The Holiday, Love Actually, While You Were Sleeping… This time of year is rich with choices for holiday favourites to enjoy over a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Only it’s hard to ignore how heteronormative these classics are, even if filmmakers and streamers are slowly breaking out of their restrictive formulas. The go-to choices are overwhelmingly straight, lacking queer characters and the varied, authentic storylines we deserve – it’s high time we diversify our Christmas canon. Here are five queer Christmas film recommendations for you to enjoy this holiday season:
Carol (2015)
Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as Carol Aird and Therese Belivet respectively, Todd Haynes’ adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt stands apart in pure cinematic quality. Set against the backdrop of 1950s department store Christmas shopping, Carol follows an illicit romance between a sophisticated woman navigating divorce and a young aspiring photographer. From intricate plotting to perfect pacing, lush cinematography, and a devastating amount of yearning, this one tops the recommendation charts.
Happiest Season (2020)
If you’re a real holiday rom-com enthusiast, this one’s for you. Clea DuVall’s Happiest Season follows Kristen Stewart as Abby Holland, planning to propose to her girlfriend during a family Christmas visit — only to discover her partner isn’t yet out to her family. While still ticking off the typical rom-com checklist, it explores themes often neglected in the genre: the costs of staying closeted, the gap between who we think we are and who we become under pressure, and whether love can survive when someone isn’t ready to be fully seen. Dan Levy and Aubrey Plaza deliver standout supporting performances that ground the film’s emotional stakes.
Tangerine (2015)
If you’re craving an entirely different vibe, Sean Baker’s gritty indie film Tangerine might offer just what you’re looking for. The crime-comedy follows Sin-Dee Rella played by Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, a transgender sex worker who, fresh out of jail on Christmas Eve, discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her. Along with her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor), they tear through Los Angeles to confront him. Celebrating resilience and chosen family, the film brings warmth and humanity to lives typically marginalised in cinema. It also stands out technically as one of the first feature films shot entirely on an iPhone.
Single All the Way (2021)
This Canadian comedy offers a warm and genuinely comforting Christmas watch. Michael Urie stars as Peter, a social media strategist who brings his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) home for the holidays as a fake boyfriend to avoid his family’s scrutiny. The twist? Peter’s mother has also secretly arranged a blind date for him with her handsome personal trainer James, creating a holiday love triangle that forces Peter to examine what he actually wants. The film doesn’t win awards for electric chemistry, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a lighthearted, low-stakes queer rom-com with plenty of heart and holiday cheer.
Dashing in December (2020)
In this American romantic holiday drama directed by Jake Helgren, Peter Porte stars as Wyatt Burwall, a New York investment banker who returns to his family’s Colorado ranch for the holidays, determined to convince his mother to sell. His plans are complicated when he meets the new ranch hand Heath Ramos, played by Juan Pablo Di Pace, a charming dreamer committed to saving the property and the Winter Wonderland attraction. As their romance ignites, Wyatt must choose between his city life and the home he left behind.
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