With Thanksgiving and Black Friday in our rearview mirrors, we’ve officially entered holiday season territory. As we head into the holidays, some are lucky to get time off work to spend the season with their loved ones — and what better way to relax and cozy up than to watchclassic holiday movies?
Of course, Christmas movies, in particular, tend to be packed with images of the “traditional” nuclear families and their way of living during the holiday season. This may not necessarily be the case for queer people, who might want to enjoy seeing their lives represented well during this time. What’s more, it’s pretty challenging to findLGBTQ+holiday movies, but the last decade of cinema has seen a rise in queer holiday stories being told. FromCaroltoSingle All the Way, here are the best LGBTQ+-themed holiday movies to watch this season.
Update August 07, 2025: This article has been updated with more details on each film as well as where each title is streaming.
8Friendsgiving (2020)
Written and directed by Nicol Paone in her feature debut,Friendsgivingis a comedy-dramastarring Kat Dennings, Malin Akerman, Aisha Tyler, and many more. The plot centers on two best friends, Abby, a lesbian getting over her ex, and Molly, a mother to a five-month-old baby. Abby and Molly plan to enjoy a quiet Thanksgiving, but the entire holiday becomes engulfed in chaos when they start inviting different people, such as Molly’s fling Jeff, a few single lesbians to find Abby a new love, and Molly’s estranged mother, Helen.Friendsgivingdidn’t receive the most positive reviews, but it’s a good watch if you enjoy movies that don’t make you think.
WhyFriendsgivingis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Friendsgivingstands out with a delightful cast that manages to add their own spice to each character, and lives from its numerous over-the-top moments. Awkward encounters and embarrassing incidents are nothing uncommon in this movie, and what makes it even more unsettling, in a hilarious way, is that many of them might be way too relatable. Even though the storyline in the film could have benefited from a more cohesive structure, the comedy that is provided is certainly enough to lift someone’s mood during the festive season.Stream on Hulu
Related:10 Christmas Movies That Went to the North Pole
7Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (2020)
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Squareis a holiday musical film directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen. It stars Dolly Parton as Angel, Jennifer Lewis as Margeline, Josh Segarra as Pastor Christian Hathaway, and Christine Baranski as Regina in the leading roles. The plot follows wealthy Regina as she returns to her hometown around Christmas just to evict its residents and sell the land to mall developers. Parton wrote all the songs that are performed in the movie.
WhyDolly Parton’s Christmas on the Squareis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Squareis a must-watch for any musical lover. Of course, the focal point lies on the songs and dances, which will have viewers sing and dance along from the get-go. In particular, the scenes in which the entire cast participates in a performance elevate the movie, since they perfectly capture and convey the feeling of union and joy. Although it’s one of the corniest things you’ll ever watch, it has some wise, soul-crushing lines that will definitely stick with you.Stream on Netflix
6Single All the Way (2021)
Released on Netflix at the beginning of December 2021,Single All the Wayis aChristmas romantic comedydirected by Michael Mayer and written by Chad Hodge. It stars Michael Urie as social media strategist Peter and Philemon Chambers as his best friend Nick. Peter is sick of his family always asking him about his single status each holiday, so he convinces Nick to pose as his boyfriend during their Christmas visit. Little does he know that his family is already scheming plans, including a handsome spinning instructor named James.
WhySingle All the Wayis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Some would argue that the movie resembles a lot of slow-burn, friends-to-lovers fanfiction tropes, and that’s exactly why the audience loved it so much. It carries that heart-warming nature, which is exactly what Christmas is all about. Apart from that, the movie also offers comfort and coziness, highlighting the topic of a supportive family. The story is pure fluff, has no toxic characters, and focuses on fake dating and best friends falling in love. What more could we ask for?Stream on Netflix.
5Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
Based on McHenry’s 2010 BAFTA-nominated shortZombie Musical,Anna and the Apocalypseis a British Christmas zombie musical film directed by John McPhail. It stars an ensemble cast of mostly unknown young talents, such as Ella Hunt as Anna, Malcolm Cumming as John, and Sarah Swire as Steph. The story takes place in Little Haven, Scotland, and follows Anna and her high school friends as they have to deal with a zombie apocalypse to save their loved ones.
