The Weeknd can’t feel his face. You can’t feel your face, your toes, or your fingers, and you’re fairly certain that your ears now resemble two frozen Jimmy Dean sausage patties. Welcome to winter, everyone! With frigid temperatures approaching the country right now, there’s never been a better time to watch more movies about being cold.
Unless you’re off to Gstaad for a spot of skiing with Mitzi and Lance, there’s really only way to get through the sub-zero temps and slippery surfaces: a good old-fashioned movie night, served up with a roaring fire (okay, a space heater), some warming brandy, and the takeout some poor delivery driver had to bike through a snowstorm to bring you.
Winter, you see, is one of those things that seems better than it is. In films, it’s beautiful and ethereal. In real life, it’s cold and slushy. In films, you might become pals with a talking snowman or at least fling at few snowballs at Bill Murray. In real life, the only winter sport you’re taking part in is falling on your ass on the sidewalk in front of large groups of people.
Long story short: Save yourself the frostbite, pull on those fleece jammies, and enjoy winter through the lens of Hollywood. It’s just so much cozier.
Where: High Uintas Wilderness in Utah, US
Brief Summary: Dr. Ben Bass (Idris Elba) and photojournalist Alex Martin’s (Kate Winslet) plane crashes in the snowy wilderness with one dog and no contact with the rest of the world.
How You Can Tell Its Cold: I mean, do you see Kate Winslet’s breath in that picture?
Is It Cooler Than Cold?: Yes, but as you can imagine, these two characters find a way to…heat things up.
Where: Keelut, Alaska
Brief Summary: Jeffrey Wright plays a writer who goes to Alaska to research what appears to be a wolf abduction.
How You Can Tell Its Cold: The opening frame of the trailer alone features a buffalo standing in front of a car in the dead of winter.
Is It Cooler Than Cold?: Cold enough for Jeffrey Wright to don goggles!Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Where: Portland, Oregon
Brief Summary: A man goes home to search for his missing ex-girlfriend.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: There’s a lot of frigidity in this movie. For one, the main character works for an ice factory while in Portland. Then he trudges through the cold winter to find his ex. Just so much cold weather.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: Ice factory cold!
Where: Lots of skating rinks!
Brief Summary: While from practice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee by an unknown assailant. The people behind the attack ended up being close friends of fellow skater, Tonya Harding. This erupted into a massive media spectacle. I, Tonya aims to tell the story through Harding’s eyes.
How You Can Tell It’s Cold: It’s set during the Winter Olympics in Norway, and there’s ice in the skating rink.
Is It Cooler Than Cool? The plot to wound Nancy Kerrigan is the coldest thing of all.
Where: An American Indian reservation in Wyoming
Brief Summary: A tracker (Jeremy Renner) and a rookie F.B.I. agent (Elizabeth Olson) work together to figure out what happened to a teenage girl who froze to death on the Wind River reservation.
How You Can Tell It’s Cold: Everyone laughs at Olson’s character when she arrives ill-prepared for the winter; every scene has snow in the background.
Is It Cooler Than Cool: In terms of general temperament, many of the characters aren’t cool. They’re prone to violence.
Where: Siberia and St. Petersburg
Brief Summary: Nikolai ‘Kolya’ Rodchenko is a world-famous ballet dancer, and a defector from the Soviet Union. When his plane crashes in Siberia, he’s recognized as a defector and kept in Leningrad, where he and a rival dancer are determined to make it to the American consulate.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Did we mention Siberia in winter?
Is It Cooler Than Cool? It’s Cold War cool.Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock
Where: Earth during apocalyptic “solar winter” as the sun slowly dies.
