Andrea Park
Love winter (Hot chocolate! Twinkle lights! Sweaters!), but hate the temperature? We get that! But winter brings unparalleled coziness, setting the stage for the perfect night in with a blanket, hot toddy, and a good movie. If you're a movie-watching purist, the cold weather outside might inspire you to watch movies full of snowy scenes. If watching winter movies while snuggling under a blanket on a real-life cozy, cold-weather night is your vibe, then don't worry: You're not alone.
Whether you want to watch a snow-kissed romantic comedy, a drama set against the backdrop of a gorgeous winter wonderland, or a terrifying horror movie in the middle of a blizzard, we feel you and your winter movie-craving vibe and are here for you. So go ahead and bookmark this page for the next time the weather outside is frightful because, below, we're rounding up the best winter-themed movies. (And if you're feeling nostalgic for the days the air fest crisp, or are dreaming of warmer weather: Don't worry, we have recommendations for great autumn films and summer classics, too.)
The Best Winter Comedies
'Coming to America' (1988)
Coming to America goes from the fictional country of Zamunda to the snowy streets of N.Y.C., as Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) travels to Queens to find his queen (pun absolutely intended). These days, it's not just a throwback; it's also peak New York winter in the '80s.
'Cool Runnings' (1993)
Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme...Yes, this is the movie about the Jamaican bobsled team, and what's even better is that it's based on truth. When a Jamaican sprinter (Leon Robinson) is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he and a disgraced coach (John Candy) work together to form the first Jamaican Olympic Bobsled Team. It's somehow both the warmest and coldest film featured on this list, so it's great for sitting in front of a fire while drinking a cold drink, or lying on the couch, drinking hot coffee.
'Force Majeure' (2014)
Telling the story of familial tension after the patriarch attempts to abandon them during an avalanche, this film hits hard. For good reason, of course. Watch this Swedish film solo (and not with a partner you’ve been fighting with).
'Frozen' (2013)
Let it go, let it goooooooooooo...this is the animated film that birthed the earworm of a century. Frozen is a force, producing spin-offs and a Broadway musical, but the OG is always a great choice. Watch this one with the youngest members of your family and ask them, “Do you want to build a snowman?”
'Groundhog Day' (1993)
Groundhog Day is one of those film concepts that takes an idea—inexplicably living the same day over again—and shows you what its real-life application would be like. Note: It wouldn't be fun. Bill Murray is at his comedic best, the plot is universally acclaimed, and honestly? The message at the end makes the movie. This one is meant to be enjoyed with a nice cup of tea, and without worry that Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow.
'Home Alone' (1990)
Ah, Home Alone: The movie that taught a generation of kids that, if you find yourself home without any adult supervision and something scary happens, calling the cops is a terrible idea. Setting deadly murder traps all over your house, however, is a great idea—including icing every concrete step on your property.
'Knives Out' (2019)
There’s not much cozier in the colder months than curling up on the couch with a good whodunit. Not only does Knives Out offer a particularly twisty mystery, but it also features plenty of enviable knitwear that’ll inspire your winter wardrobe. Chris Evans's character especially gives a masterclass on cold-weather layering.
'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' (1987)
Steve Martin? John Candy? A road trip comedy? Perfection. What's the movie about, you ask? Steve Martin plays Neal Page, an advertising executive on a trip to New York, trying to return to Chicago to be with his family on Thanksgiving. He meets Del Griffith (Candy), a traveling salesman, when Griffith steals his cab, and the two wind up on the same plane to Chicago, which is diverted to Wichita. They decide to try to get to Chicago by train, but that doesn't work out either. What's the last choice, you wonder?
'White Christmas' (1954)
In this Irving Berlin musical, a male song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up with two singing sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to save their ex-general's winter lodge. If the Vermont winter and the classic Christmas carol aren't enough to get you in the winter mood, there's also a lovely song all about snow.
The Best Winter Dramas
'Anatomy of a Fall' (2023)
A cold drama (in more ways than one!), this award-winning film centers around the mysterious death of a man (Samuel Theis) who’s found lying in the snow underneath his office window. Much of the drama takes place in a courtroom, where the man’s wife (Sandra Hüller) is on trial for his murder, and where their visually impaired son (Milo Machado-Graner) must serve as the case’s main witness.
