As the air begins to chill and winter jackets are pulled out of retirement, there’s nothing I want to do more than get comfortable in front of the TV and put on a movie that matches the atmosphere; a movie that pairs well with a warm candle and cozy blankets.
As many movies as there are that fit these criteria, it’s difficult to decided which ones are worth watching, especially with how busy the end of the year is between holiday shopping, . These five cozy movies are the best of the best and will turn any ordinary movie night into something special and seasonal.
5- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Director Wes Anderson is famous for his distinctive pastel color palettes and visual symmetry, all of which is present in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
In my opinion, the appeal of this movie lays less so in the plot, and more so in the visual and auditory beauty of the film. Wes Andersons camera work is playful and light, allowing readers a new insight into the somewhat convoluted story of The Grand Budapest Hotel and the journey of the man who used to run it.
The snowy atmosphere and quirky dialogue draw in viewers to stay for the admittedly long near two hour of the film, and cozy up to story of this marvelous hotel and the man who ran it. The non-linear progression of the story adds to the intrigue, as viewers are transported to the central plot and back to the present when the story is being told.
4- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Not every cold weather movie is meant to be happy. My favorite cozy movies are without a doubt the ones that leave me in tears and staring at the wall for who knows how long afterwards. Most notably, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Highschool freshman Charlie must go back to school while navigating status quo changes, the suicide of his best friend, and his own lingering depression from the event. He meets two senior students who quickly makes friends with him, and the three of them power through school, secret relationships, and the vindictiveness of the world around them while finding ways to feel, as Charlie puts it “infinite”.
This movie is extremely depressing, so why should you watch it? If the moving journey and friendship centered plot isn’t convincing enough, one look at the soundtrack will be enough. From David Bowie to The Smiths, as well as the one notable scene featuring “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners, the soundtrack is star studded, but still feels personal and unique to the film.
3-Little Women (2019)
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” is a line that has been repeated since Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women in the late 1860s. Since then, the story of the March sisters has been adapted into multiple movies, as well as plays and ballets. None of these adaptations, however, capture the story quite like Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of Little Women.
Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Eliza Scanlen bring the March sisters to life in this film, bringing fans of the story with them throughout their lives. However, despite the intrigue of the characters, I believe the most appealing aspect of this movie, is the lack of decisive plot line.
Viewers are just as invested as seeing average moments in their lives, watching the March sisters grow, love, and fight, as they would be in any super-powered action movie simply du to the liveliness of the characters. Little Women also tackles more serious issues, in the most subtle and important of ways. Jo fights to get her manuscript published, and command respect as a female author in a time where being so was nearly impossible. Amy struggles with her desire to be a great artist, while also wanting financial stability, and debating the merits of marrying rich. Those are only two of inspiring journeys that this film takes its viewers on over the years it spans.
From the simple orchestral soundtrack to the warm lighting, Little Women is a movie that can help even the most tense to relax and be moved to a different time, into the lives of the March sisters.
2-Dead Poets Society (1989)
If you ask a random person on the street, or perhaps google “best fall movies” chances are Dead Poets Society will be mentioned, and for good reason.
Literature nerds rejoice, Dead Poets Society follows a group of boys at their boarding school, who fall in love with poetry and go on a coming-of-age journey with their unconventional new teacher. A cold weather classic, the movie is a staple for most fall movie nights. The warm lighting, setting on the cusp of winter, and heartwarming tale create a perfect cozy movie.
However, be prepared to shed a tear or two at the story and the bonds that form between this group of individuals. However cozy and heartwarming, there are also serious subjects and content being discussed and pictured in the movie, that leave some viewers crying through the credits.
When I first watched the film, I knew within the first ten minutes that I would never find another like it. Dead Poets Society is unique, despite the various movies with similar plots. The atmosphere and bonds created between characters simply cannot be replicated.
1-The Holdovers
A relatively surprising and more recent addition to this list, The Holdovers is nostalgia for something you didn’t realize you missed. When I first watched the movie, I was skeptical. My dad had seen a commercial for it, and wanted us to watch it together, but since his taste in movies is primarily comedy classics and anything featuring Snake Plissken from the Escape from New York movies, I was sure I wouldn’t like it.
I watched the trailer and gathered the movie to be about a disgruntled and lonely teacher, forced to stay and look after the kids who weren’t going home for Christmas break from their boarding school, who forms an unlikely bond with a trouble-maker student. The plot seemed formulaic, and while that’s not always a negative thing, I wasn’t expecting much.
To my surprise, I was immediately charmed. Despite being filmed in 2023, The Holdovers is reminiscent of classic holiday films. Set in December of 1970, director Alexander Payne includes 70’s-esque cinema tactics and visuals, such as the grain on the credits, which roll before the movie begins, or the use of the period accurate logo for Universal Pictures.
If the uniqueness of visuals alone isn’t enough to convince you that this film deserves to be at the top of the list, its subversions of viewer expectations will. In a normal holiday film, the conflicts are very straightforward, and the characters often fall flat. This movie set up viewers to form those conclusions, then forced us to throw them out as we grew to know these characters and their situations on a deeper level. Audiences connect to their troubles and plights, and even get teary-eyed as they form meaningful connections.
The Holdovers is a hidden gem in the world of recent movies, and one of my own personal favorites of all time. Its well worth its two-hour run time and is sure to leave audiences feeling this cozy winter season differently.
This holiday season, whether you plan to host a movie night, or cozy up on your own, the movie you choose will make or break that experience. By grabbing your remotes and choosing one of these five films, you can ensure that movie night lives up to your expectation, while getting a good show at the same time.
