In the film industry, only about 7% of current movie content is LGBTQ+-related. And of that 7%, only 45% includes lesbians, either as major or side characters. Yet, among lesbian movies in which a lesbian relationship is front and center, there are some all-time greats that cannot be overlooked, whether they are by the most well-known film critics or not.
From zany comedy to drama, to suspense, to “tear at your heartstrings” love stories, the best lesbian movies run the gamut of the things of which great film is made. And while what constitutes great film is totally a matter of personal opinion, here follows 30 of the best lesbian films to date. Again, a matter of opinion but here goes. (Note: spoiler alerts)
1. Bound (1996)
Here is a film produced by the Wachowski brothers (now brother and trans sister Lana) that explores lesbian love against the backdrop of the mob, some great comedic scenes (literally washing blood-soaked cash, hanging it up to dry, and then ironing it), and serious treachery. Corky, played by Gina Gershon, a “butch” lesbian, repair is hired to remodel and apartment. That apartment is next door to mob boss Ceasar and his moll girlfriend Violet, played by Jennifer Tilly. Violet is not committed to Ceasar and sleeps around with his underlings. Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet meet in an elevator, and there is an immediate connection. As the film progresses, a love affair develops, along with a plan to steal millions from Ceasar and set him up as the fall guy. There is actually only one scene of a romantic encounter and even that is downplayed. In the end, Corky (Gina Gershon), whose own background includes having been betrayed by other lovers and spending time in prison, comes to find the love she has always sought with Violet, as the two happily escape with the cash leaving Ceasar to his fate. Plenty of twists and turns in this film, some raunchy humor, silly pineapple eating, and the perfect balance of suspense, comedy, and drama.
2. Watermelon Woman (1996)
Here is a real convergence of lesbianism. first, this film was written, directed and produced by a Black lesbian, Cheryl Dunye. And she also played the role of Cheryl in the film.
Cheryl is a black lesbian working in a video rental store in Philadelphia. She and her co-worker Tamara have a side gig, making home videos for people. A white customer, Diana, has a flirty relationship with Cheryl, and Tamara is not happy. During all of this, Cheryl develops an interest in film for the 30s and 40s featuring black actresses who are not usually credited. One of the films she watches is called “Plantation Memories” that features an actress only named as the “Watermelon Woman.”
Cheryl decides to track down this “watermelon woman” and make a documentary about her. This leads her in several directions, and, along the way, she learns that she sang in clubs around the city. Cheryl then meets her mother’s friend Shirley who is also a lesbian, and she reveals the real name of the watermelon woman – Fae Richards. Fae was also a lesbian.
The plot thickens when Diana and Cheryl become involved, much to Tamara’s disgust.
Against all of this drama, Cheryl continues her quest to find Fae Richards and discovers June Walker, a lesbian woman who was Fae’s partner for years. Ultimately, Cheryl finishes her project, makes the documentary, during which she ends the affair with Diana and her friendship with Tamara.
While not a blockbuster, “Watermelon Woman” has much to say about the real-life plight of lesbian black women, especially in queer cinema. This feature film will not be seen in a movie theater – download and view on of these best lesbian movies that never made the big time.
3. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Cameron Post was being raised by her aunt. After the aunt learns that Cameron is having a lesbian tryst with another student, she sends Cameron to “God’s Promise,” a religious conversion camp. There she is “counseled” by Reverend Rick and Dr. Lydia Marsh.
Cameron runs every morning and comes across Jane and Adam, sneaking into a cellar to smoke weed – her kind of people. Jane becomes a trusted friend and helps Cameron navigate the re-education sessions – “Just tell them what they want to hear.”
All is not well at the camp. Dr. Marsh and Rick are actually siblings, and they don’t know what they are doing, other than emotionally abuse the “disciples,” training them to hate themselves. Cameron is the subject of such abuse and reveals this to authorities when they come to investigate the self-mutilation of a fellow disciple.
In the end, Cameron realizes that she has a right to be a lesbian, and she, Adam, and Jane “escape” through the woods, hitching a ride on a truck, for a destination unknown.
4. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Living happily ever after is not going to happen. The film is a flashback of Marianne, a young painter who was commissioned to do a wedding portrait of Heloise, a young woman who has just left the convent to be married to a nobleman, a marriage arranged by her parents. Her older sister was supposed to marry the guy but committed suicide to avoid it. So, Heloise is the replacement against her will. The nobleman insists on a portrait of Heloise before he agrees to marry her. Heloise refuses.
Marianne must create the portrait in secret. She is “hired” as a companion for Heloise, must observe her features, memorize them, and paint the portrait by firelight at night. (It’s late 18th century France).
As Marianne and Heloise become close, the attraction cannot be avoided, and while Heloise’s mother is out of town, they reveal their love for one another, and the romance blossoms. Marianne reveals the secret of the portrait. She shows it to an angry Heloise who hates it, and that “portrait of a lady” is burned. Heloise, feeling betrayed, agrees to sit for a portrait. That “portrait of a lady” is completed and sent off to the nobleman. As Marianne is leaving the household, Heloise tells her to turn around. Marianne sees her in her wedding dress.
Marianne sees Heloise only twice after that, once in a gallery portrait showing her pregnant and once at a concert.
5. Kissing Jessica Stein
Jessica Stein is a frustrated almost-30 journalist in New York. Her best friend is pregnant, her brother is engaged to be married, and she has been in a dating wasteland. That wasteland was briefly interrupted by a string of dates pushed on her by her meddling mother – a nightmare.
Jessica needs a change. On a whim, she answers a personal ad that intrigues her – under “woman seeking woman.” She meets Helen for drinks, and they hit it off immediately with lots of talk about their relationships, and Jennifer’s personal life, or lack thereof. At the end of the evening, Helen kisses a surprised Jennifer, thus the title, “Kissing Jennifer.”
For weeks after that, the new couple develops their relationship with plenty of humor, make-out sessions, movies, and such. Jessica has a new lease on life, and it shows. But she insists upon keeping the relationship secret, something Helen is not thrilled about.
Jessica takes Helen for a weekend to her mother’s country home on Long Island, just as “best friends.” A romantic tryst in her bedroom follows.
The conflict of the relationship secrecy comes to a head when Helen becomes aware that she has not been invited to Jessica’s brother’s wedding. Helen calls it quits. At dinner at her mother’s house, Jessica cannot hide her devastation over the breakup. At this point, her mother tells her that Helen is really a nice girl, subtly letting Jessica know that she approves of the relationship.
