These 20 Lesbian Romances Will Put You in Your Feels
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These 20 Lesbian Romances Will Put You in Your Feels
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So My Grandma's a Lesbian!
This Spanish rom-com has a premise reminiscent of "Grace and Frankie," except it's in the form of a short and sweet movie. In "So My Grandma's a Lesbian!," a young Spanish lawyer marrying into an ultrarich (and ultraconservative) Scottish family finds her wedding plans in jeopardy after her grandmother decides to marry her best friend, who's a woman. It's a little bit of romance, a little bit of family drama, and a whole lot of fun. "So My Grandma's a Lesbian!" is also set in the Canary Islands, so it's a visual treat for an easy movie-night pick.
Netflix - 3/20
I Care a Lot
Starring Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, and Dianne Wiest, this satirical thriller revolves around court-appointed legal guardian Marla Grayson (Pike), who defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. Unfortunately, Marla's newest scheme gives her a run for her money as she comes up against the mob. As the drama and chaos unfolds, you get snippets of a sweet love affair between Marla and her associate Fran (González).
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- 4/20
The Prom
Devoted Ryan Murphy fans will want to tune in to this project directed by the "Glee" and "American Horror Story" showrunner. Starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, and Andrew Rannells, among many others, this Broadway musical adaptation follows four burnt-out Broadway has-beens who decide to team up to improve their reputations and support a worthy cause: a small-town prom in Indiana that got canceled because a girl wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date. In addition to the sweet and straightforward plot, the feel-good film also features some pretty sick ear worms. You'll be belting "Zazz" and "Love Thy Neighbor" before you know it.
Netflix / MELINDA SUE GORDON/NETFLIX - 5/20
Yes, God, Yes
In "Yes, God, Yes," "Stranger Things" Natalia Dyer takes a break from gnarly sci-fi for quirky dramedy. In the film, she plays a Catholic schoolgirl named Alice who finds herself struggling with her sexuality and her sense of morality when an innocent AOL chat takes a sexual turn. Alice's feelings grow more conflicted, especially as she feels shame from her friend Laura and an administrator named Father Murphy. The film isn't necessarily too focused on relationships, per se, but an eventful night at a lesbian bar does enlighten Alice with a few things, including the meaning of, erm, "tossing the salad."
Everett Collection / Courtesy Everett Collection - 6/20
Ride or Die
This sultry Japanese psychological thriller tells the story of a lesbian woman named Rei who learns that her former crush Nanae is stuck in an abusive relationship. To show her love, Rei decides to help save her through pretty extreme measures. The two are then forced to go on the run, causing their feelings for each other to intensify and eventually turn sexual. In the role of Rei is actress, singer, and designer Kiko Mizuhara, who's been in projects such as "Norwegian Wood," "Yae No Sakura," the Japanese remake of "The Good Wife," and "Queer Eye: We're in Japan!"
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- 7/20
A Secret Love
"A Secret Love," which was filmed between 2013 and 2018, dives into the love story of Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, who began dating back in the 1940s but kept their relationship a secret from family and friends. If you're looking to take a break from true-crime cases for a minute, this warm, cozy, and sentimental social documentary is definitely worth a shot. Alongside the masthead of producers, which include recognizable names such as Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy, the women's nephew, Chris Bolan, serves as the film's director, adding a whole other layer of personal touch to this moving documentary.
Everett Collection - 8/20
Tig
You'll need some tissues for this Netflix original documentary about standup comedian and actress Tig Notaro. In this touching project, the titular comic opens up about her cancer diagnosis in 2012. The documentary also dives into how her relationship with actress Stephanie Allynne, her struggles with trying to have a child, and her mother's death all played a role in forming her comedy. It's really a heartwarming documentary about taking risks in the face of uncertainty. If you find yourself compelled by it, don't forget to check out her standup special "Tig Notaro: Happy to Be Here," which is also on Netflix.
