When The Half of It (2020) premiered on Netflix, it immediately felt different from the typical teen rom-com. Ellie Chu, a quiet and brilliant Chinese-American student, spends her days writing essays for classmates in a small town. When she agrees to ghostwrite love letters for a shy football player, she finds herself entangled in an unexpected triangle of friendship and desire.
What made the film so refreshing wasn’t just its queer storyline—it was its honesty. It’s tender, witty, and thoughtful, never rushing toward clichés or forced drama. Watching it reminded me that sometimes the most powerful love stories are the quiet ones, the ones where identity and self-discovery matter as much as romance.
If you loved The Half of It and want more films that capture that mix of first love, self-discovery, and queer coming-of-age, here’s a list of movies you’ll want to add to your watchlist.
What Makes The Half of It So Special?
Before diving into the recommendations, it’s worth pausing to ask: why does The Half of It stand out in the crowded world of teen movies?
Not Just a Love Story
Unlike most rom-coms, the film doesn’t focus on getting the girl. It’s as much about Ellie’s growth, friendship, and self-acceptance as it is about romance.Friendship at the Core
The bond between Ellie and Paul is as moving as the unspoken attraction between Ellie and Aster. This balance of friendship and queer longing makes it unique.Poetic Tone and Atmosphere
The pacing is gentle, the dialogue literary, and the small-town setting feels like a metaphor for Ellie’s inner solitude. It’s less about spectacle and more about emotional resonance.Inclusive Representation
Directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It puts an Asian-American queer teen at the center of the story—something rarely seen in mainstream cinema. Its inclusivity is part of why it struck such a chord with audiences.
Movies Like The Half of It
Country: USA
Genre: Teen Romance, Coming-of-Age, Comedy
Release Date: 2018
![Love, Simon _ Official Trailer 2 [HD] _ 20th Century FOX 0-37 screenshot](https://lesbiansonscreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Love-Simon-_-Official-Trailer-2-HD-_-20th-Century-FOX-0-37-screenshot-1024x576.webp "9 Best Movies Like The Half of It 2")
Simon, a closeted high school student, exchanges anonymous emails with another boy online. When his secret is threatened, Simon must navigate love, identity, and friendship while coming out on his own terms.
Cute, funny, and heartfelt, Love, Simon stands out as a mainstream coming-out story with optimism. It skips heavy trauma and instead celebrates self-discovery with humor and charm. Like The Half of It, it captures that mix of teenage awkwardness and heartfelt longing, making you just want to give the protagonist a hug.
Country: USA
Genre: Teen Romance, Comedy
Release Date: 2022
Paige, an aspiring artist, joins the school track team to get closer to her crush, only to find herself falling for someone unexpected—her teammate AJ.
I loved everything about this! Bright, colorful, and brimming with energy, it feels like a celebration of queer girlhood. Every character shines, and the school setting is pure fun. Much like The Half of It, it’s a story of young women discovering love in the midst of friendship, sports, and growing up—except here the tone is completely open, joyful, and unapologetically sapphic.
Country: USA
Genre: Teen Romance, Comedy-Drama
Release Date: 2018
Alex, a high school senior, seems to have the perfect life with a girlfriend and a bright future. But when he meets a charming gay teenager, he begins to question his sexuality and the direction of his life.
Honestly, I find Alex Strangelove more compelling than Love, Simon. It feels less like a polished fantasy and more like the messy reality of teenage life—awkward, imperfect, and full of contradictions. Like The Half of It, it doesn’t shy away from confusion and identity struggles, even if it doesn’t resolve them perfectly. Both films capture the bittersweet, clumsy beauty of adolescence.
Country: USA
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama
Release Date: 2004
Wil, a Chinese-American surgeon, falls in love with Vivian, a dancer, while also dealing with her traditional mother’s unexpected pregnancy. The film blends queer romance with intergenerational family conflict.
Alice Wu’s debut film is like a hazelnut wrapped in white chocolate—sweet on the outside, with depth inside. While not a teen film, its exploration of identity, family, and self-discovery resonates deeply with The Half of It. Both films remind us that love and authenticity often mean breaking away from expectations, but always with tenderness and humor.
