You KNOW we love a good holiday movie night around here. That said, what if you just want some cozy winter movies, minus the seasonal pressure? Cuddle up with these magical, mystical, snow-filled picks that are sure to please!
Some of you may be thinking: WHAT? Why would I want to immerse myself in hot chocolate and fireside goodness without the holiday happenings?
Well, lots of reasons.
You may not celebrate Christmas, instead being a Kwanzaa or Hanukkah kinda family. There are lots of good picks out there for folks of all sorts of religious preferences! Or maybe you've had a traumatizing holiday experience and are tired of seeing early Christmas stuff all over the place. I feel ya.
Looking for winter movies to fill that semi-festive film need on a Friday night? Our picks are below!
Wolfwalkers
This newly-released streaming exclusive captures woodsy wonder in beautiful, hand-drawn Irish style. A girl and her father are tasked with helping hunt down a pack of wolves that has taken over the forest near a small town. Amidst their own strained relationship and growing pains, they find something enchanting within those mystical trees.
This is one of those layered tales that your whole family can watching time and time again, taking away something new each time. We got early press access a week ago and the kids have already screened it three times, with a fourth coming up tonight. Find it on Apple TV+.
Groundhog Day
Bill Murray – a jaded weatherman – finds himself trapped, reliving the same dreary February day over and over and over again. Find it on Amazon Prime.
Ice Age
Cute critters surrounded by snow, voiced by Jack Black and Ray Romano? COUNT ME IN. This entire series has been one of the kids' faves over the years. You can currently find the sequel, Ice Age: The Meltdown on Hulu.
Cool Runnings
This wacky true-life tale shares the story of a team of Jamaican bobsledders who have never seen snow – and have their hearts set on Winter Olympic gold. This is widely viewed as one of the best underdog tales in history, and it's a great way to inspire kids who may need some encouragement to go for their goals. Find it on Disney+.
Frozen
Just let it go with this cherished hit featuring Anna, Elsa, an adorable snowman and a dude trying to sell ice during a freak blizzard. Tough gig, man. Available on Disney+.
Call of the Wild
Led by Harrison Ford, this charming tale features a friendly dog who finds himself abruptly transplanted from California to the Alaskan Yukon to serve on a mail-delivery dog sled team in the 1890s. Jack London's classic novel gets a heartwarming rework in this 2020 remake. Find it on HBO Max.
Jingle Jangle
Move over, Santa. Jeronicus Jangle is here in the most fun, festive, musical movie we've seen in years. There's candy! There's toys! There's magic and mischief, oh my! It's being billed as “A Christmas Journey,” but there are no elves or reindeer or gifts. The only real mention of Christmas is from the bank, which is pressuring Jeronicus to come up with a new, fantastical toy idea by Christmas Day – or else he'll lose everything. How Scrooge-like of them.
This non-religious, non-Santa-based tale manages to pass off the entire vibe of the season, without the tales that can cause trouble for families of varying backgrounds. Oh, and on that note, it's wildly refreshing to see a black family celebrating the season on-screen without the usual, tragic tropes that filmmakers tend to reserve for more diverse actors. Find it on Netflix.
Eight Below
Paul Walker stars in this film based on the true story of adventurers fighting for their lives in Antarctica – with the help of their beloved sled dogs. Available on Disney+.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
This C.S. Lewis classic takes viewers into an enchanted winter wonderland when siblings fall through a wardrobe. Can three kids and a magical lion defeat the White Witch? This star-studded cast features the voice of Liam Neeson as the lion, Tilda Swinton as the witch, and more familiar faces such as James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent. Find it streaming on Disney+.
Happy Feet
An adorable penguin learns that sometimes you've gotta stand out in order to find your place in this world. Featuring Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams and more. Find it on Amazon Prime.
Star Wars: A New Hope
Our beloved crew finds themselves in an arctic wonderland. Fun fact: Luke actually met Obi-Wan Kenobi for the Battle of Hoth in a small Norwegian town called Finske. The visuals are the perfect backdrop for The Force. Find it on Disney+.
Ghost of the Mountains
This nature documentary follows snow mountains through the treacherous mountains of Tibet. Find it on Netflix.
Antarctica: A Year on Ice
This cinematic stunner shows an incredible view of life in Antarctica, featuring an in-depth look at life at McMurdo and Scott Base, as well as broad time-lapse looks at the ever-changing scenery of this land of snow and ice. It's streaming on Amazon Prime.
March of the Penguins
Morgan Freeman narrates the sometimes-harrowing tale of penguin life in the Antarctic. Kids and adults alike will be enthralled by the surprisingly challenging lengths that these fascinating animals go to to carry on their lineage. Find it streaming on Hulu.
101 Dalmatians
Adorable spotted dogs dash around in the snow and lead their owners through a sweet, somewhat-complicated journey through love. You can find the original and the live-action remake on Disney+.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
High-strung real estate developer Jim Carrey finds himself the recipient of a bizarre inheritance. Before he knows what's happened, he's surrounded by penguins in his swanky Manhattan duds! Will these arctic pals be able to teach him how to chill out? Find it streaming on HBO Max.
Rise of the Guardians
Classic characters such as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are voices by familiar voices including Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher as the Guardians fight to protect the children of the world. It's ultimately up to Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine) to thwart the plans of Pitch Black (voiced by Jude Law) to overthrow the world. This sweet computer-animation from DreamWorks is set in a fun, fantastical snowy wonderland. It's streaming on HBO Max.
The Snowman
Based on Raymond Briggs' book, this bittersweet short story tells of the incredible relationship between a child and a snowman. Running just under half an hour, it's a great little break for a snowy day. Find it on Amazon Prime.
Snow Buddies
Our favorite team of pups finds themselves racing across Alaska. Jim Belushi and Whoopi Goldberg star. Find it on HBO Max.
Smallfoot
In a world of yetis, one sets out to prove that the mythical creatures known as “humans” actually exist. The adorable, quirky relationship between characters voiced by Channing Tatum, James Corden and Zendaya make this a MUST WATCH. This one has to be purchased on Amazon, but it's worth it.
Abominable
A yeti named Everest enlists the help of some rambunctious kids to get him back to his family. Find it on Hulu.
Miracle
Kurt Russell leads a crew of college kids seeking Olympic gold on this ice. This true-life tale is filled with hockey fun and head-to-head action. It's streaming on Netflix AND Disney+ (weird, I know).
Snow Dogs
A Miami dentist (played by Cuba Gooding Jr) travels to Alaska to claim a mysterious inheritance. Goofy slapstick chaos ensues. It's streaming on HBO Max.
What winter movies is your family streaming this season?