Everett Collection / Courtesy Everett Collection - 9/20
The Half of It
Smart and shy, Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) agrees to write love letters to a popular jock's love interest for him. Though strapped for money, she soon finds herself falling for his crush while developing a friendship with him. At the end of the day, she has to figure out who means more to her. Besides the queer take on "Cyrano de Bergerac," the film shows us Ellie's experience as one of the only Asian Americans in a predominantly white town. We also get a tender look at her relationship with her widowed father, who's been having a hard time making ends meet.
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- 10/20
A Perfect Ending
Hungry for a steamy romance? Here's a pick that'll give you your fix. "A Perfect Ending" is the story of Rebecca (Barbara Niven), an older woman who is in search of her first orgasm. After coming to terms with her empty marriage and learning about her husband's twisted past, Rebecca decides to look for fulfillment elsewhere. After consulting with her lesbian friends, she meets a call-girl and artist named Paris (Jessica Clark). Both of them find romance and a whole new meaning of self, but their situation isn't without personal complications, of course.
Everett Collection - 11/20
Elisa & Marcela
Here's another steamy and tender pick. "Elisa & Marcela" is a Spanish biographical romantic film based on the story of Elisa Sánchez Loriga (Natalia de Molina) and Marcela Gracia Ibeas (Greta Fernández), the first two women to have a same-sex marriage in Spain in 1901. They were able to do so only because Elisa had assumed the identity of a man. To really highlight the history that they made, the film is also shot in black and white. This movie's beautiful cinematography and color grading was definitely one of the highlights that critics praised when it first came out.
Everett Collection / QUIM VIVES - 12/20
Ana e Vitória
While this Brazilian romance drama definitely gives off "The Prom" vibes with its emphasis on music, it's far more understated and laid back, giving it an entirely different atmosphere that may sit better with viewers who aren't too big on musicals. In the film, two young musicians, Ana and Vitória, are brought together by their shared love for music despite their different approaches to love. As they collaborate together, both of them find tender and intimate romance in the process (along with some truly beautiful harmonies). Fun fact: the leads are actually part of a Brazilian Grammy-winning musical duo under the name Anavitória!
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- 13/20
The Perfection
"Get Out" and "Girls" star Allison Williams plays an up-and-coming cellist in this thrilling yet campy movie. Right off the bat, Charlotte (Williams) shares a steamy encounter with Lizzie (Logan Browning), the star pupil of her previous music school who replaced Charlotte after she left the academy. But their relationship definitely comes with strings attached as the movie's horror unfolds, and we learn some pretty twisted secrets as the two women get to know each other better. Keep in mind that there's quite a bit of shocking gore in this film, so it might not be for the faint of heart!
Everett Collection / Copyright Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection - 14/20
Lovesong
"Lovesong" is for fans of the friends-to-lovers pipeline. In this indie drama, Sarah (Riley Keough) feels neglected by her husband, but thankfully her best friend Mindy (Jena Malone) is there to comfort her. They decide to go on a road trip, which leads to intensified feelings between them. When they meet once more down the road, there's a lot of awkward tension between them as Mindy's wedding day approaches. The director behind the film is So Yong Kim, who's known for directing episodes of shows such as "Queen Sugar," "Transparent," "American Crime," and the new "Dr. Death."
Everett Collection / Strand Releasing/Courtesy Everett Collection - 15/20
Always Be My Maybe
Ali Wong and Randall Park might lead in this flick, but the Netflix comedy also stars the lovely Michelle Buteau as Wong's best friend Veronica, a married and pregnant lesbian woman. The plot revolves around Wong's character, a successful chef named Sasha Tran, reconnecting with her high school friend Marcus Kim, who's a little complacent with his situation. Life brings them back together, only to have their different lifestyles pull them apart. It's fun, it's cute, and it has a whole hilarious cameo from the one-and-only Keanu Reeves, who Park hilariously dunks on in the ending rap song.
