Ten Winter Films to Get Cosy

If you haven’t had enough family drama this Christmas, you can always immerse yourself in the lives of Nora and Agnes, the main characters of Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. In the film, which is nominated in nine categories at the upcoming Oscars, the two sisters cope with the recent death of their mother while trying to repair a broken relationship with their father (played masterfully by Stellan Skarsgård), a brilliant but absent film director, and with a Hollywood actress (Elle Fanning) who has ended up caught up in their particular family dynamic. At a time of year when we are closer than ever to our loved ones, for better or for worse, this story is the perfect choice to help us connect with our feelings.

A quirky, fun, enjoyable watch is Julio Torres’ Problemista (2023), where his dream of becoming a toy designer becomes a harsh milestone to achieve. The cast is even bigger than his dream: Tilda Swinton, Isabella Rossellini, Greta Lee, and rapper RZA join the actor-director in this A24 production.  Under the premise of showing everything an immigrant has to do to obtain a visa in the United States, the film takes us to a world where Craigslist is a demonic entity, you must face a grumpy man who makes you disappear if you do not meet the requirements to extend your visa, and in which your best option to stay in the country and fulfil your dream of being a toy designer is to befriend a very eccentric art critic.

A classic you can’t miss if you call yourself a cinema lover. Rather than being frozen in time, The Shining (1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King’s novel, still feels completely alive as a defining film of its era. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) accepts a peculiar job opportunity with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and their son Danny to take care of a massive hotel isolated in the mountains during winter. The empty building exudes a sinister atmosphere that begins to unravel Jack’s sanity, while Danny witnesses unsettling visions that reveal the mysteries and horrors of this haunting place.

A real film recommendation wouldn’t be complete without at least one great thriller like this one. Fargo (1996), directed by the Coen brothers, is set during a cold, snowy winter filled with bad decisions. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is a desperate car salesman with a ridiculous plan to extort money from his father-in-law: kidnap his own wife for the cash. As the plan goes horribly wrong, a series of absurd crimes make everything even worse. The investigation is led by Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), a smart and highly perceptive pregnant police officer who turns the case upside down and gives us the addictive suspense we all love.

Reconnecting with our inner child is a fundamental part of this time of year, and what better way to do it than with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023). Margot Robbie embodies the iconic doll who has stolen the hearts —and wallets— of children and parents alike, in a universe where the multifaceted doll escapes from Barbieland to the real world. There, she begins to explore and question the rules, expectations, and quirks of her own universe, discovering that life beyond her plastic paradise is full of surprises, challenges, and moments that are as funny as they are thought-provoking.

Talk about having it rough during winter time, the main character of this film makes us all rethink our own problems and put them in perspective. The Revenant (2015), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, shows the harsh story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), a 19th-century frontiersman whose fate changes abruptly after he’s attacked by a bear and left by his companions. Against all odds, he survives and embarks on an extreme journey through a harsh wilderness, driven by survival and a sweet desire of revenge against those who betrayed him. It is one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s most praised performances, for which he finally got the Oscar and several other awards.

Romanticising our lives is the first step to make 2026 a better year. And what’s more helpful than a film about a fairytale with humour, love, and many adventures? The Princess Bride (1987), directed by the late Rob Reiner, follows the story of Buttercup (Robin Wright), a young and beautiful girl who’s been promised to a cruel prince. But Westley (Cary Elwes) comes to the scene as her true knight and only love to rescue her from all sorts of villains. A true romance filled with action and comedy, exactly what we all need right now.

Staying with complicated parental relationships, Winter’s Bone (2010) follows the wonderful Jennifer Lawrence as she faces the difficult task of finding her father, who has disappeared after being released from prison on parole. Along the way, she is forced to confront long-held family secrets and rethink the image she had of her own father. Amid unexpected encounters and tense moments that oscillate between guilt, hope and frustration, Lawrence embodies the struggle of someone trying to rebuild broken ties while facing the harsh reality of a past that cannot be changed but can be understood.

Christmas is a time to reflect on our emotions, to think about New Year’s resolutions and to embrace the ‘new year, new me’ mindset. Yet in Three Colours: White (1994), the second part of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s trilogy, the lead character is not facing a new year; he is facing life after his wife left him and took everything with her. Karol finds himself in Paris knowing very little French (and we all know how unforgiving Parisians can be if your pronunciation isn’t perfect) and must face humiliation, bureaucracy and the most absurd situations in order to regain his dignity and rebuild his life.

After Christmas time, we all feel nostalgia for our childhood and the innocence that came with it. The animated movies we watched as kids hold a very dear place in our hearts, and The Iron Giant (1999) is definitely one of them. Directed by Brad Bird, this science fiction film set during the Cold War tells a story of a boy named Hogarth who discovers a giant robot from space. Despite its size and power, the robot is peaceful and curious. The time they spend together develops into a strong friendship. Of course, the government tries to destroy the giant, seeing it as a threat. The story explores friendship, identity, and moral choice.