32 Cozy Movies To Watch On A Relaxing Evening In

As the weather gets colder, cozying up on the couch under a warm blanket to watch a movie starts to feel like the perfect night in. The best cozy films make you feel as warm inside as a cup of hot cocoa. From autumnal favorites to winter classics, these aren’t films with high tension. Instead, they are largely romances, family films, and comedies that give you that fuzzy feeling. The best cozy films can be enjoyed again and again, whether they are familiar favorites or instant classics. So cuddle up, grab the popcorn and settle in because you can’t go wrong with these cozy films.

Top Cozy Movies

What is a cozy movie? Well, it is hard to define. For the purposes of this list, cozy movies have to have a couple of factors to be considered. First, they need to have a happy ending, and generally, they don’t have high-stakes tension. Secondly, they have to take place during or at least have fall or winter themes. This is a bit of a contrivance, but we recently published a list of the best feel-good movies. If you are looking for low-stress films that don’t have winter and fall vibes, that list will cover it.

This definition allows many Christmas, Holiday and Halloween movies to appear on it. However, some are more generally autumnal or wintery. Nostalgia also plays a large role in this list; however, it features films ranging from 1940 to 2023. These films are ranked on two factors: how cozy they are and how good of a film they are overall.

32. Elvira Mistress of the Dark (1988)

Elvira Mistress of the Dark is a campy cult comedy starring Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira. The film follows the titular Elvira as she moves to a small town after inheriting a house. Peterson had already become a cult hit for the LA-based local access show Elvira’s Movie Macabre, where she would host and interrupt B-movie horror and sci-fi screenings in the early 1980s. As a character, Elvira is the epitome of “if you get it, you get it,” and this film is no different.

Directed by SNL’s James Signorelli, Mistress of the Dark didn’t do well at the box office and received mixed-to-negative reviews. The film earned Peterson a Razzie nom for worst actress and a Saturn nom for Best Actress, which strangely makes sense. Having an understanding of comedy, camp and B-movie history is essential here to truly enjoy Mistress of the Dark. The movie is currently streaming on PlutoTV, The Roku Channel and Tubi for free.

31. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a goofy road trip movie with a surprisingly big heart. The film is the rare Thanksgiving classic as it follows a family man desperately trying to make it home for Thanksgiving after being saddled with an annoying travel partner.

Directed by John Hughes, the film stars Steve Martin and John Candy. The film scored 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and was also a box office success. In 2000, Roger Ebert rescored the film, giving it four stars and writing, “Some movies are obviously great. Others gradually thrust their greatness upon us. When ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ was released in 1987, I enjoyed it immensely, gave it a favorable review and moved on. But the movie continued to live in my memory.” It is streaming for free on Pluto TV or with a subscription to Paramount+.

30. Last Holiday (2006)

Last Holiday tells the story of an inverted saleswoman who starts to say yes to life after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. While it has been slightly eclipsed by another 2006 Christmas romance classic, The Holiday, Last Holiday is a surprisingly charming film about taking control of your own happiness.

Directed by Wayne Wang, Last Holiday stars Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Alicia Witt, Giancarlo Esposito and, unfortunately, Gérard Depardieu. The film is based on a British film of the same name, which stars Alec Guinness. Originally, the writers wanted John Candy as the 2006 lead; however, Latifah really made this movie, and it’s hard to imagine it without her. It is streaming for free on Pluto TV or with a subscription to Paramount+ or Amazon Prime.

29. The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

There is a lot of witch media that is arguably cozy, including Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Matilda, and The Craft (to some extent), but one of the most underrated is The Witches of Eastwick. The film follows an informal coven of novice witches that is disrupted when a mysterious man starts to pursue all three of them.

The plot of this film is thin, but the performances are really what make it worth watching. Directed by George Miller, it stars Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Veronica Cartwright. While the film initially received mixed reviews, it was nominated for two Oscars for Best Sound and Best Original Score (for John Williams’ music). It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

28. A Castle For Christmas (2021)

There is no shortage of Christmas-themed rom-coms. Most Hallmark-style Holiday romances (A Castle for Christmas is a Netflix original, but very much still exists in the same genre) aren’t really worth a watch outside of the “so-bad-it’s-good” lens. However, A Castle For Christmas is among the best of the genre.