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- 16/20
Wine Country
If you have a soft spot for "Bridesmaids," "Wine Country" might just be your next favorite watch, although it's definitely a lot more subtle in its humor. This Netflix gem stars your favorite "SNL" ladies (think, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, and Rachel Dratch) as a group of friends who head to Napa Valley for one of their own's 50th birthday party. While it's more about these women's friendships above all else, we also get a fun romance between Paula Pell ("Sisters") and Maya Erskine ("Pen15") in Amy Poehler's directorial debut - let's just say it involves some heavy reading of Fran Drescher's role in "The Nanny!"
Everett Collection / Colleen Hayes - 17/20
A New York Christmas Wedding
Wrapped up "Happiest Season?" It's now time to tap into "A New York Christmas Wedding," a lesbian holiday drama that has the DNA of a cheesy Hallmark movie and the soapiest soap you can think of. After a tough talk at home, Gabby, a bride-to-be (Nia Fairweather), decides to get some fresh air when she's greeted by her guardian angel, Azrael (Cooper Koch). The angel shows her a snippet of what her life could have been like if she had followed her feelings for her best childhood friend, who unfortunately died young.
©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection - 18/20
Fear Street Part One: 1994
If you've read R.L. Stine's Fear Street series, you know that nothing good happens in the small town of Shadyside. In "Fear Street: 1994," our lead character Deena is just on the cusp of getting over her ex-girlfriend Sam, when Sarah Fier's centuries-long curse comes out to get her and her friends. In the film, we witness a bunch of sweet moments between Deena and Sam . . . as well as a bunch of gory murders from past killers raging about town. After tuning in to "Fear Street Part One: 1994," make sure to watch the rest of the trilogy, which includes "Fear Street Part Two: 1978" and "Fear Street Part Three: 1666."
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- 19/20
Let It Snow
Based on the young adult novel by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle, Netflix's "Let It Snow" is your cozy teen version of "Love Actually." The Christmas film follows multiple interconnected plots in the small town of Laurel, IL, and one of the main stories focuses on a local Waffle Town waitress named Dorrie (Liv Hewson). As Dorrie comforts her best friend Addie (Odeya Rush) over relationship troubles, she also struggles with her own romantic drama. The closeted cheerleader that Dorrie's seeing, Kerry (Anna Akana), mocks Dorrie in front of her friends and pretends not to know her. Does this young couple make it? Grab a cup of hot chocolate and stream the film to find out.
©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection - 20/20
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Looking for a movie featuring lesbian love? Good, because more than ever before, we're seeing lesbian relationships represented in film and on television. Among the 18+ Netflix series and the sexiest movies on Netflix, we have characters like Elena from "One Day at a Time", Sydney from "I Am Not Okay With This," and Villanelle from "Killing Eve," who are all LGBTQ+ women with wildly different stories. Still, while we love a progressing plot on TV, not everyone has time to binge episode after episode. Looking for something to enjoy in one sitting? Netflix features an extensive library of movies centered on relationships between queer women.
The genres really run the gamut. Whether you're into slice-of-life, drama, thriller, or romance flicks, there's something for you to enjoy. If rom-coms are your thing, one of the biggest hits in recent years is Ryan Murphy's "The Prom." In this fun, frothy musical, Emma and Alyssa (Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose) get help from musical theater washouts to pull together the ultimate senior year send-out. But there are picks for those more geared towards dark plots, too. Allison Williams and Logan Browning pull a totally strings-attached relationship in "The Perfection" as prodigy cellists who play cat and mouse in this gritty horror flick.
That's all to say, there's a variety of nuanced lesbian stories on the platform that range from sweet romances to twisted affairs. And the horizon is only expanding as Netflix adds more LGBTQ+-focused originals to its service. Need help figuring out what to add to your queue? From "The Half of It" to "Fear Street Part One: 1994," we've rounded up the best movies on Netflix about women in same-sex relationships. Keep reading, and start streaming!