Ultimately, Helen attends the wedding with Jessica, and the relationship is in the open among a very supportive family. They move in together.
As the months go by, the relationship becomes more platonic, and Helen moves out. At about that time, an old boyfriend Josh, who had been a co-worker, reveals that he has never stopped loving her. They agree to a date. She meets Jessica for drinks and tells her about her upcoming date. What next? Who knows? Maybe Jessica’s self-discovery is not yet over.
5. Love Lies Bleeding
“Love Lies Bleeding” was introduced at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024. It was then released in both the US and UK. While “Love Lies Bleeding” never made it to the big screen, it received rave reviews by film critics.
“Love Lies Bleeding” is a somewhat dystopian piece in a small town in New Mexico that beats the national average of small towns for murders and missing persons. Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, is the manager of a small gym, and frequent user Daisy would love to hook up with her. Bodybuilder Jackie arrives in town and decides to stay several weeks to bulk up a bit more before heading to a competition in Las Vegas. She and Lou make an immediate connection, and Jackie moves in with her.
Lou’s father, Lou, Sr., sells illegal guns in Mexico and reaps the benefits of the mob’s money. Anyone who gets in his way disappears. And that included his wife who had been about to rat him out to the FBI. Lou participated in the gun running and even a few of the murders, but once she “knew” her father murdered her mother, she left home, and they don’t speak. Meanwhile, Jackie is bulking up on steroids supplied by Lou from the gym. As Jackie bulks up she becomes more aggressive. Lou’s brother-in-law, JJ, abuses his wife, so Jackie kills him, and they dump the body in the same ravine as all the others, hoping to pin the murder on Lou Sr. But Daisy witnessed it.
A number of twists and turns as the two lovers try to protect each other from the murder discovery, and as Lou Sr. bails Jackie out of jail in Vegas getting her back to his place, where he blackmails her into killing Daisy, who was blackmailing Lou into an affair. – all of this over the murder of JJ.
In the course of all of this, Lou finally quits her chain smoking, and Jackie gets off the steroids. They confront Lou Sr with the intent to kill but decide to just beat him up and leave him to the FBI who will surely find his connection to the mob’s money. Lou and Jackie are off to start a new life, with a few more twists at the end. The shock ending of “Love Lies Bleeding” is still the subject of debate.
6. Set It Off
Frankie Sutton is a bank teller in Los Angeles who is fired after a robbery, after being suspected as an inside accomplice. She must then take a job at Luther’s Janitorial service, with best friends Stony, TT, and our favorite butch lesbian Cleo (played by Queen Latifah). Luther treats them like crap, as the ghetto poor he sees them. They are fed up. Frankie wants to pull off a bank heist, and Cleo is in. Stony and TT, not so much. But when Stony’s younger brother is killed by their nemesis, Detective Strode, in a case of mistaken identity, and TT’s son is taken by child protective services (she had to bring him to work one day, and he accidentally poisoned himself), those two are “in” too.
The women have a series of successes in the bank robbery business because Frankie has inside knowledge of bank protocols. They stash the money in an air vent at one of the workplaces. They show up for work one day only to learn that there is a new boss, and Luther has found their stash and taken it.
The girls track Luther to a motel and demand their money. Luther pulls a gun, and TT shoots him dead. Detective Strode goes after them but doesn’t have the evidence.
They plan one final bank heist, this time at a federal reserve bank. They pull it off with more money than they planned to take. Strode arrives and tries to convince them to surrender. TT and Stony put down their weapons as a bank security guard nails TT in the back. A shootout ensues. Stony shoots the guard and Cleo opens fire on the detectives. Ultimately, they get away, but TT dies in the car.
Still being pursued, Cleo (Queen Latifah) tells the other two to take her share of the money and get out. She then leads the cops on a high-speed chase. She is gunned down after running through a police barricade. Frankie is cornered and sticks a gun in Strode’s face, reminding him that he started all of this. Stony manages to join a tour group headed for Mexico, and boards a charter bus. Strode sees her but just lets her go – his guilt has finally taken over.
Stony makes it to Mexico, changes her appearance, calls her boyfriend Keith for a final goodbye, and begins a drive through the mountains with her share of the take.
7. D.E.B.S.
Outrageous, funny, and poignant all rolled into one. This film, written and directed by Angela Robinson of “The L Word” fame, won an award at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival. Since that time, it has garnered a bit of a cult following.
The story begins with four co-eds getting ready to graduate from a secret academy, D.E.B.S. Somehow, hidden in their SAT tests is a measure of someone’s ability to cheat, lie, fight, and kill. These four scored high and were placed in this academy to become spies.
The group consists of Max, Janet, Dominique, and Amy, who really would rather be studying art in Barcelona. Max is pretty much the leader and convinces Amy that espionage is more important than art.
Their assignment? Catch and kill criminal mastermind Lucy Diamond. They find Lucy at a restaurant, there is a shootout, Lucy escapes, the girls split up, and Amy ends up face-to-face with Lucy in a storage room. Lucy, a lesbian, charms Amy and manages to escape.
Scud (Lucy’s handler) wants her to cut off all contact with Amy, but she is attracted and fixated. She confronts Amy at her residence, they fight, Lucy gets the upper hand, and forces Amy to go to an underground night club for fun. Janet sees them, and Lucy has no choice but to take her along.
Amy comes to realize that Lucy’s vicious persona has been largely manufactured and that those she supposedly murdered died from natural causes. She is, however, a bank robber and has planned a heist just to get to Amy again. Amy and crew get caught in the bank vault, but Lucy has rigged it to get Amy out. The others are released too. Amy is gone, and everyone assumes she’s been kidnapped.
When Amy is found, she is convinced to claim that she was brainwashed by Lucy and the rest of the squad saved her just in time for the graduation
Meanwhile, Lucy returns all of the money she has stolen and sneaks into the graduation where Amy’s speech is condemning her. They make eye contact, and Amy changes her tune immediately, reversing all the claims of her speech. She runs off the stage, and she and Lucy hook up in the storage room. Off they go into the night and probably to Barcelona.
8. Disobedience
Disobedience premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 and later released in the US, the UK, and Ireland a year later. It received great reviews, especially for the performances of Rachel Weisz and her co-starts. It was nominated for the GLAAD Media Awards, for the Dorian Awards for “Best Picture,” and the British Independent Film Awards.
First and foremost, the film is a forbidden love story of two teenage girls, although the viewer does not know this in the beginning.
