The Venn diagram of wintry movies and Christmas movies does not fully overlap. If you need a break from the festivity but still want the chilling scenery, check out these four wintry movies that have nothing to do with Christmas.
‘Misery’
Adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, Misery follows James Caan as a writer who, after a car accident, is stuck healing in the house of a former nurse, played by Kathy Bates, who’s incidentally his biggest fan. (Bates mind-bogglingly won an Oscar for her performance in this film.) Misery definitely won’t leave you with any of the same warm and fuzzy feelings you get from a Christmas movie. Instead, you’ll feel unsettled and possibly disturbed.
Misery is streaming now on Max and Paramount+.
‘I, Tonya’
Telling the story of Tonya Harding, the figure skater who famously conspired with her ex-husband to hurt rival skater Nancy Kerrigan to further Harding’s career, I, Tonya is a compelling film that’s got plenty of icy scenes. The film garnered an Oscar nomination for Margot Robbie and a win for Allison Janney, but the names without the accolades were enough to signal a movie with stellar performances. Sebastian Stan is in the film, too, rounding out its cast of excellent actors.
I, Tonya is streaming now on Max.
‘Happy Feet’
If you’re after a family-oriented wintry movie, turn on Happy Feet. This animated film – which features voice work from Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and the late Brittany Murphy and Robin Williams – takes place in the cold, but it’ll totally warm your heart. It was a favorite among children when it was released in 2006, and it had such a strong following that it warranted a sequel five years later. Happy Feet Two is available to stream on the same service as the original.
Happy Feet is streaming now on Max.
‘Fargo’
Long before there was Fargo the series, there was Fargo the film, the inspiration for the series. Starring William H. Macey, Frances McDormand, and Steve Buscemi, this Oscar-winning film takes place in snowy Minnesota, and it’ll have you wondering why anyone commits violent crimes in the winter. Once you’ve watched the film, you can binge the Emmy-winning series, which is currently airing new episodes, on Hulu.
Fargo is streaming now on Max and Paramount+.