11 Lesbian-Approved Summer Movies We Can't Wait To See in 2014

Summer popcorn flicks and thoughtful lesbian-themed cinema don't typically collide, When it comes to lesbians -- or women in general for that matter -- seeking representation on the big screen, the summer blockbuster season is fairly slim pickings next to the testosterone-laden superhero scenario on endless redux, or the paean to the poor shlubby guys who always gets the hot girl comedies that apparently never get old in Hollywood. 

Now that summer has officially arrived what's a girl to do on an impossibly humid 90-degree summer day when she's craving popcorn and arctic temps in a darkened theater?  We’ve compiled a list of summer movies that feature strong female characters, respected actresses and features about or directed by women. Be sure to look for separate coverage of LGBT film festivals. 

Get your Swedish Fish and tub o' corn and settle in! 

In Theaters

The Case Against 8

Just try to not choke up while watching the trailer for the documentary about the fight to overturn California’s antigay measure Proposition 8, which made it illegal for same-sex couples to marry in the state. It’s been a year since the Supreme Court ruled against Prop 8 and DOMA, but the wounds, for those who fought this fight, are still fresh. This gripping, must-see documentary tells the story of the plaintiffs, a lesbian couple and a gay couple, and the attorneys who laid it all out there so we all might have equality in the Golden State. 

Obvious Child

Women are front and center in this indie comedy from first-time feature writer and director Gillian Robespierre. The wickedly funny, often acerbic Jenny Slate (Parks and Recreation, Kroll Show) stars as a stand-up comic whose act lays her life all out there for public consumption. Things take a turn when she ends up pregnant with no intention of keeping the baby. It just gets more subversive from there. The always-welcome Gaby Hoffman plays her best friend. 

Redemption Trail

American Horror Story fans are well acquainted with the pure artistry of Lily Rabe. Now she stars in this indie flick from director Britta Sjogren about the daughter of a murdered Black Panther revolutionary (played by the wonderful LisaGay Hamilton), whose life off the grid is thrown into a tailspin when she allows Rabe’s suicidal housewife Anna into her life. 

June 27

Violette 

This sprawling biopic chronicles the enduring relationship between French feminist author Violette LeDuc and Simone De Beauvoir.  French film star Sandrine Kiberlain stars as the singular De Beauvoir while the equally accomplished Emannuelle Devos takes on the titular role in a sumptuous film from director Martin Provost about passion -- for the written word and for each other (although not always at once).  In French with subtitles. 

July 2

Tammy

Box office gold Melissa McCarthy cowrote this road movie in which she puts a bit of a spin on her Identity Thief character. But this time the walking disaster that is Tammy hits the road with her grandma played by one of the best road trippers in celluloid history -- Susan Sarandon (think Thelma and Louise the twilight years). Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh play a lesbian couple, plus Allison Janney and Toni Collette also appear.  Enough said. Where do we buy the tix? 

July 11

May In the Summer

From former The L Word writer Cherien Dabis comes this heartfelt, funny film of culture clash when New Yorker May (played by Dabis in her first acting role) returns to her Jordanian home for her wedding. Her mother disapproves of May's fiancé, while May must make peace with her estranged father. Along the way there appears to be some lesbian subtext among some ancillary characters, which is not surprising considering Dabis’ writing pedigree. Prior to writing for The L Word Dabis wrote some memorable lesbian-themed shorts including Little Black Boot and Memoirs of an Evil Stepmother before moving on to directing beautiful features including her critically lauded Amreeka. 

July 18

Jupiter Ascending

Mila Kunis starring in a sci-fi action flick directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix trilogy, Bound)? Yes PLEASE! Channing Tatum, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne and Maria Kennedy Doyle (Orphan Black) costar. 

July 25

Cinemanovels

It’s a mini The L Word reunion in this indie executive produced by and costarring Jennifer Beals. Lauren Lee Smith (Lara the ‘soup chef’) stars as a woman who, when her filmmaker father dies, helps organize a retrospective of his work. But really, this movie had us at Jennifer Beals and Lauren Lee Smith. 

Happy Christmas

Mumblecore king Joe Swanberg directs Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, and Lena Dunham in this indie about Jenny (Kendrick), a young woman who breaks up with her boyfriend and moves in with her older brother Jeff and his wife Kelly (Lynskey), who are raising a son. Jenny, who’s got fairly acute arrested development, drinks like a fish and turns out to be pretty much the worst baby sitter ever. 

Lucy

If you thought Scarlett Johansson kicked ass as Black Widow in Avengers then buckle up because she’s going to rock your world as Lucy, a former drug mule who develops super human powers with the increasing ability to access parts of her brain that were formerly dormant. She’s also got a pretty violent streak since this is a Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element) movie, and he directs violence with operatic grandiosity. Morgan Freeman costars. 

Aug. 22

If I Stay

Be sure to grab the tissue box before heading to this adaptation of the YA novel of the same name. Chloë Grace Moretz stars as a young woman whose life is irrevocably altered following a devastating car accident. Shauna Cross (Whip It) wrote the screenplay for the film that costars The Killing’s Mireille Enos and Lauren Lee Smith (that’s two in one summer for this former L Worder).