Ronit, a photographer in New York, returns to her childhood home in North London to attend the funeral of her father. She is not comfortable facing a community that banished her year ago. She is especially surprised that her friends from childhood, Dovid and Esti are married. It is not a happy marriage.
Ronit discovers that her father has left all of his estate to the synagogue and has pronounced that Dovid should take over his position in the community. Ronit and Esti reconnect, spend the night in a hotel room together. The next day, Esti discovers that she is pregnant. She asks Dovid for her freedom, and he agrees, announcing it publicly at the “hesped” (Jewish term for eulogy) and turns down the leadership position bestowed upon him.
Ronit will return to New York. She and Esti share a final goodbye kiss with promises to stay in touch.
9. Carol
This is considered one of the best lesbian films of all times, an instant queer classic, and a love story of a lesbian relationship between an older married woman and a younger aspiring photographer.
Production of the film, based upon a novel originally titled The Price of Salt, was somewhat of a nightmare. There were financial problems, rights to the book, conflicts of scheduling, and more. When actual production began, in 2014, this one of the best lesbian films was produced in just 34 days.
The movie was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015 and later released in the US and UK in the fall of that year. The film received plenty of awards and accolades, even nominated for six Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards.
It’s Christmas in New York, 1952. Therese Belivet, an aspiring photographer, is working in a Manhattan department store. Carol Aird arrives looking for a specific doll for her daughter but takes Therese’s recommendation for a model train set. When Carol leaves, she purposely leaves her gloves on the counter – gloves picked up by the younger woman and then mailed to her.
Therese has a boyfriend, Richard, who is urging her to go to France with him, but she has mixed feelings about the relationship. In the meantime, Carol is going through a tough divorce. She calls Therese to thank her for mailing her the gloves and invites her to lunch and then to go with her to purchase a Christmas tree and to her home. While there, Carol’s husband Harge comes in and is immediately suspicious of the two. Carol had had a lesbian affair with another woman many years ago. He is taking the daughter, Rindy, to Florida for Christmas.
Their next meeting is at Therese’s apartment where Carol presents her with an expensive camera and film. She has learned that Harge is threatening to ask for full custody based on her immoral behavior as a lesbian. She invites Therese to take a road trip with her to get away from it all. Richard is livid. This is not quite a love triangle at this point, but almost. In the end, Therese dumps Richard and goes on the trip. New Years brings their relationship to its height, but a private investigator has tape recordings that he has already sent to Harge. Carol flies home and agrees to full custody for Harge with regular visiting privileges. She and Therese do not have contact for some time.
Therese puts together a portfolio and gets a job at The New York Times. Once the divorce is all settled Carol calls Therese and asks her to meet her and catch up. Carol has a job and a new apartment. Carol invites her to dinner in another room in the hotel, but Therese hesitates. Ultimately, she enters the dining room, finds Carol and they know their future.
10. Freeheld
This biographical piece is considered to be one of the best lesbian films of contemporary times because it is both a love story of two women and a docudrama based upon a true story. It stars Julianne Moore as police detective Laurel Hester in Ocean County New Jersey. She is dying of terminal cancer and wants her pension benefits to go to her lesbian partner, Stacie Andree, played by Ellen Page.
Laurel Hester was totally closeted and, in fact, drove several towns away to socialize with other lesbians, often at a gay bar. Once she meets and falls in love with Stacie, she moves her in. Still closeted, she introduces Stacie as her roommate.
Once she receives the cancer diagnosis, she is determined to see that Stacie receives her pension benefits. Unfortunately, the Ocean City Freeholders (city council) will not do it. Hester goes on a crusade, which she says is not so much about same-sex marriage as it is equal rights. The Garden State Equality Association fights back with Hester. Ultimately, Hester won her battle – just three weeks before she died. And her battle also paved the way for legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey.
One of the other important points of the film, as Ellen Page, a lesbian in real life, points out: the lesbians depicted in the film are just normal, everyday women who look, live, and work just like anyone else. This kind of flies in the face of the totally feminine look portrayed in “The L Word” series.
11. Fingersmith
Set in Victorian England, “Fingersmith” is based on an historical crime novel, in three parts, by Sarah Waters. It’s a convoluted tale of treachery and betrayal, but, in the end, two lesbian lovers survive, and there is a happy ending after all.
Sue is an orphan raised in a group “home” of thieves and pickpockets with the matriarch Mrs. Sucksby. She and Richard “Gentleman” Rivers form a plot to relieve a wealthy heiress, Maud, of her inheritance.
Because Maud’s mother is dead and is not yet of age to collect, she is forced to live with her slavedriver uncle who is secretly categorizing literary works of pornography.
The plot is for Sue to pose as a maid and gain Maud’s trust, then introduce her to “Gentleman” and convince her to marry him. The plan is then to commit Maud to a madhouse and get the fortune. Sue does as she is directed and becomes the new maid.
Meanwhile, Maud discovers what her uncle is doing, and he decides that she is to read the works to a regular gathering of men – works filled with debauchery and raunchy humor.
Sue does as directed, but the two young women fall in love. She really doesn’t want to go through with the plot but is afraid not to. One night, she, Maud, and Gentleman run away to a nearby church where the two are married and then off to a cottage in London “until the affairs get straightened out. Ultimately, they go in a covered carriage to the madhouse. But something is horribly wrong. The attendants grab Sue, having been told that she is Maud and delusional thinking that she is her maid. Sue’s been conned.
The second part of the tale is Maud’s narrative. She was born in a madhouse where her mother was housed. When her mother died, her uncle came and took her to his estate to be his secretary. She was horribly mistreated.
Gentleman arrives at the estate with a plan to get Maud out. A maid will be showing up believing she has been sent to trick Maud out of her inheritance. They’ll put her into a madhouse as Maud, and he, as her husband will collect the inheritance for Maud. Maud, however, falls in love with Sue. But she goes along with the plot as a means of escape.
But the two young women were both deceived. The plot all along was for Gentleman to get half of the money and Mrs. Sucksby the other half as Maud’s mother. They keep the young girl there as a prisoner.
The third part is back to Sue as the narrator. Sue manages to enlist the help of a knife boy and escape the madhouse. Armed with a knife, she heads to the den to kill Maud. A fight breaks out between Maud, Mrs. Sucksby, and Gentleman. Gentleman is accidentally stabbed to death with the knife. Finally, Mrs. Sucksby, riddled by guilt, tells the police she murdered Gentleman, and the two girls were innocent. She was hanged. Maud returned to her uncle’s estate where Sue found her. The two reunited, and each had 1/2 of the inheritance coming.
