8 Best Movies That Take Place in Winter

Many movies are known as being seasonal: being created to be enjoyed around a certain holiday or time of year. Things like the Christmas movie genre may come to mind, or movies like Trick-r-Treat or Halloween that capitalize on the aesthetics and visuals associated with a certain time of year. But there are many movies that achieve this without that explicit tie to any holiday or event.

Movies, which through their use of sets and locations, can perfectly convey and immerse a viewer into a time of year; even if this has no real effect on the plot. This list will look at movies like that; interesting and good in their own right, but perfectly represent winter to the point where looking at the cold visuals on screen can make someone feel warm and cozy in its juxtaposition.

8 The Thing (1982)

Horror Classic Who-Dunnit

Those who haven’t watched The Thing are not only missing out but will most likely be pleasantly surprised by the experience, as the movie holds up extremely well. Taking place in Antarctica after an archeological mission unearths an ice-entombed extra-terrestrial, the movie is a tense thriller/horror about surviving an alien with a whodunnit twist.

See, the alien in question has the ability to mimic people, take over people, and copy memories to survive. The movie is tense and has extremely good practical effects that make it freaky to this day. If you are into mysteries, sci-fi horror, or are a fan of social deduction games, give this movie a try.

7 Snowpiercer

Dystopian Action

Snowpiercer is a dystopian movie that’s part disaster movie and part sci-fi, think Frostpunk for those who have played it. The plot follows human survivors who use an infinitely moving train to survive a modern ice age.

The train, called The Snowpiercer, has its own societal rules where those closer to the engine room have better living conditions than those at the caboose. The main plot focuses on this the most, with the film tonally being similar to The Hunger Games series for those who are a fan of that style of storytelling.

6 Manchester By The Sea

Great Drama Whose Setting Seems Deliberate

Manchester by the Sea is an emotional story about a man with a troubled past who suddenly gets custody of his nephew. The story is dramatic, but grounded, approaching the subject matter maturely and realistically.

It’s a great story, and the winter setting perfectly complements the isolating themes. It’s a mix of cozy and dreary, where it’s too cold for people to exist outside, but the beachy-nautical interiors tell a bigger story of what the town may look like in the summer. It’s unique, especially among dramas, though be warned it can be quite heavy for those not accustomed to movies like this.

5 Frankenstein’s Army

A Horror War Movie

• Director: Richard Raaphorst
• Release Date: July 26, 2013

Frankenstein’s Army is a cult classic, so much so that many of those who haven’t even seen it may be familiar with things that inspired it. Resident Evil: Village’s factory section, and Call of Duty: WW2’s Zombies mode pull a lot of inspiration from the film in terms of creature design.

The movie takes place at the end of World War 2 and follows a Soviet platoon clearing abandoned Nazi strongholds on their march toward Berlin. The movie becomes a fantastic creature feature when one of these strongholds turns out to be a lab home to grotesque experiments that straddle the line between life and death. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but it’s played straight and has some pretty creepy themes and moments.

4 The Shining

A Classic With Good Practical Effects

A movie that shouldn’t need any introduction is The Shining, based on the Steven King book of the same name. It’s the tale of a family who is settling into a hotel that’s closed for the season, taking care of it while the main staff are gone.

The movie is a slow creep toward madness as more things are revealed about the hotel through visions and anomalies that taunt the characters. On top of this, it’s also a movie with good use of winter, as the squalls and blizzards that occur at the hotel make it impossible for people to move in or out freely, adding to the feeling of isolation.

3 Frozen

A Genuinely Good Animated Movie

• Director: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck
• Release Date: December 20, 2013

This list needed some levity, and thankfully Frozen is able to provide that in all of its wintery glory. Many are familiar with this movie’s (and its sequel’s) popularity, but it should be stated for those who haven’t seen it that this isn’t completely unwarranted: Frozen is quite good for a kid’s movie.

It is well-paced, well-animated, and has a wide range of songs that add to the plot and atmosphere instead of being distracting. It’s a movie that is able to tackle a lot of themes earnestly and dodges many of the tropes that typically plague princess movies.

2 First Reformed

A Deeply Disturbing Drama

• Director: Paul Schrader
• Release Date: May 18, 2018

The first and most recognizable part of this movie upon viewing is its aspect ratio, which is 4:3, meaning a lot less of the screen is in use than a typical movie. This gives a tight and claustrophobic feel to the film that coincides with the film’s main themes. The story is about a pastor making house calls to a deeply disturbed environmental activist and their pregnant wife, which causes the pastor to reflect on his perspective of the world and his place in it.

The movie is quite unpredictable, but going into why would spoil much of what makes this movie so great. If this premise sounds interesting, and viewers love philosophical movies, this one is a very memorable experience. It also takes place in upstate New York, so expect a snowy backdrop—though, one’s ability to stay cozy during this movie may be tested.

1 The Revenant

A Gritty Story Of Survival

The Revenant is interesting in that it is first and foremost about survival in the literal sense. Many scenes are simply about surviving, whether the movie follows the main character of Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, or someone else. The movie is more about the concept than any one character in particular. Readers familiar with Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West will understand this style of storytelling though the two are thematically opposites.

Much of the story takes place in the winter, and it is incredible at selling the atmosphere. Nearly every moment the actors in the story are attempting to survive the cold, an oppressive force that is shown in painstaking detail.

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