It’s worth saying up top: the best winter movies aren’t necessarily about Christmas.
It happens to the best of us. One day you’re settling down in front of your television set, or sliding your laptop over your abdomen, or bringing your enormous smartphone up toward your face, or however you watch what you watch, and you think, hey, ’tis the season – or almost, anyway – it might be fun to watch a Christmas movie! And then the next thing you know you’ve glutted yourself with holly jolly “content”, and if you see another childhood TV star playing a winsome baker entering another gingerbread competition in a fictional town that claims to be in Colorado or Vermont (but really looks a heck of a lot like Vancouver) only to meet a dashing business executive who happens to have designs on developing that same beloved small town into – gasp – a “ski resort”, well! You may in fact throw your screened device out the nearest window. Call it the Christmas-cookie effect: one can be fun, but overindulge and nausea has been known to occur.
But look, you say, I’m already wearing my soft pants and my enormous knit and my extremely cute at-home socks, and I really have no intention of stepping outside for any sort of entertainment, even if it is Oscars-bound. That’s fine! The good news is, there’s a happy medium between making a big show of heading out for the cinema and settling in for treacly, cavity-inducing holiday fare! You can 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! There are wintry movies out there that are also just really good movies, regardless of the fact that they may be set in Hallmark’s favourite season. So put down the coloured icing, step away from the baking sheet, and train your focus this way. (Consider it something like a palate cleanser.) Without further ado, here are 15 of the best winter movies that have nothing to do with the holidays. You’re welcome!
Cool Runnings (1993)
Highly family friendly! 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?)
Fargo (1996)
The Coen brothers’ brilliant, bloody, superbly acted classic is set in a very glum, very grey Minnesota and also manages to be very funny in a very pitch-black way. Decidedly not for kids.
Miracle (2004)
Another one set in Minnesota! The story of the 1980 US men’s Olympic hockey team as it took on the Soviets and grew to symbolise 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.
Call of the Wild (1935)
Clark Gable stars in an early adaptation of Jack London’s classic novel, and if that’s not enough to sway you, the dog is the hero. (That’s enough for us!)
The Revenant (2015)
Yes, the one that won Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award. Have you ever been so glad to be warm and inside 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.
Winter’s Bone (2010)
The critically beloved indie film that made Jennifer Lawrence a star! Gritty, depressing, grey, a lot like winter a lot of the time? Not for kids.
March of the Penguins (2005)
It’s impossible to watch 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.
The Shining (1980)
Is it considered a Halloween film? Completely. But that stormy weather and the sight of a frozen Jack Nicholson really add a winter wonderland effect to the thriller. Decidedly terrible for young kids. Excellent for adults eager for flattering comparisons to their own families.
Force Majeure (2014)
A warning: this brilliant, psychologically twisty film may have a negative effect on 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 is 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!
Ice Age (2002)
This one’s for the kids. Kooky, computer-animated early animalia attempt a southward migration during a great ice age. It is not, you may tell your young friends, anything like when their grandparents set off for Florida. Another good opportunity to talk about climate change!!!!!!
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).
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.
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.
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.
The Mountain Between Us (2017)
Two strangers (played by Kate Winslet and Idris Elba) fight to survive after their plane crashes in the mountains. The romance that ensues is bittersweet (and slightly harrowing), but worth the watch.
Groundhog Day (1993)
This Bill Murray film gives whole new meaning to the term “déjà vu” as Murray’s character 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.
Happy Feet (2006)
A childhood favourite 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.)
Two Night Stand (2014)
In this rom-com, a one-night stand turns into two when a snowstorm traps practical strangers in a New York City apartment. Cute and quirky (with some steam thrown in here and there), it’s perfect for a snow day.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Adapted from the 1991 animated film, Disney’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast mixes nostalgia for the tale as old as time with a few updates, as Belle embarks on her adventure in the great wide somewhere. The wintry backdrop of this musical love story also makes it a cosy watch.
Anastasia (1997)
Loosely based on the true story of Anna Anderson, the film 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.