12. The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
“The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995. It was then given a limited theatrical release (less than 600 theatres) in the US. It was also released in the UK and Australia in 1996.
First and foremost, this a not a true story. But it is a tale of queer adolescence, teen culture, coming of age, teen-adult relationships, and one of the best lesbian movies depicting these themes, in a backdrop of both drama and comedy.
Randy Dean is in her final year of high school – bad grades, probably won’t graduate, marijuana habit. She has a part-time job as a gas station cashier. Her style is tomboyish. When not otherwise occupied, she has “meetings” with her older woman (and married) customer hookup.
Randy’s mother isn’t in the picture, and she lives with her lesbian Aunt Rebecca, her girlfriend, and an ex-girlfriend who needs a place to crash right now.
Enter Evie, a fellow high school student who stops by to get her tires checked in her new Range Rover. She is a child of wealth, living with her mother who has her own issues dealing with her ex-husband’s remarriage. She and Randy talk, and there is a bit of a spark.
At school, Randy and Evie pass notes and start hanging out in secret, because Evie’s friends would never “approve.” At the same time, Randy breaks it off with her married lover, in favor of Evie, and Evie dumps her boyfriend.
During their time together, Evie introduces Randy to “high art,” giving her literature to read, especially Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” and introducing her to classical music. Randy in turn, introduces Evie to hard rock. This adventure of two girls is widening their relative perspectives.
At this point, they see each other as just a close friend. But when Randy invites Evie over to her little house for dinner, they sit on the porch and share their first kiss.
Now the two teenage girls have to figure out to navigate their relationship that has gone beyond the “best friends” stage. Who do they tell? How should they behave in public? Evie tells a few of her closest friends and gets mixed reactions, including one who said, “If you were going to be lesbian, at least you could have found someone who is attractive.” Randy lives with lesbians, so she has no need to try saving face with anyone.
One night, while Evie’s mother is out of town, the girls cook an amazing meal together, have a grand evening, and end up in mom’s bed for the night. Mom comes home early, surveys the mess, and finds Evie and Randy in her bed. Only when Randy runs out does she realize Randy is a girl.
Evie and Randy make a run for it while mom alerts ex-husband and Randy’s group. In the meantime, Rebecca has already been notified that Randy won’t graduate and is furious. All of this comes to a head as various members of the girls’ tribes gather, all fighting among themselves, placing blame.
The final scene shows Randy and Evie in the doorway of a motel while the tribes continue their shouting match outside. They share a kiss in that doorway.
13. Rafiki
This is not one of those lesbian films that has caught the eye and the following that many others have. Yet it stands out because it was the first of Kenyan lesbian movies to premier at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Kena is the daughter of convenience store owner John Mwaura, who is also a candidate in a local election. She lives with her mother, who hates her father.
Kena begins to flirt with Ziki, another girl in their neighborhood, whose father, Peter, is John’s rival in the upcoming election. They have several dates, become romantically close, but must hide their relationship because homosexuality is against the law in Kenya.
Ziki’s best friends are jealous of her time with Kena, and they attack Kena. Ziki then takes Kena home to doctor her wounds, and they are caught kissing by her mom. They run away but are found, arrested, and must be bailed out by their fathers. Ziki is sent to live in London, and John supports Kena, meaning he has to give up his chances to be elected.
Several years later, Kena has become a doctor, learns that Ziki has returned from London, and they are reunited – still in love.
14. Happiest Season
“Happiest Season” is considered one of the best lesbian movies because it is the first Christmas film to portray two women who are lesbians and in love and produced by a major Hollywood studio – Tristar Studios.
It has an all-star cast, including Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as the two major players – lesbians who have been dating for a year. It was released in the US in the fall 2020, got rave reviews among lesbian films, and won a GLAAD Media Award as a wide-release outstanding film.
The story is not complicated, but its larger theme is the difficulties faced by queer women and men as the come out to their families.
It’s Christmas, and Abby Holland (Stewart) has hated the season since her parents died. Her partner, Harper Caldwell (Davis) loves the season with her intact family – mom, dad, and sisters Jane and Sloane, Sloane’s husband and kids. Harper invites Abby to spend Christmas with her family, and Abby is thrilled. On the way, Harper confesses that she never did tell her family she was gay and asks Abby to just pretend they are best friends. Abby agrees but is not happy about it. The holiday does not go well. At the mall, Sloane’s kids prank Abby by dropping a necklace in her bag. The is then labeled a shoplifter. Mom Tipper decides that, given dad Ted is running for Mayor, Abby should not be present at other holiday events. Sloane sees Harper and Abby kiss and threatens to “out” them. There is a very “public” fight, and Sloane “outs” Harper.
Abby is miserable and calls her friend John, a gay man, to come get her. He arrives, and devastated Harper begs her to stay. John explains how difficult it is to come out – when he did, his father kicked him out. Abbys begins to gain more perspective. Meanwhile, Harper admits to her family she is a lesbian, Sloane reveals the divorce, and Jane informs her parents that she has always felt neglected. None of the girls has been happy trying to live up to their parents’ expectations.
A wealthy campaign donor puts conditions on his money – Harper must suppress her personal. A wiser Ted, who has apologized to his daughters, turns him down. They then take a family Christmas photo, Abby included.
Fast forward one year. Ted had won his election, Jane has published her first book, Abby and Harper are engaged, and the entire family goes to the theatre to watch, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Two women in love triumph. In true holiday rom-com fashion, there is the standard happy ending.
15. The Favourite
Another one of the best lesbian movies that was a box office hit. In short, it is a spoof and satire on the Victorian Era in England under a very frail Queen Anne and full of palace intrigue and treachery. It is also a bit biographical, as the screenwriter, Deborah Davis, who researched and found letters written among Queen Anne, Abigail Hill, and Lady Sarah – three women embroiled in a “female triangle” of lesbians. It’s full feature debut in the US was in November 2018 and in the UK in January 2019. It won critical acclaim and many awards, including 10 Academy Awards nominations.
Of course, the cast had much to do with the success of this queer cinema – Olivia Coleman as the frail queen, Emma Stone as Abigail Hill, and Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah Churchill.
Sarah Churchill, Anne’s lover, effectively rules the country, as Anne prefers playing with her menagerie of rabbits and suffers from a number of ailments. She is somewhat hampered by Robert Harley, the opposition leader in Parliament.