Directed by Mary Lambert, the film stars Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes. It follows a writer who returns to her deceased father’s small town in Scotland and falls for a curmudgeonly lord who has fallen on hard times. While the film is nothing if not fluffy, the leads have great chemistry, and the film holds up better than some other Netflix Christmas romances. It is available on Netflix.

27. White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas is a bit of an odd movie. The song “White Christmas” was already introduced in the 1942 film Holiday Inn, which follows a very similar plot and also stars Bing Crosby. White Christmas is not a remake of Holiday Inn, but at moments, it feels like it. However, White Christmas is the far more iconic film. White Christmas follows a group of performers who put on a show to save a struggling inn. The film stars Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

While White Christmas has become a holiday classic, it has drawn criticism for its number “Id’ Rather See a Minstrel Show.” While the characters do not don blackface (unlike in a similar number in Holiday Inn), the number is still part of a larger history of racism and blackface in America, which shouldn’t be glossed over. The movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

26. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

This movie should arguably not make this list, given that it isn’t clear what season it takes place in, and the film’s palette doesn’t really invoke winter coziness. However, there is something about it that feels immensely cozy. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris follows a cleaning lady/war widow who decides to use an unexpected sum of money to go to Paris and buy a couture look from the house of Dior.

Directed by Anthony Fabian, the film stars Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo and Jason Isaacs. It’s a sweet film with gorgeous fashion. The film won the BAFTA for costume design and was also nominated for an Academy Award in the same category. It is currently available on Starz.

25. The Best Man Holiday (2013)

While the sequel to 1999’s The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday, doesn’t surpass the original, it is a great comedy that isn’t afraid of also being a melodrama. It features a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long.

The film follows a group of college friends who reunite after 15 years to spend Christmas in New York. The film was directed by Malcolm D. Lee, who also directed the first film. The Best Man Holiday was nominated for four NAACP Image Awards as well as a BET award. It also received a follow-up mini-series in 2021, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The Best Man Holiday is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.

24. Warm Bodies (2013)

Warm Bodies may not actually happen in the fall, but as a zombie movie, it feels very “spooky season.” It follows a zombie who falls in love with a human. It is a very loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet but with a lot more paranormal intrigue.

Warm Bodies was directed by Jonathan Levine and stars Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Lio Tipton and John Malkovich. It is funny, optimistic, and unflinchingly sweet. Hoult’s performance is also impressive as he balances being a deadpan zombie and swoon-worthy romantic lead. If you like this movie, there are several other monster romances worth watching, including 2024’s Your Monster, 2024’s Lisa Frankenstien and 1990’s Edward Scissor Hands. Warm Bodies is available for free on Tubi and Plex.

23. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

There are four movies in the Bridget Jones series, including an upcoming film, 2025’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. However, the first is hard to beat. Bridget Jones’s Diary is a loose modern-day retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The film follows a woman who wants to get her life on track to find love, only to have to choose from two guys.

Directed by Sharon Maguire, the film stars Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant and is based on the Helen Fielding novel of the same name. Zellweger was cast after a two-year search, and while she was phenomenal in the film, her casting was controversial. The film is a British classic; however, some have critiqued it for racism and sexual harassment portrayed as flirting. It is currently available to stream on Max.

22. Hocus Pocus (1993)

There are a couple of children’s Halloween classics that are pure nostalgia, especially for people of a certain age. Classics include Halloween Town, The Witches, Matilda, and numerous made-for-TV specials; Hocus Pocus is among the best. The film follows siblings from Salem who accidentally free three evil witches on Halloween night.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, Hocus Pocus stars Bette Midler, Sarah, Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz and Thora Birch. This film has great Halloween iconography, like black cats, candles, and spooky woods. While it originally was a box office bomb, Hocus Pocus has become a cult classic partially because it was shown on TV in the lead-up to Halloween. Its popularity even led to a 2022 sequel with much of the original cast. The original is a romp that will have you singing “I Put a Spell on You.” It is available to stream on Disney+.

