In the old times, an excellent lesbian film was challenging to find. However, due to online streaming platforms, we can see more movies that include lesbian and bisexual main characters experiencing the broad spectrum of both love and falling apart.
Even if the experience is as subtle as dancing in their high school prom, these heartwarming movies allow audiences to see personalities repeatedly left in the shadow area.
The portrayal of bare acts like just trying to move on with their lives offers expression to a considerable slice of normalcy in today’s world.
In short, lesbian tales range from adorable old-school romances to twisted love affairs, and luckily, the horizon is expanding as platforms add additional LGBTQ+-centred originals to their benefit. Here are some of the best picks for you!
So My Grandma’s a Lesbian!
Stars:Verónica Forqué, Ingrid García Jonsson and Rosa Maria Sardà.
Directed by: Ángeles Reiné
Runtime: 1 hr 37 min
This Spanish rom-com is an apt easy movie night pick and has a hypothesis reminiscent of “Grace and Frankie,” save it is a short and lovely movie.
In this movie, a young Spanish lawyer marrying into an ultraconservative, blind, wealthy Scottish household discovers her marriage plans are threatened after her grandmother determines to woo her best friend, who is a girl.
Overall, it is a perfect mix of a tiny bit of romance, a bit of comedy, and family drama. It’s set on the Canary Islands, granting a visual treat too.
The Prom
Stars: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman
Directed by: Ryan Murphy
Runtime: 2 hr 12 min
The movie is Ryan Murphy’s famous musical film, taken from the Broadway show of the same name, and has left numerous humming the enchanting soundtrack since.
The movie features Broadway celebs’ journey to Indiana to back for a learner who cannot bring her girlfriend to her senior prom.
The dances are flashy, and the songs are catchy mixed with the candidly-from-the-headlines story is bound to be familiar to both LBGTQ+ and other viewers.
A Secret Love
Stars: Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel
Directed by: Chris Bolan
Runtime: 1 hr 22 min
This film is shot between the years 2013 and 2018 and plunges into the beloved story of Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel.
They started seeing each other in the 1940s but hid their relationship from family and friends.
If you desire to take a break from real-life crime cases for a moment, this cozy and empathetic social documentary is your destination. The film’s director is the woman’s nephew, adding a new layer of personal hint to this soul-moving documentary.
The Half of It
Stars: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, and Alexxis Lemire
Directed by: Alice Wu
Runtime: 1 hr 44 min
It is a great early autumn romcom that portrays love as a wide spectrum and not limited to gender.
It is set in a tiny town and follows an introvert and a social loner, Ellie Chu, who is determined to ghostwrite a guy’s love confession letter to a popular girl in their high school, in who Ellie also has an interest. It is a very delicate and heartwarming mess thereon.
Duck Butter
Stars: Alia Shawkat, Drew Langer, Marc Maron
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Runtime: 90 mins
If you are a fan of a slice-of-life movie that has both drama and comedy, “Duck Butter” is your shot. In the film, two young women meet at a pub and connect over the disloyalty they have experienced in their past relationships.
They suggest a romantic experiment to be thoroughly honest with one another for 24 hours and get physical once each hour between that timeline.
However, as expected, things didn’t go according to plan, and the drama began.
Elisa & Marcela
Stars: Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernández and Sara Casasnovas
Directed by: Isabel Coixet
Runtime: 118 mins
The movie is a steamy and delicate pick. Elisa & Marcela is a romance-biographical Spanish movie based on the real-life story of Elisa Sánchez Loriga and Marcela Gracia Ibeas, the first two women ever to have a lesbian marriage in 1901 in Spain.
They could do so only because one of the main characters, Elisa, had adopted the male identity.
The movie was also shot in sharp black and white to glorify the iconic history the directors created. Its cinematography and color grading was one of the charms that made the critics praise it and swoon when it was released.
The Perfection
Stars: Marie Maskell, Allison Williams, Christina Jastrzembs
Directed by: Richard Shepard
Runtime: 1 hr 30 min
In the beginning, Charlotte narrates a sexy encounter with Lizzie, the star girl of her last music academy who took Charlotte’s position after leaving the school.
However, their bond comes with strings connected as the story’s horror unravels, and the audience is made aware of some twisted lies as the two get to know each other slowly. It has some gore and violence, so one must brace themselves for it.
A New York Christmas Wedding
Stars: Chris Noth, Nia Fairweather, Chris Trousdale
Directed by: Otoja Abit
Runtime: 1 hr 28 mins
It is a sapphic holiday drama with traces of a cheesy and lovey-dovey Hallmark movie. After a serious talk at the house, Gabby, a soon-to-be bride, is determined to get some freshness outside when her guardian fairy, Azrael, welcomes her.
The angel gives her a glimpse of what her life would be like if she had trusted her feelings for her childhood friend, who, by a mishap, died young.
Let It Snow
Stars: Isabela Merced, and Odeya Rush
Directed by: Luke Snelin
Runtime: 93 mins
The movie is based on the romance young adult novel by none other than John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. It is a cozy teenage version of the movie, “Love.”
The Christmas movie follows several interconnected stories in the tiny town of Laurel. As Dorrie consoles her friend Addie over relationship struggles, she struggles with her drama.