Enter Abigail Hill, a poverty-stricken cousin, who is working as a maid in the palace. When she sees Anne’s gout, she finds herbs that help. Sarah has her whipped for going into Anne’s bedroom without permission but because the treatments work backs off. Abigail catches the two women in bed and is asked by Harley to spy on them. She refuses. Soon, Abigail and Anne develop a lesbian relationship too.
Abigail becomes a crafty, conniving power-hungry member of the nobility when Anne’s marries her to a nobleman. She has Sarah sent away, then exiled, based on an embezzlement lie. But she also begins to ignore Anne, preferring the party lifestyle of the rich and famous. Anne is angry and begins to gather some inner strength. She forces Anne to massage her feet, while she begins to pull her hair, causing Abby to writhe in pain. Lest she forget, Abby’s fate is still up to this frail queen.
16. Water Lillies
This may not be considered one of the best lesbian films, but it is worth a spot on this list because the story has much to say about the turmoil of adolescent coming of age, as depicted by three teenage girls over a summer in a Paris suburb. In English, this film is called “Water Lillies.” The same name in French is “Naissance Des Pieuvres.”
While not a true story, it could be the story of teens anywhere who are trying to figure out who and what they are in a complicated world of pressures and expectations. It is also the debut of screenwriter and director Celine Sciamma, winning the Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film at the Cannes Film Festival, 2007.
Three 15-year-olds, Marie, Anne, and Floriane, have intertwining lives, all related to swimming teams and competitions. Marie is best friends with Anne, a member of the synchronized swimming team. After watching a competition, she develops a crush on Floriane, the team captain. Marie wants to join the team to get closer to Florianne. In the meantime, Anne develops a crush on Francois, a guy who has caught her eye.
From here, the story becomes pretty complex. Marie and Floriane make a bargain. Marie will help Floriane sneak out to be with Francois, and Floriane will get Marie into the team meetings, exactly where Marie wants to be. As Anne and Francois spend more time together, Marie becomes resentful. Meanwhile, despite her reputation as a slut, Floriane confesses to Marie that she is still a virgin – the other girls on the team just make lies about her because they hate her. It’s rather a girl wants boy wants girl wants girl kind of thing. Ultimately, Floriane and Francois share a kiss, unhappily observed by Marie but states she wants Marie to be her “first,” and Marie grudgingly agrees. Floriane continues to bounce back and forth between wanting Marie and Francois, tries to pick up an older man at a nightclub. Anne lets Francois into her bedroom when her parents are not home but denies that anything happened. At a swim team party at a local pool, Francois wants Anne again, but she rejects him and then kisses Marie. At the same party, Marie and Floriane share a passionate kiss. Looking forward to more, Marie is upset when Floriane announces she is going back to the party to dance – she asks Marie to “save” her if any of the guys come on to her. Marie and Anne look at each other and jump into the pool fully clothed and just float on their backs. Floriane continues to dance, oblivious to why she has no girlfriends and to how she has hurt both Marie and Ann.
The film shows pretty typical behavior for mid-teens with a lesbian twist. They are in a period of discovery.
17. Tru Love
Here is a 2013 Canadian film, written and directed by newbies Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald. The plot revolves around a mid-30s gadabout and an older widowed mother who has a complicated relationship with her corporate executive daughter.
The movie received the audience award at the 2014 Inside Out Film and Video Festival, and MacDonald and Johnston shared the Emerging Artist Award. Patric Caird and Sonya Côté were nominated for Best Original Song at the 3rd Canadian Screen Awards in 2015 for “Danse Elegant.”
Tru hops from bed to bed her entire lesbian adult life, and she lacks both stability and any firm foundation. She also has emotional scars from such a past. But as she comes upon middle age, Tru begins to tire of her lifestyle and longs for something permanent. Enter Alice Beacon, the 60-year-old mother of Suzanne, a workaholic and platonic friend of Tru. Because she has little time for her mother, Suzanne asks Tru to take over “babysitting” her mother. Tru and Alice become friends and ultimately lovers, giving both women what they want and need.
Suzanne, on the other hand, becomes angry, worried, and jealous of this developing romance and plots to destroy it. Her plan backfires (no spoiler alert this time – view the movie to capture the ending).
The film has a fresh storyline that is fully believable, and is ultimately a typical tale of love, loss, and ultimate acceptance. The performances of the three main characters are astounding, and those performances are largely responsible for 11 LGBTQ film awards.
Tru Love is ultimately a tale of love, loss and acceptance, as many LGBT films are, along with laughter, tears, and love.
“Tru Love” was released in 2014 and is available on VOD and DVD.
18. Desert Hearts
“Desert Hearts” is somewhat based on an earlier 1964 novel. Donna Deitch discovered it as she was searching for something about a lesbian romance. Deitch raised $1.5 million for production, the largest group being lesbian and other feminist women about the US. Raising those funds took almost four years, including Deitch selling her own house. In San Francisco, she touted it as a political piece; in New York she claimed it as high art; and in Los Angeles, she convinced investors it would be a box office hit. It deserves to be on the list of the best lesbian movies, because it is a breakthrough film that takes the sensationalism out of being lesbian and presents romance among lesbians in a normal, positive light.
The film was released at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals in the fall, 1985 and wide released by Samuel Goldwyn Company in March 1986.
In terms of plot, university professor Vivian Bell is awaiting a six-week residency requirement to get a quickie divorce in Reno Nevada. She stays at a guest ranch for women seeking the same, run by Frances Parker. She meets Cay Rivers, a sculptor and change girl in a casino, and these two queer women from totally different backgrounds begin a relationship. Frances is furious, accusing Vivian of seducing Cay, and kicks Vivian out. She moves into a hotel in town. From there, the two develop their relationship. The divorce finalized, Vivian packs up to board a train back to New York. Cay, who at first said she was staying, boards the train at the last minute.
19. Booksmart
Here is a comedy by new director, Olivia Wilde. The two major protagonists are Amy Antsler, portrayed by Benie Feldstein, and Molly Davidson, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever. The world premier was at South by Southwest in March 2019 and was released in the US in May of that same year by United Artists. Feldstein was nominated for Best Actress, Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globe Awards.
Amy and Molly are not popular with their peers, having earned the reputation of being total nerds. Amy has a lesbian crush on a girl named Ryan which Molly tells her to pursue. On the evening before graduation, Molly finally confronts who have insulted her for being such a nerd, telling them that she is soon to be a college student at Yale, a better school than any of them are going to. Amy is to take a summer in Botswana and then go on to college.
