First and foremost you have to set the mood before you start watching some lesbian holiday movies. Sweet and salty snacks as well as some hot chocolate are a must. Grab your favorite blanket, turn off the lights and optionally, cuddle your favorite person!
Now, it is time to find the perfect romantic Christmas movie to watch. Here are some of the best lesbian Christmas movies to choose from, for any time of the year!
1. Carol (2015)
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Price of Salt”, this adaptation piece takes place in 1950s New York. It is the Christmas season when Therese Belivet, a young aspiring photographer working at a local convenience store in Manhattan meets a very beautiful older woman, Carol Aird.
Carol is going through a difficult divorce from her husband, a man she no longer feels in love with. This separation leads the two to form an unexpected relationship that starts from attraction and quickly evolves into something much deeper.
Sadly, the relationship creates serious custody problems for Carol over her daughter, as her ex-husband tried to create a case against her. Is the love between the two queer women creating a bigger obstacle than what it’s worth?
This Christmas movie greatly highlights the problematic gender roles of that era and the issues the two women had to face regarding ethics and morality. This is considered one of the best lesbian holiday movies where real sparks fly – you definitely don’t want to skip watching.
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson.
2. Under the Christmas Tree (2021)
One of the newer Christmas movies in this list that just came out during the 2021 Christmas season is Under the Christmas Tree. This movie is the first that American cable channel Lifetime created where a lesbian couple is featured and it is great to see lesbian representation gain ground in more channels.
Charlie Freemont, a Christmas Tree whisperer is in the search of the perfect Christmas tree for the Maine Governor’s Holiday celebration. This is where she first meets Alma Beltran. What Charlie doesn’t know is that the celebration is being hosted right in Alma’s backyard.
This relationship seems to not have started on the best note though as it started with some sparing between the two. Sooner or later though, their lesbian holiday romance takes off and blossoms with the help of the local town’s pâtissière extraordinaire who motivates them to take certain risks and fight for their love.
This might be considered a more cheezy holiday movie but it will certainly warm your heart and make you want to keep your Christmas Tree on just a little bit longer.
Starring: Elise Bauman, Tattiawna Jones, Ricki Lake.
3. The Christmas Lottery (2020)
If you’re looking for a festive lesbian movie featuring a Black lesbian couple then look no further. Produced by Black Entertainment Television, The Christmas Lottery follows the story of three sisters whose father just won, well, the Christmas lottery.
In order to get their share of his winnings, they need to return home for the holidays and work on fixing their relationship after being estranged for a few years. One of the three daughters is married to a woman, Belinda. This is a healthy and loving relationship that features no additional family drama and is one that you will truly enjoy watching.
The problem appears when they realized that their precious Christmas lottery is missing! Is all the effort they put into building back their relationship with one another or will it all turn out to be worth it? The Christmas Lottery is a movie about the value of relationships and the lesbian storyline addition simply makes it all that more enjoyable!
Starring: Reginald VelJohnson, Asai’h Epperson, Christina “Brave” Williams.
4. Silent Night (2021)
In a mix of Christmas comedy and apocalyptic drama, Camille Griffin’s filmmaking debut has a little bit of everything. It features a situation where a giant toxic cloud with the intent to kill every human has been terrorizing the planet as a result of climate change. Inspired by our current situation, this hits a little too close to home and makes you wonder whether things could really go that way.
A group of family and friends have gathered in a posh English country home where they will spend this holiday night. Between these characters are Bella with her girlfriend Alex who are amongst the lead characters. Also present in this movie is queer actress Lily-Rose Depp, who plays the romantic interest of a doctor who is a family friend.
Will they be able to survive this deadly cloud or will they lose everything? While this might not be the romantic movie you would expect, it is still a holiday movie that can keep you entertained with its dark humor and interesting plot.
Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Toman, Griffin Davis.
5. Christmas is Cancelled (2021)
Emma was hoping that this would be just like any other Christmas spent with her dad, full of Christmas family traditions they have developed even without the presence of her mother. One of the things she is not expecting though is that her father has a new girlfriend.
This girlfriend turns out to be Emma’s enemy from her high school years who is no other than Mona from the popular show Pretty Little Liars! Thankfully, Emma is not alone in this as she has her queer best friend, Charlyne, to help her cope with this difficult situation and plot towards breaking the seemingly happy couple up.
Starring: Claire Alpern, Angelique Cate, Jackson Evans.
6. Lez Bomb (2018)
Lez Bomb takes place over Thanksgiving dinner, where the main character Lauren decides it is the right time to come out to her family. She plans on doing this by attending the family dinner with her girlfriend Hailey. What she didn’t expect is that the arrival of her friend Austin would backtrack their plans.