Country: Taiwan
Genre: Teen Romance, Coming-of-Age
Release Date: 2002
Set in a Taiwanese high school, the film follows Meng Kerou, a girl caught between her best friend’s secret crush on a boy and her own confusing feelings of attraction.
Unlike many Taiwanese youth films, Blue Gate Crossing isn’t about angst or melodrama. It’s clean, simple, and radiant with positive energy. Much like The Half of It, it’s about teenagers quietly navigating love, friendship, and identity in a tender, understated way. It proves that sometimes the smallest glances and moments say the most.
Country: France
Genre: Teen Romance, Drama
Release Date: 2020
On a summer holiday by the sea, Alexis, a teenager fascinated by death, meets the carefree David. Their intense friendship quickly becomes something more, changing Alexis forever.
Going in, I feared another tragic teen romance, but Summer of 85 surprised me. It’s funny, charming, and brimming with summer light. While centered on two boys, its mood of discovery and playfulness feels close to The Half of It. Both films remind us that young love is as much about laughter and exploration as it is about heartbreak.
Country: USA
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Drama
Release Date: 2011
Alike, a Black teenager in Brooklyn, embraces her identity as a lesbian while facing rejection from her family. As she explores love and self-expression, she learns the cost—and the joy—of authenticity.
Charged with raw emotion, Pariah is both personal and universal. The director’s semi-autobiographical touch makes it deeply relatable. Like The Half of It, it’s about more than romance—it’s about the courage to be oneself, even when it means leaving comfort behind. Both stories celebrate the bravery of queer youth.
Country: USA
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Drama
Release Date: 2016
Told in three chapters, Moonlight follows Chiron, a young Black man, as he navigates childhood, adolescence, and adulthood while struggling with identity, love, and survival.
Simple on the surface, yet as vast as the ocean it depicts, Moonlight is about becoming who you are. It isn’t about gender or race—it’s about the human experience of love and loss. Like The Half of It, it reminds us that first loves, no matter how fleeting, shape us into who we become.
Country: Taiwan
Genre: Teen Romance, Slice-of-Life
Release Date: 2023
Two teenage girls bond over their love of sports, school life, and future dreams. Their friendship gradually blossoms into something more, expressed in quiet conversations and everyday moments.
What I love most is how understated Rookie is. No big drama, no forced conflict—just two girls sitting on a stone bench at night, smiling shyly, or whispering before a school dance. Like The Half of It, it thrives on small, tender moments. Both films show that queer teen stories don’t have to be tragic or loud; they can be soft, ordinary, and profoundly moving.
FAQ – Movies Like The Half of It
Q1. Is The Half of It a lesbian movie?
Yes, The Half of It is a queer coming-of-age story. While it doesn’t follow a conventional romance arc, it centers on Ellie Chu’s feelings for another girl, Aster, and explores her journey of identity, love, and friendship.
Q2. Does The Half of It have a happy ending?
The film has a bittersweet ending rather than a traditional “happily-ever-after.” Ellie and Aster don’t end up together, but Ellie embraces her authentic self and her friendship with Paul grows stronger. It’s more about growth than resolution, which makes it memorable.
Q3. Where can I stream The Half of It?
The Half of It is a Netflix original, so it’s available exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
Q4. What makes The Half of It different from other teen rom-coms?
Unlike many teen films, it avoids clichés. It’s quieter, more thoughtful, and focuses equally on friendship and self-discovery as it does on romance. This blend of sincerity and poetic storytelling makes it stand out.
Q5. What are some similar lesbian teen romance movies?
If you loved The Half of It, try Love, Simon (2018), Crush (2022), Blue Gate Crossing (2002), or Rookie (2023). All of these films capture that mix of youth, first love, and the courage to embrace who you are.
Explore More Sapphic Content
The Half of It reminds us that growing up is as much about finding yourself as it is about falling in love. The films on this list share that same spirit of youth, courage, and tenderness.
Which of these coming-of-age stories spoke to you the most? 💬 Share your favorite in the comments—I’d love to hear.
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