Winter Movies

With winter break right around the corner, the first thing I want to do when I get home from school is watch movies on my couch with a big cozy blanket. There’s just one problem. I feel like I’ve watched every holiday movie 100 times, I’m well versed, and there’s no need for me to watch them again. So I’m always looking for movies set during winter that still have that same cozy feeling, but aren’t about Santa or some Christmas fiasco. If you feel the same, here are 3 of my favorite winter movies that you should watch instead this winter. 

1: While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping is a completely underrated rom-com with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. The plot follows a woman named Lucy saving a man’s life, one she has admired from afar but never spoken to, and after a mixup at the hospital, she is said to be his fiancee. The injured man, Peter’s, family completely accepts this, and Lucy finds herself unable to tell everyone that this is untrue. Peter can’t remember his previous life and can’t disprove this either, and they end up in a whirlwind romance. Lucy, filled with guilt, falls in love with someone else. Wintertime in Chicago is something so special to many of us Champaign natives, and While You Were Sleeping is the cutest representation of that feeling. 

2: Little Women

Little Women is a complete classic with many teenagers, as is everything by Greta Gerwig, and is set in the coziest New England cottage, where much of the story takes place in winter. The story of 4 sisters navigating life without their father, who is away at war, and learning about how much can be enjoyed in life even without ample amounts of money. This is a must-watch period piece, with elegant costuming and classic winter scenes. The sisters go to balls, ice skate, and attend to the less fortunate in their stunning winter gowns. While there is a lot of talk about Christmas, it’s not the main focus of the movie and is only prevalent in the first half of the movie.

3: Knives Out

Knives Out is not a classic holiday tale but is the epitome of a comfort movie. The entire thing is set during the winter, and that is used to its advantage. The story follows Marta, a housekeeper and caretaker, and how she deals with the aftermath of the death of her client. His family is full of resentment towards her, and detectives believe it to be a murder, which leads to an intense investigation of the family and the events of the night he passed away. There is a police chase, a burning building, and major plot twists to keep you on edge.