With her parents convinced that Austin is her boyfriend, Lauren needs to find different ways to make this night go to plan. Filled with comedy and quirky jokes, Lez Bomb is a hilarious and very enjoyable lesbian holiday movie that feels relatable and real.
Starring: Jenna Laurenzo, Caitlin Mehner, Brandon Micheal Hall.
7. Christmas at the Ranch (2021)
Haley, a known workaholic decides to visit her family ranch for the Christmas Holidays. It is only then that she discovers that her sweet grandma desperately needs help to keep the ranch from closing as she is in debt.
Her arrival at the ranch also brings another new surprise in the form of Kate, the new ranch helper. Haley has to spend a lot of time with Kate and try to work out a solution for this difficult situation the family ranch is in.
While the attraction might not have been instant, the two girls merge their skills in order to help the ranch be saved. This leads to a cheesy lesbian Christmas romance and a very happy ending that you should absolutely not skip on watching!
Starring: Amanda Righetti, Lindsay Wagner, Laur Allen.
8. City of Trees (2019)
In this holiday movie, Ainsley, a 20 something woman decides to visit her family for the Christmas holidays making the trip from Los Angeles to their small hometown. There, she has to face a lot of leftover trauma and bad memories that still haunt her from her younger years. Something she least expects is to come across an old high school acquaintance of hers.
Sophie used to be a cheerleader back then but now, she has changed a lot and has even become friends with Ainsley’s mom. At first, Ainsley finds it very hard to accept the fact that Sophie has changed as she hangs on to the memories of who Sophie used to be in high school.
While the two girls keep spending more time around one another, a romance starts to blossom between them.
The City of Trees is emotional and fun, making it an interesting addition amongst lesbian Christmas movies as it focuses not only on romance but also on people’s personal growth over the years.
Starring: Alexandra Swarens, Olivia Buckle.
9. Happiest Season (2020)
If you’re looking for a fun movie involving Kristen Stewart then look no further. The Happiest Season revolves around Abby and her girlfriend Harper while they decide to visit Abby’s family for the Christmas holidays.
There is only one problem. Abby hasn’t come out to her parents about her sexuality. Therefore the couple decides to pose as best friends for the time being, until Abby feels comfortable enough to express herself to her family.
Will her folks pose as a conservative family or will they accept the couple as they are? Happiest Season surely has a happy ending, as hinted by the title, and is one of the most popular LGBTQ Christmas movies, making it relatable and fun to watch. And of course, the addition of Kristen Stewart makes it all that better!
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Alison Brie.
10. Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019)
When it comes to Christmas movies with a plot you wouldn’t expect, this one takes the cake. While it is not a full-on lesbian Christmas movie, it features certain lesbian characters that rightfully give it a spot on this list.
The movie starts on an interesting note that you wouldn’t expect from a Christmas movie. The main character, Jess who is portrayed by Aisha Dee, goes on a very fun first date with sadly a guy named Ben. Right after their date, Jess is involved in a terrific car crash that ends up taking her life.
The big plot twist is that Jess still finds her way to stick around her lesbian best friend Kara, even as a ghost. Kara tries to then help her best friend explain to Ben that she hasn’t actually “ghosted” him but she actually passed due to a car accident right after their first date.
While it might not be the main focus of the story, the romantic sparks that form between Kara and Ben’s sister Mae are a great addition and make the lesbian Christmas movie all that more fun to watch, especially if you are a fan of Aisha Dee.
Starring: Aisha Dee, Kimiko Glenn, Kendrick Sampson.
11. We Need a Little Christmas (2017)
This movie is a great example of lesbian representation in the Black community. The main plot of the movie revolves around a group of Black lesbian friends who decide to spend a weekend in a cabin. With the cast being queer women of color, the movie focuses on certain aspects of their lives and the struggles they face.
This is exactly what makes this movie fun to watch and very relatable. In addition, it is one of the shorter movies on the list and can be watched on YouTube from the creator’s channel. While it might not be coming from a bigger production it definitely is worth a watch!
Starring: Jasmine McDowell, Tamika Shannon, Dred Carpenter, Onyx Keesha, Ariel Fields.
12. Season of Love (2019)
This would absolutely not be a complete list without including the Season of Love! This is one of the Christmas movies made by the lesbian community for the lesbian community and it is certainly one that you should not miss.
Season of love revolves around a group of queer women in a Christmas setup and their love lives, which all seem to revolve around each other somehow. This lesbian movie is full of romance and the magic of the various ways love finds its way into these women’s lives.
This is a holiday movie that doesn’t involve any deaths, coming out stories, or struggles about their sexuality. The queer characters are diverse, present a relatable and interesting plot and this movie is simply a must-watch even though the holiday season has passed!
Starring: Dominique Provost-Chalkley, Jessica Clark, Laur Allen.
