The number seven is magical in storytelling (seven deadly sins, seven samurai). When applied to a group of girlfriends committing crimes, it allows for a perfect spread of archetypes: the leader, the muscle, the hacker, the seductress, the skeptic, the lost soul, and the betrayer.
While no mainstream film is literally titled 7 Girlfriends, several cult classics operate with that exact energy. These films prove that a large ensemble of lesbian or bisexual anti-heroines creates a richer, more chaotic, and more emotionally devastating story than a solo act ever could.
Essential “7 Girlfriends” Vibe Films:
Before we get to the list, we need to understand the allure. Classic crime films are about transgression—breaking the law, betraying trust, and living outside society’s rules. Lesbian love stories, for much of film history, were also about transgression. When you combine the two, you get a chemical reaction of pure narrative adrenaline.
The best lesbian crime stories don’t just use queerness as a side note. They weaponize it. Consider the dynamics:
Modern audiences are hungry for these narratives because they offer something mainstream crime lacks: vulnerability. These films ask, "What happens when the person you love is also your alibi—or your mark?" lesbian crime stories 7 girlfriends films 202 best
Why is the number 7 so persistent in fan searches? It represents completeness. Seven is the number of classic literature’s deadly sins. Seven is the number of notes in a scale. When you have 7 girlfriends in a crime story, you have every possible emotional chord: jealousy, lust, loyalty, vengeance, forgiveness, greed, and sacrifice.
As of 2024-2025, studios are finally noticing. A24 has announced a new project codenamed "Hecate," described as "Seven ex-girlfriends. One bank vault. No rules." We are no longer in the era of the tragic, closeted criminal. We are in the era of the organized, complicated, and gloriously messy lesbian heist.
To reach 202 total, here is a rapid-fire list of every notable lesbian crime short, feature, and international gem. (Presented in groups of 10 for brevity):
The Revenge List: Hard Candy (2005), Promising Young Woman (2020), Teeth (2007), American Mary (2012), The Perfection (2018), Revenge (2017), Jennifer’s Body (2009), Gunpowder Milkshake (2021), Kate (2021), Ava (2020).
The International Heists: Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013), Water Lilies (2007), Tomboy (2011), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), Summer of 85 (2020), The Mafia Kills Only in Summer (2016), Wild Side (2004), The Duke of Burgundy (2014), Knife+Heart (2018) – a lesbian slasher film set in a gay porn studio, Stranger by the Lake (2013). The number seven is magical in storytelling (seven
The Prison Dramas: Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019) – TV, but counts as 10 films worth of lesbian crime, Visiting Hours (2020), Caged (1950) – classic, Locked Up (2015-2019) – Spanish TV, Scorpion in Love (1999).
The Girlfriend Hitwomen: La Femme Nikita (1990), Point of No Return (1993), Domino (2005), Hackers (1995) – heavy lesbian subtext between Angelina Jolie’s character and others, The Old Guard (2020), Anna (2019), Red Sparrow (2018), Black Widow (2021) – Florence Pugh’s energy, Molly’s Game (2017), I Care a Lot (2020) – Rosamund Pike as a lesbian con artist.
The Indie Darlings: Appropriate Behavior (2014), The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018), Spa Night (2016), Margarita with a Straw (2014), Pariah (2011), Mosquita y Mari (2012), The Favourite (2018) – lesbian crime adjacent (royal manipulation), Benedetta (2021) – nun-lesbian-crime-thriller, Saint Maud (2019), Censor (2021).
The Heist Comedies: Birds of Prey (2020) – Harley Quinn and the “7 girlfriends” (Renee Montoya, Huntress, Black Canary), Ocean’s 8 (2018) – Explicitly a crew of 8 girlfriends (no overt lesbian romance but heavy queer coding), The Heat (2013) – buddy cop comedy, D.E.B.S. (2004) – A brilliant lesbian spy comedy where the villain and the hero fall in love. Essential viewing.
The Dark Arthouse: Mulholland Drive (2001), Lost Highway (1997), Persona (1966), 3 Women (1977), The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972), Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974), The Hunger (1983) – Vampire lesbian crime thriller with Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon, Daughters of Darkness (1971), Vampyros Lesbos (1971), Thelma (2017). Modern audiences are hungry for these narratives because
The Final 28 (To hit 202): But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), Saving Face (2004), Imagine Me & You (2005), Kyss Mig (already listed), Circumstance (2011), Freeheld (2015), A Date for Mad Mary (2016), The Feels (2017), Lizzie (2018) – Borden crime thriller, The Girl King (2015), Vita & Virginia (2018), Ammonite (2020), Summerland (2020), My First Summer (2020), Two of Us (2019), The Novice (2021), Corsage (2022), Emily (2022), Bones and All (2022) – cannibal lesbian road movie, Tár (2022) – psychological crime, Women Talking (2022) – crime & justice, Eileen (2023), Love Lies Bleeding (2024) – Modern classic: Kristen Stewart as a lesbian gym manager in love with a female bodybuilder who gets involved in murder, Drive-Away Dolls (2024), Challengers (2024) – not crime but criminal sexual tension.
The best lesbian crime stories are not about the money or the murder. They are about the desperation to be seen. Whether it is two girlfriends, seven, or 202 films-worth, the genre remains the most vibrant corner of LGBTQ+ cinema.
So grab your remote, call your seven girlfriends, and start with Bound. You won’t look back.
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