SHE’S THE HE is an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age comedy made by queer people and for queer people. Unapologetically and going all-out. Of course, everyone can (and should) watch it, but not everyone will catch every detail and quip. Read our full She’s the He movie review here and find it on Digital now!

SHE’S THE HE is out on Digital, and if you’re LGBTQ+ or an ally, then this is the movie to watch. Not only to support the filmmaker, cast, and crew (though that would be reason enough), but rather because it’s an absolute treat and lots of fun to watch.

It’s a play on all those coming-of-age comedies where someone tries to pretend they’re someone else to get the guy or girl of their dreams. As such, this movie has a premise I’ve watched so many times, but never quite like this. Coming the closest are movies like Booksmart or Crush (2022), but they are nowhere near as truly queer (in every positive sense of the word) as this one.

Continue reading our She’s the He movie review below. Find it on Digital now.

Become a girl to get the girl

The core premise of She’s the He is exactly as silly and wonderful as with most other teen or YA comedies with a coming-of-age plot.

Coming the closest is probably the MTV series Faking It. In that show, two girls pretended to be dating to get attention from a boy. Well, one of them hatched this plan, and the other realized she was, in fact, gay.

In this new queer comedy, Ethan and Alex end up posing as trans women. A stupid idea, obviously, but there are two reasons for this crazy plan. First, Alex desperately wants to make it clear that he and Ethan are not a couple. Gay rumors have stuck to them forever, and they have never dated. Second, Alex wants to get closer to the girls.

What better place to do that than in the girls’ locker room?

When a joke becomes serious

In classic Gen Z form, the girls accept their friends being trans, as does the teacher.

It works perfectly and is all a “fun joke” until one of the cis-girls helps Ethan with make-up and a better outfit. Suddenly, Ethan looks in the mirror and finally sees the girl she’s always been. Yes, Ethan is really trans. Also, she’s a lesbian, which is good, as a non-binary lesbian classmate is also crazy about Ethan.

Finally, everything is coming up rainbows for Ethan, and she is truly happy. But that won’t last long, as we need some drama in this comedy. Hey, that’s the premise, and I am absolutely buying it in this one.

Watch She’s the He on Digital now

Writer and director of She’s the He is Siobhan McCarthy, and I cannot wait to see what comes next. More of the same would be just fine with me. This is low-budget, but it has so much talent, integrity, and obvious love of the audience this was made for. Yep, I’m a fan of Siobhan McCarthy.

The cast includes Misha Osherovich (Freaky) as Ethan, Nico Carney as Alex, and Suzanne Cryer (Mrs. Davis, Silicon Valley) as Ethan’s mom. All three end up being the true heart of the movie. Among the classmates are characters portrayed by Malia Pyles (Cape Fear), Mark Indelicato (Hacks), and Tatiana Ringsby from several Zolita music videos.

Yes, in this wonderfully queer coming-of-age comedy, the actors portraying characters are mirroring their own gender and sexuality. Trans actors are portraying trans characters, and gay actors are playing gay characters. I have to admit that I love this, and it must have made for the best set ever for everyone involved.

While both The L Word and Happiest Season are productions that have come close, this one goes all the way. Also, with a runtime of just 82 minutes, you can expect to want to watch this movie several times. Consider yourself warned… and enjoy!

Womentainment recommendation: Put this one at the top of your “Want to Watch” list

Obviously, all queer people aren’t as over the top as some of the characters in She’s the He. That’s often the case with movies. Comedies in particular. Nobody ever bothered to put up a disclaimer like this for She’s the Man or 10 Things I Hate About You.

And yet, with a movie like She’s the He, I felt a lot more seen than in many of those movies. Yes, in an over-the-top way, but that’s the point. We’re allowed to have fun with our own quirks. It’s a lot better than always being the joke in some straight movie.

Plus, I have to also point out that this story does get more serious and dark at times. It deals with some heavy subjects, and parents wanting a happy and “easy” life (whatever that is?) for their child also come up. This was what ensured the rating ended as it did. It’s not all rainbow stickers, poppers, and thumb rings.

She’s the He is out on Digital now.