Molly talks Amy into going to a graduation party held by a classmate. They don’t know where he lives, so they call another friend Jared who gives them directions to his father’s yacht instead. There, they are given strawberries, laced with a hallucinogen. The night continues with crazy travels around town as they “see” themselves as plastic dolls. On the third try, they finally get to Nick’s party. Molly reveals she has a crush on Nick, and Amy decides they need to pursue that as well as Ryan for her. At the party, Molly will flirt with Nick, and Amy with Ryan. But Ryan and Nick are making out – bummer. Amy then hooks up with Hope in the bathroom and kisses her. Just as they are about to get even more intimate, Amy throws up all over Hope.
The cops raid the party and everyone runs away. Amy doesn’t get away and is taken to jail. On graduation day, Molly wakes up to the news that Amy is in jail – she is now a hero for taking the fall for everyone else. Molly gets to jail, and both she and Molly recognize the mug shot of a serial killer as the pizza delivery guy from the night before. They trade the info for Amy’s freedom, and they are off to graduation.
Molly helps Amy pack for Botswana and takes her to the airport. With a bit of time before the flight, they decide to get pancakes.
20. Tar
“Tar” is a drama about power with heavy psychological overtones, written and directed by Todd Field. Lydia Tar, is a world-famous conductor (played by Cate Blanchett). Her life goes into a downward spiral after she is accused of misconduct.
Of lesbian films, “Tar” is considered one of the best lesbian movies of the 20th century. It was introduced at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2022, with a wide release the following month. It was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. Blanchett also won Best Actress at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards.
Lydia is the lead conductor of a Berlin orchestra. She has a personal assistant, Francesca, on whom she heavily relies. Her wife Sharon is the concertmaster for the orchestra, and they have an adopted daughter. Lydia becomes attracted to Olga Metkina who is auditioning for an open cello position and gives it to her. both Francesca and Sharon are upset by this, and their relationships with Lydia decline.
Lydia uses her power to “make or break” others. She blacklisted Krista Taylor, a promising musician, because Krista got on her “bad side.” Krista committed suicide and her parents are now suing.
She is about to fire her assistant conductor and put Francesca in his place. Sebastian tells her that the orchestra sees her favoritism and suggests other inappropriate behaviors, including sexual predation.
Lydia tells Francesca to delete incriminating emails between her and Krista and to get her a lawyer for the upcoming lawsuit. Francesca has other plans. She has secretly left Berlin and gone to New York to work with Krista’s parents’ lawyers.
Lydia’s mental well-being begins to unravel, with horrible nightmares, daytime hallucinations, pain, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. At the same time a cell phone video of a class she taught at Julliard some time back exposes her berating one of the students, and a New York Post article accuses of sexual predation.
Lydia takes Olga with her to New York for her deposition in the lawsuit. They have the incriminating emails. Back in Berlin, Lydia is fired, and her wife Sharon prevents her from seeing their child. She also attacks the newly hired conductor.
Lydia finally retreats to the home of her childhood in Staten Island where her brother Tony rips into her too.
Ultimately, Lydia finds conducting work in the Philippines.
21. Heavenly Creatures
Of all lesbian movies on this list, this one is anything but “heavenly.” And it is based on a true story about two teens coming of age in all the wrong ways. The main protagonists are Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme played by Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet respectively, acting debuts for both.
It is considered one of the best lesbian movies because of its accuracy in depicting this true story and the performances of both Lynskey and Winslet. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival in September 1994 and was awarded The Silver Lion. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1995.
Juliet has moved from the UK to New Zealand with her wealthy parents. At her new school, she becomes friends with Pauline, the child of a working-class family. Pauline has a hostile relationship with her mother, Honora, and, as a result spends most of her time at Juliet’s house.
The girls spend their time writing stories and painting and create an imaginary kingdom, Borovnia. They write adventure novels about the kingdom, dreaming of someday getting published and selling the rights to a Hollywood movie company. Over time, their fantasy kingdom becomes more and more real to them. Juliet then proposes the idea of “the Fourth World,” a heaven only for musicians and artists, where Juliet thinks she will go when she dies. during all of this, the girls are developing a romantic lesbian relationship.
Juliet contracts TB and has to spend time in a sanitorium. She and Pauline exchange lots of letters, and their relationship grows stronger. Juliet’s parents are concerned and discuss the situation with Pauline’s mother. She takes Pauline to a doctor who states he believes Pauline is homosexual. Honora is appalled and plans to keep the two girls apart.
At the same time, Juliet’s parents announce their plans to divorce, leave the country, and send Juliet to live with relatives in South Africa. The girls are in a panic and plan to run away. That becomes impossible, so they decide that the only way to thwart this is to kill Honora, who is the main obstacle to their being together, not Juliet’s parents who are about to ship her off.
They plan the murder and carry through with it. They are arrested and each sentenced to five years in prison, as they are juveniles. they are both released in 1959, under the condition that they may never see one another again.
22. Imagine Me and You
Everybody loves a happy ending to a story, and this one has it for everyone involved. As lesbian movies go, this one was not the box office hit that the best lesbian movies achieve, but it is a British rom com that queer people can view and relate to. It’s funny, wholesome, and sweet.
This film opened in 106 US theatres in January 2006 without much acclaim or attendance. It was better received in Europe. The title of the film comes from the first line of the Turtles song, “Happy Together” and portrays the relationship between Rachel and Luce who meet on Rachel’s wedding day.
Rachel (Piper Perabo) and Heck (Matthew Goode) are getting married. on North London, a wedding planned. Luce (Lena Headey) is the florist and is decorating the church just prior to the event. She chats with Rachel’s sister who then asks Luce to sit with her.
As Rachel comes down the aisle her eyes lock on Luce. At the reception they meet and enjoy a small comedic moment. Sometime later, Rachel visits the flower shop and invites Luce to dinner with the intention of setting her up with a bachelor friend of theirs. Luce reveals to them that she is a lesbian, and Rachel tries to avoid future contact because of their attraction. Heck, though, really likes Rachel, and sets up outings for Rachel and Luce as friends. Rachel finally reveals her feelings to Luce at her shop, saying they must avoid one another, but the visit turns into a groping scene interrupted by Hector.
Hector does an about face, quits his job, comes home drunk, and, while he is faking sleep, Rachel confesses her love for Luce. Each woman agrees that they cannot betray Hector, so Luce plans an extended trip, leaving the shop in the hands of her mom. Heck realizes Rachel’s love for Luce and leaves her. Learning about Luce’s planned trip, Rachel tracks her down and they reunite.