'Catch Me If You Can' (2002)
To all advocates of unorthodox Christmas movies, we see your Die Hard and raise you Catch Me If You Can. Yes, the Steven Spielberg film is very much a holiday classic: Though most of the action takes place at all times of the year as an FBI agent (Tom Hanks) chases down prolific con man Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) over several years, the film’s most poignant moments occur on various Christmas Eves, often as Frank is forced to reflect on his dysfunctional family and broken relationships.
'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' (2005)
Sometimes it can feel like winter weather will never end, but, in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, four children travel to a magical land where it is literally always winter (but, tragically, never Christmas), thanks to a curse from the villainous White Witch. Watch this if you need some family-friendly fantasy for your winter movie night.
'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004)
Imagine being able to erase the memories of someone causing you pain. Without question, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind wants to blow that concept out of the water. When their relationship goes down the drain, a couple (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) decides to undergo a medical procedure to erase each other from their memories. This one is perfect for a Saturday night, wrapped up in a blanket, having all of the feelings.
The 'Harry Potter' Movies (2001–2011)
Yes, all of the Harry Potter movies qualify as great winter watches. If you’ve been living under a rock, Harry Potter is the story of the boy wizard who lived. But it’s so much more than that. The snow and Christmas imagery are enough to warm the hearts of even the most warm-blooded muggle. Plus, there are enough sequels to get you through a blizzard.
'The Holdovers' (2023)
For a thoughtful and deeply moving spin on the classic holiday movie genre, look no further than The Holdovers, which sees a particularly motley crew of stragglers become something of a family when left behind over the holidays. It stars Paul Giamatti as a teacher forced to stay at the boarding school where he teaches over the Christmas break, Dominic Sessa as one of the students he’s tasked with chaperoning, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as the school’s cafeteria manager, all of whom start wary but ultimately grow to respect and support one another.
'I, Tonya' (2017)
Whatever you think you know about the Tonya Harding story, I, Tonya will make you question it and (believe it or not) feel, if not sorry, at least empathy for her. And, since a significant portion of the movie takes place on ice skating rinks, it's perfect winter watching.
'Ice Princess' (2005)
A veritable who's who of Hollywood in 2005—Michelle Trachtenberg, Kim Cattrall, Joan Cusack, and Hayden Panettiere—Ice Princess is the delightful and suitably wintry story of a girl with a dream to figure skate.
'Little Women' (2019)
Greta Gerwig's book-to-movie adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's iconic novel is like hot cocoa in movie form. The best time of year is Christmas at the March household—sometimes festive, sometimes heartbreaking, always beautiful. Your heart will be seriously warmed when Saoirse Ronan's character Jo wakes up to see a white blanket of snow out the window and says, "Merry Christmas, world."
'The Mountain Between Us' (2017)
Idris Elba and Kate Winslet get stranded in the bitterly cold wilderness of Utah and have to put their differences aside to survive a deadly snowstorm. Seeing them put their survival skills to the test will keep you on the edge of your seat—but, let's be real, who wouldn't mind being stuck with Elba?
'Rent' (2005)
Rent gets the anti-holiday sentiment correctly. Based on Jonathan Larson's 1996 Broadway musical (itself inspired by the opera La bohème), the N.Y.C.-set drama follows a group of friends and artists struggling to get by amid the AIDS crisis. There's a lot of tragedy here, but also hope; "Seasons of Love" is bound to make you feel cozy, even if the temps are frigid and you're feeling down.
'The Revenant' (2015)
It’s not just Leonardo DiCaprio fighting with a bear; it’s also a freezing-cold tale of the lengths man will go to get vengeance for someone he loves. DiCaprio won an Oscar for this performance, but it’s more notable that everyone in the cast basically got hypothermia. Now that’s method acting!
'Society of the Snow' (2023)
Next time you’re feeling bummed about being snowed in with nowhere to go this winter, put things in perspective by tuning in to this Oscar-nominated drama. It tells the true story of the Uruguayan rugby players who were forced to survive in the snowy Andes for several weeks in 1972 after their plane crashed on the way to a game in Chile. With disturbingly accurate frostbite makeup and plenty of (reluctant) cannibalism to go around, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but the incredibly moving story of survival will leave you unable to look away.
'Winter's Bone' (2010)
The movie that launched Jennifer Lawrence’s career, Winter’s Bone is a rough watch in terms of sentiment, but not quality. Lawrence stars as a teenage girl in the rural Ozarks of Missouri who must locate her missing criminal father to protect her family from eviction. The feelings are real and rough.