Director: Siobhan McCarthy
Writer: Siobhan McCarthy
Stars: Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney, Suzanne Cryer, Malia Pyles, Mark Indelicato, Emmett Preciado, Tatiana Ringsby

Official plot:

Before graduation, Ethan and Alex pose as trans women in a last ditch effort to quell gay rumors. It’s all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. The two must reckon with their changing friendship, coming out, and coming-of-age.

RIDE OR DIE on Prime Video is an action-adventure comedy hybrid series starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer. Do you really need to know more before choosing to watch it? I certainly didn’t, and yet, it was even better than I ever dared dream. Read our Ride or Die season 1 review here!

RIDE OR DIE is a Prime Video series with eight episodes in its first season. Will there be more seasons? Well, you can never be sure, but I sure do hope so. This is the most amazing genre hybrid, and while the core premise and two leading ladies (Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer) were already enough, the trailer made me smile so big.

I mean, come on, these two ladies could read out of the phone book, and I’d watch it. With Ride or Die, we get all the comedy and gorgeous attitude both are excellent at, but now paired with an action plot and perimenopausal comedy to boot. What more could you want? Well, nothing really. You’d be greedy if this weren’t already enough.

Well, except for, obviously, more seasons of this amazing Prime Video show.

Continue reading our Ride or Die season 1 review below. Start watching on Prime Video now.

Knowing your own worth – or getting there!

Ride or Die is exactly the kind of feel-good series I needed. Yes, this Prime Video show about an assassin (Hannah Waddingham) and her best friend (Octavia Spencer), who end up going on an unplanned action-adventure together, is just what I needed.

It’s like a hybrid of Atomic Blonde and Hidden Figures with comedy to bind it all together. Highlighting the fierce, tall blonde, who can beat any man, and the short, whip-smart, kind woman, who can turn the other cheek until she cannot. I loved this combination.

Especially seeing the latter acknowledge that she has as much right to take up space as anyone else.

An assassin and her brilliant best friend

The core plot of Ride or Die focuses on best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham), who trust each other with their lives, but have been keeping secrets. Well, mostly Judith, who is an international assassin codenamed “Whiptail”.

Just as Judith is forced to reveal this secret occupation to Debbie, a mysterious figure from Judith’s past returns, which makes everything go horribly wrong. As a result, both of their worlds are violently changed in an instant, and they are forced to go on the run together.

This turns into a road trip across Europe, but not the kind that includes much sightseeing. They have trained assassins and law enforcement chasing them, along with extremely dangerous criminals. The two best friends get to know each other while doing all they can to stay alive.

You had me at Hannah and Octavia

I recognize that I am repeating myself a lot, but come on, it’s Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer. Two of the most amazingly talented and fierce women in the entertainment industry. Watching Ride or Die is like getting to enjoy the best of all worlds.

You get brilliant action scenes, where women are kicking butt by being smart and strong. Also, there’s a focus on the women who build up men only to see themselves “cut loose” once they’ve done all the heavy lifting. Finally, there is that perfectly timed comedy to keep it all light, despite the rather dark plot.

A plot that focuses on friendship, survival, revenge, deceit, and perimenopause. Oh yeah, this story is all about how a WOACA (Woman Of A Certain Age) is fiercer than at any other age. She knows her worth, and she doesn’t care if you like her. She’s often the smartest person in the room, and yes, she is better than you!

This makes Judith (Hannah Waddingham) and Debbie (Octavia Spencer) sound like “Mean Girls” almost, but they are not. They’re just done with being people pleasers while putting their own needs aside.

Also, I should mention that the supporting cast is great as well. From Cathy Tyson (Criminal Record), Savannah Steyn (Good Boy), and Bill Nighy (Love Actually) to Sylvia Hoeks (The Girl in the Spider’s Web) and Ed Skrein (Jurassic World Rebirth), to mention just a few that you’ll meet early on.

Watch season 1 of Ride or Die on Prime Video now!

Tessa Coates is the creator of Ride or Die, which has eight strong episodes in its first (and hopefully not last) season. All eight episodes are out on Prime Video now, and you’re in for a real treat, so do yourself a favor and watch it sooner rather than later.

Previously, Tessa Coates has acted more than written. She was in several episodes of Mae Martin‘s Feel Good series. Based on this Prime Video production, I cannot wait to see what Tessa Coates comes up with next.