Tig
Stars: Stephanie Allynne, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman
Directed by: Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York
Runtime: 1 hr 35 min
Half documentary, Half stand-up comedy, this special movie follows a famous comedian named Tig Notaro as she recovers from multiple sicknesses and other losses of her mom.
In the meantime, she falls for her partner, giving a perfect emotional, comical, and highly amusing show one wouldn’t want to miss.
Wine Country
Stars: Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, Tina Fey, Maya Erskine
Directed by: Amy Pohler
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
If you possess a special spot for “Bridesmaids” or maybe “Wine Country,” this movie can be your next wholesome watch despite its subtle humor. The film has the lovely “SNL” ladies as friends who travel to Napa Valley for a 50th birthday party.
While it’s centered around these women’s bonding, we find a fun love between Paula Pell and Maya Erskine.
Blue Is the Warmest Color
Stars: Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalya Lacroix and Julie Maroh
Directed by: Abdellatif Kechiche
Runtime: 3 hrs
High school girl Adele begins probing her gender identity when she is greeted by a lively blue-haired girl, Emma.
However, Adele’s friends refuse to accept her, so she becomes closer to her. It is the most preferable for the adult audience.
I Can’t Think Straight
Stars: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Antonia Frering, and Dalip Tahil
Directed by: Shamim Sharif
Runtime: 1 hr 22 mins
The story of the movie is just as enchanting as the poster. It depicts the love story of a London woman of Palestinian origin, Tala, who has decided to woo; when a British woman of Indian origin greets her, Leyla, she falls for her.
Happiest Season
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen
Directed by: Clea DuVall
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
It is a perfect holiday movie with a star-studded Christmas to give you the feels anytime since our main character decides to propose to her girlfriend on Christmas when they both spend time with her family.
However, on their way, she realizes she is still not open to them. Overall it is a feel-good, funny, and warm movie with the best outfits that are always on point.
Ride or Die
Stars: Kiko Mizuhara, Honami Satô, and Shinya Niiro
Directed by: Ryûichi Hiroki
Runtime: 2 hr 22 mins
This sultry Japanese psychological thriller narrates the plot of a lesbian, Rei, who gets to know that her current interest Nanae is bound in a toxic, abusive relationship. Rei tries to save her via extensive measures to showcase her love.
Ultimately the two are compelled to move on the drive, causing their emotions for each other to grow, intensify and gradually turn physical.
Playing the role of Rei is none other than the famous Kiko Mizuhara, an actress, singer, and designer who has been in other big projects like “Norwegian Wood.”
And Then Came Lola
Stars: Ashleigh Sumner, Jill Bennett, Cathy DeBuono
Directed by: Ellen Seidler, Megan Siler
Runtime: 1 hr 11 mins
Kudos to the German movie “Run Lola Run” for being a steamy, queer rom-com that will keep us mesmerized and on the edge of our seats the entire time.
The film follows a photographer, Lola, who desires to take their relationship to the next level with her girlfriend, Casey.
When Lola has to reach a meeting at the scheduled time, she tries everything to make it successful, and ultimately, she is left with only three trials to reach there, or she is about to lose her job and her girlfriend.
Disobedience
Stars: Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams.
Directed by: Sebastian Lelio
Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins
In this movie, Ronit is a woman who is back to the rigid Orthodox Jewish locality she had left due to her father’s demise.
However, she does not live her life in the traditional Orthodox manner anymore, and yet she determines to attend all the funeral events and try and talk with her old childhood friend Esti.
Sooner or later, Ronit and Esti have a budding love affair and unravel that they were in a relationship when they were much younger and were even caught by her father. Sadly, Esti is now married, which makes everything complicated.
The movie is an intense lesbian classic with erotic sex scenes, a strong plot structure, and a powerful romance.
Beauty
Stars: Gracie Marie Bradley and Niecy Nash
Directed by: Andrew Dosunmu
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
The movie follows a young singer on her way to being a megastar if she can figure out her private life. Her orthodox parents want to direct her.
However, they’re very against her relationship with another character Jasmine.
Do Revenge
Stars: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González
Directed by: Jenifer Kaytin Robinson
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Do Revenge revolves around two high schoolers engrossed with revenge. However, things don’t go according to plan, and the greatest thing they get is a good lasting friendship.
Eleanor is a lesbian, hellbent on seeking vengeance on the person who beat her at summer camp a few years earlier.
But throughout the film, she falls for another character named Gabbi, whose delicate romance is adored making it the cherry on top.
I Care a Lot
Stars: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González
Directed by: J Blakeson
Runtime: 1hr 58mins
A satirical thriller movie centered around a court-hired legal guardian named Marla Grayson, who tricks her elder clients and entangles them under her supervision.
Unfortunately, her latest strategy provides her with a run for her finances as she plans against a gang.
Amidst all the drama and chaos, you can see a sweet budding affair between her and her associate Fran.
To Each, Her Own
Stars: Sarah Stern, Jean-Christophe Folly, and Julia Piaton
Directed by: Myriam Azia
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
A Jewish woman, Simone, ultimately decides to inform her family that she is in love with her roommate, who is a girl. However, she realizes she is attracted to the male chef at her lunch place.
Featured Image Source: YT