The Best Winter Horror and Thriller Movies
'Eileen' (2023)
Another (extremely) not-Christmassy Christmas movie, the very dark drama of this psychological thriller peaks on December 24. Based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel of the same name, it stars Thomasin McKenzie in the titular role and Anne Hathaway as a mysterious older woman with whom Eileen becomes so infatuated that she volunteers to help cover up a crime in hopes of running away together. You know, classic holiday film fare.
'Fargo' (1996)
We would consider Fargo one of the coldest movies ever, in terms of general temperature and vibe. And yes, this is the same Fargo the show is based on. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) bungles a crime he should never have been involved in, and it all falls apart...because of the midwestern niceties and persistence of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand, in a well-deserved Oscar-winning performance). If you like the series, you'll love the movie. And if you love seeing cold imagery on screen, you'll definitely love Fargo.
'Hanna' (2011)
16-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) was raised in the remote wilds of Finland to be an expert assassin, trained by her ex-CIA agent father (Eric Bana). Her life changes when her father sends her on a mission to kill a ruthless operative (Cate Blanchett), and Hanna learns the secrets behind her life and her father's past. If you're looking for hunting and fight training in the snowy woods, this is the film for you.
'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' (2020)
In this Charlie Kaufman film, based on Ian Reid's novel, a new couple (Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons) drives towards his family's remote house in the middle of a winter storm. But also, none of that might be true. The snowy setting makes the film's unsettling tone that much more isolating; watching this movie will make you feel better about being warm and toasty inside (and not being, you know, a character in a Charlie Kaufman film).
'The Lodge' (2019)
A man (Richard Armitage) leaves his new girlfriend (Riley Keough) with his two children (Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh) in a remote house, only for a snowstorm to trap the three of them inside. Terrifying things start to happen. You'll change your mind about snagging that isolated, winter-wonderland Airbnb you've been eyeing.
'Misery' (1990)
What did winter do to hurt Stephen King? In Misery, also based on a book by the horror master himself, a famed novelist (James Caan) gets into a car accident in a remote town and is saved by his biggest fan (Kathy Bates). Unfortunately, said fan proceeds to hold the author hostage and force him to write her dream fan fiction and be her captive BFF—in an or else kind of way.
'The Shining' (1980)
Does winter weather make you wish you could retreat to a place in the woods and/or mountains to think and work until the world warms up? Do yourself a favor and watch The Shining, based on the Stephen King bestseller of the same name, again before you go through with that plan.
'The Thing' (1982)
A lot of the best (read: scariest) horror movies of all time involve a group of people, helplessly trapped somewhere remote with a terrifying Scary Bad Thing hellbent on murdering them all. The Thing is one of these movies, and its remote, you-can't-escape-the-terror locale is Antarctica, where no one can help you because no one else is there.
The Best Winter Rom-Coms
'The Apartment' (1960)
Drop everything and ask your parents about The Apartment, considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine star in the classic romantic movie, set in mid-to-late-December (the film ends on New Year's Eve). Lemmon plays C. C. "Bud" Baxter, an insurance clerk with an apartment that he loans out to his bosses to have extramarital affairs in, hoping that it'll lead to a promotion for him. What actually winds up happening is he begins pursuing a relationship with Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), without knowing that she's having an affair with one of Baxter's bosses in the titular apartment. It's a classic film that no one would dare remake, it's that good. Watch this one with a warm blanket and a glass of scotch.
'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001)
It's a rom-com classic for a reason! It made Reneé Zellweger famous for a reason, too, and that reason is effortless charm. Bridget Jones isn't just a rom-com taking inspiration from Pride & Prejudice, it's a realistic love story with humor and heart, Chaka Khan, and vodka. We adore this movie for many reasons: the soundtrack, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant at his most frustrating, and its backdrop of London at Christmastime. Watch this one with your best friends, while wearing a horrible Christmas sweater.
'The Family Stone' (2005)
What goes perfectly with winter? A bit of family dysfunction. An uptight businesswoman (Sarah Jessica Parker) accompanies her boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney) to his free-spirited family's annual Christmas celebration and realizes she's nothing like them and doesn't fit in. Of course, it's played for laughs, so this one's great for a family viewing.