As the writer and showrunner, we have Matt Miller. He previously worked on both Peacemaker and The Flight Assistant, so he knows action-comedy well. Directors of the eight episodes are Peyton Reed (Bring It On), DeMane Davis (The Girls on the Bus), Allison Liddi-Brown (Grey’s Anatomy), and Lauren Wolkstein (Dead Ringers).

Ride or Die is produced by Paramount Television Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, but we also have siblings Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s Double Dream (IT: Welcome to Derry), plus Octavia Spencer’s Orit Entertainment, and Hannah Waddingham on board as producers. I love that!

Womentainment recommendation: Watch Ride or Die as soon as you can!

Oh yes, I do realize that I come off as quite bossy when I ask you to watch it “now” and “as soon as you can”, but that’s how we can ensure more seasons of this amazing Prime Video show. Also, I am trying to do you a favor by pushing you towards this gorgeous experience of watching kick-ass women!

If it helps, imagine that instead of me, it’s Hannah Waddingham making this demand. You can’t say no to her, can you? I don’t think I could. She’s truly a girl’s girl. Or a woman’s woman, if you will. And so is Octavia Spencer. Both are, of course, also executive producers on the series – as they should be.

From their impeccable comic timing to their facial expressions speaking volumes, I have adored both Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer for as long as I have known them. In this, they both shine as bright as ever. So, go ahead, set aside time to treat yourself to season 1 of Ride or Die. You can thank me later!

Ride or Die season 1 premiered globally on Prime Video on July 15, 2026.

Creator/Writer: Tessa Coates
Showrunner/Writer: Matt Miller
Directors: Peyton Reed, DeMane Davis, Allison Liddi-Brown, Lauren Wolkstein
Cast: Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn, Jamie Parker

Official plot:

Ride or Die follows best friends Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) and Judith Burton (Waddingham) who thought they knew everything about each other, except Judith turns out to be an international assassin. When a mysterious figure emerges from Judith’s past and a hit goes horribly wrong, both of their worlds are turned upside down as they’re forced to go on the run together. It’s a race against time and a road trip across Europe, with law enforcement, highly trained assassins, and some very dangerous criminals at their heels.

Photos © Amazon Content Services LLC

THE FIVE STAR WEEKEND on Peacock is a series with the most wonderful cast. So heartwarming and funny, this new series is based on the bestselling 2023 novel by author Elin Hilderbrand. With 8 episodes, you’re in for a treat. Read our The Five Star Weekend S1 review here!

THE FIVE STAR WEEKEND is a Peacock series based on Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling novel from 2023. I have not read the book, so I have no idea how closely it follows the story in it. In fact, I have no problem admitting that the casting of this Peacock series is what lured me in.

And yes, the cast definitely delivered what I expected. The drama series (with lots of comedy along the way) has eight episodes in the season. Give it a shot, and see if this isn’t your feel-good show of the summer. It certainly could be for me. 

Continue reading our The Five Star Weekend review below. Find season 1 on Peacock now.

Five female friends in Nantucket

I realize that a show about five friends in Nantucket may sound very “straight and white”, but it isn’t. Well, it certainly isn’t white, and in regards to the “straight” part, I don’t want to give away too much here. You’ll have to watch (maybe even decide) for yourself to figure out that part.

Anyway, we follow a very beloved food influencer, Hollis Shaw (Jennifer Garner), as she is dealing with a brutal loss. To help her come to terms with this, she relies on her friends. Along with four of her friends – each stemming from a different chapter of her life – she goes to Nantucket for a weekend.

Usually, Hollis Shaw is a friendly and happy kinda gal. Just not right now, which is exactly why she needs both support and understanding, along with some tough love, to help her move forward.

While the group of five women is there, they will uncover long-hidden truths while new relationships are formed. All takes place in the very gorgeous surroundings that Nantucket offers.

Jennifer Garner is Hollis Shaw

In the absolute lead of The Five Star Weekend is the always wonderful Jennifer Garner. And yes, I would admittedly watch pretty much everything with Jennifer Garner in it. From seeing her as the kick-ass Sydney Bristow in Alias (2001-2006), I have adored her.

Jennifer Garner was speaking all kinds of accents and taking on various undercover personas decades before Jodie Comer in Killing Eve. Also, she’s an actual superhero when playing “Elektra”.

