Film

The Christmas Setup

A warmhearted gay holiday romance where a New York lawyer returns to Milwaukee and reconnects with his high school crush during Christmas festivities. It's charming and earnest, with genuine chemistry between leads and real emotional stakes beneath the festive trappings. Perfect for anyone who loves a Christmas story with heart and representation.

TMDb rating3.1

If you liked this

Red, White & Royal Blue2023

A romantic comedy about a closeted American and a British royal discovering each other. It has the same blend of genuine emotion, family dynamics, and the specific tension of choosing between duty and desire that makes The Christmas Setup work.

But Broader comedy tone and higher production gloss might feel slicker than you want if you prefer smaller, quieter intimacy.

Red, White & Royal Blue poster

Love, Victor2020

A Hulu series about a high schooler coming out and finding romance, balancing humor with real emotional vulnerability. It shares the same authenticity about identity alongside genuine connection.

But Runs ten episodes across seasons, so commitment beyond a single evening. Also tackles heavier themes than pure romance if you want something lighter.

Love, Victor poster

Happiest Season2020

A Christmas rom-com centered on a lesbian couple navigating family expectations and secrets during the holidays. Same emotional architecture—warmth, humor, family pressure, and the question of whether love can overcome circumstance.

But The central premise hinges on a secret that some find frustrating rather than dramatically compelling.

Happiest Season poster

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Carol2015

Both explore the tension between accepting societal expectations and claiming genuine happiness; both ask what we're willing to sacrifice for love, but Carol approaches the question with tragic weight instead of Christmas warmth.

A haunting, beautiful romance between two women in 1950s America who must choose between safety and desire. It shares The Christmas Setup's emotional architecture—the ache of choosing between love and circumstances—but with devastating gravity.

But Period piece with slow, contemplative pacing and an ending that offers no easy comfort. Very different register: mournful rather than joyful.

Carol poster
More like this (8)

Bros2022

A rom-com about two men navigating modern dating and commitment. It's funny, irreverent, and genuinely romantic without sacrificing wit or authenticity about real relationship questions.

But Raunchier and more urban than The Christmas Setup; trades small-town warmth for city cynicism that won't suit everyone.

Bros poster

Everything Everywhere All at Once2022

While very different in plot, it captures that same emotional core about choosing what matters most when faced with impossible options. Also features a mother-son relationship that's deeply felt and funny.

But An abstract, multiverse-spanning sci-fi film that requires different mental energy than a linear romance story.

Everything Everywhere All at Once poster

The Half of It2020

A thoughtful teen romance with a protagonist navigating identity, first love, and the gap between who you are and who others expect. Quiet, beautifully written, and emotionally honest.

But Coming-of-age melancholy rather than holiday cheer; slower pacing and a bittersweet ending rather than neat resolution.

The Half of It poster

Schitt's Creek2015

A sprawling comedy about a wealthy family who lose everything and relocate to a small town. It's funny and warm, with a romance that unfolds naturally amid genuine character growth and ensemble charm.

But Six seasons is a significant commitment, and the early episodes play broad comedy before the emotional depth deepens considerably.

Schitt's Creek poster

Plus One2019

Two single friends decide to be each other's plus-one at weddings, and connection slowly builds. It's wry and grounded with real chemistry, avoiding both cynicism and saccharine sentiment.

But Lower stakes than The Christmas Setup and no festive setting; relies on subtle charm that won't resonate if you want clear emotional beats.

Plus One poster

Legally Blonde2001

A woman heads to Harvard and discovers ambition, friendship, and love while refusing to apologize for who she is. It's funny, emotionally intelligent, and fundamentally about self-acceptance.

But Heterosexual romance and early-2000s tone might feel dated; the humor skews broad rather than character-driven.

Legally Blonde poster

The Great British Bake Off2010

Both center on small towns, community gathering, and the genuine warmth of people choosing to spend time together. The Bake Off captures that same sense of 'this feels like home' that makes The Christmas Setup work—the setting itself becomes a character.

A competition series where strangers gather weekly to bake, bond, and form genuine connections. It's cozy, character-driven, and captures community and warmth without being saccharine or performative.

But Not a narrative film or series; requires comfort with episodic structure and the absence of traditional plot momentum.

The Great British Bake Off poster

Portrait of a Lady on Fire2019

Both are about recognizing desire and choosing to act on it despite complications, but this one treats female sapphic romance with the visual reverence and artistic seriousness that mainstream cinema rarely grants LGBTQ+ stories. It's what The Christmas Setup's tenderness could become with different resources and a different cultural moment.

A French period romance between an artist and her subject that unfolds with sensual, intimate precision. The chemistry is electric, the cinematography is stunning, and it's genuinely erotic without cheap tricks.

But Slow, painterly pacing; in French with subtitles; ends before resolution rather than offering narrative closure. Not a comfort watch.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire poster

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A Christmas Proposal