21. Anastasia (1997)

Anastasia isn’t a Christmas movie, but many scenes happen in winter with beautiful snowy animation. The film is about the end of the Romanovs and the escape of the youngest daughter of the deposed tsar. While the film includes a few true-to-life events and characters, it is far more fairytale than history.

Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, the film stars Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer and Christopher Lloyd. While it has been added to the Disney catalog (after Disney purchased 20th Century Fox in 2019), it was the first 20th Century Fox animated feature to be produced by its animation division. The film is currently streaming on Disney+.

20. Dead Poets Society (1989)

Dead Poets Society has a warm glow. While it is a little cheesy, there is something deeply charming about it. Roger Ebert famously panned the film, saying, “I was so moved, I wanted to throw up.” However, it went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards, winning for Best Screenplay—Written Directly for the Screen.

The film is a coming-of-age story set in the late 1950s at an all-male boarding school. It follows a teacher who tries to teach his boys more than just English through his unconventional teaching style. Directed by Peter Weir, it stars Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke and Robin Williams. It is currently available on Hulu and Disney+.

19. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is both a Halloween and holiday classic. Directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, the film follows Jack Skellington as he tries to leave his role as the king of Halloween and co-opt Christmas as part of a midlife crisis. While there are some “scary” scenes and visuals, there is still something cozy about the nostalgic stop-motion animation.

The film stars Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara and Paul Reubens and features an iconic score by Danny Elfman. Many falsely believe that Burton directed it. While he didn’t, it was based on a poem that Burton wrote while working as a Disney animator in the 1980s. The Nightmare Before Christmas has a dedicated cult following and has garnered concerts, spin-off comics, video games, toys, a behind-the-scenes podcast and even a seasonal amusement park ride overlay at Disney’s Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. The film is currently available to stream on Disney+.

18. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

There are a couple of 1940s Christmas movies that are true classics of the holiday genre. It Happened on 5th Avenue usually isn’t mentioned in the same breath as Miracle on 34th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life, but for fans of classic Christmas films, it’s a bit of a hidden gem. The film follows a recently homeless man who finds himself squatting with a drifter and an heiress in an empty mansion. The film is surprisingly anti-capitalist and pro-affordable housing while still being a goofy romantic comedy.

It Happened on 5th Avenue, directed by Roy Del Ruth, stars Don DeFore, Ann Harding, Charles Ruggles, Victor Moore and Gale Storm. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story but lost to Miracle on 34th Street. Notably, the story was initially optioned to Frank Capra and Liberty Films; however, Capra instead decided to direct It’s a Wonderful Life. It Happened on 5th Avenue is available to stream for free on Tubi, Sling TV and Plex.

17. The Addams Family (1991)

The Addams Family might be the spookiest movie on this list, but it’s also kooky, which gives it a cozy feel. While it is aesthetically a Halloween movie, it starts in December with a scene with Christmas Carolers. The Addams Family follows its titular family as a conman infiltrates their house, posing as Gomez Addams’ long-lost brother, Fester.

The Addams Family is based on the comic strip and sitcom of the same name. It both does justice to the existing intellectual property and stands alone as a comedy film by doing cartoonish well. The film walks the line between dark, sexy, goofy and silly. Part of the magic of this film is its performances from Raul Julia, Angela Huston, Christina Ricci and Christopher Lloyd. The New York Times said of the film in 1991, “Making his directorial debut, the excellent cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld… gives the film a visual wit to match its screenplay’s ghoulish gags.” It is streaming for free on Pluto TV or with a subscription on Paramount+.

16. Moonstruck (1987)

Snap out of it! Moonstruck follows a woman who falls for her fiance’s younger brother in Brooklyn’s Italian-American community. Directed by Norman Jewison, the film stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis.

The film was nominated for six Oscars and won three, including Best Actress for Cher. It is a surprisingly nuanced and bittersweet romance film that is also really funny. Roger Ebert wrote of the film in 2003, “I was struck by how subtle and gentle it is, despite all the noise and emotion. How it loves its characters and refuses to limit their personalities to a few comic traits.” It is streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel..