Overall, Jennifer Garner may be best known as the cute and bubbly girl from 13 Going on 30, but she is so much more. She is a bona fide action star in movies like Peppermint and even Deadpool & Wolverine, but also the most amazing mom in Love, Simon. Also, she played a key role in Dallas Buyers Club, which was about AIDS patients.

Finally, if you’re in a slump, I can highly recommend checking out her “Pretend Cooking Show” on YouTube. Especially if it’s one where she has to call her mom for instructions. If you think Jennifer Garner is lovely, there’s an added comedic timing to seeing her interact with her mom while attempting to cook from her mom’s recipe.

Who knows, maybe these videos helped her get a role as a food influencer in The Five Star Weekend?!

Anyway, enough about just one of the actors in this show, which does feature an actual ensemble cast.

Just a wonderful cast

Alongside Jennifer Garner as Hollis Shaw, we have four amazing women.

There’s Chloë Sevigny (Russian Doll, Poker Face) as Tatum, Regina Hall (One Battle After Another, Nine Perfect Strangers) as Dru-Ann, Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians, Humans) as Gigi, and D’Arcy Carden (A League of Their Own, The Good Place) as Brooke.

Also, in key roles, but not among the five friends, are Harlow Jane (She Came to Me) as Caroline and Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet, Alien: Earth) as Jack.

Plus, in recurring roles, you can look forward to West Duchovny (Painkiller, Saint X), Roberta Colindrez (A League of Their Own, Vida), and Judy Greer (Good Boy, The Long Walk) as Electra. Yes, her name is almost “Elektra”.

Watch The Five Star Weekend on Peacock now

As already mentioned, The Five Star Weekend is based on Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling 2023 novel. The Peacock series adaptation comes from creator Bekah Brunstetter. She previously produced and wrote on several episodes of This Is Us, which was a series I was crazy about. An amazing creation from Dan Fogelman (Paradise).

Directors of the eight episodes in the series are Jennifer Morrison (Yellowjackets, Euphoria) and Minkie Spiro (All Her Fault, Pieces of Her). Overall, the crew behind this Peacock series is made up of a lot of female talent, which is yet another reason to support the show.

To me, The Five Star Weekend is exactly the kind of series I like to relax with. You can laugh a little, maybe cry a little, and you should be able to recognize the types of people we’re introduced to. The cast alone was enough to get me interested. I was entertained in exactly the way I expected. Nothing more, nothing less, and I am fine with that.

Womentainment recommendation: Have fun with this girl-powered treat

I wasn’t expecting The Five Star Weekend to blow my mind, and I suppose it didn’t, but it did make for a wonderful treat. Watching this Peacock series, I found myself relating to different characters and recognizing most of the types. In a good way, I should add.

With eight episodes, there’s plenty to enjoy. Whether you want to binge-watch it or have it as a little treat over some time, it’s perfect for winding down. A feel-good watch, and there aren’t a whole lot of those around.

The Five Star Weekend is out on Peacock from July 9, 2026.

Creator: Bekah Brunstetter
Directors: Jennifer Morrison, Minkie Spiro
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, D’Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Harlow Jane, Timothy Olyphant

Official plot:

A beloved food influencer relies on her friends as she comes to terms with a devastating loss.

LADIES FIRST on Netflix is a 2026 remake of a 2018 French movie. The stories do differ quite a bit, but the overall theme remains, so we follow a man who wakes up in a matriarchal society after hitting his head. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike. Read our full Ladies First movie review here and find it on Netflix now!

LADIES FIRST is a 2026 Netflix movie that is actually based on another Netflix movie from 2018. The original movie was from France, and this new story plays out in the UK instead. That’s not all that has been changed, and overall, it is not for the better.

However, this 2026 version stars Rosamund Pike, so it already has plenty going for it. It’s the story of a man enjoying life in our patriarchal society, who hits his head and wakes up in a matricarchal society. The runtime is 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is in its favor. Especially as the third act goes down a path I did not like.

Continue reading our Ladies First movie review below. Find it on Netflix now.

Who run the world? Girls!

With Ladies First, we’re getting a plot that may be familiar, but I do still feel this brings something new to the table. We meet Damien Sachs (Sacha Baron Cohen), a typical and all-too-familiar type of male chauvinist. After a confrontation with a brilliant employee, Alex Fox (Rosamund Pike), he runs into a lamp post.

