Top 10 Best Lesbian Themed Movies

Grab some popcorn and get comfortable, because these movies are kicking in that closet door. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the "Top 10 Best Lesbian Themed Movies."

For this list, we’ll be taking a look at movies that proudly feature characters who identify as lesbian, or in some cases, bisexual women who end up with women. We’ll only be looking at movies that star canonically queer female characters, so as much as we’d love to showcase Fried Green Tomatoes, the movie deviated from the book and left the relationship between Idgie and Ruth ambiguous.

When you’re a teenager, you’re in that complex stage of life where you’re constantly being told what you should be while simultaneously trying to figure it all out. That’s the case for 17-year-old Alike, a young girl who FINALLY has that wonderful "ah-hah" moment about her sexuality... only to have to go home to a disapproving mother and a father who means well... but still denies it with that most hated phrase: “It’s just a phase.” The movie shows a heartbreakingly real depiction of young, queer women of color, yet Alike still manages to keep her head held high.

Parodying the likes of Charlie’s Angels, this secret academy specializes in Discipline, Energy, Beauty, Strength, and Charming Lesbian Villains. Oh... was that not stated in the rules? Because Lucy Diamond is kiiiiinda cute, and definitely charming the way she robs banks to steal moments with D.E.B.S honor student, Amy. Around the playful tone of the movie is a surprisingly in-depth coming out story where Amy has to decide between running off with Lucy and accepting herself, or following the status quo with the D.E.B.S.

Of all the apartment buildings in all the cities in all the world, the girlfriend of a money launderer for the Mafia just had to live right next door. We assume that’s what ex-con, Corky, had to be thinking when she met Violet. Their affair leads to a rather stylish movie that just so happens to be directed by a sibling team you may have heard of: The Wachowskis. Making their directorial debut, Larry and Andy—now proudly known as Lana and Lilly—made an engaging film that did something many lesbian films didn’t do at the time: It DIDN’T focus on coming out.

There’s the fear of coming out in general, but those fears are amplified for Wil, a young, Chinese-American surgeon whose family is a bit on the “we’ll disown you” side of things. It doesn’t help that her mother “brings shame to the family” for having a child out of wedlock, so that closet door is going to stay closed shut. At least that’s the plan until Wil meets Vivian. This is one of those movies where we understand both sides to the predicament: Vivian doesn’t want to hide their relationship, and Wil is afraid of her family’s judgment. As a result, it’s a film anyone can relate to.

What does an out-and-proud black lesbian do after she directs the first feature-length film to focus on black lesbians? If you’re Cheryl Dunye, you keep on slaying. Our number six pick centers on Treasure Lee, a young woman who wants to meet her biological mother. The twist? Her mother is in prison, and Treasure purposely causes trouble just to get close to her. Much like Bound, there’s no coming out process or doubts about sexuality, but the movie still has common LGBT themes such as wanting to gain acceptance from your loved ones, and tells that story in a unique, unconventional way.

We all hope for our weddings to go off without a hitch, but what happens when a “hitch” comes in the form of the cute girl who did the flower arrangements at your ceremony? That’s what happens to bride-to-be, Rachel, but it’s not enough to stop Rachel from marrying Hector. From there begins an awkwardly adorable romance that Hector unintentionally helps to blossom when he encourages his wife to befriend Luce. It’s not just the comedic, feel-good love story that we adore about this movie; it’s the fact that Hector isn’t a bad guy at all, he’s just not the one for Rachel.

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes your child wanting to find his sperm donor father. That goes about as well as you’d expect. This star-powered cast retells the age-old romantic dilemma where Partner A doesn’t appreciate Partner B, and Partner B ends up in the arms of another. However, Partner A and B are both women, and that “other” is the biological father of their children. This creates a multitude of problems that, ironically, strengthen the bond of the family; because at the end of the day, the most important thing is that the kids are all right.

We imagine this is an accurate representation of what it looks like when lesbians are made to kiss boys. Wait... sweet, wholesome, Megan couldn’t possibly like girls, could she? Sure, she likes Melissa Etheridge and cute cheerleaders, but... argh, dammit, she IS a lesbian! The first step is admitting all of the homo—at least that’s the gospel of True Directions: a therapy camp that uses a five-step program to force—sorry, pray the gay away... or something. However, the camp has the exact opposite effect. Huh. It’s as if sexuality should be something that’s accepted instead of condemned...

As soon as you see the time period of this movie, your heart sinks. It’s 1952 when Therese meets a glamorous woman named Carol. As the film progresses, we learn that Carol is in the middle of a terrible divorce from her husband, who’s threatening to expose her homosexuality due to a “morality clause” to gain full custody of their daughter. The fact that Carol has to decide between her own child and her sexuality is heartbreaking. While we’ve made great strides since the 50s, this movie still hits home for queer parents who may face such severe discrimination that they choose to keep their sexuality hidden.

Before we get to our number one pick, let’s celebrate these honorable mentions:

• Kissing Jessica Stein
• Concussion

There was something about that cool, blue hair that drew Adèle to Emma. Like many of the entries on this list, the attraction was instant; and while Adèle tried to deny it, she eventually admitted her true feelings. However, unlike our other picks, this is a movie that doesn’t stop at high school or start at adulthood. Adèle and Emma’s relationship is a progression that begins in those early self-discovery moments, and eventually helps us realize that, even as an adult, there’s still a lot to learn about who you are. It’s a fresh and honest reminder that coming out—and living life—is, indeed, a process.

Do you agree with our list? Which lesbian movie makes you feel good to be who you are? For more inclusive top tens published everyday, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.