15. Klaus (2019)

Klaus is an animated Christmas film about a postman and Klaus, a reclusive toymaker. It’s a beautifully hand-drawn film that seems destined to become a treasured holiday classic. The film stars Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Joan Cusack and Norm Macdonald (in the final film released before his death in 2021.)

Klaus was disturbed by Netflix and was the first animated film distributed by a streamer to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (alongside 2019’s I Lost My Body, which was also nominated and distributed by Netflix). The film is also the directorial debut of noted Spanish animator Sergio Pablos. It is available on Netflix.

14. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox has a warm orange glow that just feels like fall. Between farms, cider, and burrows, it gives perfect autumnal vibes, and there is no frame in the stop-motion animated film that doesn’t have the color orange. Directed by Wes Anderson, the film follows a fox who must fight back against local farmers to protect his wife and animal friends.

Many of Anderson’s films have a cozy aesthetic but are filled with quiet tragedies. However, Fantastic Mr. Fox feels lighter than many of his films. The film features an ensemble cast (with many of Anderson’s favorites) including George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Owen Wilson. It is currently streaming on Disney+.

13. Practical Magic (1998)

Flip the switch and let the cauldron bubble! Practical Magic is a Halloween romance/fantasy movie about two witch sisters who must use magic to banish an evil ex. The film has a quaint fall atmosphere that is perfect to cozy up to, even with some more horror moments.

The film stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. While some didn’t love its hodgepodge of genres, and it received mixed reviews in its initial release, it has become a cult classic and has been praised for its feminist message. In June 2024, it was announced that a sequel was in the works. It is currently streaming on YouTube TV.

12. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

The Shop Around the Corner follows two shop workers who don’t like each other in person but fall in love as pen pals. The film takes place in the lead-up to Christmas in Budapest and has a dreamy winter feel.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, The Shop Around the Corner stars Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart and Frank Morgan. While the most famous remake of The Shop Around the Corner is 1998’s You’ve Got Mail (which is a cozy classic in its own right), the 1949 Judy Garland-led musical In the Good Old Summertime is another version of the film. It is currently streaming for free on Sling TV.

11. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a Studio Ghibli classic about a young witch who must move to a new seaside town to establish herself where she meets a baker’s wife, a painter, a wealthy older woman and a boy obsessed with aviation. While it isn’t canonically set in the fall, the film feels like a warm hug and given that it is about a witch, it feels appropriate for this list. It explores the themes of independence, vulnerability and a changing world.

The film blends reality and magic seamlessly, creating a beautifully animated world that feels real, nostalgic and imagined. There are several dubs of the film. While the first dub was made for Japan Airlines, a late 1990s Disney dub is the most popular and available. This version stars Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo and Phil Hartman (in one of his final roles). Disney even updated the dub in 2010 to make it closer to the Japanese original. The film is currently available for streaming on Max.

10. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

When Harry Met Sally has a terrible message; the film asks the question, “Can men and women ever just be friends?” and answers it with a decisive “no.” However, if you can get past that, it is the perfect fall romcom, sweaters and all. When Harry Met Sally follows two friends over the course of ten years as they navigate sex and platonic relationships. The film originally ended with the two leads not getting together, but director Rob Reiner changed it to have a more traditional rom-com ending.

Written by Nora Ephron, the film stars Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. The film is remembered for iconic scenes at Katz’s Deli and New Year’s, which will leave viewers wanting what “she’s having.” The film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2022. It is available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play.

9. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland made six films (and one daughter) together, and Meet Me in St. Louis is their most iconic film collaboration. While technically, this film takes place over several months, famous scenes on Halloween and Christmas make it feel like a winter classic. The film follows a family’s life from 1903 to 1904 as they consider leaving, moving and changing relationships during the lead-up to the World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

The film includes several iconic numbers but is probably best remembered for introducing the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” It was nominated for four Academy Awards and currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is streaming for free on Tubi.

8. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

All the Muppets films are feel-good favorites, but the coziest is easily The Muppet Christmas Carol. The film recounts Charles Dickens’s classic novella, A Christmas Carol, however, with Muppets. Directed by Brian Henson, the film stars the Muppets and Michael Caine.

