8 Best Movies Like Imagine Me and You – Lesbian Love Stories About Forbidden Romance

There’s something timeless about Imagine Me and You (2005). On the surface, it looks like a lighthearted British rom-com, but at its heart it’s a story about unexpected love that turns a whole life upside down. Rachel, a bride on her wedding day, locks eyes with Luce, a florist she barely knows—and in that fleeting moment, the boundaries of marriage, loyalty, and identity begin to blur.

8 Best Movies Like Imagine Me and You – Lesbian Love Stories About Forbidden Romance

I still remember the first time I watched it: the humor made me laugh, but it was the glances, the tension, and the question of “what if?” that stayed with me. It isn’t just a love story—it’s a reminder that love often arrives uninvited, sometimes at the worst possible time, and yet it feels completely right.

If you loved this film and are searching for that same spark—the thrill of forbidden romance, the courage to follow your heart, and the bittersweet tension of choosing between the life you know and the love you crave—here are some of the best movies like Imagine Me and You.

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Movies Like Imagine Me and You

Carol (2015)

Country: USA / UK

Genre: Romantic Drama, Romance

Release Date: 2015

Carol (2015) – The Most Elegant Lesbian Love Story Ever Told 7
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Set in 1950s New York, Carol follows an elegant married woman who crosses paths with Therese, a young shop girl and aspiring photographer. Their chance meeting sparks an affair that grows into something undeniable, even as Carol faces the risk of losing custody of her daughter and the life she has always known.

Like Imagine Me and You, Carol centers on a woman already bound by marriage who unexpectedly falls for another woman. The difference lies in its tone: where Imagine Me and You feels witty and romantic, Carol whispers with subtle glances and quiet intensity. Both films capture that transformative spark of realizing you’ve met someone who changes everything.

Disobedience (2017)

Country: UK

Genre: Romantic Drama

Release Date: 2017

Disobedience

Ronit returns to her Orthodox Jewish community in London for her father’s funeral, where she reconnects with Esti, her childhood friend who is now married. Their reunion rekindles a long-buried passion, forcing Esti to weigh her duty as a wife against her yearning for freedom and authenticity.

If Imagine Me and You shows the pull between a secure marriage and a newfound love, Disobedience takes that dilemma into harsher territory. Esti’s situation echoes Rachel’s struggle, but under the weight of faith and tradition. Both films are about forbidden love, longing looks, and the impossible choice between stability and truth.

La Belle Saison / Summertime (2015)

Country: France

Genre: Romantic Drama

Release Date: 2015

Summertime _ La Belle Saison (2015) - Trailer (Eng Subs) 0-44 screenshot

In 1970s rural France, Delphine, a farmer’s daughter, leaves behind her conservative life to study in Paris, where she meets Carole, a feminist activist. Their romance is passionate yet fragile, tested by Delphine’s ties to her family and the cultural conservatism of her hometown.

Much like Imagine Me and You, La Belle Saison is about a woman who discovers love with another woman while still tied to a heteronormative path. The backdrop is different—French countryside vs. modern London—but the tension is the same: do you follow your heart or remain in the life others expect from you?

Country: Spain

Genre: Historical Drama, Romance

Release Date: 2019

Elisa y Marcela (2019) – Spanish Lesbian Movie Based on True Story 5
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Based on a true story, Elisa y Marcela recounts how two Spanish women in the early 1900s risked everything for their love. To be together, Elisa disguised herself as a man so they could marry, but their union provoked scandal and persecution.

Where Imagine Me and You is modern and playful, Elisa y Marcela dramatizes the same theme in a historical context—love clashing against social and marital conventions. Both films share the heartbeat of two women daring to risk everything for each other, but Elisa and Marcela’s story is far darker and more tragic.

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

Country: France

Genre: Coming-of-Age, Romance, Drama

Release Date: 2013

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

Adèle is a high school student who dates boys but feels unsatisfied. Her world changes when she meets Emma, a free-spirited artist with blue hair. Their romance is all-consuming, charting the highs of first love and the lows of betrayal and heartbreak.

