11 Romantic Lesbian Movies for Your Next Date Night

In 2022, 28.5% of 350 films released theatrically and on streaming were LGBTQ-inclusive. Of these 100 inclusive films, 45 featured lesbians. 

Lesbian relationships are on their way to receiving more widespread representation onscreen, so when you’re planning your next movie night with your girl, you’ll have more options than ever before.

To help you pick a flick, I’ve put together a list of romantic lesbian films perfect for setting any mood–from lighthearted and silly to seriously sexy. Grab your popcorn and enjoy.

Set in 1959, English professor Vivian travels to Nevada to finalize her divorce from her husband. There, she meets Cay, a sculptor who is also splitting from a male partner. 

Often named among the “classic lesbian film” canon, a Reddit post on the subforum r/latebloomerlesbians shares, “…An absolute classic…The ups and downs are relatable with some themes of divorce and homophobia, but in general it’s a chill and fun exploration.”

And it’s true that the central conflict lies in Cay’s guardian, Frances, disapproving of the relationship, but the film is still chock-full of unbelievably romantic moments — like a kiss at Pyramid Lake and a classic running-to-board-a-train ending. “For a movie made in 1985, it was so ahead of its time,” writes one user. Stream it on Max.

This film employs the classic trope of two very different people falling for each other — tomboyish Randy and rich, femme Evie. After meeting by chance at the gas station where Randy works, the two explore a relationship with each other, experimenting in an intolerant town.

“The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love” is special in that it allows its lesbian protagonists the same teenaged innocence and awkwardness often seen in onscreen heterosexual relationships — think out-of-town parents and a sex-and-weed sesh after — without the judgment. You can stream it on Netflix.

This sexy noir film follows an ex-con named Corky and a next-door neighbor and gangster’s girlfriend named Violet; together, the pair begin a relationship and scheme to steal millions of dollars from the Mafia. It’s also the directorial feature film debut from the Wachowski twins (of “The Matrix”), who are both trans women.

With murder scenes and heart-stopping heist planning, “Bound” is a perfect watch if you want some higher stakes with your romance. You can watch it for free on Pluto TV or rent it on YouTube or Prime Video. 

Stereotypically picture-perfect high school cheerleader Megan has a boyfriend but thinks she might like girls. When her parents begin to suspect that she’s a lesbian, Megan is sent to a residential conversion camp to “cure” herself. Instead, though, she meets a girl named Graham and falls in love with her–while finally fully accepting her sexuality. 

A cast of all-stars, including Natasha Lyonne, RuPaul, Melanie Lynskey, and Michelle Williams, pop up throughout this heartwarming 90s classic that has stood the test of time.

“Watching this movie 20 years ago was like having a secret handshake or inside joke with someone,” writes Amber Leventry for Scary Mommy. “…Which is why [the film] is so on point. We are who we are. No amount of prayer or intimidation can change that.” Stream it for free on Tubi.

Wil, a surgeon living in New York, keeps her lesbianism a secret from her mother, Hwei-Lan. So much so, in fact, that Hwei-Lan brings her daughter to a gathering at a restaurant with plans to set Wil up with a friend’s son. Instead, though, Wil falls for Vivian, the daughter of a recently divorced Chinese mother.

Wil discovers that Vivian also keeps secrets: her relationship with her father is strained due to her pursuit of modern dance instead of the more respectable ballet. The two begin a relationship — Wil even introduces Vivian to her mother as a “friend” — and everything eventually comes to a head (for the better) at Hwei-Lan’s wedding. 

The romance in “Saving Face” is about not only Vivian and Wil, but their families, too. It’s rare for a film to capture queer experiences alongside the delicate relationships Asian American parents and children share, but this one does it well. Watch it on Fubo or rent it on YouTube or Prime Video.

It’s something like love at first sight for Rachel. She’s trying to deny her budding feelings for the flower shop owner, with whom she locked eyes at her own wedding. Later, Rachel admits her attraction at the flower shop, where they share a first kiss after a slow burn. 