After hitting his head, he wakes up in a world that may look the same, but is completely different. He has been transported to a matriarchal society. Here, he will meet all the same people as in his “normal” world, but the roles have been switched.

Girls and women are now running the world, while boys and men are expected to do everything women do in our world. In this new world, Alex Fox is a formidable female version of himself. And yes, this also means the women are acting in exactly all the bad and wrong ways that he did.

In other words, it isn’t about women running the world as women would, but rather: What would the world look like if women ran the world but behaved exactly like men are now in the real world?!

That’s how you get the message across. As ludicrous as it seems, at first, it isn’t exaggerated, but rather it’s copied.

Enjoy it for Rosamund Pike (and Fiona Shaw)

As already mentioned, Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, I Care A Lot) stars in Ladies First as the main female character, Alex Fox. The main supporting character is portrayed by Fiona Shaw (Echo Valley, Killing Eve, Hot Milk), so with these two women front and center, I could not help but watch it!

Also, I should mention that the awesome Emily Mortimer (Check her out in Relic) and the brilliant Kathryn Hunter (Black Doves, Hedda) both play a key role as well.

However, the character we primarily follow is the male character, Damien Sachs, portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen. I don’t feel he was necessarily the best choice. As much as I have enjoyed him in other productions, his performance in Ladies First didn’t do much for me.

In fact, this was probably why it completely lost me towards the end.

I think it’s important to note that I really enjoyed several of the other male characters and the actors who portrayed them. Especially Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The Imitation Game) and Kadiff Kirwan (Slow Horses, I May Destroy You), as well as Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Saltburn) as “Pigeon Man”.

Watch Ladies First on Netflix now

Director of this 2026 Netflix movie is Thea Sharrock. She previously directed the amazing movie Wicked Little Letters (2023) starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley. In other words, she is used to directing some of the most amazing actors around!

Writers of the screenplay are Natalie Krinsky (The Broken Hearts Gallery), Cinco Paul (The Secret Life of Pets), and Katie Silberman (Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling). The movie itself is based on the 2018 Netflix movie Je Ne Suis Pas Un Homme Facile (English title: I Am Not An Easy Man), written and directed by Eléonore Pourriat.

A lot of this movie was fun to watch for me. However, that ending was not something I saw coming, nor did I enjoy it. However, I can accept that it was (in a roundabout way) a nod to the original. The issue is simply that the original didn’t use the same story and plot to get to this point.

Womentainment recommendation: Watch Ladies First to feel understood

While it may be very on-the-nose in many aspects, Ladies First simply shows the world where women act exactly like men, and men behave as women are expected to. Sure, it seems exaggerated and extreme at times, but it is a mirror image of our society in a gender-swapped edition.

Not unlike The Handmaid’s Tale, where author Margaret Atwood based every wild and extreme element on something that was already happening (or had previously happened). There is nothing in Ladies First that won’t be familiar to at least some viewers.

Bottom line: Watch it to support the message, the female director and writers, as well as a largely wonderful cast.

Ladies First premiered on Netflix on May 22, 2026.

Director: Thea Sharrock
Writer: Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, and Katie Silberman (based on the Netflix film “Je Ne Suis Pas Un Homme Facile” by Eléonore Pourriat)
Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Emily Mortimer, Weruche Opia, Charles Dance, Fiona Shaw, Richard E. Grant, Kathryn Hunter, Kadiff Kirwan 

Official plot:

A male chauvinist is transported to a matriarchal society, facing challenges from a formidable female version of himself.

HOT MILK is a psychological drama starring Emma Mackey. It’s not an easy watch, in many ways, but it is an important one. Also, it has a very strong ending that I personally loved. Despite the main character being an adult, this is very much a queer coming-of-age story. Read our full Hot Milk movie review here and find it on Hulu now!

HOT MILK is a movie I’ve wanted to watch ever since I first heard about it. Admittedly, this had to do with two things mainly. First, the short plot description. Second, the cast featuring three amazing women. I promise to get back to both these points later on.

For now, let me just say that this coming-of-age psychological drama is both heartbreaking and healing. Emma Mackey is amazing in the lead role, and I found myself rooting for her in ways I rarely experience. You just want to help her, while also wanting her to help herself. It’s a powerful experience with a runtime of just 93 minutes.

Continue reading our Hot Milk movie review below. The movie can be found on Hulu and VOD now.

