It’s worth saying up top: The best winter movies aren’t necessarily about the holidays. In the weirdly inert week between Christmas Day and New Year’s, it’s perfectly possible to watch something that’s wintry and fun but completely unrelated to Santa Claus or Hanukkah gelt or poinsettias or presents. And you’re not even being Grinch-y if you do: There are winter-set movies out there that are also just really good movies, full stop. Here, some of our favorites:
Dr. Zhivago (1965)
One of David Lean’s undisputed masterworks, starring Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, and some very plush outerwear. Hunker down with something warm to drink, and let this epic’s three-plus-hour runtime sprawl like a remote Russian snowscape.
McCabe Mrs. Miller (1971)
More Julie Christie and more amazing furs, but now set in turn-of-the-20th-century Washington State, with Warren Beatty and the earthy realism of director Robert Altman. (Also: the most stirring Leonard Cohen soundtrack.) For the mature crowd!
The Shining (1980)
Is it normally considered a Halloween film? Yes. But the stormy weather (and the sight of a frozen Jack Nicholson) sure lend a wintry effect to this classic thriller. Decidedly terrible for young kids, but excellent for adults eager for flattering comparisons to their own families.
Metropolitan (1990)
It’s deb ball season in New York, and a bunch of teens are playing strip poker, talking about class, and falling in love with each other. A 100-minute treat that is perfectly watchable year-round, but perhaps never more so than when the lights are still up along Park Avenue.
Cool Runnings (1993)
Four Jamaican bobsledders dream of competing in the Winter Olympics despite never having seen snow. (Remember when snow was fun and not a personal scourge?) Highly family-friendly!
Groundhog Day (1993)
This Bill Murray film gives whole new meaning to the term “déjà vu” as Murray’s character, weatherman Phil Connors, begins to relive the same day over and over again. Sonny Cher’s “I Got You Babe” will be the anthem of your night after watching.
Fargo (1996)
The Coen brothers’ brilliant, bloody, superbly acted classic is set in a very glum, very gray Minnesota, and manages to be very funny in a very pitch-black way. Decidedly not for kids.
Anastasia (1997)
Loosely based on the true story of Anna Anderson, Anastasia follows the missing Romanov princess as she finds her way back home. Not only memorable for its beautifully unique animation, the movie also features breathtaking music and voice acting from legends like Meg Ryan and John Cusack.
Ice Age (2002)
This one’s for the kids. Kooky, computer-animated early animalia attempt a southward migration during an ice age. It is not, you may tell your young friends, anything like when their grandparents set off for Florida. Also: Another good opportunity to talk about climate change!!
Miracle (2004)
Here’s the story of the 1980 US men’s Olympic hockey team as it took on the Soviets and grew to symbolize American patriotism during the Cold War. Features excellent accents from areas of America with very cold weather, at least one famously inspiring locker room speech, and some truly impressive hockey flow. Family-friendly—especially if your family likes sports or remembers the 1980s.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Four siblings travel from World War II-era England to mythical Narnia in this classic film, featuring James McAvoy playing a faun and lots of Turkish Delight. For extra enjoyment, read the books first.
March of the Penguins (2005)
It’s impossible to watch this and not come away deeply impressed by penguins. Excellent for young kids, especially as a means to approach our current climate struggles and what they mean for penguins and their ilk.
Happy Feet (2006)
A childhood favorite for many millennials, Happy Feet follows singing and dancing penguins in Antarctica, voiced by a surprisingly stacked cast. (See: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Nicole Kidman, and more.)
Last Holiday (2006)
Despite its title, Last Holiday maintains a respectful distance from the worst of the Christmas movie genre. Instead it’s a solid rom-com set at the glamorous Grandhotel Pupp in the Czech Republic, where—after receiving a devastating medical diagnosis—Queen Latifah charms nearly everyone in her path as she tries out snowboarding, goes shopping, and generally has the time of her life.
Frozen I II (2013, 2019)
Another film for the kids, but what reasonable adult can resist the dulcet vocals of Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff? This Disney double-feature follows sisters Anna and Elsa through trauma, duty, and love (both for each other and themselves).
Snowpiercer (2013)
Follow the survivors of a deadly ice age on a train through appropriately snowy terrain. Starring Chris Evans, this sci-fi thriller, directed by Bong Joon-ho, considers classism and the impacts of irreversible climate change. Not so kid-friendly.
Force Majeure (2014)
A warning: This brilliant, psychologically twisty film may negatively affect your romantic relationship. (It will almost certainly provoke discussions around it.) It’s a movie that’s chilly in more ways than the obvious, which is that it’s set at a ski resort in the French Alps during what one character quickly comes to believe is an avalanche. Not fun for the whole family, but arguably all the better for it!
Carol (2015)
Iconic lesbian film? Absolutely. Christmas-adjacent? Yes, big-time, as Carol and Therese meet while Therese is wearing a Santa hat. But the heart of this movie is really bleak mid-winter, not the holidays; we can’t stop thinking about the little coat that Carol buttons her daughter Rindy into.
The Revenant (2015)
Yes, the one that won Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award. Have you ever been so glad to be warm and indoors and not inside of a bear? We doubt your kids are interested, but it’s pretty stiff stuff for anybody under 13. It’s also pretty stiff stuff for many over 13, so be prepared.
I, Tonya (2017)
Wintry skating drama runs amok in this Margot Robbie-led film about the real-life events that led to the disabling of Nancy Kerrigan. While it may not be the most uplifting of movies, it’s perfectly soundtracked and weirdly pleasant with a mug of eggnog.
Little Women (2019)
There’s no wrong Little Women adaptation to throw on when it’s cold out, but Greta Gerwig seems to take particular delight in watching the March sisters scurry down snowy streets and play games inside that (hopefully) spare Amy from drowning in frozen lakes. Ten out of 10, cozy as can be.
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
A riveting family drama meets a satisfying courtroom thriller in Justine Triet’s Oscar-winning delight, set against the pristine French Alps—and starring a never-better (nor more cozily attired) Sandra Hüller.