Credits at the end of the film show how things are a year later. Heck meets a young woman on a plane, Rachel’s younger sister has a boyfriend, Coop has married and has a baby, and Rachel and Luce happily together.
23. I Care A Lot
Here is a dark film about a con woman and her equally as debased cohorts – her lesbian lover and a corrupt doctor. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020 and was then released via streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. As far as lesbian movies go, it received positive reviews, and Rosamund Pike playing Marla Grayson, received the Best Actress in a Motion Picture category at the Golden Globe Award.
Marla has managed to get herself a court-appointed guardian for the elderly, a position she uses to place them in an assisted living facility run by herself and lesbian lover, Fran, after corrupt Dr. Karen Amos certifies them incapable of managing their own affairs. She then drugs them and begins the process of selling off their property and stealing whatever other tangible assets they may have.
Early in the story, she and the court deny a Mr. Feldstrom access to his mother, and he threatens her after the proceedings.
Dr. Amos point Maria in the direction of a case – wealthy retiree Jennifer Peterson who seems to have no relatives. They testify that Peterson suffers from dementia, and she is moved into their facility. they begin to liquidate the assets, when Marla comes upon a safe deposit key to a box holding a valuable watch, bank notes, gold bars and a cache of loose diamonds.
As Marla and Fran oversee the renovation of Jennifer’s home for sale, a cab pulls up to retrieve her. They tell the driver that Jennifer has moved. Upon hearing this news, Roman Lunyov, mob crime boss and son of Jennifer. he finds Jennifer and offers Marla $150,000 for her release. Realizing who he is, Marla demands $6 million.
The war is on. Court battles and mutual kidnappings follow, as well as the murder of Dr. Amos. Marla and Fran hide out in various unsold homes they still have. Marla shows Fran the diamonds, and they look at their two options – start a new life far away or get revenge. The two women settle on revenge.
The battles continue. At one point, Marla gets guardianship of Roman and now demands $10 million for his and Jennifer’s release. Roman offers her a global partnership for her scam, and they agree on the terms. Marla becomes a wealthy CEO, marries Fran, and Roman is reunited with Jennifer.
Following a TV interview, Marla is gunned down by Mr. Feldstrom who claims his mother died in her facility because he was denied access. As he is taken away, Marla bleeds to death. Such is the karma from a life of crime.
24. The Kids are Alright
Queer people raising teenagers is the setting for this comedy-drama. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010 and was unique as the first story in lesbian movies featuring a same-sex couple raising teenage kids. It had a limited release in 2010, moved on to more theatres later that year, and was ultimately released on DVD and Blu-ray toward the end of the year.
Among the best lesbian movies, this one won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture in its category, as did Annette Bening for Best Actress. It also received 4 Academy Award nominations.
Nic and Jules Allgood are a married lesbian couple, each with a teenager from the same sperm donor. Nic is a doctor and Jules, who has been a stay-at-home mom is now starting her own landscape design business.
Their son Laser wants to find his biological father but is too young and enlists his of age sister Joni to do it. they find the sperm donor, restaurant owner Paul Hatfield. He meets them and now wants to be involved in their lives. Joni and Nic find out and invite Paul to dinner. Paul hires Nic to re-do his backyard garden.
Paul appreciates Jules’s work. On a whim, she kisses Paul, and they end up in bed. Meanwhile, Nic is not happy with the situation and suggest a dinner at Paul’s home to iron things out. She finds remnants of Jules in Paul’s bathroom and kitchen. the confrontation that follows has Jules explaining that the encounter meant nothing more than feeling appreciated. Paul, on the other hand, wants Jules to leave Nic. She rejects him resolutely.
As they are preparing to take Joni to college, Paul shows up. He is rejected by both Jonis and Laser. They take Joni to college the next day, drop her off with affection for her and each other. On the way home, Laser tells them that they are far too old to break up. Jules and Nic share a laugh as they take each other’s hands. All’s well that ends well.
25. The Half of It
This story follows a Chinese American straight-A student who helps the high school jock develop a relationship with a girl he has a crush on. It was released on Netflix in the spring, 2020 and received honors at the Tribeca Film Festival and Independent Spirit Awards.
The setting is a small town in Washington state where Ellie Chu lives with her grieving widowed father. She is a stellar student who helps make ends meet by ghostwriting essays and papers for other students. She is attracted to Aster Flores, a classmate who is dating Trig, a self-centered boy from a wealthy family.
Meanwhile, another student, Paul, asks Ellie to help him ghostwrite a love letter to Aster. Not thrilled about it, she agrees to help pay some bills. Ellie begins a correspondence thread with Aster.
Aster’s English teacher suggests that she apply to Grinnell College, but her plans are to attend University of Washington and stay in town with her father.
Ellie sets up a date with Paul and Aster that does not go well, but he does kiss her. Ultimately, Ellie reveals to Paul that she is attracted to Aster, and even though his religion says it’s a sin, he comes to accept her as she is.
Ellie takes Aster to a secluded place for an intimate conversation. Aster informs her that Trig plans to marry her. That proposal, in front of the church congregation, is interrupted by Paul and Ellie, and Aster turns him down. Aster realizes that it is Ellie who has sent her all of those love letters, slaps Paul and runs from the church.
Ultimately Aster and Ellie become a couple, Ellie is off to Grinnell, promising to see her in two years, and Paul promises to take care of her father in her absence.
26. Kajillonaire
The “tongue in cheek” title is for a 2020 crime comedy-drama that does not make many lists of great lesbian films – it’s all a matter of opinion, of course. It’s included in this list because it is a fun film to view and get a few great laughs. the film had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020, was released in theatres of that same year, followed up by Focus Features video on demand and Universal Pictures internationally.
Old Dolio Dyne is a 26-year-old victim of arrested development, living with her manipulative con artist parents. She is simply a tool in their petty crime schemes, not a daughter. They are behind on their rent for their dingy crappy apartment.
Old Dolio’s idea is to fly to NYC on tickets they won. She’ll buy travel insurance, her parents will take her luggage at baggage claim, and then she’ll claim the airline lost it. What she collects on the travel insurance will pay the rent.
Old Dolio is surprised and upset when her parents reveal their scheme to Melanie and enlist her to pretend to be their daughter. Old Dolio reports the loss and is informed that it may take up to 6 weeks to get her check. Now what?