Holding on and letting go

Hot Milk is the story of Sofia (Emma Mackey), who has devoted her entire life to her mother. Sofia is an adult woman, trying to get her degree, but is currently traveling with her mother for some sort of experimental procedure.

Her mother, Rose (Fiona Shaw), has a strange illness, which has resulted in her not being able to walk. There is nothing physically wrong with her, but she experiences pain and relies on her daughter for pretty much everything.

So, now they’re in a small town on the Spanish coast trying to find a cure for an illness that may not even exist. Of course, something is wrong with her mother, but it’s probably psychological more than physical. This also appears to be the belief of the doctor working with her.

Sofia needs to let go of her mother, which is very difficult, when she is holding on ever tighter.

Standing up for yourself

While the treatment begins, Sofia heads out on her own. This is when she meets Ingrid (Vicky Krieps). A woman who goes after what she wants, and when she sees Sofia, she wants her. This appears to open up a new world for Sofia, where she is allowed to be desired and have the spotlight on her for once.

Of course, it’s nowhere near as simple as that. Before long, it’s clear that her new romantic interest, Ingrid, and her controlling mother, Rose, have more in common than you’d assume. Mostly, they need Sofia in ways that do not benefit Sofia… in fact, they both take a toll on her.

Still, meeting Ingrid has shifted something for Sofia. She realizes there is a life to be led away from her controlling mother. In fact, it may even be what her mother needs to heal.

It’s certainly what Sofia needs if she’s to ever be happy. Watching Hot Milk is seeing someone discover the power of standing up for oneself. Something most LGBTQ+ people learn early on, when they realize they are different. Sure, there are many of us, but we are not the norm.

Should we forget, there will always be someone ready to remind us. As a result, we learn to stand up for ourselves (and each other). The alternative is not surviving. This cannot be acceptable to anyone, so we have to fight… just like Sofia!

Watch Hot Milk on Hulu or VOD now

Rebecca Lenkiewicz is the writer and director of Hot Milk. If her name sounds familiar, it’s for good reason. Rebecca Lenkiewicz also wrote the screenplays for Disobedience (2017), starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, and Colette (2018), starring Keira Knightley.

Both movies feature queer women falling for other women, just like Hot Milk.

Also, both those movies are based on books, which this one also is. In the case of Hot Milk, it’s based on the book by Deborah Levy. This is also the first time Rebecca Lenkiewicz has directed the movie herself, which I hope she will continue to do. And yes, this is actually her directing debut, which is just astounding!

From the setting to the plot, pace, and the characters, generously portrayed by a wonderful cast, this movie just worked so wonderfully for me. Even better than I ever anticipated. Emma Mackey (Sex Education, Barbie), Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve, Echo Valley), and Vicky Krieps (Old, Phantom Thread) are all magnificent in their respective roles!

Womentainment recommendation: Watch Hot Milk as soon as you can!

This is a movie that surprised me in many ways, but didn’t let me down in any. Hot Milk is a movie with an ending that is bold and brave. Just like its main protagonist, Emma Mackey’s “Sofia”, ultimately is.

Director: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Writer: Rebecca Lenkiewicz (based on a book by Deborah Levy)
Cast: Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, Vicky Krieps, Yann Gael, Patsy Ferran, Vincent Perez

Official plot:

With a strange illness, a mother and her daughter embark on a journey to the Spanish coast to find a cure, and along the way the daughter discovers another reality far from her controlling mother.

THE CHRISTMAS WRITER is a new lesbian Christmas movie for 2025 from Tello. It’s just as cute and formulaic as it should be for this particular niche. Also, the chemistry between the two female leads is spot-on. Until it isn’t. Read our full The Christmas Writer movie review here!

THE CHRISTMAS WRITER on Tello is a 2025 lesbian Christmas movie, and you’ll definitely want to watch this one. For the longest time, I was so happy with this. Right up until the moment when the illusion was broken.

In this deliciously queer Christmas movie, the characters are well-written, the story is cute and works perfectly for this Holiday Rom-Com niche, and the drama is kept at a minimum.

WANT MORE QUEER HOLIDAY MOVIES?

Check out our list of the very best lesbian Christmas movies here >

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the chemistry between the two female leads worked from the start. However, not all the way through – and this is why the rating isn’t higher.

