Baby, it is cold outside! The nights are long, and the winter lights are sparkling, which means it is time to snuggle down with your favourite streaming service and work your way through all your lesbian Christmas movie favourites. To help you sift through the sometimes daunting choice of movies available, we have compiled a list of our favourite lesbian Christmas films below, so all you need to do is click and enjoy.
19 Lesbian & Sapphic Christmas Movies
In no particular order, we present to you, lesbian Christmas movies (cue the mistletoe, Christmas candle and matching PJs).
1. The Christmas Lottery
This one doesn’t centre around a lesbian couple, but the storyline is fun, and it does feature a lesbian couple (wehey). Gerald extends an invitation to his daughters to partake in his $10-million-dollar lottery win. In exchange for their portion, the sisters are tasked with mending their strained relationship. However, when their mother misplaces the winning ticket, the family is thrust into a race against time to locate it and mend their familial bonds before the arrival of Christmas Day.
Deidre (Asia’h Epperson), the eldest sister, navigates life as a lesbian with her charming wife, Belinda (Phyli’cia Lloyd), who, despite her talent for baking delectable cakes, faces estrangement from her homophobic family.
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2. Under the Christmas Tree
Under the Christmas Tree was Lifetime’s first Christmas movie featuring a lesbian romance, and we are thrilled to say it didn’t disappoint. As for a lesbian Christmas movie, yes, it is a little cheesy and a little predictable, but it gives all the Christmassy feels. The movie is wholesome and cheery, delivering everything you expect from a Lifetime movie. The perfect complement to a cosy night snuggled up with your favourite person and a big box of Quality Street.
The film follows workaholic and marketing executive Alma (Elise Bauman) as she meets Charlie (Tattiawna Jones). Alma is on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree for the Maine Governor’s Holiday Celebration, which happens to be, wait for it, in Alma’s backyard. Gasp. Of course, all isn’t plain sailing for the pair at the start of the movie as their two worlds collide, but soon both characters are looking pretty lovingly towards each other… We’ll let you enjoy the rest.
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3. A New York Christmas Wedding
There is something for everyone to enjoy in A New York Christmas Wedding. It holds its own as a small-budget, indie movie despite some shaky-looking camera work. The story pivots around Jennifer (Nia Fairweather) as she is preparing for her wedding on Christmas Eve in New York City.
In what feels like a nod to Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, Jennifer is paid a visit by her guardian angel just before the ceremony. He shows her what life could have been like if she hadn’t denied her feelings for her childhood friend, Gabby (Adriana DeMeo). Prepare yourself for a lot of feelings.
4. Silent Night
Ok, this recommendation is a little rogue: it isn’t entirely a lesbian-focused movie and it is pretty dark (lol, have we lost you yet?). The reason it has ended up on our lesbian Christmas movie list is because it’s a rare British offering, and the cast includes an excellent lesbian couple. Plus, it is totally a nuts, genre-bending story which includes Christmas with a side of apocalypse.
Nell (Keira Knightley), Simon (Matthew Goode) and their son Art (Roman Griffin Davis) are hosting their annual Christmas dinner for their old-school friends and families. The movie is set in a beautiful English estate in the countryside. You get an insight into the politics that runs through any friendship group, intermingling with the stresses of Christmas prep, but there are clues that something else is going on…. The viewer slowly learns that there is a huge toxic cloud is approaching the UK, that will wipe out everything in its path, meaning this will be the last ever time the group see each other.
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, so this has something for everyone.
5. Carol
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star in this beautifully elegant drama set in 1950s New York. Carol (Cate Blanchett) plays an unhappy, divorcing woman who falls instantly for the beautiful, doe-eyed department store assistant Therese (Rooney Mara). The film follows the pair and their blossoming yet forbidden love. Sarah Paulson gives a great performance as Carol’s easy-going former lover turned confidante, Abby. If you love Cate Blanchett as much as we do, go check out our reviews of some more of her best movies.
6. Christmas At the Ranch
If you love a cheesy, easy watch, this is the lesbian Christmas movie for you. Christmas at the Ranch, by Tello Productions (the same production company behind Season of Love and I Hate New Year’s), completes this trilogy of Christmassy queer female-focused movies with this cowgirl rom-com.
Shout out to Christin Baker over at Tello.
The story follows Haleye (Laur Allen), who returns to her family ranch to try and save it from financial ruin. When she meets the ranch hand Kate (Amanda Righetti), 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!
7. Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas
Ok, so this has a subplot of a lesbian relationship, but a good one at that so hear us out.
In Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas, Jess (Aisha Dee) has the best date of her life with Ben (Kendrick Sampson), only to die in a car crash on her way home. Jess wakes up as a ghost and Ben thinks Jess is ghosting him after not receiving a reply to a string of messages.
The only people who can see and hear Jess’s spirit are Ben and her best friend Kara (Kimiko Glenn). Jess enlists Kara’s help to find Ben and set the record straight. Kara and her relationship with her girlfriend, Mae (Jazz Raycole) is a fantastic subplot of the movie.
