Everyone has their own movies they love to cozy up with in the winter, but there are a few staples that should undeniably be on the top of everyone’s list. From holiday cheer to happy endings, here are three movies that are perfect for capturing that festive season, while still following a wonderful plot line.

If you are looking for a comedy that tugs your heartstrings and is perfect for the winter, there is none better than Home Alone. The movie follows eight-year-old Kevin McAllister as he has to spend his Christmas time alone. In the holiday rush and race to get to the airport, his family accidentally leaves him at home. While Kevin’s parents, cousins, aunts and uncles are all on their way to Paris, he’s home alone fighting off burglars and facing his fears. The movie perfectly encapsulates the chaos that the holiday season brings and the magic that comes along with it. The movie is genuinely hilarious with every rewatch filled with Easter eggs to keep finding over the years. The burglars falling for Kevin’s antics brings a comedic element that moves the movie in such a way that is fast-paced but still cozy. The warm, emotional ending ties it all together, making you want to revisit this heartwarming movie and watch it again. 

Another winter movie staple is Love Actually. This rom-com follows nine parallel relationships leading up to Christmas. Each character is so full of depth and makes this experience so much more enjoyable. The recently elected prime minister, David, has fallen for his new secretary making for an awkward, yet sweet romance. Karen grapples with the realization her husband, Harry, might be cheating. Jamie, a young man looking for love, escapes to America to find the one but ends up with someone he didn’t expect. The film also follows Sarah, who’s torn between love for her coworker Karl and caring for her mentally ill brother, and Mark, who struggles with his secret love for his best friend’s wife Juliet. Daniel helps his son pursue his first crush as they navigate the world without a wife and mom, respectively. A once famous rockstar, Billy, attempts a Christmas comeback. They all experience the holiday season differently, some patching their love stories, some trying to create a new one, and some helping others to make their own. Each relationship that the movie explores contains different emotions and situations, yet they are all explored thoroughly. Most of the characters get their happy endings, and all the characters are satisfied with their final stance when the movie finishes. Each story is filled with emotional turmoil, new and rekindled feelings, and most of all, the true meaning of love. 

While there are so many versions of this movie, Little Women (1994) is arguably the most “winter” of all the Little Women editions. Something about Winona Ryder as Jo March, the independent and rebellious protagonist, and Christian Bale as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence just strikes as holiday season. Laurie is the March’s rich neighbor who becomes an important plot point by helping drive Jo and Amy apart. The majority of the movie takes place in the wintertime and follows the March sisters through their life. The sisters navigate through financial issues, romantic competition, and family tragedies. Focusing mainly on Jo’s life as a forever-single, hardworking woman, the movie explores how her ideals clash with those of her mother’s. As a single mother, Marmee raises her four daughters on a tight budget, yet they are all still content as a family. Laurie, who is in love with Jo, slowly moves his feelings to one of her sisters, Amy, after her constant rejection, sparking a fight between Jo and Amy. The movie continues to explore the complexities of family, emotions, and how class and gender change opportunities. While still carrying such profound takeaways, the movie has a warm vibe that brings winter to mind.

Everyone enjoys their own tastes, but there are some movies that always bring joy and comfort no matter what the viewer prefers. While there are so many fabulous winter movies that call for a blanket and a late night, this selection is clearly at the top of that list.