December 21 2025, 08:15 
The first gay-inclusive Christmas movies were admittedly a bit dreary and rarely centered on women. But modern-day filmmakers have created a slew of recent lesbian Christmas movies to reverse that trend — and we’ve picked 10 of the best to help keep your hearts and holidays warm.
Yes, most lesbian Christmas movies tend to be low-budget and predictable, but our picks pack plenty of surprises, including Black-led casts, a disabled lesbian character (played by a deaf actress), and even two musicals and a mystery!
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Just in time for the holidays, the Lifetime Channel has released this story about Dani Reed, a lesbian firefighter who spearheads a “Holiday Heroes” fundraiser to help her local community during the winter. In the process, she ends up getting closer to her dad and sister as well as a charming photographer named Sasha.
Last Exmas (2024)
Rich girl Maggie and her middle-class ex Julianne underwent a bitter breakup when they broke up in high school. But when they cross paths during the holidays in their small hometown, it seems like they might still harbor feelings for one another… but this rom-com gets even more complicated when Maggie’s more recent ex, Vi, shows up.
Mixed Christmas (2023)
Snow and cold can make New York dreary during the holidays. That’s why Aurora and her three best friends book a holiday getaway in Miami, Florida. But when they discover that Aurora’s ex-girlfriend has been inadvertently scheduled in the same Airbnb, they have to make the best of a messy situation. This low-budget comedy is one of the few lesbian Christmas movies to feature a predominantly Black cast and a wide range of lesbian stock characters (with a twist ending).
Christmas With Love (2022)
When Broadway actress Becca returns to Tennessee for Christmas, she crosses paths with her old high school girlfriend, Sam, who now works as a bartender. The two now lead very different lives, but their mothers still think they could make a sizzling pair — if only they can work out their differences. Even better, this is one of the few lesbian Christmas movies to feature musical numbers!
Christmas at the Ranch (2021)
Gay men have Brokeback Mountain, and, for a while, lesbian women had Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. But anyone wanting some lesbian cowgirl action should pony up to this rural romantic drama about Haley, a woman who returns to her hometown to save her family ranch. She ends up meeting Kate, a lonely ranch hand who has asked Santa Claus for a girlfriend. Can the two save things by Christmas?
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Happiest Season (2020)
When Harper (butch-heartthrob Kristen Stewart) invites her girlfriend Abby to visit her family’s house for Christmas, she reveals at the last minute that she’s not actually out to her family and would like Abby to pretend to be her roommate instead of her romantic partner. While that setup would send most sensible adults running for the hills, it provides a chance for Harper and Abby to see whether they’re truly right for each other. Plus, queer actors Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy join in the comedic Christmas chaos.
A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
The Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life examines how one man’s community would suffer if he were never born. This film takes a somewhat similar sapphic twist by examining how one woman’s life would change if she had ended up with her same-sex crush rather than her current male fiancé. Even better, this lesbian Christmas movie includes a queer Black protagonist and a magical gay angel — who says wishes can’t come true?
Season of Love (2019)
This sapphic stocking stuffer comes with not one but three lesbian love stories, including one involving a deaf lesbian, another with two long-distance lovers, and a third woman left standing at the altar when her groom-to-be gets cold feet. It’s a cheesy affair, to be sure, but this lesbian Christmas movie has plenty of happy endings to keep the holidays bright.
Carol (2015)
Beautifully directed by gay filmmaker Todd Haynes, this lesbian Christmas movie is based on the 1952 romance novel The Price of Salt by lesbian writer Patricia Highsmith. In it, photographer Therese crosses paths with Carol, a glamorous woman whose contentious hetero separation and child custody battle could be complicated if the courts discover that she’s a lesbian. While the film’s 1950s anti-gay setting provides a wistful atmosphere of dangerous longing, Carol is probably the most mainstream and big-budget drama in this list of lesbian Christmas movies.
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8 Women (2002)
If you’re looking for some musical mystery fun this holiday season, look no further. This comedic French gem features eight women, snowbound in their family mansion, who must figure out whodunnit when the family patriarch ends up with a literal knife in his back. Each woman has plenty of secrets and motives, and things get even crazier when characters start bursting out into song.
Keep the Yuletide queer with sapphic celluloid
Lesbian Christmas movies make a great streaming option for your family or gay gathering this winter season. Honestly, we’d also love to see some lesbian Hanukkah and Kwanzaa films. Maybe Santa will bring us some if we’re all extra good this year?
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