WhyAnna and the Apocalypseis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
First, considering that it is not only the season of Christmas traditions but also of catchy tunes, theentire movie soundtrackis one big masterpiece, adding even more funny moments as well as Christmassy feelings to the movie. Additionally,Anna and the Apocalypseoffers some of the classic Christmas traditions with quite the gory yet entertaining twist. Zombie Santa and snowmen with bloodlust are only two of the many hilariously disturbing elements. It’s one of the most niche movies we’ve ever seen, and a perfect movie for those who aren’t here for the cotton-candy Christmas magic but rather want to see a Christmas tree burn, literally. A zombie comedy musical at Christmas time — sign us up.Stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
Related:Best Scary Movies for the Holiday Season, Ranked
4Let It Snow (2019)
Based on the young adult novel of the same name by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle,Let It Snowis a Christmas romantic comedy directed by Luke Snellin. Set in Laurel, Illinois, the town gets hit by a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, bringing together a group of high school students whose friendships and love lives end up colliding. The characters range from Julie, who doesn’t want to leave her sick mum behind for university, Stuart, who is a rising pop star passing through town, Addie who is a paranoid girlfriend, and Dorrie, a waitress at the local Waffle Town.
WhyLet It Snowis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Despite the rather young age of the cast, the skillful acting is delightful to watch. The interactions between the characters are beautifully relatable and evoke that sweet Rom-Com feeling. The various emotions are portrayed in a genuine, funny, and heartfelt way, easily turning this movie into an enjoyable time spent in front of the TV. It specifically succeeds in delivering a message of acceptance, support, and love, asLet It Snowfocuses on homosexuality, staying respectful and genuine throughout the entire time. Netflix Christmas Rom-Coms are truly the backbone of society, andLet It Snowis no different.Stream on Netflix.
Let It Snow
3Happiest Season (2020)
Clea DuVall’s semi-autobiographical film,Happiest Seasonis holiday romantic comedy-drama film. It stars Kristen Stewart as Abby, Mackenzie Davis as her girlfriend Harper, Alison Brie as Harper’s sister Sloane, and Aubrey Plaza as Harper’s ex-girlfriend Riley. The film follows Abby and Harper as they visit Harper’s family for Christmas. Abby plans to propose to Harper in front of her parents, but soon finds out that Harper hasn’t yet come out as lesbian to her conservative parents.
WhyHappiest Seasonis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Happiest Seasontook on the task of teaching people what it feels like to have to hide one’s identity and the suffering it entails, and it arguably succeeded in doing so. The film successfully highlights the unfair treatment many have to endure due to the small-mindedness of some family members and the missing acceptance. While it tackles such a heavy, although essential to talk about, topic, it doesn’t cut short on those feel-good moments, which convey the lovely Christmas spirit. Overall, the movie was praised for its amazing cast, but with queer audiences, Plaza was the one to steal the show, per usual.Happiest Seasonshowsa much-needed transformation from rejection to acceptance, all the while the mood of the season is kept alive.Stream on Hulu.
Happiest Season
2Lez Bomb (2018)
Written by, directed by, and starring Jenna Laurenzo,Lez Bombis an American comedy-drama. Laurenzo plays the character of Lauren alongside Caitlin Mehner as Hailey. The plot is pretty similar to that ofHappiest Season, but instead, it is set during Thanksgiving. Lauren is a closeted lesbian who takes her girlfriend Hailey home for the holidays with the intention of coming out to her parents. Things get complicated when her male roommate shows up, and Lauren’s family mistakes him for her boyfriend. She asks him to pretend to be one until she’s ready to come out.
WhyLez Bombis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Just like the previous movies,Lez Bombmanages to highlight the unfair difficulties LGBTQ+ people have to face. It delivers a genuine depiction of decision-making with regard to coming out, and, despite the very real struggles, allows for many funny moments, which have the power to warm hearts. The refreshing performances of the actors make it easy to wholeheartedly enjoy the movie and connect with the different characters and their stories. Stream onPeacock, Tubi, and Kanpoy.
1Carol (2015)
Last but not least, we have the most critically acclaimed movie on the list:Carol.Based on the 1952 romance novelThe Price of Salt, Carolis a romantic drama period film directed by Todd Haynes. It stars Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird, Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet, and Sarah Paulson as Abby Gerhard in the leading roles. Set in New York City during the early 1950s, it tells the forbidden love story between an aspiring photographer, Therese (Mara), and an older woman going through a divorce, Carol (Blanchett). It is a haunting and beautiful journey for two women who discover what love means in a time when the idea of who someone could love was limiting.
WhyCarolis One of the Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies
Carolreceived five Golden Globe Award nominations,six Oscar nominations, and nine BAFTA Award nominations, so you could say its success was immense — and rightfully so. It has the ability to capture minds in the most wonderful way while revealing a story of falling in love and the excitement about it amid discrimination and objections. On top of the deeply moving storyline,Carolalso stands out with a spectacular score and impressive cinematography. Composer Carter Burwell’s touching creation adds to the delicate romance, and it is worth giving it a listen. The movie carries a wonderful elegance, which is intensified through the use of thought-through camera movements and scenes with a richness of details.Stream on Netflix
Check out MovieWeb’s video about the bestChristmas Carolmovie adaptations.
