Starting in autumn, television networks and streaming companies tend to bombard viewers withholiday-themed filmsfor months. However, there are many winter movies available that can keep audiences in the mood for frosty weatherwithout turning to multi-colored lightsand eggnog. For someone in a hot climate, a winter movie might be the right change of pace to get someone in the mood for the season.
Updated November 30th, 2022: Whether you live in a wintry climate or are stuck in the heat, sometimes nothing beats a movie with a lot of snow, white mountains, and cozy sweaters, so we’ve updated this article about must-watch winter movies.
For movie lovers wanting to curl up with a fleece blanket and a mug full of hot chocolate, the pickings are ripe. Many of the films included here are iconic, and some are even award-winning. From family-friendly animations to cinematic dramas, these 12 films are perfect for a movie-marathon day during the colder months of the year.
12The Day After Tomorrow
The 2004 sci-fi filmThe Day After Tomorrowis one for the books. Brimming with an incredible cast — including Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ian Holm, and Emmy Rossum —this disaster moviewill have viewers shivering along with the characters. It follows a group of high schoolers on their way to New York City to participate in an academic event. However, extreme flooding and other violent weather catastrophes occur, leaving them stranded and frozen inside. The stakes are raised as one of the teenagers gets injured, and the group has to wait for a rescue that may or not ever come.
While a movie about the end of the world might seem like an odd pick, it’s hard to argue with the snowy imagery of the film that just gives off a cold vibe to get into the mindset of it being cold outside.
11Rise of the Guardians
Despite technically taking place towards Easter,Rise of the Guardians’snowy aesthetic, inspired by both lead character Jack Frost and Santa Claus' North Pole base, makes it an ideal winter movie. The movie follows an Avengers-like team of mythical figures from childhood including Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and the newest recruit Jack Frost to combat the emerging threat of the Boogy Man, named Pitch.Rise of the Guardiansis an action-packed, visual delight that feels like a great snow day on film.
10Ice Princess
A morelight-hearted, feel-good filmto watch when the weather turns cold is the 2005 comedy,Ice Princess. Following the day-to-day life of math whiz turned skating star Casey Carlyle, this feel-good film is perfect for families and teens.
Despite the disapproval of her mother, Casey secretly practices ice skating, blowing off her studies in the process. With the help of a former professional skater, she manages to qualify for sectionals. However, her dilemma doesn’t end there as her mother vocalizes her disdain for Casey’s change in course. Overall, it’s a coming-of-age story that still holds up today.
9Snow White and the Huntsman
As a live-action rethinking of the classic fairy tale,Snow White and the Huntsmanis a grittier version than the Disney one most audiences are used to. Released in 2012, this film boasts quite a bit of magic and stellar special effects. It even spawned a prequel known asThe Huntsman: Winter’s War, which is another solid option for the winter months given it features a snow Queen (clearly inspired by the success ofFrozen).
In this adaptation, Snow White is raised by her stepmother, Ravenna. In a jealous rage, Ravenna sets out to kill Snow White after her Magic Mirror tells her to consume Snow White’s heart to gain immortality. The story follows the journey of Eric the Huntsman as he helps Snow White escape and later defeat Ravenna.
Sparking a long line of sequels,Ice Agemay just be one of the most iconic animated films of the new millennia. Released in 2002, this kid-friendly comedy has left audiences in stitches. It follows the journey of a wooly mammoth named Manny, a ground sloth named Sid, and a saber-toothed tiger named Diego as they attempt to reunite a lost human baby with his migratory tribe. What makesIce Agesuch a strong winter movie is, in contrast to the sequels, the rather grounded world the movie takes place in and features animals and humans interacting in this cold period of human history.
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However, one of the breakoutcharacters of theIce Agefranchiseturned out to be Scrat, a saber-tooth squirrel. Always extremely unlucky, he just wants to hide his acorn away for safe-keeping. His side skits are the best parts of the films. With the recent closure of Blue Sky Animation, the animators released one final piece of media which saw Scrat finally get his acorn and eat it. It was a fitting end to an arc that began 20 years ago.
7The Shining
Based on the Stephen King novel,The Shining(1980) is one of the most iconic horror/thriller films of all time. Following the life of Jack Torrence, a writer and recovering alcoholic, he becomes the wintertime caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in a remote area of Colorado. With his wife and son by his side, his mental health goes downhill, and he becomes extremely violent. Meanwhile, his son Danny is having horrific visions and speaking in a creepy voice that doesn’t belong to him.
While not the warm cozy winter season movie,The Shiningdoes tap into the cold isolating feeling of being stuck inside during the snow. It will make some viewers grateful they don’t have to live with all that snow, with others possibly being able to relate too much to theclaustrophobia of being stuckinside for so long. The film set the bar high for allfrightening horror movies that followed.
As one of the most popular modern Disney animations,Frozen(2013) blew fans away when it was released and became a true sensation that Disney had not had in a long time. From its spectacular effects to the astounding soundtrack, the film is perfect to watch on a snow day even though technically it takes place in the spring.
Following thelives of two sisters(Elsa and Anna), who just so happen to be princesses, viewers can enjoy the ups and downs of their journey. Fearing her magical power, Elsa runs away and hides deep in the snow-laden mountains. Meanwhile, Anna desperately tries to get her sister back. There is even a magical snowman named Olaf that will warm the heart of even the coldest person.
5The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Based on the novel series by C.S. Lewis,The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobesparked the production of two more films after its huge success at the box office. The story follows four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) as they go into a magical wardrobe that transports them into a fantasy world. Narnia is cursed with a never-ending winter, and the children they encounter many strange creatures including talking animals and a faun named Mr. Tumnus. However, their joy is cut short by the White Witch who is determined to keep the kingdom under her tyrannical control.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobewas released during the holiday season of 2005 and tapped into its cold winter aesthetic to draw audiences in. Even though the snow in the film is a sign of evil’s power, it also does come with it a sense of magic and comfort. The presence of Santa even gives the film an added holiday season vibe, and as the film progress, snow gives way to spring.
4Blades of Glory
In the 2007 comedy film,Blades of Glory, fans are treated to over 90 minutes of hilarity. Two rival skaters, Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy are banned from men’s singles figure skating for life when they get into a fight on the podium after their performances.
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The story follows their journey as a coach attempts to get them both back on track by forcing them to skate as a pair. Combining the raunchiness of Michaels with the precisions of MacElroy, the two have some great potential to succeed—if only they could stop fighting long enough to finish the routine. Much likeThe Ice Princess,Blades of Glory’sice skating aesthetic captures the winter mood.
3The Holiday
Less about snow and more about the general feeling of a different type of winter,The Holidaystars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as two people who trade homes for the holiday as they need to get away from their troubled lives. Diaz’s character is a Hollywood trailer producer who stays at Winslet’s character’s home in the English countryside, while Winslet’s character takes residence in the glamour of Los Angeles.
The movie is a rom-com and has the cozy vibe of a winter movie, contrasting the bright sunny LA with the colder quaint English countryside.The Holidayis a great way to get into the winter spirit, and has a surprisingly greatperformance from Jack Black.