Though Rachel’s husband, Hector, is left reeling in the fallout from his wife’s new romance, there’s still a happy ending in this rom-com. “Game of Thrones” fans, you’ll want to tune in — Lena Headey, better known as Cersei Lannister, stars as love interest Luce. Rent it on YouTube, Google Play, or Prime Video. 

Based on the 1952 romance novel “The Price of Salt,” this star-studded drama follows aspiring photographer Therese and the older Carol, who is going through a divorce. The pair’s love is overcast by 50s-era threats to expose their homosexuality, especially to make it part of a “morality clause” that might prevent Carol from winning custody of her daughter. 

Despite its core conflict, the film’s high notes — like the couple’s first kiss on New Year’s Eve — are touching, making it easy to understand why this was nominated for six Academy Awards. Stream it on Netflix, Tubi, Prime Video, or Plex.

Set in late 18th-century France, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” depicts yet another unlikely pairing–this time, a young aristocrat named Heloise, who is set to be married to a nobleman of equal status, and painter Marianne, who has been commissioned to create her portrait. 

Their relationship begins with Marianne as Heloise’s hired companion, but soon after, the two have sex and spend days together. When Heloise’s mother returns to town, Marianne sees her lover in her wedding dress just once before they part ways for good.

Though we won’t spoil the film’s emotional flash forward to the present, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is both gut-wrenchingly sad and a beautiful tribute to lesbian love conducted in secret that doesn’t always last forever. Stream it on Hulu.

26-year-old Old Dolio Dyne is the daughter of con artists, who force her to act as an accomplice to their schemes. Fed up with their debt, Old Dolio hatches a travel insurance scam of her own. But on the plane ride, which is an integral part of their plan, she meets Melanie. 

Melanie turns out to mesh well with the family, quickly adapting to their way of life and helping them steal and cash checks. Turns out she and Old Dolio get along well, too, with Melanie stepping in to call her “hon” and roleplay parents after Old Dolio explains her fraught relationship with them.

“Kajillionaire” is a wild ride–Old Dolio’s parents try to initiate a threesome with Melanie before her and Old Dolio ever even kiss–but it’s a sweet tale that is as much about our old folks and their odd ways of showing love as it is about unexpected lesbian romance. Stream on Prime Video.

“You Can Live Forever” sheds light on an often-unrepresented sect in the LGBTQ+ film space: Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jaime, a teen living with an aunt following the death of her father, falls for Marike, a young woman associated with the Jehovah’s Witness community, in which her aunt’s religious husband is also involved. 

After the two become close, Jaime’s family becomes suspicious, and they are then only allowed to interact with supervision. There are still sneaky kisses and skipped classes, but it’s not long before more people catch on, and Marike’s father suddenly announces her engagement to a man.

The two reconnect in an epilogue scene that evokes all of the love and heartbreak from years past, making “You Can Live Forever” a realistic — if painful at times — romantic film. Rent it on Prime Video or Apple TV+.

Hello, ripped Kristen Stewart! If muscles on everyone’s mid-2000s lesbian awakening isn’t enough, stay for the action in this fast-paced thriller film. Lou, a quiet and reserved gym manager, quickly falls in love with bodybuilder Jackie while she prepares for a competition in Las Vegas.

Like “Bound,” the relationship at the center of “Love Lies Bleeding” is one surrounded by crime, thanks to Lou’s relationship with her FBI-wanted estranged father Lou Sr. and her brother-in-law JJ’s abuse of her sister. 

As a Bonnie-and-Clyde pair, Lou and Jackie frame Lou Sr. for Jackie’s steroid-induced murder of JJ and dump the body–and it’s just the beginning of their exploits together. Stream it on Max, Hulu, and the Roku Channel.

It used to be a known fact that most lesbian films were sad, overly focused on the forbidden aspects of the relationship, or featured lesbians as an afterthought to the “main” heterosexual relationship. There are even lists titled “Sapphic Films That Aren’t Majorly Depressing” and “The Best Happy Lesbian Movies to Stream.”

Though the above list includes a few sad movies, we’re happy to present a varied list of quirky love stories alongside weightier — but still romantic — dramas. Whether you and your partner are looking for a bloody crime thriller or a period piece, you’ll want to reach for one of these on your next movie night.