As we brace the coldest days of the year, and countless snow days, there is no better way to pass the time than bundled up with a blanket and huddled around the television (or any screen) watching some of our favorite movies. From old school classics to some new releases, there’s a film here for any mood, from the heartwarming to the terrifying. Pop some popcorn, get cozy and let us help you plan out the perfect snowed in movie day with our picks below:
1. The Gold Rush (1925, dir. Charlie Chaplin)
Chaplin’s comedy is timeless, and there’s no better companion to brace the cold with than The Tramp himself. On the hunt for gold, he gets mixed up in some crazy shenanigans and falls in love. The Gold Rush is one of Chaplin’s very best films and one that will surely warm your heart by the end.
Streaming on The Criterion Channel, Tubi, Hoopla, Prime Video (US), and Max (US)
2. The Shining (1980, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
If you’re stuck at home slowly losing your mind to boredom, you’ll find yourself right at home at the Overlook Hotel! Kubrick’s landmark horror film sees Jack Nicholson at his Nicholsoniest as a writer slowly going crazy from being locked in and terrorizing his family in this scary, surreal and thrilling movie perfect for the winter season.
Streaming on Crave (Canada), Starz (Canada), and Showtime (US)
3. The Thing (1982, dir. John Carpenter)
Originally maligned upon release, John Carpenter’s masterpiece has now joined the ranks of cinema’s greatest horror films, and easily the most iconic snow bound one! On a remote base in Antarctica, a group of researchers unearth a shapeshifting alien who hides among them and slowly picks them off one by one. Nothing says snowed in like literally being trapped with your team in a winter storm, unsure if the man next you might very well be…the thing.
Streaming on Crave (Canada), Starz (Canada), and Showtime (US)
4. Fargo (1996, dir. Joel and Ethan Coen)
The Coen brothers are known for their filmography filled with great darkly comedic crime films and Fargo might very well be their best, you betcha! Set in a small town in Minnesota, Fargo follows a dimwitted car salesman who attempts to kidnap his wife for ransom money from her father. What should be a simple job ends up turning into a much deadlier disaster. Equal parts darkly hilarious, thrilling and cozy, an essential winter film.
Streaming on Prime Video (Canada), Max (US), and Showtime (US)
5. Eyes Wide Shut (1999, dir. Stanley Kubrick)
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Stanley Kubrick…that combo alone should get any film fan salivating! Eyes Wide Shut is Kubrick’s final masterpiece, a haunting and endlessly twisty domestic drama and conspiracy film of secret elite societies and intrigue. The film’s snowy setting and lush cinematography give it a surprisingly cozy atmosphere in spite of its actual narrative. If you’ve seen it before, there’s plenty more clues and details to pick up on. If it happens to be your first watch, look forward to your next cinematic obsession!
Streaming on Crave (Canada), Tubi (US), and Showtime (US)
6. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003, dir. Peter Jackson)
Is there any trilogy better suited for filling an entire day than The Lord of the Rings trilogy with its modest 9.5 hour runtime (11.5 hours if you go with the extended editions). A truly gargantuan epic the likes we never see anymore (and might never see), it is one that only gets better every time. What else is there to say? You’ve seen ’em, you love ’em…nuff said!
Streaming on Prime Video (Canada), Crave (Canada), and Max (US)
7. The Holdovers (2023, dir. Alexander Payne)
Nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, The Holdovers is one of the best films of last year and in this writer’s opinion, a modern classic. Paul Giamatti delivers a career best performance as a cantankerous teacher stuck at school taking care of the students held over during the winter break. Evoking the vibe and aesthetic of 1970s cinema, The Holdovers immediately feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. Funny, emotional and above all, incredibly heartwarming. This film will surely make you forget the cold from how much warmth emanates from it.
Streaming on Prime Video on Feb 24 (Canada) and Peacock (US)
8. Society of the Snow (2024, dir. J. A. Bayona)
Having the word “snow” in the title may seem like a cop out but there’s a kind of synergy in watching a group of real characters trapped in the snow while being trapped in the snow. That being said, things do feel a little too real at times as you are pulled into the plight of a group of plane crash survivors trying to survive the terrain that they now found themselves in. Over time, you can’t help but feel for these people as they hope to get rescued and that rollercoaster journey is sure to cue the waterworks once that fateful moment finally comes.
Streaming on Netflix globally
At the end of the day, you may feel trapped but, in this day and age, with a wide range of movies and series at your fingertips at all times, you will never be alone.
still courtesy of Universal Pictures
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