Continue reading our review of The Christmas Writer movie below.

Classic Christmas movie… with lesbians

The premise of The Christmas Writer from Tello is a classic Christmas movie, but with lesbians, which is exactly what I want.

We meet the bestselling lesbian Christmas author, Noel, who finds herself paralyzed by writer’s block. Not only did she just end a relationship with her girlfriend, but she also lost her mother (her holiday muse) recently.

She’s under immense pressure from her agent, who is looking to get a new Christmas book from her bestselling author, but the holiday festivities are now just a sad reminder for Noel.

As a result, and to try and get back to that “Christmas spirit”, Noel returns to her quaint hometown. It’s the town called Pinewood, and yes, it is very much like Stars Hollow of The Gilmore Girls. And I love it.

Noel stays with her grandmother in Pinewood in search of new inspiration when she crosses paths with Callie.

Callie is, of course, a charming, single (and gay) mom who has taken over the local bookstore from her uncle. Soon, sparks fly between Noel and Callie, but is Noel ready to give up big city life for a small-town love?!

See, I told you this was a classic Christmas movie… with lesbians, and a tongue-in-cheek approach to all the tropes of this niche.

Why can’t you kiss each other right?!

Don’t worry, The Christmas Writer isn’t one of those lesbian movies where the two romantic leads never kiss. They do kiss in this queer holiday rom-com.

The problem isn’t whether they kiss or not, but whether I believe that they enjoy kissing each other. And I do not.

Not. At. All.

In fact, the chemistry between Shelby Allison Brown and Callie Bussell as Noel and Callie was so good that I was all on board with The Christmas Writer.

Right up until the moment they first kissed. I watched the movie with my wife, and we turned to each other when they first kissed on-screen and went “Yikes!”.

Actually, I don’t think we said anything at first; We just both made the face that conveys “yikes!”.

Neither one of us was buying that these two wanted to kiss each other. Whether these two are in committed relationships off-screen, and held back, or having a sibling-like relationship in real life, you have to be able to “sell it” on screen.

I mean, Kate Mara and Elliot Page had been friends forever when they made My Days of Mercy. Yet I completely believed that their characters were very much into each other.

With The Christmas Writer, I stopped believing in their romance the second it was supposed to be manifested with a kiss. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this so severely before, but here we are.

Watch The Christmas Writer on Tello

The director of The Christmas Writer is Christin Baker, who also wrote the screenplay with Katie I. Williams. Christin Baker is the Queen of Tello, and I applaud and adore what she’s doing for the LGBTQ+ community. We recently reviewed the movie Double Booking as well, which you can check out for a darker queer story.

Don’t worry, these Tello movies do not suffer from the “bury your gays” syndrome. Whether romance, horror, comedy, or anything in between, these Tello movies are made by us, for us. And I always want to encourage everyone to support that.

Also, as already mentioned, I was completely on board with the story of The Christmas Writer. This is a classic Christmas movie romance, and I want more of those. In fact, I found myself wanting to read one of those bestsellers from the “Lesbian Christmas Writer”.

Do reach out via our contact page here if you know of any I should check out.

Director: Christin Baker
Writers: Christin Baker, Katie I. Williams
Stars: Shelby Allison Brown, Callie Bussell, June Tuss, Karen M. Chan, Stacey Lee Powell, Kendahl Landreth, Jordan Myrick, Caitlin McWethy

Official plot:

A bestselling lesbian Christmas author, Noel finds herself paralyzed by grief and writer’s block after losing her mother (her holiday muse) and enduring a sudden breakup. Under pressure from her agent and with holiday festivities just a sad reminder, Noel retreats to her quaint hometown of Pinewood in search of new inspiration. When she crosses paths with Callie—a charming, single mom who now owns the local bookstore—Noel stubbornly resists the attraction, despite the best efforts of her meddling friends and grandmother. However, sparks continue to fly! Surprised to find her inspiration in the form of unexpected love, Noel must now decide between holding onto her glam, big city life or embracing a love story that even she couldn’t have written.

HEDDA on Prime Video is a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s stage play. Now full of LGBTQ key characters portrayed by a wonderfully diverse cast. Not least, Tessa Thompson as the title character. A bold and powerful character study. Read our full Hedda movie review here!

