How Hollywood Thinks Women Should Kiss

Although we all would like to believe queer women have been depicted properly in film over the decades, we all know that just isn't the case. Since the '80s, girl on girl kisses have been gracing the silver screen, but have they always been something to excitedly anticipate? As you probably guess, no, not always...

30. The Hunger - 1983 - Susan Sarandon, Catherine Deneuve

Knowing that the trend toward lesbian relationships in the vampire world began this long ago is oddly comforting, and it's nice to kick off with a movie that seems like they tried to show genuine lesbian attraction!

29. Heavenly Creatures - 1994 - Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey

The relationship between these two, albeit it being dark and codependent, is actually authentic.

28. Higher Learning - 1995 - Jennifer Connelly,  Kristy Swanson

Their kiss is sooooo sweet. We're fans.

27. Embrace Of The Vampire - 1995 - Alyssa Milano, Charlotte Lewis

This is not the best, for several reasons; it seems forced, these actors have no actual chemistry, and it was definitely added in the movie so straight dudes would buy movie tickets. NEXT.

26. Showgirls - 1995 - Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon

Despite this movie being a cult classic, this girl-girl kiss is total bullshit. Especially once you notice the INCREDIBLY long nails on Gina Gershon. No. Thank. You.

25. Bound - 1996 - Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon 

Although Jennifer Tilly eases into this scene, coyly showing her tit tattoo (which is just so odd), their attraction and chemistry seems like the director at least tried to depict lesbians truthfully. We'll give it B+.

24. Gia - 1998 - Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Mitchell

If you haven't watched Gia before, you should. The story will suck you in and their genuine queer love will keep you hooked.

23. Wild Things - 1998 - Denise Richards, Neve Campbell

Sure, this is probably the hottest and most iconic girl on girl kiss of the 1990s, but it was totally done for men. Exhibit A: Written into the script is a dude recording the two of them from the bushes. Not cool.

22. Cruel Intentions - 1999 - Sarah Michelle Geller, Selma Blair

Great movie, but real shitty to have added in this overdone makeout scene. It's not rare for women to try out kissing with their friends, but like this? Come on.

21. Holy Smoke - 1999 - Kate Winslet, Random Chick

Definitely not on the list of honest, queer depictions. Not even a little bit.

20. American Pie 2 - 2001 - Denise Faye, Lisa Arturo

Is there even reason to comment on this? It's garbage.

19. Mulholland Drive - 2001 - Naomi Watts, Laura Harring

Putting the fact that this movie is a total mind fuck aside, watching the attraction that builds between these two babes is really great, and doesn't make us hate David Lynch at all.

18. Frida - 2002 - Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd

Frida Kahlo was openly bisexual, so the depiction here is definitely authentic and wasn't added for male viewers. ¡Felicidades! 

17. Femme Fatale - 2002 - Rebecca Romijn, Rie Rasmussen

Sure this kiss may have helped propel the plot forward (Laure steals expensive jewelry off women wearing it), but this is just SO overdone.

16. Thirteen - 2003 - Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed

Not only is this gross because it's done for male attention, but it's gross because these girls are supposed to be 13. I get that it's an indie film, but why do this?

15. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - 2004 - Christine Taylor, Scarlett Chorvat

Another queer kiss for straight dudes to get off to. Not fans.

14. John Tucker Must Die - 2006 - Brittany Snow, Sophia Bush

How can film executives think viewers don't see what they're doing by adding in senseless girl on girl kisses? Like HELLO. We aren't all idiots.

13. Gray Matters - 2007 - Bridget Moynahan, Heather Graham

This is a great movie to watch once you've fallen for a straight girl, because it's something that happens to the best of us queer women. Especially painfully awkward and horribly timed kisses.

12. Broken - 2007 - Heather Graham, Jessica Stroup

Probably one of the best depictions of how sexuality is fluid and queer encounters can come out of nowhere.

11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - 2008 - Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz

Completely natural, not showy and most certainly not for men.

10. Jennifer's Body - 2009 - Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried

This literally makes NO SENSE. Sure, it's super hot, but it has no place in the plot of this movie. Definitely not something queer feminist women can support.

9. The Runaways - 2010 - Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning

This actually happened in real life between Joan Jett and Cherie Curie, making the scene in this movie pretty much on the money. 

8. Chloe - 2010 - Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore

Another bona fide queer moment on film!

7. Black Swan - 2010 - Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis

Even if this was a hallucination by a mentally unstable character, we can't dispute that this is an accurate queer moment. OK, maybe not the whole solo in the ballet thing.

6. The Roommate - 2011 - Leighton Meester, Danneel Harris

Very unsure why this was added into this psychological thriller and maybe arguments could be made either way, but we're leaning toward it being to attract more straight dudes.

5. Without Men - 2011 - Eva Longoria, Kate del Castillo

Not even worth your time. This movie feels like satire, but it isn't, which means it's not worth watching.

4. About Cherry - 2012 - Ashley Hinshaw, Heather Graham 

Very raw and very real. Especially the fact that they end up waking up next to each other.

3. Butter - 2012 - Ashley Greene, Olivia Wilde

Perhaps the argument can be made that it's a detail that works into the plot, but it seems that for the sake of not adding in queer intimacy for the hell of it, their makeout scene could have been cut. Or not written at all.

2. Side Effects - 2013 - Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Pretty damn real, and pretty damn heavy too.

1. Around The Block - 2014 - Christina Ricci, Ruby Rose

Easily the truest depiction of queer kisses on film. Is it a surprise it's the most recent film made on this list? Nope, don't think so.

So what have we learned? Most of the time, queer female interaction is added into movies for the entertainment of straight men and most of time, it could be deleted from the movie, and no damage to the plot would be done. Which means, half the time, the depiction of queer women on film isn't done in the vain of showing the stories of queer women, but instead, meant to show how we are accessories to male sexuality.

Thus leaving us with the thought that queer women have quite the uphill battle to face when it comes to proper representation in cinema.