Brief summary: A few astronauts go off on a last-ditch mission to space to kickstart a dying sun. Things don’t go to plan.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: There’s nothing like a dying sun to put a chill in your spirit.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: This acclaimed sci-fi film flies under the radar. If you’ve seen it, you can add a badge to your “cool person” vest.Fox Searchlight/REX/Shutterstock
Where: Alaska
Brief Summary: Christopher McCandless’s youthful hubris compels him to venture into the Alaskan wilderness and live off the grid. He has ideals and ambition, but inadequate practical planning.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Chris arrives in the summer. But summer in Alaska is fleeting, and winter is always threatening to rear its icy head.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: Perhaps the film’s ending could’ve been avoided had someone told Chris that he didn’t need to move to Alaska in an RV to be cool.River Road/Paramount/REX/Shutterstock
Where: America’s Ozark Mountains
Brief Summary: To spare her family from eviction, an Ozark Mountain teenager must track down her missing father, navigating the bleak terrain of rural poverty.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Jennifer Lawrence wears a hat in every scene.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: There’s nothing colder than operating within a confining societal structure and systematic poverty.Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock
Where: The Western front in France during WWI
Brief Summary: On Christmas Eve in 1914, German, Scottish, and French troops call a moment of truce, share stories of friendship and love, and reach a place of empathy.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: It’s Christmas Eve on a war front with trenches. It’s beyond cold. It’s something much worse.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s too sappy to be “cool,” but it’s not too sappy to be great.Courtesy of Sony
Where: Jamaica and Calgary
Brief Summary: The true story of the Jamaican bobsled team’s first stint in the Olympics.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: When you’re used to the Caribbean, Calgary is just cruel.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: Of course. It’s cool runnings.Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
Where: Knights Ridge, Massachusetts
Brief Summary: Willie Conway (Timothy Hutton) has a 30-something crisis when he comes home for his high school reunion, contemplating his future and spending way too much time with his 13-year-old neighbor (Natalie Portman).
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Figure skating, sweaters, the usual
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chillyPhoto: Moviestore Collection/REX/Shutterstock.
Where: The very snowy Silver Creek, Colorado
Brief Summary: Novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) crashes his car during a snowstorm, and is then held hostage by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). At least she’s got heating.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Lotta snowbanks, lotta shearling
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigidPhoto: SNAP/REX/Shutterstock.
Where: Mountainous, unorganized territory in the Dakotas
Brief Summary: Guide Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to survive a murderous fur trapper, an Arikara war party, and one pissed-off bear.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Dude has icicles forming in his beard.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Kimberley French/20th Century Fox/Regency Enterprises/REX/Shutterstock.
Where: A permanently moving train in a snowy dystopia
Brief Summary: The last remaining members of the human race are split into class groups on a train. The lower class challenges the system.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: The movie itself is pretty blue.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of RADiUS-TWC.
Where: The globe, but mainly New York City
Brief Summary: The apocalypse occurs and the world freezes over.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Everything — including the interiors — of New York City is coated in ice.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold!Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Where: Barrow, Alaska
Brief Summary: The town experiences literally 30 days where the sun don’t shine because of how far north it is. Vampires obviously come out to play.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow, frozen blood, visible breath — you know.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
Where: North Korea, but the chilly parts happen at an ice palace in Iceland.
Brief Summary: James Bond seeks revenge on an agent he believes betrayed him. Things get shaken and stirred.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Well, it has to be pretty chilly to keep an ice hotel from melting.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chilly.Photo: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Where: Maine
Brief Summary: Four telepathic friends encounter aliens while out on a hunting trip in the woods.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Blue tones, snow, and lots of parkas.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Where: Antarctica
Brief Summary: A guide embarks on a treacherous trek to find a meteorite with the help of sled dogs.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: It’s in Antarctica.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice coldPhoto: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures.
Where: Fargo, North Dakota
Brief Summary: Pregnant police chief tries to solve “homespun murder mystery.”
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow, snow, snow!
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Where: Russia
Brief Summary: Russian doctor/poet falls in love with politicians wife despite being married.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: It’s Russia, man.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Where: Suburbs of Chicago
Brief Summary: The good ol’ American family Christmas celebration turns out to be one big ol’ disaster.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: It’s Christmas time outside the Windy City. Expect cold. Oh, and lots of sweaters.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chilly.Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Where: Arendelle
Brief Summary: Princess with magical powers freezes an entire town with her hands.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: The name itself should be a dead giveaway, but you literally watch a town turn to ice.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Disney.
