6 queer holiday films to get you in the spirit
‘Tis the season to break out the queer Holiday small screen viewing. So what should be on your list? Here are six of our favorites.
It seems as of late that there has been a deluge of queer holiday films being released, such as this season’s Merry & Gay, featuring a queer romance with a nonbinary actor in a leading role . It’s a trend that will no doubt continue, and we are here for it! Take that Candace Cameron Bure!
LGBTQ+ people love the holiday season as much as anyone else and to have explicit representation in the holiday film genre is an important step forward. However, there have long been films featuring queers at Christmas and this is a roundup of some of our favorites, past and present.
Home for the Holidays (1995)
Directed and produced by Academy Award winner and lesbian icon Jodie Foster, this is THE definitive Thanksgiving movie. After losing her job and having a tawdry affair with her boss, Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter), is heading home for Thanksgiving where we get a good look at the love and dysfunction of a typical American family. Featuring an all-star cast including Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Dylan McDermott and Claire Danes, this mid-90’s masterpiece is an absolute must-see and features a poignant storyline between Claudia and her gay brother Tommy.
Female Trouble (1974)
Featuring one of the funniest and ‘filthiest’ Christmas scenes of all times, courtesy of the glorious Divine as directed by the Sultan of Sleaze himself, John Waters; watching Female Trouble is guaranteed to land you on Santa’s naughty list. Follow the exploits of Dawn Davenport in one of Water’s most beloved and twisted films of all time.
Happiest Season (2020)
Happiest Season was directed by Clea DuVall, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mary Holland. Starring an ensemble cast consisting of Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen, the film follows a woman who struggles to admit to her conservative parents that she is a lesbian while she and her girlfriend visit them during Christmas. DuVall has said the film is a semi-autobiographical take on her own experiences with her family.
Single All The Way (2020)
Single All the Way is the story of a gay man (Michael Urie) who convinces his best friend (Philemon Chambers) to pretend to be his boyfriend when he goes home for Christmas, only to be set up on a blind date by his mother (Kathy Najimy). Luke Macfarlane, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Robertson, and Jennifer Coolidge also star; what more do you need?!
The Bitch Who Stole Christmas (2021)
In the draggiest Christmas movie ever made, a workaholic big-city fashion journalist is sent to a Christmas-obsessed small town to dig up a story when she finds herself in the middle of cut-throat housewives, a high-stakes “winter ball” competition, and a sinister plot that could destroy Christmas fore-evah! Starring RuPaul and no less than twenty Drag Race alumni, this is a fun, no-frills, sit back and laugh type of film. Highly recommended!
Bros (2022)
Although not billed as a holiday rom-com, a substantial portion of the movie takes place at Christmas, most likely as a nod to Luke MacFarlane’s career as a holiday rom-com leading man for Hallmark. The film stars Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane as two gay men in Manhattan who avoid commitment but are drawn to each other in this genuinely funny and well put together film. Unfortunately, it failed to find its footing in the box office, but hope remains for cult classic status sometime down the line.