Melanie is a clerk at an eyeglass store and has some wealthy clients. They steal a blank check from one and cash it for $650. Another elderly client is dying and asks them to pretend to be his family as he dies. They do so.
Upon arriving home, they discover that the insurance check has arrived. The parents suggest a threesome with Mealnie which she soundly rejects. Old Dolio offers the entire insurance check if her parents will do the same with her. They refuse. Melanie accepts Dolio’s offer and takes her to her apartment. They hide the insurance money in the fuse box and wait to see what her parents do.
Parents arrive a Melanie’s apartment with birthday gifts for Dolio. She thinks they’ve changed but Melanie is not so sure. They go to bed.
The next day, Melanie’s apartment has been robbed of everything, including the money in the fuse box. The only things still there are her birthday gifts. They realize they can return all of the items for refunds and so. Total haul? $525. Melanie and Dolio kiss in the store.
27. Fried Green Tomatoes
1991 Alabama was certainly no place where homosexuality was discussed, and, if practiced, it was certainly hidden. This is the backdrop for “Fried Green Tomatoes,” a comedy-drama starring such greats as Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, and Cicely Tyson.
The film was released in US theatres at the end of 1991, garnering great reviews and grossing $119 million. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, two BAFTA awards, three Golden Globe Awards.
Evelyn Couch is an unhappy housewife who visits her husband’s aunt in a nursing home. There she meets Ninny Threadgoode, who tells her stories of Whistle Stop, a long-ago abandoned town, and its residents. Here is her story.
Idgie was a tomboy. When her brother is killed by a train, she and his girlfriend, Ruth are thrown into a tailspin. Idgie becomes withdrawn, and Ruth is enlisted by the family to intervene. Gradually, a close relationship develops.
Ruth moves to Georgia when she marries Frank. Idgie visits her and realizes that Frank is abusing pregnant Ruth. with the help of other family members, Idgie manages to get Ruth out of there and back to Whistle Stop. She has her baby, a boy named Buddy. Idgie’s father gives her and Ruth enough money to open up the Whistle Stop Cafe employing the family maid Sipsey and her son, Big George. George is famous for his barbecue.
Frank arrives to kidnap his son and goes missing. His truck was found in the river, and Sheriff Grady Kilgore arrests Idgie and Big George for his murder. At the trial, others give Idgie and Big George alibis. The judge declares the death accidental, though Frank’s body was never found.
Not long after, Ruth gets cancer and dies. The train stops running, the Cafe closes, and people gradually leave.
Ninny reveals what really happened to Frank. Sipsey killed him with a cast iron skillet blow to the head. His truck was pushed into the river. Big George butchered his body, cooked it up, and served it to the Sheriff.
Ninny is discharged from the nursing home with no place to go. She moves in with Evelyn and her husband. On the way to Evelyn’s home, they pass by the cemetery where Ruth is buried. On her tombstone is a jar of honey and a honeycomb. A card says, “I’ll always love you” and is signed “the Bee Charmer,” a nickname given to Idgie by Ruth.
28. Blue is the Warmest Color
A romantic drama with a French cast, writer, and co-directors. It was based on a graphic novel, by Jul Maroh. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 where it won the Palme d’Or award. From there it was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
Adele is a shy 15-year-old whose high school life is mundane. She passes an older blue-haired woman on the street and is immediately attracted. A lesbian friend at school takes Adele to a gay bar and she ends up at a lesbian bar where she is hit on by plenty of strangers. The blue-haired woman, an art student named Emma is there and rescues her. They become friends. Emma shows up at Adele’s school, and the other students, suspecting she is a lesbian, ostracize her.
The two grow closer and come to have a torrid romantic relationship. Emma’s family welcomes Adele, but they must hide their relationship from her parents, claiming that Emma is a tutor.
Years later Adele has become a teacher, and they move in together. Soon, it becomes clear that the only thing keeping them together is their physical attraction – they have little else in common. Ultimately, the part ways.
Years later they meet at a restaurant. Adele is still in love with Emma, but the feeling is not mutual. The only other encounter is at a gallery showing of Emma’s work, where Adele sees a nude portrait of herself. She congratulates Emma and leaves.
Relationships do not always have happy endings.
29. Go Fish
This film premiered in 1994 at the Sundance Film Festival and was sold to Samuel Goldwyn during the event. It was released in June 1994 and grossed $2.5 million. “Go Fish” came to be seen as groundbreaking, catapulting LGBTQ issues to be “fair game” for the film industry.
Max is a lesbian college student in Chicago. She meets Ely when out with friends in a coffee shop. They got to a movie together, back to Ely’s place, but their bit of romance is dampened by a call from Kate, Ely’s long-distance lesbian lover.
Max and Ely reconnect at a dinner party, where Ely states she has “sort of” ended things with Kate. They make plans to go out again, and that evening begins and ends in the apartment. End of story, except for the short scenes of their growing relationship during the credits.
What qualifies this film as one of the great lesbian films is its authenticity in portrayal of queer women as three – dimensional people who have aspirations, values, and real lives. And as a community, they support one another.
30. The Prom
This musical comedy is based on a Broadway musical. An all-star cast includes Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Tracey Ullman, Kerry Washington, and more. It debuted in 2020 with a limited release and then went streaming on Netflix. It received mixed reviews, although all critics praised the message of the film and the music.
PTA president Mrs. Greene announces that the annual prom will be canceled because a lesbian student, Emma plans to bring a girl as her date. Obviously, the entire student body is up in arms and furious with Emma.
Several Broadway stars are out of work and need something to spark their careers. They read about the prom situation in Indiana and decide to go there and make noise, hoping to get plenty of publicity. Their first step? Barge into a PTA meeting in support of Emma.
Meanwhile the Indiana Supreme Court rules that the high school must allow Emma to bring a girl as a date. But the PTA finds a loophole and decides to have two proms – one at a private country club for the bulk of the student body and a separate prom for Emma at the school.
Emma’s girlfriend is none other than Mrs. Greene’s daughter, Alyssa, who cannot bring herself to come out to her mother. Emma dumps her.
The actors pool their money to throw a gala prom for Emma, while Alyssa’s mother tries to stop them. Alyssa finally comes out to her mother, and she and Emma reconcile. Lots of kids end up attending Emma’s prom, Mrs. Greene apologizes and embraces her daughter, and everyone lives happily ever after. Trite? Yes. Good music? Yes.
An Opinionated List
A google search will reveal plenty of lists of great queer female films. Check them out and enjoy those not on this list.
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