Where: The Andes
Brief Summary: Rugby team tries to stay alive after plane crashes in mountains.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow! Everywhere!
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures.
Where: Alaska
Brief Summary: A wolf pack threatens a group of plane crash survivors being lead by a huntsman through Alaska.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Liam Neeson! Kidding. It’s Alaska.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Open Road Films.
Where: Chicago
Brief Summary: Boy gets stranded at home by clueless family is forced to deal with burglars.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Again, it’s Chicago in the winter.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chillyPhoto: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Where: An Arctic base
Brief Summary: Arctic exploration discovers a Neanderthal in the ice and has to decide what to do when he’s revived.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Well, the man was found in ice…
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios.
Where: Connecticut
Brief Summary: The trials and tribulations of a suburban, well-off family.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Long coats and frigid personalities
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chillyPhoto: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Where: Antarctica
Brief Summary: In a world where soul mates are found through singing, one penguin is born without a singing voice.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Uh, Antarctica?
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Where: Narnia
Brief Summary: Children discover a portal to the magical world of Narnia through their wardrobe and must help defeat the Ice Queen.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Lots of white and snow.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Where: New York City
Brief Summary: Former couple reunites after years of being apart from one another.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: There’s snow and snow in New York means it’s freakin’ cold.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Miramax Films.
Where: Antarctica
Brief Summary: A documentary following penguins on their march to their breeding ground. Morgan Freeman narrates.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Again, it’s Antarctica.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures.
Where: Northern Europe
Brief Summary: Teenage assassin is on the run from an intelligence agency
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Boatloads of fur outfits and scarves.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features.
Where: Mystery, Alaska
Brief Summary: Small town gets a little too excited it was chosen to host a television event.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Um, Alaska…
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures.
Where: Pennsylvania to Delaware
Brief Summary: Ghosts of people who’ve died on a road haunt two college students on their way home.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Wintertime on the East Coast means chilly temps.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chilly.Photo: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures.
Where: Colorado
Brief Summary: Family takes care of haunted hotel during winter. Man goes berserk.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Jack Nicholson’s face freezes at one point.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Where: Minnesota
Brief Summary: Working class friends stumble across a ton of money and try to hide it from the authorities.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Down jackets and beanies.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Where: Syracuse, New York
Brief Summary: School’s canceled due to snow, kids play.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Having grown up in Syracuse, I can vouch how cold it becomes in the snow capitol of the Northeast.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s frigid.Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Where: A galaxy far, far away
Brief Summary: The rebels have taken control of the Empire while Luke Skywalker trains with Yoda. Darth Vader’s pursuit continues.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow, ice, and big, roomy spacesuits.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Lucasfilm.
Where: Antarctica
Brief Summary: Scientists must deal with a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of each person it kills.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Ice, everywhere.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Where: Cold Mountain in provincial North Carolina.
Brief Summary: Despite the name of the movie, this setting isn’t the coldest one on the list. But, the people themselves have cold hearts.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow falls at some point, plus everyone has it out for one another. If only more snow fell to justify their bitterness.
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chilly.Photo: Courtesy of Miramax Films.
Where: Vermont
Brief Summary: A group of performers help a retired army general save his mountain hotel from a bleak season due to the lack of snow. (This is a wild card inclusion, we know.)
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Snow, snow, snow!
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s a lil’ chillyPhoto: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Where: Somewhere during the Ice Age
Brief Summary: A group of animal buds try to return a lost baby to its tribe.
How You Can Tell It Is Cold: Um, it’s the Ice Age. Of course it’s cold!
Is It Cooler Than Cool?: It’s ice cold.Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Where: London, England
Brief Summary: Told via intersecting, but separate stories, London residents attempt to find love during the chilliest time of the year: Christmas.
How You Can Tell Its Cold: It’s Christmas in London! If that wasn’t enough of a clue, the snow and stylish-but-cozy coats should be.
Is It Cooler Than Cold: It’s a lil’ chilly.
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