13. Let it Snow (2019)
Netflix never ceases to impress with their lesbian Christmas movie additions and this is another great movie to watch if you’re looking for some Christmas magic. Let it Snow is a movie about a group of high school students that have been stranded together after a big snowstorm hits their small town on Christmas Eve.
This reunion makes all of the teenagers feel like it was mean meant to happen. It helps each one of them find the support they need to overcome certain troubles they face. One of the subplots of Let it Snow that is of interest is a lesbian couple that faces its own difficulties.
While one of the girls has come out to people and she is proud of her sexuality, her partner prefers for the affair to stay secretive and struggles to follow in her girlfriend’s footsteps about accepting her sexuality. This is one of those Christmas movies which is a good representation of lesbian dating, so make sure to check it out if you’re dating or on the lookout for a partner.
While they are not the main focus of the rom-com lesbian movie, there are a lot of cute moments between them and they make Let it Snow all that more fun to watch.
Starring: Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush.
14. The Postie (2019)
This is a very fun and relaxed Christmas movie, following a girl named Amy in her quest to determine whether the new Postie is queer or not. For Amy, the attraction was immediate and she confides her feelings to her best friend Lily.
Lily takes on the role of helping her friend Amy find ways to understand whether the Postie shares the same feelings for her. The movie is filled with Lily’s sometimes awkward yet cute plots to help set up Amy with the new Postie and it is truly hilarious to watch them come up with and try her new ideas.
Starring: Kat Ronson, Ruby Todd, Kate Winton.
15. A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
A New York Christmas Wedding is one of those movies that will blow some Christmas fairy dust your way even if you’re watching it during another season. Being a Netflix production and part of the American Black Film Festival, it is one of the Christmas movies you do not want to miss.
The movie follows Jenny, a queer Black Latina that feels very unsure about her engagement with her fiancé David. With her wedding fast approaching on Christmas Eve, she is troubled by thoughts regarding this big decision about her future.
During this time, she receives an important vision from her guardian angel Azrael. In this vision, he shows her a future that is a little different than what she expected. Instead of being married to her current fiancé, she sees herself ending up with her childhood friend Gabrielle.
A New York Christmas Wedding presents us with a diverse love story that could have ended in a happy lesbian wedding. This movie has a fun and feel-good character that will make you enjoy the lesbian storyline even more. A New York Christmas Wedding is a perfect Christmas movie to watch even outside the holiday season and it represents the love between queer women in a very beautiful way.
Starring: Nia Fairweather, Cooper Koch, Adriana DeMeo.
16. I Hate New Year’s (2020)
Amongst all the lesbian Christmas movies, this is another one you can surely not skip. The movie follows a rising musician called Layne that is facing writer’s block. In order to try and overcome the writer’s block, she decides to return to Nashville and spend New Year’s Eve with her family.
Another reason why she decides on doing that is that she feels like this block might be connected to her unresolved feelings about her ex. She spends New Year’s Eve going from party to party trying to find that one person that seemed to have gotten away.
Soon though she realizes that the one she loves has been with her all along, and that is her best friend, Cassie. She is the reason why her music is so beautiful and popular and it is very clear to her that Cassie has been her muse without her even realizing it.
This lesbian Christmas movie might take place a few days after Christmas but it is definitely an emotional one that you should add to your watch list. Despite being an indie film, it is of great production and truly celebrates the love between two women who just hadn’t realized they were perfect for each other.
Starring: Dia Frampton, Ashley Argota, Candis Cayne.
17. What’s Cooking? (2000)
Despite being the oldest Christmas movie on the list, What’s Cooking is a fun movie filled with diversity. While it might seem a little outdated, it does include a lesbian couple that is presented in a very realistic scenario.
The main plot revolves around four families of different ethnicities living in Los Angeles. Each family has and follows its own unique traditions of celebrating Thanksgiving. As you might expect, the family reunions that happen certainly come with their fair share of lesbian holiday period drama.
The Jewish family of the group has a daughter named Rachel who comes over from San Francisco for the holidays with her girlfriend. While her parents are aware of their relationship and cause them no issues, they do not feel comfortable with sharing it with the rest of the family.
While the girls agree to keep this a secret at first, at some point Rachel can take it no more. She wants to share her happiness with the rest of the family and let everyone know that they are soon becoming a family of three as they are having a baby. The situation that follows is a little bit too relatable and is sure to keep you interested all the way.
Starring: Mercedes Ruehl, Victor Rivers, Douglas Spain.
18. Rent (2005)
Rent is a lesbian Christmas movie made for lovers of musicals. The main plot revolves around a group of Bohemians who are living in East Village in New York City. The topics they touch in this movie are very relatable as they include their issues with love, acceptance, financial problems, AIDS, and overall loneliness in their quest for finding happiness.
