The best movies that take place in winter

Key things

• Manchester By The Sea is an excellent, grounded drama in a snowy setting.
• Frankenstein's Army will appeal to those who love cheesy war horror with creepy creatures.
• The Shining is a classic winter horror film with an eerie, isolated vibe that every horror fan should watch.

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

Films that, with their use of backdrops and locations, can perfectly mediate and immerse the viewer in the season; though it has no real effect on the plot. This list will cover similar films; interesting and good in their own right, but they perfectly represent winter to the extent that looking at a cold image on the screen can make someone feel warm and cozy.

8 The Thing (1982)

Classic Who-Dunnit horror

Those who didn't watch Thing not only will they not come, but they will most likely be pleasantly surprised by the experience, as the film holds up exceptionally well. Set in Antarctica after an archaeological mission uncovers an alien buried in the ice, the film is a suspenseful alien survival thriller/horror with an unusual twist.

You see, the alien in question has the ability to mimic humans, take over humans, and copy memories in order to survive. The film is tense and has extremely good practical effects that still make it strange to this day. If you like 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 film that is part disaster and part science fiction Frostpunk for those who have played it. The plot follows human survivors who use an endlessly moving train to survive the modern Ice Age.

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

6 Manchester By The Sea

A great drama whose setting seems deliberate

Manchester by the sea is an emotional story about a man with a troubled past who suddenly finds himself in the custody of his nephew. The story is dramatic but grounded, it approaches the topic maturely and realistically.

It's a great story and the wintry setting compliments the isolated themes perfectly. It's a mix of cozy and gloomy, where it's too cold for people to exist outside, but the beachy-marine interiors tell a bigger story about what the city can look like in summer. It's unique, especially among dramas, though keep in mind that it can be quite difficult for those who aren't used to movies like this.

5 Frankenstein's Army

War horror

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

Frankenstein's Army is such a cult classic that many who haven't even seen it may be familiar with the things that inspired it. Resident Evil: Village's factory part a Call of Duty: WW2 Zombies mode takes a lot of inspiration from the movie in terms of creature design.

Set at the end of WWII, the film follows a Soviet platoon clearing abandoned Nazi strongholds on their march towards Berlin. The film becomes a fantastic element of the creature when one of these fortresses becomes a laboratory where grotesque experiments take place that cross the line between life and death. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but it plays straight and has some pretty creepy themes and moments.

4 The Shining

A classic with good practical effects

A film that needs no introduction, it is The Shiningbased on the book of the same name by Steven King. It's the story of a family that takes up residence in a hotel that is closed for the season and takes care of it while the main staff are away.

The film slowly creeps into madness as more things are revealed about the hotel through visions and anomalies that taunt the characters. Additionally, it is also a film that makes good use of winter, as the storms and blizzards that occur in the hotel make it impossible for people to move in and out freely, adding to the sense of isolation.

3 Frozen

A really good animated movie

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

This list needed a little lightness and luckily Frozen is able to provide it in all its winter glory. Many are familiar with the popularity of this film (and its sequels), but for those who have not seen it, it must be said that it is not entirely unfounded: Frozen is pretty good for a kids movie.

It's well-paced, well-animated, and has a wide variety of songs that add to the story and atmosphere instead of detracting from it. It's a movie that manages to deal with a lot of themes seriously and avoids a lot 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 when watching it is its aspect ratio, which is 4:3, meaning that much less screen is used than a typical movie. This gives the film a tight and claustrophobic feel that matches the main themes of the film. The story is about a pastor who makes a phone call to a deeply disturbed environmental activist and their pregnant wife, which causes the pastor to reflect on his view of the world and his place in it.

The movie is pretty unpredictable, but to think about why would spoil a lot of what makes this movie so great. If this premise sounds interesting and the audience loves philosophical films, this is a very memorable experience. It's also set in upstate New York, so expect a snowy backdrop—though one's ability to stay cozy may be tested in this movie.

1 The Revenant

A gritty tale of survival

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

Much of the story takes place in the winter and it sells the atmosphere incredibly well. At almost every moment, the story's actors are trying to survive the cold, an oppressive force that is depicted in painstaking detail.