HEDDA is a new Prime Video movie with a lot of female power. Both in front of and behind the camera. Yes, despite being based on a play originally written by a man. Of course, even that stage play featured fascinating female characters. In this movie adaptation, aptly called a “reimagining”, Tessa Thompson is Hedda. She is a force in this role.

Be sure to check this out on Prime Video and enjoy both the character-driven story, the selfish actions of various characters, and the gorgeous setting. Including a very diverse character gallery and ditto cast.

Continue reading our Hedda movie review below. Find it on Prime Video from October 29, 2025.

A bold and powerful character study

When watching Hedda, it’s difficult to truly root for anyone. You may think you’re rooting for someone, but then they turn around and do something despicable to make you question whether they should come out the winner. Of course, it won’t be long before the one scorned will then hurt someone else.

Lesson: Trust no one and watch everyone before passing judgment.

With Hedda, everything plays out during one long evening and night, right into the next morning. A party will escalate in expected and unexpected ways, but pulling the strings, you’ll usually find Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson). Or, I should say, Hedda Tesman, as she recently married George Tesman (Tom Bateman).

Of course, her marriage to George is more of a coincidence on her part. A marriage of convenience – or chance, even. She isn’t exactly head over heels in love with him. Mostly because she’s still caught up in her history with Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss).

Unfortunately, while Hedda and George were away on their six-month-long honeymoon, Eileen Lovborg had moved on with someone new. Her name is Thea Clifton (Imogen Poots), and she has done what Hedda never would or could: Left her husband and abandoned a safety net for Eileen.

Also, yes, you did read that right: Their honeymoon lasted for 6 months, which should tell you that these are upper-class people. Not necessarily wealthy, but perceived as such.

Tessa is a marvelous Hedda

I found Tessa Thompson (Passing, Thor: Ragnarok, Annihilation) to be absolutely marvelous in this reimagining of Hedda Gabler. She is the one person at this party who keeps her head cool. As such, she is able to control most other people attending. Or, maybe not control, but certainly nudge or even push in the direction she wants.

As the two men currently fighting for her attention, we have Tom Bateman (Based on a True Story) portraying her husband, and Nicholas Pinnock (Long Bright River) as Judge Roland Brack, who wants to have her. However, Hedda will let no man control her.

A woman might be able to. Particularly the woman portrayed by Nina Hoss, whom you might recognize as Cate Blanchett‘s wife in Tár (2022). In Hedda, she plays Eileen Lovborg (a gender-swap of Eilert Lövborg in Ibsen’s play), who has moved on with Thea, portrayed by Imogen Poots (Outer Range). It is a wonderful cast all around.

Watch Hedda on Prime Video now!

Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) is the writer and director of Hedda, which is very much based on Henrik Ibsen’s stage play “Hedda Gabler”. If you’re familiar with the play, then you should recognize plenty of the elements in this adaptation as well.

Fortunately, Nia DaCosta has changed more than just genders and ethnicity. Or should I say, she changed a certain element about the ending of this movie to avoid a particularly nasty trope.

You know, the “bury your gays” or “dead lesbian syndrome” kind of trope that resulted in an uproar when suddenly all lesbians in TV series were killed off in the great lesbian character culling of 2016. This is also why we here at Womentainment have made a list of lesbian movies with “happy endings“. It has far from been the norm.

I recognize this is a bit of a spoiler, but I’m not saying no one will die. Nor am I saying anyone will go unscathed. What I am saying is simply that with Nia DaCosta, I was very pleasantly surprised that killing off queer characters wasn’t a default.

Womentainment recommendation: Hedda is absolutely worth checking out!

This reimagining of a classic play is a wonderful character study… and in this version, it’s also deliciously queer! Two reasons to check it out on Prime Video, but far from the only reasons.

I should mention that, along with the LGBTQ element, there is also a focus on the limitations that come with someone being female or not white. And then there’s the added layer of social status, which tends to be something you’re born with. Or without, as it’s often the case.

Hedda is out on Prime Video globally from October 29, 2025.

Director: Nia DaCosta
Writer: Nia DaCosta (based on Henrik Ibsen’s play)
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Nicholas Pinnock, Tom Bateman, Kathryn Hunter

Official plot:

Henrik Ibsen’s renowned stage drama from 1891 is reimagined in an epic and emotional way.