The criteria for this movie selection was the queer characters had to be main characters. Unfortunately, that eliminated the Hanukkah movies because the characters were minor. Also unfortunate, this genre is homogeneous as Hell. And you can fight us on this, but in our opinion, Carol is not a holiday movie.
Before you vote, Mia and I have watched nearly every queer holiday movie in existence and here are my Letterboxd reviews:
Looking for Her
I didn’t hate this one. There’s a scene where they cut down a Christmas tree in the snow and when they decorate it at home it’s the fakest plastic tree ever 😄
Not to get too deep with a holiday movie, but I feel like they didn’t reveal why the one woman had a huge falling out with her parents. Was it just homophobia, something else…. ??? I didn’t dwell on it too much.
Friends and Family Christmas
I preface this by saying I LOVE Ali Liebert with every fiber of my being, but Friends And Family Christmas (to paraphrase Mia) was like it was written by a remote team who didn’t read each other other’s work. It was so weak on plot even graded on a Hallmark curve.
But don’t get me wrong. I love the genre even if it’s terrible. I will watch it every year.
Under the Christmas Tree
I think Lifetime cheesy holiday movies are better than Hallmark. Cringy but enjoyable.
This one stars Elise Bauman which you may enjoy if you’re a Carmilla fan.
A New York Christmas Wedding
This was such a weird one and too Catholic for my liking. It was the second time watching and I totally forgot what she chose in the end!
City of Trees
It reminded me of low budget gay movies of yore.
Happiest Season
This movie is upsetting to watch. Christmas movies are supposed to be romantic, fun & funny with low stakes conflict. This drags queer people through so many traumatic queer experiences for 90% of the movie with a 10% rushed resolution and happy ending. Abby and Riley should have ended up together. Dan Levy is the only voice of reason. It’s a waste of a great cast and big budget.
A Holiday I Do
What’s with Tello Productions and horse lesbians? This was annoyingly about a straight wedding. It had some really bad green screen moments and over romanticizing of farm animal life.
Merry and Gay
I think this is the best of the Tello Christmas movies. It also has nonbinary rep!
I Hate New Year’s
I only gave this movie 2 stars and no review.
The Holiday Club
I gave this one 2.5 stars and no review. I do remember it follows the 2 characters over a year and goes through every holiday as they will they/won’t they along.
Christmas at the Ranch
This is another Tello Productions horse lesbian holiday romance. It’s pretty cringy, but also co-stars my first crush, Lindsay Wagner, so there’s that.
Last Exmas
I don’t remember this one, which probably means we didn’t like it.
LezBomb
This is a Thanksgiving movie where the one woman is closeted and her family believes her dude roommate is her boyfriend — very Three’s Company style comedic misunderstandings.
Friendsgiving
This one is actually pretty funny — an ensemble cast Thanksgiving dinner where everything goes wrong.
Time to Vote!
Okay, y’all! Click on the thumbnail to vote for as many Sapphic holiday movies as you like. The winners will be shown at our Bad wlw Holiday Movie Potluck!