Cozy Movies to Recharge Amid the Holiday Chaos

During this time of year, there’s no shortage of listicles featuring holiday-themed comfort movies to watch. Yes, The Muppets Christmas Carol is a classic if you adore a Dickens x puppets crossover, Love Actually is worth a hate-watch especially if you read Lindy West’s brilliantly hilarious essay “I Rewatched Love Actually and Am Here to Ruin It for All of You” afterward, and some people do consider Die Hard a Christmas movie for action buffs (a debate for another time).

But we don’t want to limit this list to Christmas-themed movies only. We’re here to recommend the films that make us feel like we’re being wrapped in a warm blanket and handed a mug of hot cocoa with extra marshmallows, because that’s what we all need when fascism is on the rise, inflation is out of control, and our social batteries have been overtaxed from too many holiday parties. 

Animated and Children’s Favorites 

To bring out our inner children, it’s often best to return to the animated classics that soothed us when we were wee ones. Here are some that always bring us joy: 

• • My Neighbor Totoro – All the Ghibli films are pure magic, but this one strikes at the heart of what it feels like to savor childlike wonder in the mundane. 
  • One Hundred and One Dalmatians – Incredible animation, unforgettable songs, and alllll the puppies. What’s not to love? Plus, if you’re looking for a Wikipedia rabbit hole to fall down, might we recommend the insanity that is the novel’s sequel, in which the dogs of London avert nuclear war? 
  • The Secret of Kells – If you love an illuminated manuscript, this one’s for you. Plus, there’s a sassy cat!  
  • Paddington – The whole Paddington series is imbued with charm and some of the most idiosyncratic, fun baddies (in this case, Nicole Kidman as an evil taxidermist) we’ve ever seen. 
  • Anastasia – Who doesn’t love the idea of being a secret princess? Top that off with solid animation and one of the most beautiful songs from a movie with Once upon a December.
  • Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) – From the four grandparents in one bed, to the psychedelic mind-fuckery of the paddleboat on the chocolate river, Gene Wilder punishes rotten children and their horrible parents in a way that we can only dream of today.
  • PeeWee’s Big Adventure – Featuring hundreds of quotable lines, genius set design and costumes, jokes that stand the test of time, and the wonderful Paul Reubens, this modern retelling of Odysseus taught me that there is no basement at the Alamo. 

Escaping in Time 

When the horrors of the present day are just a tad too intense, might we recommend a period drama? There’s something eminently soothing about diving into a world where no one has a smartphone. 

• Little Women – Difficult to choose a specific version, but let’s go with the most recent Greta Gerwig adaptation of this classic tale of sisterhood. 
• The Secret Garden – Did this movie give us unrealistic expectations about someday having our very own walled gardens? Yes. 
• In the Mood for Love – If you’ve never watched a Wong Kar-Wai movie, we’re jealous that you’ll get to experience the sumptuous, quiet devastation of his filmmaking for the first time.  
• Enola Holmes – She may be famous for Stranger Things, but we’re especially partial to Millie Bobby Brown’s plucky detective heroine who learned everything she knows from her eccentric mother (played by Helena Bonham Carter, of course). 
• The Mummy – We’re not here for the historical accuracy. We’re here for the insanely attractive cast and a good old-fashioned treasure hunting movie where ancient tombs are built like escape rooms, complete with perfectly crafted puzzle piece “keys.”
• Blast from the Past – If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a bunker with Sissy Spacek and Christopher Walken, or wondered, “where have all the good men gone?” (psst…underground) check out this homage to 90s dating woes and 60s cold-war terror. 
• Interstellar – Visit four planets, a space station, and save Matt Damon (again) in three hours over a century. Come for the stunning visuals and mind-blowing effects, and leave reassured that the fate of humanity in Anne Hathaway’s capable hands.

Kabooms Are Cozy Too

Sometimes, what feels cozy and comforting isn’t all crafting, cats, and vintage costuming. We also like to return to familiar worlds and the characters we call friends – even if they come with explosions and fight sequences. 

• Birds of Prey – This one’s a comfort watch because the music + Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn + the well choreographed dance/fight sequences spikes our dopamine every time. 
• Miss Congeniality – Featuring Sandra Bullock at her most charming (and badass) and an unforgettable Heather Burns as Miss Rhode Island, this movie always reliably brings laughter and warmth. 
• Spy – Spy is surely one of the best action comedy movies of all time, with every single actor at the top of their game. Melissa McCarthy is a treasure, yes, but Rose Byrne and Jason Statham also kill it with their comedic timing.
• The Italian Job – Thieving, family drama, cute cars and a great cast. Perfect for that bowl of popcorn and blanket on a cool, gloomy afternoon.
• Gone in 60 Seconds – Rooting for the bad guys has never looked and sounded so good. Amazing cars and a killer soundtrack make this a fun movie to rewatch over and over again.
• The Transporter – A man who is always on time, keeps his car clean, and knows how to scuba and fight human trafficking. Who knew Jason Statham’s catalog of work was so admired on Spinster’s Row!

Unrealistic Expectations

We know they aren’t realistic, but is that really why we watch movies? These are some of the movies that gave us unrealistic expectations of life, love, and happiness.

• Sweet Home Alabama – Talk about an escape from the real world! Changing your name, becoming a fashion designer and needing to get a divorce before you can get married already makes this a comedy of errors, but then the idea of ending up back with your childhood sweetheart…ok sure.
• Pretty in Pink – All it takes to get your ne’er-do-well father to put down the bottle and get a job is a little nagging and a hot cup of coffee. And you can win the heart of the cutest, weakest-chinned boy in school through radical authenticity. Look away while she destroys a gorgeous retro gown to make one of the world’s ugliest dresses. 
• 10 Things I Hate About You – If you are of a certain age, you wanted to be either Bianca or Kat when you grew up. Since you’re on Spinsters Row, we’ll assume you wanted to be Kat.
• Xanadu – Did you grow up thinking your adult weekends would be spent roller-discoing in gold lame jumpsuits with your artist boyfriend, while Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton John performed on the main stage? Watch for the amazing clothes and time travelling soundtrack featuring ELO. 
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We hope this helps you break out of the endless cycle of browsing through streaming service catalogues and brings you some joy, escapism, and laughter during and after the holidays. Happy watching and let us know if we missed any of your favorite comfort movies!