Tonight’s streaming search gets simpler when you zero in on stories about queer women, and among the most reliable lanes is lesbian movies on Netflix that you can actually press play on. This hand‑picked guide balances buzzy Netflix Originals with festival favorites that trend on the service, helping you build a confident queue without doom‑scrolling or guesswork while still honoring representation, romance, and thornier, grown‑up drama.
To keep things practical, the list favors Netflix productions or titles widely found in the platform’s “Gay & Lesbian” rows so you’re not chasing ghosts. Expect a healthy mix of romantic comedies, historical love stories, coming‑of‑age arcs, and horror‑thrillers with a sapphic heartbeat. We also sprinkle gentle discovery cues—WLW films, sapphic cinema picks, queer women on Netflix, lesbian romance movies, LGBTQ+ films on Netflix, women‑loving‑women stories, Netflix Originals LGBTQ, and lesbian drama films—so your watchlist keeps expanding naturally.
Quick Boost for Your Watchlist: lesbian movies on Netflix you can start with tonight
Availability rotates by region and month; double‑check tiles in your Netflix app. We emphasized Netflix Originals and titles commonly surfaced in the platform’s LGBTQ+ rows for higher reliability.
1. The Half of It (2020)
- Starring: Leah Lewis, Alexxis Lemire, Daniel Diemer
- Director: Alice Wu
- Genre: Coming‑of‑age, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
A shy genius ghostwrites love letters for a jock and accidentally falls for the same girl. The script treats first crushes with tenderness instead of melodrama. Small‑town pressures feel specific without turning the world cruel. Alice Wu uses quiet humor to let characters reveal themselves naturally. Friendship and desire braid together in ways teens and adults will recognize. Visuals linger on notes, bike rides, and awkward silences that say everything. It’s a gentle on‑ramp to lesbian movies on Netflix without sacrificing nuance. You’ll leave with a smile and a playlist.
2. Elisa & Marcela (2019)
- Starring: Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernández
- Director: Isabel Coixet
- Genre: Historical Romance, Drama
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Shot in luminous black‑and‑white, this true story follows two women who outwit a rigid system to marry in 1901. The film leans into yearning glances and tactile details like ink, lace, and handwritten vows. Period settings frame defiance as a daily practice, not just a plot twist. Coixet’s camera keeps the lovers central even when institutions loom. The lovers’ disguises become metaphors for how society polices desire. Dialogue is sparse and intentional, making every promise land heavier. It stands tall among lesbian movies on Netflix for history buffs. The final grace notes feel earned, not sentimental.
3. Ride or Die (2021)
- Starring: Kiko Mizuhara, Honami Sato
- Director: Ryūichi Hiroki
- Genre: Thriller, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Two women on the run turn a radical act into a brutal love test. Sleek neon nights and reflective glass make urban loneliness a character. The film probes obsession, class, and the price of protection. Bodies bruise, but the story asks what survival looks like for queer women under pressure. The road narrative gives space for confession and release. Needle‑drops and car‑window silhouettes build a pulsing mood. As a bold entry in lesbian movies on Netflix, it refuses easy moral math. You’ll debate it long after the credits.
4. Anne+: The Film (2021)
- Starring: Hanna van Vliet, Jouman Fattal
- Director: Valerie Bisscheroux
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
A millennial writer tries to finish a manuscript while her love life refuses to stay tidy. Amsterdam becomes an everyday playground instead of a postcard. The film treats queer community like oxygen—always present, never exotic. Conversations about labels, careers, and boundaries feel lived‑in. Wardrobe and interiors telegraph character without speeches. It’s breezy but emotionally specific about choosing yourself. For viewers mapping modern dating, it’s comforting and clarifying. It’s a cornerstone in lesbian movies on Netflix for quarter‑life crossroads.
5. The Perfection (2018)
- Starring: Allison Williams, Logan Browning
- Director: Richard Shepard
- Genre: Horror‑Thriller
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
What begins as a prodigy rivalry spirals into revenge with razor‑sharp twists. The movie weaponizes elegance—cellos, gowns, and precision—against predators. Its queer romance threads through trauma without reducing the women to victims. Stylish chapter breaks keep you guessing which story you’re in. Sound design makes strings scream and purr by turns. The final movement lands like a standing ovation with teeth. Among lesbian movies on Netflix, it’s the wild card that still pays off. Watch it with the lights low and your jaw ready to drop.
6. A Secret Love (2020)
- Starring: Terry Donahue, Pat Henschel
- Director: Chris Bolan
- Genre: Documentary, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Decades of hidden tenderness finally get the daylight they deserve. This documentary follows two women whose partnership survived athletes’ closets and family distance. Archival photos and home videos let small moments bloom. The film honors caregiving, not just courtship, as a love language. It’s a masterclass in quiet devotion and chosen family. You’ll text the elders in your life before the credits roll. As part of lesbian movies on Netflix, it’s a legacy anchor. Bring tissues and call it time well spent.
7. Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)
- Starring: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch
- Director: Leigh Janiak
- Genre: Horror
- IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
A cursed town, a killer soundtrack, and a central queer romance make this slasher pop. Deena and Sam’s relationship gives the gore a beating heart. Neon aisles and mall mayhem collide with real feelings. The film respects teenage love without irony. Gags and jumps alternate so the pace never slumps. Needle‑drops stitch scenes with giddy confidence. It’s crowd‑friendly for horror newbies and veterans alike. On lists of lesbian movies on Netflix, it’s the gateway to a trilogy.
8. Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021)
- Starring: Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins
- Director: Leigh Janiak
- Genre: Horror
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Summer camp carnage meets sisterly rivalry and lore expansion. Flashbacks deepen the mythology while keeping teen stakes immediate. Woodsy textures and night lighting keep the frame readable. The film respects grief and grit without losing pulp fun. Queer threads from the first chapter stay emotionally present. Action geography is crisp, letting scares land cleanly. It sets up part three with momentum, not homework. As a bridge in lesbian movies on Netflix, it more than holds.
Mid‑List Spark: lesbian movies on Netflix that widen the mood and the map
9. Fear Street Part Three: 1666 (2021)
- Starring: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch
- Director: Leigh Janiak
- Genre: Horror, Period
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
The trilogy finale reframes witch‑hunt panic through a queer lens. Village textures, candlelight, and superstition give the romance raw stakes. Performers double roles in ways that stitch time together. The curse unravels into something scarier: institutional lies. It lands catharsis without erasing the cost of survival. The craft balances folklore with modern bite. By paying off character arcs, it deepens the love story. It’s essential in lesbian movies on Netflix if you like horror with heart.
10. The Prom (2020)
- Starring: Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose, Meryl Streep
- Director: Ryan Murphy
- Genre: Musical, Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
A Broadway blitz crashes a small town to back a teen girl who just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom. Big numbers turn cafeteria trays and locker rows into glitter runways. The movie’s heart is simple: joy is not a crime. Murphy’s staging mixes camp with sincerity in equal measure. The two girls’ romance stays grounded amid celebrity chaos. Jokes land broad but leave room for tenderness. It’s perfect family‑night comfort with a message. File it under feel‑good lesbian movies on Netflix when you need a lift.
11. Duck Butter (2018)
- Starring: Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa
- Director: Miguel Arteta
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Two women attempt an intense 24‑hour shortcut to intimacy. The premise sets a timer on vulnerability, honesty, and self‑myth. Improvised rhythms make the dialogues feel raw and unguarded. It explores boundaries without shaming desire. Los Angeles looks both endless and claustrophobic, mirroring the experiment. The film asks if chemistry needs time or courage. Awkwardness becomes its own kind of truth. Among lesbian movies on Netflix, it’s the messy, memorable one.
12. To Each, Her Own (Il a déjà tes yeux) / À chacun sa chacune (2018)
- Starring: Sarah Stern, Jean‑Pierre Bacri, Julia Piaton
- Director: Myriam Aziza
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
A woman with a steady girlfriend and louder‑than‑life family realizes labels can be both helpful and limiting. The comedy juggles faith, heritage, and sexuality without easy villains. Food, kitchens, and family tables become debate stages. Misunderstandings lead to growth instead of humiliation. The tone is warm even when conversations get prickly. It’s a breezy reminder that identity can be plural. Subtitles move quickly, but the humor is universal. Keep it in your queue of lesbian movies on Netflix for Sunday laughs.
13. Happy Ending (2023)
- Starring: Gaite Jansen, Martijn Lakemeier, Joy Delima
- Director: Joosje Duk
- Genre: Comedy‑Drama
- IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
What begins as a bedroom experiment turns into a referendum on honesty. The film treats desire with humor while acknowledging vulnerability. Parties, rooftops, and bedrooms become negotiation arenas. Performances keep the characters human, not punchlines. The script respects consent as a living conversation. The girlfriend’s arc pushes past clichés toward clarity. It’s frank, awkward, and ultimately tender. Add it to lesbian movies on Netflix when you want modern, messy love.
14. Badhaai Do (2022)
- Starring: Bhumi Pednekar, Rajkummar Rao, Chum Darang
- Director: Harshavardhan Kulkarni
- Genre: Comedy‑Drama
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
A lesbian woman and a gay man enter a marriage of convenience and learn chosen honesty beats perfect optics. The movie balances farce with real cultural stakes. Friendships bloom as closets crack open. Music and family banter keep the tone buoyant. The film’s empathy invites broad audiences without sanding down queerness. Performances are warm and specific, especially Pednekar’s. It opens a global window while staying character‑first. It’s a cross‑cultural gem within lesbian movies on Netflix.
15. Let It Snow (2019)
- Starring: Isabela Merced, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson
- Director: Luke Snellin
- Genre: Holiday, Ensemble Romance
- IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Snowstorms and small towns collide in an ensemble where a wlw crush gets a cozy arc. The film treats queer flirtation as part of the holiday fabric, not a teachable moment. Peppermint lights, coffeeshops, and snow‑plow meet‑cutes keep vibes bright. Multiple romances weave without stepping on each other. Liv Hewson’s charm grounds the storyline. It’s easy to rewatch when December rolls around. The sweetness never feels apologetic. Mark it under lesbian movies on Netflix for festive comfort.
16. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
- Voices: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
- Directors: Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe
- Genre: Animation, Family
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
While not a romance, its lead is a proudly queer teen whose family road trip turns into a robo‑apocalypse. The script mixes memes, hand‑drawn doodles, and heartfelt growth. Parents and kids get to laugh at the same jokes for different reasons. Queerness is baked into character, not treated as a twist. The visual chaos remains readable and purpose‑driven. Needle‑drops and dog gags keep energy high. It’s accessible representation for younger viewers. Keep it in the broader ecosystem of lesbian movies on Netflix as joyful context.
17. I Care a Lot (2020)
- Starring: Rosamund Pike, Eiza González
- Director: J Blakeson
- Genre: Crime, Dark Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
A ruthlessly ambitious conservator and her girlfriend hustle the system until they pick the wrong target. Pike’s ice‑cool performance turns empathy into an ethical mirror. The romance is sleek, adult, and refreshingly un‑apologetic. Sunlit offices and glass houses hide bruising choices. The movie asks what success costs when love is on the line. Tension mounts without losing sharp humor. It’s not a romance, but queerness is undeniable and central. For lists of lesbian movies on Netflix, it’s the stylish outlier you’ll argue about.
Final Stretch Push: lesbian movies on Netflix for deep cuts and late‑night moods
18. So My Grandma’s a Lesbian! (2020)
- Starring: Rosa Maria Sardà, Veronica Forqué, Ingrid García Jonsson
- Directors: Ángeles Reiné
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 4.6/10
A wedding announcement detonates years of family assumptions and polite fictions. The tone is bright, but the script honors late‑life love. Cultural clashes play out over cakes, dresses, and guest lists. The elders are written with agency, not as props. Jokes skew affectionate rather than mean. It’s breezy, bilingual, and party‑ready. The message: joy has no expiration date. It’s an easy add to your carousel of lesbian movies on Netflix.
19. Fanfic (2023)
- Starring: Alin Szewczyk, Jan Cieciara
- Director: Marta Karwowska
- Genre: Teen, Coming‑of‑Age
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Though centered on identity beyond neat boxes, the movie’s queer teen friendships include tender wlw currents. School hallways and music practice rooms become safe harbors. The film respects confusion without pathologizing it. Group chats and late‑night walks feel authentically teen. Teachers and parents are fallible but not villains. Moments of courage arrive in small, private acts. It’s more about finding language than labels. In the broader halo of lesbian movies on Netflix, it earns a place for curiosity and care.
20. The Invisible Thread (2022)
- Starring: Filippo Timi, Francesco Scianna, Valentina Cervi
- Director: Marco Simon Puccioni
- Genre: Family, Dramedy
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Seen through a teen with two dads, the story broadens the family web to include queer aunties and allies. Though not a lesbian romance, lesbian characters weave through the social fabric. Italy’s legal quirks become plot engines rather than lectures. Humor keeps the tone nimble even when bureaucracy bites. The narrative champions transparency over perfection. It’s a kind watch with a civic heartbeat. For audiences mapping queer kinship, it’s useful context. Keep it adjacent to your lesbian movies on Netflix list as community color.
21. Do Revenge (2022)
- Starring: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke
- Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
- Genre: Teen, Dark Comedy
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
A technicolor high‑school thriller lets two schemers bond over payback and identity. Queer attraction thrums under the pop‑song sparkle. The film riffs on ‘90s teen classics while building its own bite. Costumes and production design deserve their own scrapbook. Dialogues snap, twist, and meme‑ify without losing character. It’s mean, fizzy, and sneakily tender. The ending reclaims agency without pretending high school isn’t brutal. In the constellation of lesbian movies on Netflix, this one gleams neon.
22. The Promised (aka “The Promised Love”) — Short Anthology Pick (2024)
- Starring: Various
- Director: Various
- Genre: Anthology, Romance
- IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
This anthology slot highlights rotating short‑film packages Netflix surfaces in LGBTQ+ rows. Within them, you’ll often find tender wlw stories that punch above their runtimes. The brevity invites formal risk and bold endings. Minimal runtimes mean every shot and line matters. It’s perfect for sampling new voices and regions. Keep notes—you’ll discover directors to follow. Shorts also make great double‑features with longer dramas. As a flexible capstone to lesbian movies on Netflix, it keeps your queue fresh.
Conclusion: choosing your mood among lesbian movies on Netflix
Start with feel‑good romance in The Half of It and song‑bright joy in The Prom; then edge into thriller territory with The Perfection or the slasher‑sweetheart trio of Fear Street. For documentary heart, A Secret Love restores a hidden century; for global windows, Elisa & Marcela, Ride or Die, and Badhaai Do widen language, law, and love. When you want more curated pathways beyond this list, try GLAAD’s streaming research on Netflix inclusivity and browse Rotten Tomatoes’ dynamic roundup of LGBTQ+ Movies on Netflix to catch new arrivals and critic scores.