The main characters of the Christmas movie are two roommates, Mark and Roger. Along with them, the movie revolves around the lives of a gay couple, an interracial lesbian couple, as well as the rest of their friend group. The lesbian couple’s story is more prominent towards the second half of the movie and truly makes it worth watching.
The main motto of the Christmas movie is “Live like it’s the last day of your life” and it surely shows a lot about the whole attitude of it and the lessons it is here to teach. So, if you are a fan of musicals and you don’t mind that there is a lot of singing involved in this film, make sure to add it to your watch list!
Starring: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia.
19. Friendsgiving (2020)
Were you looking to find a Christmas movie from a queer director featuring three famous lesbian comedians of our time? Then look no further. Friendsgiving is a little bit all over the place but it is certain to keep you entertained every step of the way.
The main plot revolves around two friends, Molly and Abbey, who decide to spend Thanksgiving together. To their celebration are also invited a bunch of different friends and family members. Molly makes sure to also invite a few lesbian friends in hopes of helping Abbey get over her abusive ex-girlfriend.
While taking a nap, Abbey is visited by her fairy gaymothers, portrayed by Wanda Sykes, Fortune Feimster, and Margaret Cho. The three let her know that every new gay gets to see them and gain some valuable advice. The advice they have for Abbey is that she is her own home and she should always remember that.
The funny character of this Christmas movie and the constant happenings at this Friendsgiving dinner make for a very interesting and also fun, watching experience.
Starring: Malin Akerman, Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler.
20. The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night
This is another very fun and relatable lesbian Christmas movie, that takes place in the home of the Syed family on Christmas Eve. The main character, Noor, is a Muslim lesbian woman and the youngest daughter of her family. She decides to take her Puerto Rican girlfriend home with her for the holidays so she can participate in the annual family celebrations.
These celebrations are an annual event that happens every holiday season for her family and she needs to make sure that her girlfriend is prepared on how to act around everyone. With all the siblings under one roof, the festivities finally begin.
Will the fun Christmas Eve activities help the family accept their youngest daughter’s girlfriend or will it all create more drama? Make sure to give it a watch so you can find out!
Starring: Kausar Mohammed, Pia Shah, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Vico Ortiz, D’Lo.
21. Holiday Help Desk (2018)
One of the things that no one wants to do is be at work on Christmas Eve. This is the situation Lauren is faced with, as she gets stuck working her IT job that very night. During this dreaded shift, she gets a call for technical help, but it seems like the Christmas spirit has a big surprise in store for her!
Despite being a much shorter Christmas movie, it is still very enjoyable and focuses on the magic of the holiday season that comes when you least expect it. No coming out stories or family drama, just enjoyable lesbian holiday romance.
Starring: Rachel Lin, Shannan Leigh Reeve, Rich Sab.
22. Will You Merry Me? (2020)
Taking place in a cute Christmas setup in a romantic restaurant, Emily is nervously practicing her marriage proposal before her girlfriend, Jessie Cutler arrives. While Emily is trying to deliver her proposal, she is tormented by continuous interruptions.
From the waiter’s extensive knowledge of beverages to the phone ringing, she truly struggles to execute her plan for the night. You might think, how difficult can it be to find the right moment to propose? This short film shows exactly how fate can play a funny game at times!
Starring: Rachel Flynn, Angie Noir.
23. 8 Women (2002)
If you’re into dark comedy and musicals, this French production is one you are bound to enjoy. The Christmas movie takes place in a cabin, where 8 women discover that the family patriarch has been murdered. Some women make up for the women of the family while the rest are their employees.
The important thing to do now is to figure out who is responsible for this murder. While every woman goes under scrutiny, we get to learn and understand more and more about their personalities. This might not be your stereotypical lesbian Christmas movie, but writer and filmmaker Drew Gregory wrote about this musical that “This movie feels gay and then it gets explicitly gay and then it gets explicitly gayer. By the end, it’s unclear if anyone is straight!”
That being said, it is a much older French Christmas movie with an interesting plot that can still make you experience a fun evening, especially if you enjoy musicals.
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart, Danielle Darieux.
Picking the Best Christmas Movie to Enjoy on Any Night of the Year!
This collective list of Christmas movies surely has a lot of different things to offer and everyone is bound to find something they enjoy. With more and more lesbian Christmas movies coming out every year, it is definitive that we will be able to enjoy even better ones in the years to come.
It is always nice to see the representation of queen women in films and it surely encourages more diversity in the movie world. Christmas movies are always great to watch at any season of the year but since it is still cold outside, you can still enjoy watching any of these movies and feel the festive spirit!
Which are your personal top 3 favorite Christmas movies from this list?
Share this post:
