1. Bound (1996)
When an ex-con spots another woman in the elevator at her apartment complex, they soon develop a close romantic relationship. But one of the women is trapped in an abusive relationship with a terrifying gangster, so the two women plot her escape.
2. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
In 1770s France, a painter takes a job creating the wedding portrait of a young bride who doesn't seem thrilled about her marriage. The painter is told not to let the bride know she's being painted, so she watches her secretly as she paints her portrait and slowly falls in love.
3. Water Lillies (2007)
Three teenage girls meet at their local pool one summer, and a love triangle forms. As they bask in the sun by the poolside and practice water polo, the girls explore their sexualities and face heartbreak.
4. But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
An all-American cheerleader with a handsome football star boyfriend prefers to look at her fellow cheerleaders rather than kiss her boyfriend, which makes her parents believe she's a lesbian. They send her to a conversion therapy camp, where instead of turning her back to her female attraction, the cheerleader falls for an openly lesbian woman.
5. Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
Blue is the Warmest Color chronicles the passionate romance between a young woman and an art student she met at a bar. Throughout the film, the two women grow together and apart in this alluring and heart-wrenching story.
6. Carol (2015)
Set in 1950s Manhattan, a talented photographer discovers a new model in a department store. As the photographer and the model bond, the two grow closer than anticipated and must contend with the homophobic times as they try everything to keep their forbidden love a secret.
7. What Keeps You Alive (2018)
This horror film is about a lesbian couple who vacation at one of the women's family's lakeside home. As the new wife learns more about her partner's childhood, she becomes wary of their once-strong relationship. But when things take a turn for the worse, the two women are caught in a battle against one another for survival.
8. Crush (2022)
Crush is a lighthearted teen romance film about an aspiring artist who is forced to join the school's track team. Although not pleased with this new activity, she takes it as an opportunity to connect with her crush.
9. D.E.B.S. (2004)
This hilarious action romance film follows a team of teenage detective fighting crime in their city. But can love and justice coincide when one of the girls falls for the woman the team is trying to take down?
10. Lyle (2014)
Lyle is a psychological thriller about a lesbian couple who move into a new home only to lose their toddler in a tragic accident. But tension arises in her relationship when one of the wives suffers with delusions, believing the neighbors are part of a satanic cult and causes her daughter's death.
11. Pariah (2011)
A young lesbian in Brooklyn tries to decide whether or not to come out to her family in this coming-of-age indie drama. But everything shifts when her mom introduces her to a coworker's daughter, and the two girls form a close friendship that turns into something more.
12. Princess Cyd (2017)
When a sixteen-year-old girl from South Carolina visits her aunt in Chicago for the summer, the two bond over discussions of their love lives. The aunt and niece help each other in their romantic endeavors, like the teen's budding relationship with a cute barista at the local coffee shop.
Maya (she/they) is a queer entertainment and culture journalist. They cover interviews, reviews, roundups, news, and more. She loves horror, history, and creativity. They hope their writing both entertains readers and inspires them to think critically. Her favorite pastimes include needle felting, gaming, and drawing.