coming out or focus primarily on the character’s sexuality. It’s just a set of stories about a group of women who happen to be queer.
So if you’re looking for a movie to give you all of those warm fuzzy Christmas feels, Season of Love should be at the top of your watch list this holiday season.
‘Season of Love’ is available to stream now through Tello Films.
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8. Carol (2015)
While not a Christmas movie by definition, Carol is one of the best lesbian movies of all time. It also features one of my favourite lesbian movie scenes, set during the holiday season. So with this in mind, I decided that Carol deserved a spot on this list.
Set in 1950s New York, Carol is a period drama with a stellar cast directed by the brilliant Todd Haynes. It follows the lesbian love story of Therese (Rooney Mara), a young aspiring photographer. Upon meeting her in a department store, she falls for a beautiful older woman Carol (Cate Blanchett).
Naturally, Carol and Therese embark on a romantic love affair. But with Carol going through a tricky divorce, they are playing a dangerous game.
Derived from the lesbian novel The Price of Salt, Carol is a timeless and exquisite production. And it’s certainly one you do not want to miss this Christmas.Â
‘Carol’ is available to watch now on Amazon Prime & Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.Â
9. The Christmas Lottery (2020)
Produced by Black Entertainment Television, The Christmas Lottery is an inclusive festive movie featuring a Black lesbian couple as two of the lead characters. Their relationship, however, is not the predominant storyline of the movie.
The story actually focuses on an estranged group of sisters who haven’t been in the same room for years. However, that all changes when their father announces he has won the lottery. To get their share of the winnings, the sisters must return home and fix their relationship.
‘The Christmas Lottery’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime (in selected regions).
10. Friendsgiving (2020)
Honestly, this one isn’t the best of the bunch. But let’s face it, our choices are limited, so chances are we are going to watch it anyway. Â
So what’s it about? Well, Abby and Molly are two best friends looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving. However, their plans for a casual turkey dinner go up in smoke when some unexpected guests join them. Â
The party crashers include Molly’s new boyfriend, his flamboyant mother, a wannabe shaman, and a trio of Fairy Gay Mothers. So as you can imagine, it’s a recipe for an utterly chaotic Thanksgiving that none of them will ever forget.Â
‘Friendsgiving’ is available to watch now on Amazon Prime & Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.Â
Related Read
11. I Hate New Years (2020)
I Hate New Years is an LGBTQ+ romantic comedy from Tello Films about love, friendship, and music.
When aspiring artist Layne finds herself with writer’s block, she returns home to Nashville to get some closure on her past.
She believes doing so will help her breakthrough when an unexpected love turns out to be her remedy.
‘I Hate New Years’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime (in selected regions). Â
12. What's Cooking? (2000)
We are throwing it back now to 2000, when YES, there was lesbian representation in a Christmas movie. Who would have thought?
What’s Cooking follows four ethnically diverse families on Thanksgiving day, showcasing each of their traditions and, inevitably, their problems.
One household is three generations of Vietnamese, one is Hispanic, one African American and the other Jewish. It’s within the Jewish family where our lesbian relationship comes into play, where daughter Rachel is forced to hide her sexuality from the rest of the family.
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‘What’s Cooking’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime (in selected regions).
13. Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019)
The final Christmas movie on our watch list for this year isn’t exactly a lesbian-focused holiday movie, but it does feature some lesbian characters.
In Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas, Jess has the best date of her life with Ben, only to die in a car crash on her way home.
Jess wakes up as a ghost, and Ben thinks she has ‘ghosted’ him for real, so Jess has to get her best friend Kara to help her settle things.
Jess’s best friend Kara is a lesbian character, and her relationship with her girlfriend Mae is a cute subplot of the movie.
‘Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime (in selected regions).
More Lesbian Holiday to Watch this Season
While the titles mentioned above are all my favourite lesbian holiday movies, there are a few others that I am yet to watch. So without further ado, here are a few more recommendations on my watch list this Christmas.Â
14. Christmas at the Ranch (2021)
Are you ready for another cheesy lesbian holiday movie? Well, buckle up because Christmas at the Ranch is just that.
If you know anything about Tello Productions, you’ll know that this isn’t their first lesbian Christmas rom-com. They brought us ‘Season of Love’ and ‘I Hate New Years’ and now this – a cowgirl romance with a happy ending – Yeehaa!
The story follows Haley, who returns to her family ranch to try and save it from financial ruin. When she meets the ranch hand Kate, the two get off on the wrong foot. However, as you can guess, they soon make up and end up falling for each other.
Admittedly there are no gold stars for the storyline – it’s one we are all familiar with, but throw this on with a festive candle, and it’s sure to give you all the feels!
‘Christmas at the Ranch’ is available to watch on Tello Films.Â
15. Silent Night (2021)
An apocalyptic Christmas movie featuring lesbian characters and based in the idyllic English countryside – you can count me in!
The storyline is an interesting one. It starts with a group of old friends who’ve reunited for Christmas dinner at a posh home in the English countryside.
As the movie develops, it’s revealed that a gigantic gas cloud is approaching Britain, and this will be the last time the group will see one another.
The lesbian couple of the group is Bella (Lucy Punch) and Alex (Kirby Howell-Baptiste). Queer actress Lily-Rose Depp also features in the movie, as does Keira Knightley.
‘Silent Night’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime (in selected regions).Â
Bonus Addition: Festive Lesbian TV Shows
16. Merry Happy Whatever (2019)
If a festive tv show with a lesbian storyline is what you’re asking Santa for this Christmas, then you’ll be happy to know that the big man has already delivered. Â
Merry Happy Whatever is a Christmas-themed sitcom that revolves around the Quinn family as they navigate the trials and tribulations of family life. Â
Various storylines within the show evoke a range of different emotions; However, it’s Kayla’s character who captured our attention.
Kayla is hiding her sexuality from her conservative family and accurately represents the struggles that many LGBTQ+ people face.
‘Merry Happy Whatever’ is available to watch now on Netflix. Depending on your location, you may need to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix. We recommend Surfshark.
What's Your Favourite Lesbian Christmas Movie?
There we have it. That concludes our list of the best lesbian Christmas movies to watch this festive season.
What are your thoughts on these movies? Have you seen them all? Are there any others that you think deserve a spot on this list?
Let us know! We love hearing from you. You can reach out to us in the comment section below.
Merry Christmas & Happy Binging!
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One Response
Thanks for this list. I actually found a couple of movies I haven’t seen lol. I was actually looking to see if tello was making a holiday movie this year. I’m sure I’ll find out but it’s looking pretty bleak do far.