Just as Rachel in Imagine Me and You starts with a fiancé before discovering her true feelings for a woman, Adèle begins with a boyfriend and only later realizes her real desires. While Blue is more raw, explicit, and tragic, both films explore that exhilarating moment when love upends what you thought you knew about yourself.

Country: Sweden

Genre: Romantic Drama

Release Date: 2011

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Mia is engaged to a man when she meets Frida, her soon-to-be step-sister through their parents’ marriage. Their unexpected attraction grows into a passionate affair, forcing Mia to confront her bisexuality and the life she thought she wanted.

This film mirrors Imagine Me and You almost directly: a woman about to marry a man finds herself falling in love with another woman instead. While the melodrama feels more contrived, the emotional beats—hidden kisses, family disapproval, difficult choices—are the same, making it a natural recommendation for fans of Imagine Me and You.

The World Unseen (2007)

Country: South Africa / UK

Genre: Historical Drama, Romance

Release Date: 2007

The World Unseen (2007)

Set in 1950s South Africa during apartheid, the film follows Miriam, a traditional Indian housewife, who falls for Amina, a rebellious café owner defying racial and gender norms. Their bond grows despite the risks of both cultural and political oppression.

While heavier than Imagine Me and You, The World Unseen shares its DNA: a woman in a heterosexual marriage discovering forbidden love with another woman. Where Rachel’s conflict is modern and lighthearted, Miriam’s is shaped by race, gender, and politics. Both stories, however, highlight the courage it takes to love authentically.

I Can’t Think Straight (2008)

Country: UK

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romance

Release Date: 2008

I Cant Think Straight Official UK Trailer 1-7 screenshot

Tala, a Jordanian woman from a wealthy family, is preparing for her wedding when she meets Leyla, a British Indian writer. Despite Tala’s engagement, the two women fall in love, leading Tala to question her culture, her family’s expectations, and her future.

Just like Imagine Me and You, this film thrives on the tension of a woman engaged to a man who finds herself drawn to another woman. The tone here is lighter and more playful, closer to a rom-com than a tragedy. Both movies are witty, charming, and filled with that electric sense of falling for someone you never expected.

What Makes Imagine Me and You So Unique?

Before diving into the list, it’s worth asking: why does Imagine Me and You remain such a favorite in the world of lesbian cinema?

  • The Wedding Setup → Unlike many coming-out stories, this film begins with a bride who’s already chosen her path: marriage to a man. The “wrong timing” makes the sudden spark with another woman all the more dramatic.

  • The Humor and Lightness → It’s rare to see a sapphic love story framed as a rom-com. While there are challenges and heartbreak, the tone remains warm, funny, and hopeful.

  • The Eye Contact Moment → That unforgettable scene where Rachel and Luce first lock eyes at the wedding—simple, wordless, yet charged with electricity—captures the essence of love-at-first-sight.

  • Happy-Ending Energy → While many queer films lean into tragedy, Imagine Me and You dares to give its characters joy, something fans deeply cherish.

It’s this unique combination of humor, heart, and “love against the odds” that makes fans want to find similar stories—and that’s exactly what the following films deliver in their own ways.

FAQ – Movies Like Imagine Me and You

Yes! While sapphic rom-coms are rare, films like I Can’t Think Straight (2008) and Jenny’s Wedding (2015) capture a similar lighthearted spirit. They mix humor with heartfelt romance, echoing the same “falling for the unexpected woman” theme that fans love in Imagine Me and You.

Yes. Unlike many lesbian films that end in heartbreak, Imagine Me and You stands out for giving its characters hope and joy. This is a big reason why it remains so popular with audiences craving positive sapphic love stories.

Availability changes by region, but the film is often available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Google Play Movies. Some countries may also include it in subscription libraries, so it’s worth checking your local streaming services.

Most of these films share one central theme: a woman who’s already in a heterosexual relationship or marriage discovers love with another woman. The tension between social expectations and true desire creates the emotional pull that makes these stories so compelling.

If you’re looking for uplifting love stories, try Kyss Mig (Kiss Me), Saving Face, or Happiest Season. While some films on the list lean toward bittersweet or tragic endings, these titles prove that lesbian cinema can be both romantic and joyful.

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