'Happiest Season' (2020)
This LGBTQ+ film is like winter bingo: Christmas, in Pittsburgh, with a sibling fight on an ice rink! This gloriously sweet movie nails the awkwardness between adult family members as they attempt (and fail) to have a drama-free holiday. It follows a couple, Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart), as they pretend not to be a couple while visiting over the holidays since Harper's not out to her parents. The ensuing shenanigans are even funnier and sweeter than expected.
'The Holiday' (2006)
Kate Winslet. Cameron Diaz. Jude Law. Jack Black. It’s a powerhouse of romantic comedy greatness, and it’ll make you want to look into a house swap, pronto. The Holiday isn’t just your basic rom-com, though—it’s a showcase for some of the most gorgeous houses you’ve ever seen and truly funny.
'Just Friends' (2005)
After confessing his love to his best friend (Amy Smart) in high school and getting told she wants them to be "just friends," Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) grows into a successful and attractive record producer who still pines for his high school best friend, and returns to his hometown to try to win her heart. It's a funny movie, and it'll make you a little bit nostalgic.
'Last Holiday' (2006)
After discovering that she only has a few weeks to live, a department store employee cashes out on her savings and makes her fantasy vacation in the snowy mountains of the Czech Republic a reality. Starring Queen Latifah and LL Cool J, The Last Holiday is perfect for a snow day; you may not be able to go skiing in this blizzard, but at least you get to watch the Queen have a good time on the slopes!
'Leap Year' (2010)
When February rolls around and the weather still hasn’t warmed up, cheer yourself up with this highly underrated rom-com. In it, Amy Adams plays a woman determined to partake in the Irish tradition of Bachelor’s Day, in which women propose to their boyfriends on Feb. 29. However, her plans are repeatedly derailed by bad weather, roadside thieves, and a delightfully grouchy local (played by Matthew Goode).
'Love Actually' (2003)
An anthology film covering the lives and ordeals of couples during the Christmas season? Sign us up! This movie is known for being the "Andrew Lincoln With Cue Cards" movie, but it deserves more than that. Settle in for a long night—the film runs 2 hours, 15 minutes—but you might believe in the end that love, actually is...all around.
'Serendipity' (2001)
Serendipity features one of the cutest of meet-cutes and the whole thing feels like falling in love in the middle of a snow globe. Pure rom-com magic.
'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)
The climax of Silver Linings Playbook takes place around Christmas—with the requisite grand gesture confession of love taking place on a twinkle-light-lined street—but even without that, it would still make for a perfect winter movie. It’s funny, smart, moving, and full of powerhouse performances—in short, exactly what you need to distract you from realizing just how long you’ve been in hibernation mode.
'What Happens Later' (2023)
Winter weather is notorious for ruining travel plans, and that’s the starting point for this sweet 2023 rom-com directed by and starring genre queen Meg Ryan. Yet another highly underrated film set on Leap Day, it sees Ryan’s Willa and David Duchovny’s Bill—long-ago exes, of course—run into each other in a tiny airport where they’ve both just been stranded. There’s a touch of magical realism and plenty of very cute, classic rom-com moments that’ll surely have you giggling, kicking your feet, and maybe even romanticizing your life when your flight is inevitably delayed by a snowstorm this winter.
'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989)
It'd be a shocker if this didn't make the list, right? When Harry Met Sally... is one of the most classic rom-coms. The film spans 10 years, revisiting the titular characters every five, and centers on Harry and Sally's differing views on relationships. Every New Year's Eve you've ever had pales in comparison. Put on a sweater, put the scissors away (you won't look like Meg Ryan with bangs, sorry), and enjoy this film with a loved one.
'While You Were Sleeping' (1995)
Any movie set in Chicago is bound to take advantage of how cold it gets there, and While You Were Sleeping is a great example of that—and Chicago itself is a character in the movie. After an unlucky streak in love, a hopelessly romantic Chicago Transit Authority worker, Lucy (Sandra Bullock), saves her long-time crush, Peter, from being hit by an oncoming train, and doctors say he's in a coma. One misinterpreted comment later, and Peter's family assumes that Lucy is his fiancée (even though she and Peter have never spoken), and they welcome her into their world with open arms. Only problem? She starts to develop feelings for Peter's brother (Bill Pullman). Take in all the winter greatness here in this classic romantic comedy.