Wintertime evokes imagery of crackling fireplaces during chilly nights. However, in Southern California, where the snow is sparse and the cold nonexistent, movies can be used to create those feelings instead. So here are five films to enjoy this winter, varying in genre, style, and aesthetic!
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” directed by Wes Anderson
This whimsical little adventure set in the fictional country of Zubrowka starts when an old woman (Tilda Swinton) dies and leaves an infamous painting in the hands of an affectionate hotelier, M. Gustav (Ralph Fiennes), and his beloved bellboy Zero (Tony Revolori).
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a lively jaunt through a literal winter wonderland, full of light comedy and mysterious intrigue. Perhaps the gentlest crime film to ever grace the industry, this movie is perfect for anyone who wants to get sucked into a fantastical world of pastel colors and enjoy a light-hearted story of love, art, and heists.
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is available on Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol” directed by Brian Henson
Who doesn’t love The Muppets?! “The Muppet Christmas Carol” follows the traditional story with a delightful, puppet-y twist narrated by everyone’s favorite purple thing, Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat. Michael Caine (the only human in the cast) plays an ever-grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge, and seeing his transformation into a kind and loving old man is heartwarming.
Filled with delightful original Muppet songs, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” frolics through a wintry London that one can only dream of visiting, spreading an important message to remember around this time of year: the only way to enjoy the holidays is to be accosted by a bunch of Muppets who think they know better than you. (They do.)
“The Muppets Christmas Carol” is available on Disney+ and Hulu.
“Murder on the Orient Express” directed by Kenneth Branagh
As cozy as snow and winter can be, there is also a sinister side to the season worth exploring. The “Murder on the Orient Express,” is an adaptation of the 1934 Agatha Christie novel of the same name.
This movie features Kenneth Branagh as the famous detective Hercules Poirot alongside a star-studded cast (including Johnny Depp, Dame Judi Dench and Willem DeFoe). Although not the best murder mystery movie ever made, “The Murder on the Orient Express” is still enjoyable, thanks to the framework laid by the original author, Ms. Christie herself.
“The Murder on the Orient Express” is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
“Die Hard” directed by John McTiernan
Regardless of the ever-ongoing debate about whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, it’s hard to deny that it is a very good action movie. Starring Bruce Willis as Detective John McClane and Alan Rickman as criminal mastermind Hans Gruber, this movie is filled with high stakes and suspense.
An absolute staple to the genre, “Die Hard” has cemented itself as an influential film, inspiring countless references and parodies. If you want to have a murder-ry little Christmas, this movie is perfect, complete with one of the most famous phrases to ever come from pop culture, “Yippee-ki-yay…!”
“Die Hard” is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
So grab a warm drink, a tub of popcorn, and the remote to your TV and enjoy these movies this winter.
