20 Sapphic Holiday Movies to Make the Yuletide Gay
‘Tis the season!
With the winter holidays right around the corner, it’s finally time to cozy up on the couch and start making your way through another round of holiday movies. Fortunately, the last few years have finally seen a dedicated uptick in sapphic films shaking up the usual hetero holiday status quo—and we’ve compiled a list of as many of them as possible to keep the merriment going all throughout the season.
From theatrical heavy-hitters to delightfully saccharine made-for-TV fare to indie staples, hopefully there’s something on this list for everyone. Unsurprisingly, if your goal is to watch as many sapphic holiday films as possible this season, your best bet is marching right over to Tello and getting your gay on. But you’ll also find some gems from Hallmark, Lifetime, and other familiar faves, including a couple left fielders that break free from the (beloved) holiday mold.
1. City of Trees (2019)
Ainsley (Alexandra Swarens) returns to her hometown for the holidays for the first time in years, only to find herself reconnecting with people from her past—including Sophie (Olivia Buckle).
Where to watch: Tello, Prime Video
2. A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)
With her Christmas Eve wedding approaching, Jennifer (Nia Fairweather) gets an unexpected visit from an angel who shows her what life might have looked like if she’d pursued a relationship with her childhood best friend.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tubi
3. Carol (2015)
Set in 1950s New York City, the iconic Carol follows aspiring photographer Therese (Rooney Mara), who meets an older married woman, Carol (Cate Blanchett), with whom she soon develops a romantic connection.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tubi
4. Christmas at the Ranch (2021)
Haley (Laur Allen) reluctantly returns to her family’s Nashville ranch just before Christmas in a last-ditch effort to save it from foreclosure. While she initially clashes with ranch hand Kate (Amanda Righetti), well, it’s not hard to guess that their rocky introduction soon develops into something more.
Where to watch: YouTube, Tello
5. Under the Christmas Tree (2021)
When Charlie (Tattiawna Jones) finds the perfect Christmas tree for the governor’s holiday celebration, she runs into a problem: it’s in Alma’s (Elise Bauman) backyard, and Alma isn’t willing to give it up. Notably, this was Lifetime’s first Christmas movie centered on a lesbian romance.
Where to watch: Prime Video
6. Happiest Season (2020)
Abby’s (Kristen Stewart) plans to propose to her girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), over Christmas are thwarted when she discovers Harper still hasn’t come out to her family. While this film may be divisive, for those of us who love it, it’s a Christmas staple. Still waiting on that sequel!
Where to watch: Hulu
7. Season of Love (2019)
This ensemble romantic comedy follows six women navigating love and relationships during the holiday season through interconnected stories.
Where to watch: Tello
8. Looking for Her (2022)
After breaking up with her girlfriend, Taylor (Olivia Buckle) needs someone to bring home for Christmas so she doesn’t have to tell her family about the split. She winds up hiring aspiring actress Olive (Alexandra Swarens) to play the part, and viewers who love a good fake dating trope know how this goes.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tello
9. Merry & Gay (2022)
Broadway star Becca (Dia Frampton) returns to her hometown for Christmas, where she reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Sam (Andi René Christensen)—and their meddling mothers who want to see the two rekindle their relationship.
10. A Holiday I Do (2023)
Single mom Jane (Lindsay Hicks) has enough on her plate trying to save her family’s horse farm, but things get even more complicated when she agrees to be the best woman at her ex-husband’s Christmas wedding…and starts to fall for his wedding planner, Sue (Rivkah Reyes).
Where to watch: Tello
11. Friends & Family Christmas (2023)
When their parents try to set them up over the holidays, Dani (Humberly González) and Amelia (Ali Liebert) agree to pretend they’re dating to keep their families happy. But as the two spend more time together, their fake relationship starts to turn into something real.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Hallmark+
12. Last ExMas (2024)
After a messy breakup sent them down different paths, Maggie (Elena Milo) and Julianne (Shaeane Jimenez) unexpectedly reunite in their hometown for the holidays.
Where to watch: Prime Video, YouTube
13. Lez Bomb (2018)
Thanksgiving movies always get overlooked—probably because there aren’t very many of them. But this indie comedy following the misadventures of Lauren (Jenna Laurenzo) as her plans to come out to her family over Thanksgiving and introduce them to her girlfriend (Caitlin Mehner) are derailed by the arrival of her male roommate is worth adding to your list.
14. Mixed Christmas (2024)
Aurora (Live Hart) invites her three best friends to spend Christmas in Miami, but things take a turn when they discover their rental has been double-booked by Aurora’s ex-girlfriend and her new partner.
Where to watch: Tello, Tubi, Peacock
15. The Christmas Writer (2025)
After losing her mother and going through a breakup, bestselling Christmas author Noel (Shelby Allison Brown) finds herself struggling with writer’s block. She heads back to her hometown in search of inspiration, where she meets Callie (Callie Bussell), a single mom who owns the local bookstore.
Where to watch: Tello, Tubi, Prime Video
16. The Christmas Baby (2025)
When a baby is mysteriously left on their doorstep just days before Christmas, married couple Erin (Ali Liebert) and Kelly (Katherine Barrell) agree to temporarily care for him, only to find themselves wondering if they’re ready to open their home and hearts to him in a more permanent manner.
Where to watch: Hallmark+
17. A Firefighter’s Christmas Calendar (2025)
Rookie firefighter Dani (Holly Deveaux) is tasked with saving her station’s struggling holiday toy drive, leading her to team up with photographer Sasha (Kyana Teresa) to create a fundraising calendar. While this film premiered in Canada last year, it’s finally hitting Lifetime in the U.S. at the end of November, so keep an eye out on the TV schedule!
Where to watch: StackTV
18. I Hate New Year’s (2020)
Struggling with writer’s block, rising music star Layne (Dia Frampton) returns to Nashville for New Year’s Eve, hoping to reconnect with an ex. Meanwhile, her best friend Cassie (Ashley Argota) is determined to finally confess her romantic feelings for Layne.
Where to watch: Tello, Prime Video
19. The Holiday Club (2024)
After a chance Valentine’s Day encounter, holiday enthusiast Bailey (Alexandra Swarens) strikes up an unlikely friendship with holiday hater Sam (Mak Shealy). The two begin spending a variety of holidays together as their friendship blossoms into something more.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tubi
20. You Are Not Me (2024)
Taking an entirely different tone than the usual cheery holiday fare, this Spanish holiday horror film follows Aitana (Roser Tapias) as she returns home for Christmas for the first time in three years, hoping to introduce her wife, Gabi (Yapoena Silva) and their baby to her family. Instead, she discovers that her parents have replaced her with a mysterious stranger.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Shudder