While the film initially received lightly mixed reviews, it has amassed a huge cult following. Part of the magic of this film is Caine’s commitment to playing it straight as Ebenezer Scrooge, even while being surrounded by singing muppets. It is a Christmas classic, and the Guardian even ranked it as the number-one Best Christmas movie in 2023. It is currently streaming on Disney+.

7. Coco (2017)

Coco is a tearjerker but still feels incredibly autumnal and will leave you with happy tears. The film follows a young boy who ventures to the land of the dead on Dia de los Muertos on a hunt for music and family. Coco is a beautiful film that explores generational trauma and the bonds of family.

Coco features an all-Latino principal cast, including Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt and Edward James Olmos. Many of the actors returned for the Spanish-language dub. Coco won two Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The National Board of Review also named it the Best Animated Film of 2017. The film is currently available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

6. The Holdovers (2023)

The Holdovers follows a teacher who is tasked with watching students who stay on the campus of a boarding school over Christmas break in 1970s New England. The film is a beautiful look at loneliness and unlikely friendships.

Directed by Alexander Payne, The Holdovers stars Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa. It received five Oscar nominations and won one: Best Supporting Actress for Randolph. The film’s legacy was somewhat marred by accusations of plagiarism; however, those accusations have also been called into question. The film is destined to be a winter classic, especially for those who like a little winter ennui. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

5. Hugo (2011)

Martin Scorsese’s Hugo is the rare family film from the acclaimed director. The film follows an orphan who lives in a train station in 1930s Paris as he learns about the early history of film and its connection to his deceased father’s automaton.

The film is a love letter to early filmmaking. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, winning five. With its glowing interiors and snowy exteriors, it feels heartwarmingly cozy. The film stars Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloë Grace Moretz and Jude Law. The film blends history with fantasy to make a lovely, imagined period piece. It is available to stream with a Showtime subscription.

4. Little Women (2019)

There are a few good film adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women. However, Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation is arguably the best. The film follows the four March sisters as they navigate life during the Civil War and the years after.

Little Women features an ensemble cast of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper. The film was nominated for six Oscars, winning for Best Costume Design. It is currently streaming on Hulu.

3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street is a Christmas classic. The film follows a career woman who hires the real Santa Claus to work as a department store Santa at Macy’s in New York City. Directed by George Seaton, it stars Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn.

Although the film has been colorized and remade over the years, the original can’t be beat. Miracle on 34th Street won three Oscars but lost Best Picture to Gentleman’s Agreement. It is a surprisingly delightful courtroom Christmas classic that deserves a watch or rewatch during the Christmas season. It is currently available on Disney+.

2. The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant feels like fall. It takes place in October and features a stunning animated color pallet. The art style is inspired by the art of Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper and N.C. Wyeth, which gives it a lot of autumnal tone. The film follows a lonely kid who makes an unlikely friendship with a giant alien robot in 1950s Maine.

The Iron Giant is based on the 1968 Ted Hughes novel The Iron Man, which he wrote for his kids after the death of their mother, Slyvia Plath. The director of the film, Brad Bird, also used the film to work through tragedy as he was coping with the murder of his sister. The film is a beautiful, heartwarming, and deeply anit-gun film. The Iron Giant stars Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Vin Diesel as the robot, and it has a score from the Czech Philharmonic. It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

1. ​​​​​​It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” While It’s a Wonderful Life is usually remembered for just the final 20-ish minutes, the film has a lot more going on in its over 2-hour run time. The film follows the life of George Bailey, a man who’s disappointed with his small-town life not going to plan, as a disappointing Christmas Eve leads him to consider suicide.

Directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, It’s a Wonderful Life received mixed reviews upon its release. Organizations like the FBI saw it as unAmerican due to its possibly communist message (though “goodwill towards fellow man” and helping the poor during the Christmas season shouldn’t have been controversial). While it was nominated for five Oscars, it didn’t gain popularity until a copyright issue led to the film being shown often on TV during the holiday season. It’s a Wonderful Life is currently streaming for free on the Roku Channel, Plex and Amazon Prime.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for something warm and heartwarming, these films are the perfect choice for a cozy night in.