Related article: The best Christmas Markets London has to offer
8. Let it Snow
While Let It Snow (2019) is not specifically centred around a lesbian storyline, it does feature diverse characters and relationships. The movie focuses on three interconnected love stories during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, exploring various romantic angles.
If you’re into cosy movie nights, Let It Snow is a perfect pick. It’s a festive teen romantic comedy set during a snowstorm in a small town. Think love, friendship, and a sprinkle of holiday magic. So, grab some popcorn, get comfy, and enjoy the winter vibes!
9. Lez Bomb
Lez Bomb (2018) is a comedy film written and directed by Jenna Laurenzo. The story revolves around a young woman who brings her girlfriend home for Thanksgiving, intending to come out to her conservative family. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that her family has some surprising secrets of their own.
It’s a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of family dynamics, love, and self-discovery, with a queer twist. If you’re into comedies that pack a punch and deliver some great laughs while also touching on important themes, Lez Bomb is worth checking out!
Related article: The Best Lesbian Movies on Netflix Right Now
10. Merry & Gay
This one is an absolute must.
Embarking on a journey to chase her dreams, stage actress Becca left her quaint hometown, leaving her high school sweetheart, Sam, with a broken heart in Nashville. Having thrived in her successful career, Becca is now set to return home for Christmas, unaware that her romantic story is about to reclaim the spotlight. Thanks to the festive match-making efforts of their friends and family, Becca’s love life is poised to take centre stage during the holiday season.
11. Happiest Season
Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis front the festive queer holidays in Happiest Season – the big-budget, big-hype Christmas film that basically took over everyone’s timeline in 2020. If it somehow slipped past you (no judgment), you can watch the full trailer of Happiest Season.
This one is proper Marmite – you’ll either love it or side-eye it the whole way through. Lots of people wanted a different ending, but don’t worry, we’re not spilling any spoilers here. You do get a reasonably good glimpse of Aubrey Plaza, too. We’ll say no more.
The story follows Harper (Mackenzie Davis) as she invites her girlfriend, Abby (Kristen Stewart) to her family’s Christmas for the first time. Whilst Abby initially sees this as a perfect opportunity to get to know Harper’s family and puts plans in place to propose, Harper fills her in on one slight issue: she’s not out to her family, and they must pretend to be friends for the entirety of the trip. What could go wrong?
A small mention for Aubrey Plaza for a perfect performance as Riley, ‘the one that got away’. Swoon.
12. The Christmas Writer
When a bestselling lesbian Christmas author completely loses her festive mojo, she heads back to her cute little hometown to try and get the spark back. Instead, she stumbles into a romance so gorgeously gay even she couldn’t have dreamt it up.
13. Friends & Family Christmas
When photographer Dani gets swamped with festive commitments (plus a surprise visit from her parents), she turns to Amelia – a very put-together lawyer – for a little fake-dating rescue mission. And, shocker, the pretend romance doesn’t stay pretend for long.
14. Looking for Her
When Taylor’s family guilt-trips her into coming home for the holidays with her girlfriend, she gives in – with one tiny issue… they’ve actually broken up. Not wanting to break the news to her parents, she hires an actress to play the part instead.
15. Last ExMas
Maggie and Julianne are ex-girlfriends who unexpectedly spark things up again during a holiday trip back home. Are they actually meant to be? They’ll have to figure out their feelings, deal with a gossip-prone hometown, and confront a few ex-shaped ghosts along the way.
16. A Holiday I Do
When a single mum and country girl catches feelings for her ex-husband’s stunning, sophisticated wedding planner, she’ll need a touch of Christmas magic to sort out the mess that follows.
17. The Holiday Club
Sam hates the holidays. Bailey loves them. After a meet-cute on a lonely Valentine’s Day, the two click instantly and become friends. And with every holiday they spend together after that, they fall a little further in love.
18. City of Trees
When a twenty-something heads back to her hometown for the holidays for the first time in years, she’s not just greeted by familiar faces – she’s also confronted with a few unresolved feelings she thought she’d left behind.
19. Mixed Christmas
Aurora wants to enjoy the holidays this year in some warmth and sunshine, and invites her three best friends to Miami for a Christmas trip to remember. When they arrive at their Airbnb, they discover it’s been double-booked…by Aurora’s ex-girlfriend and her new partner Axel. They have no choice but to combine their plans and celebrate the holiday together.
Happy viewing and happy holidays, no matter what you celebrate! If we’ve missed any good ones you’ve discovered, drop us an email, and we’ll have it added.
Nonchalant x
Nat is a London native currently living and working in South East London. After a six year stint in Asia Nat is enjoying all the fun London has to offer. Nat is Most likely to be found taking photos, cooking, exploring London’s galleries or spending too much money on food. (Also on a constant quest to find the best Chinese food in London)
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