10 of the Most Popular Tropes in Queer Christmas Movies

The Christmas season is in full swing. It's the time of year when a host of holiday-themed movies are released. Over the years, the amount of queer-inclusive Christmas movies has multiplied. With the increasing number of productions to include queer characters, it's no surprise that a host of storytelling tropes have been utilized to help tell queer stories. As they have become Christmas movie traditions, this week's listicle spotlights 10 of the most prevalent film tropes involving queer characters in Christmas films. Leave a comment below if we missed any of your favorite gay holiday movie tropes. Warning: Spoilers Ahead! 

"A Ring for Christmas" 
The notion of getting engaged at Christmas time has always been a trope used in holiday-themed movies. In more moden times, queer-inclusive holiday narratives have begun to incorporate this storytelling device to put a bit of spotlight on gay romance. While this has typically taken place in narratives where queer characters provide a secondary romantic plotline, there have been films like Snow Falling on Pumpkins and The Unattainably Perfect Gay Christmas where primary queer antagonists deal with engagement, and even marriage, during the holiday season. It's no surprise that stories utilize queer characters taking part in traditions of matrimony since the legalization of gay marriage.
SEE: A Keller Christmas Vacation, A Jenkins Family Christmas, The Unattainably Perfect Gay Christmas, Snow Falling on Pumpkins

 

"And Baby Makes Three"
The rising inclusion of queer male characters as primary or secondary leads has led several Christmas movies to incorporate the journey to parenthood as part of queer storytelling. Some queer characters have found themselves experiencing the sensation of a ticking clock as they await news of being approved for adoption before Christmas, while others have gotten the surprising news that they will become parents in last-minute placements by Christmas. Holiday narratives will employ the happiness of a growing family as a goal for queer characters to bring their storylines to a positive close. The holiday-themed film Petunia even included it's queer leads taking custody of a child as part of its conclusion.
SEE: Christmas of Yes, The Christmas House, Christmas on Cherry Lane, Petunia

 

"Couples That Work Together, Stay Together" 
With the increase in the number of queer characters included in holiday themed movies in recent years, several stories have employed the trope of having a same-sex couple running a business together. This allows the narrative to include multiple supporting queer characters, and have them interact with straight main characters who frequent their businesses, which range from small town inns to restaurants to the local bakery. These duos often provide advice or circumstances that help the romantic leads get closer. In the case of the 2026 release A Merry Little Ex-Mas, it's a family-owned business led by gay dads that provides a backdrop for setting plot points in motion and brings the family of characters together. 
SEE: A Merry Little Ex-Mas, We Wish You a Married Christmas, Christmas on the Farm, Me and Mr. Christmas

 

"Pets are Family Too"
Despite the old Hollywood adage about never working with children or animals, Christmas movies have never been strangers to incorporating both in holiday movie narratives. When it comes to Christmas movies with queer characters, the inclusion of animals as pets has helped to show the caring nature of characters and their responsibilities in place of children. While dogs have been the most utilized animals in queer-inclusive holiday films, movies like Christmas at the Catnip Cafe featured cats in many scenes. Some films have been even more unique in their inclusion of animal pets, with queer characters managing livestock in Christmas on the Farm, and a horse ranch in Dashing in December. 
SEE: Hotel for the Holidays, Christmas at the Catnip Cafe, Single All the Way, Road to Christmas

 

"May I Have this Dance?"
Characters engaging in a holiday dance has always been a trope in Christmas movies. Dancing presents the opportunity for romantic pairs to get a bit more intimate, prior to their traditional kiss to signal true love has been found. The rise of queer-inclusive narratives has led to this trope being carried over there as well. Films that feature primary or secondary queer romances have used the slow dance to their advantage, as queer couples join their straight counterparts on the dance floor. Some films, like Single All the Way, Meet Me Next Christmas and The 5-Year Christmas Party even incorporated more choreographed performances with queer characters joining in the fun in a non-romantic context.
SEE: The Holiday Exchange, The Holiday Proposal Plan, Jingle Bell Run, Candy Cane Candidate

 

"Straight Leads Love Their Gay Bros" 
The Christmas season in many films is highlighted by families coming together to celebrate the festive holiday. One of the most popular tropes involving queer characters has been the inclusion of the gay sibling. These have typically been supporting characters who provide banter and help humanize straight leads. Over the years, this has been an easy way to include queer representation. Gay brothers have been shown to weigh-in on the challenges and romantic entanglements that happen for their straight sibling, while also running interference with the traditional meddling parents. Queer older brothers have also been shown to be role models for their younger siblings searching for love. 
SEE: Holiday Mismatch, Too Many Christmases, Deck the Walls, Same Time, Next Christmas

 

"Christmas Skin is a Gift for All"
It's no secret that one way to cater to a queer audience is to include some male skin. Queer holiday films are no exception, as many productions over the years have included a shirtless scene or two for a main character. From classic awkward moments of embarrassment to couples bonding time in the bedroom, showing off the physical assets of holiday movie heartthrobs is a tradition that draws few complaints. Some films like the independent feature Shared Rooms and the Chilean drama Cola de Mono have gone even further, incorporating male nudity into their narratives. These scenes often provide the audience with a fun and festive gift for tuning in for all of the low stakes holiday drama. 
SEE: Make the Yuletide Gay, A Jenkins Family Christmas, Visions of Sugarplums, The Bitch Who Stole Christmas 

 

"Mother/Son Bonding" 
The relationships between mothers and their sons have often been included in queer narratives. This extends to queer-inclusive Christmas movies, as the holidays bring families together. Holiday movies have used this trope to better incorporate queer characters into family narratives where straight characters are the lead. When it comes to films with main queer protagonists, the relationships between gay leads and their mothers have also been used to increase relatability with the audience. This trope has led to many roles for notable actresses starring as mothers of queer characters, like Sharon Lawrence, Kathy Najimy, Andie MacDowell, Nia Vardalos, Beth Broderick, Kyle Richards, and Fran Drescher.
SEE: Dashing in December, The Christmas Setup, Single All the Way, The Christmas House

 

"No One Gives Advice Like a Gay BFF"
One of the oldest storytelling tropes in holiday films featuring queer characters is that of the gay best friend. Many a straight lead character has sought out the advice and companionship of their queer male best friend. For a long time, this was a traditional way to include gay characters in a narrative, from co-workers, to friendly neighbors, to roommates of straight leads. They could float in and out of holiday films as needed, without much focus on their lives as independent characters. These days, the trope is still utilized, though in a more limited capacity as the writing of queer characters has expanded, with many holiday films including multiple queer characters and expanding to include them in secondary storylines.  
SEE: The Holiday Dating Guide, Must Love Christmas, A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado, Christmas She Wrote

 

"Who Needs Mistletoe?" 
Arguably the biggest and most progressive trope for queer characters in holiday films is the inclusion of a romantic kiss. Traditionally, Christmas movies have used the kiss between characters to signal the happy ending to their narrative. With the rising inclusion of multiple queer characters as primary or secondary leads, their narratives have also taken advantage of this well-known holiday trope. It's no longer surprising to see two male characters lock lips after finally coming together and finding love for the holidays and this intimacy is no longer relegated to straight romance in Christmas movies. Oddly enough, kissing scenes between queer characters almost never incorporate the traditional trappings of mistletoe. 
SEE: A Christmas to Treasure, The Holiday Sitter, Twinkle All the Way, Campfire Christmas