[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in November 2023. It has since been updated with new entries.]
With the fall upon us and the weather slowly cooling down, now is the time to hunker down indoors, surf your TV and streaming platforms, and find some cozy movies to enjoy.
The cozy film is an oft-overlooked and arguably under-appreciated genre, usually lumped into a Venn diagram of classic rom-coms, campy noirs, and coming-of-age tales. Well, the defining traits of a cozy film — aside from chunky sweaters — is just that intangible feeling that all will be right in the world. The plots aren’t too complicated, the aesthetics are warm, and the characters seem to exist to just hang out onscreen alongside the viewer.
The defense of the cozy film label is key not only going into the holiday season, but also to clarify that it is in no way an insult. “The Holdovers” director Alexander Payne slammed the category of coziness as a “nauseating” way to describe his academia-set feature. The film follows a trio of figures at a boarding school that are “holding over” until the New Year, otherwise having nowhere else to go for the holidays.
Payne told Vanity Fair, “‘Oh, it’s like a cozy movie, or a warm hug, or putting on a sweater on a cold day and drinking hot cocoa.’ Part of that nauseates me a little bit. […] I certainly can feel a certain coziness when I watch a Bob Rafelson movie or a Hal Ashby movie from that period,” Payne said. “So on that level, I can understand that. I heard it or read it a couple of times, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it. Whether to be complimented or insulted by it. Not insulted, but you know what I mean.”
So, what makes a cozy film? Below, see our IndieWire picks for the films we deem cozy in addition to being pillars of their respective genres. So snuggle up, turn it on, and indulge in the safety of a sweet story just about being human. Read on for 26 of the best cozy movies of all time. Entries are listed in chronological order.
With editorial contributions from Wilson Chapman.
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“The Big Sleep” (1946)
Image Credit: Everett Collection Bacall, Bogart, what more does one need? Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart reunite in the 1946 Howard Hawks film “The Big Sleep,” based on the novel by Raymond Chandler. Bogart plays detective Philip Marlowe who is hired by a family to resolve a matter of debts; of course, as in many noirs, there is another scheme afoot. Bacall and Bogart’s chemistry is palpable as Bacall’s not-quite femme fatale Vivian Rutledge steers the case into uncharted territories. —SB
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“Clue” (1985)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Tim Curry anchors this genre-defining, hilarious whodunit based on your favorite rainy-day board game as the riddle-telling butler Wadsworth: a slippery figure at the center of a mysterious dinner invite that ends in murder. “Clue” sees six guests using fake names — Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), Mr. Green (Michael McKean), Miss Scarlett (Lesley Ann Warren), and Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull) — racing against the clock to figure out who killed their strange host for the evening. It’s a brilliantly structured, single-location classic that gets cozier as you sink into its winding final act(s) and period-appropriate political kicker. —AF
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‘Moonstruck’ (1987)
Image Credit: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection The most Italian-American film ever made, ‘Moonstruck’ is one of the all-time great romantic comedies. Starring an Oscar-winning Cher and Nicolas Cage as a widow and her fiancé’s brother as they pursue a secret affair, it’s filled with mouth-watering Italian meals, frizzy ’80s hair, and a general sense of hope and love that provides nourishment for the soul. —WC
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“When Harry Met Sally” (1989)
Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection It’s the New York City love story that’s inflicted fake orgasms on helpless diner patrons for years to come, starring a career-best Meg Ryan and searingly funny Billy Crystal. The film icons have a sparkling comedic chemistry that never lets up as two sniping acquaintances warm to each other over a series of chance encounters in Rob Reiner’s “When Harry Met Sally.” Maybe it’s the Harry Connick Jr. soundtrack, the buffet of chunky ’80s knitwear, or all those crunchy scenes in an autumnal Central Park, but this heavyweight of romantic comedy greatness feels essential to any cozy list worth its wagon wheel coffee table. —AF
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“Dead Poets Society” (1989)
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection O Captain, my Captain! The 1989 academia-set tragedy featured a who’s who of A-list talent, including Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Lara Flynn Boyle, and of course, Robin Williams. “Dead Poets Society” follows an unorthodox English teacher (Williams) who inspires his students at a boarding school in 1959 and restarts a quietly revolutionary secret society dedicated to reading poetry. The film won Best Original Screenplay and was also Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. —SB
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“Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
Image Credit: Everett Who says counting sheep is the way to go? It’s best to fall asleep to the sounds of lambs screaming, just ask Clarice (Jodie Foster) in the haunting yet oh so soothing “Silence of the Lambs.” Lather yourself up with lotion per Buffalo Bill’s requests, fire up some gourmet beef (brain?) tartare, and settle in for the best Anthony Hopkins performance of his career. – SB
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“Sister Act” (1992)
Image Credit: Everett Before “Sister Sister” revolutionized the Disney Channel, the true “Sister” franchise was “Sister Act.” The musical crime comedy stars Whoopi Goldberg as lounge singer Deloris who is in the witness protection program and has to pose as a nun to hide out from her mobster ex (Harvey Keitel) after seeing him murder an informant. Maggie Smith, Mary Wickes, and Kathy Najimy play fellow nuns who befriend Deloris and bring a little hallejuah to her predicament. – SB
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“Misery” (1990)
Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Another Rob Reiner film, “Misery” might be more claustrophobic than cozy. But if you’re looking for a deliciously self-contained horror movie that’ll make you grateful for your blanket, this 1990 psychological thriller offers a treasure trove of agonizing scenes steeped in suspense and at least one memorable fact about the Kimberly Diamond Mines. The late James Caan plays Paul Sheldon, an uninspired writer who veers off the road during a snowstorm and inadvertently lands in the clutches of his biggest fan. Kathy Bates won the Oscar for Best Actress as the noxiously saccharine Annie Wilkes. —AF
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“Before Sunrise” (1995)
Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Before “Before Sunrise” spawned a trilogy, Richard Linklater’s exquisite drama begged the question: If you had one night with your soulmate, what would you do? Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy star as star-crossed lovers who meet on a train across Europe and have a magical evening together. The dialogue-driven film, complete with a romantic setting and both stars’ charisma, is an effortless watch, akin to jumping back into a conversation with interesting friends over wine. —SB
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“James and the Giant Peach” (1996)
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection This Roald Dahl adaptation is definitely weirder than you remember, but Henry Selick brings a twisted dark charm to this stop-motion epic about an abused orphan (Paul Terry) and six talking bugs traveling from England to New York City post-World War II in a giant peach. Boasting voice performances from Susan Sarandon, David Thewlis, and more, the transatlantic voyage is punctuated with musical numbers and villainous encounters; Miriam Margolyes and Joanna Lumley are outright terrifying as James’ evil aunts, but “that rhino” will haunt your dreams. —AF
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“That Thing You Do” (1996)
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Tom Hanks made his sparkling directorial debut in 1996 with “That Thing You Do”: a joyous imagining of a small-town band making it big in the ’60s recording industry. Tom Everett Scott, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry play the rising stars, the Wonders, but Liv Tyler steals every scene as girlfriend of the band Faye Dolan. Hanks also appears as the boys’ manager, and you can spot a young Charlize Theron among the supporting cast. The title song will stick in your brain in the best way. —AF
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“Fargo” (1996)
Joel and Ethan Coen’s iconic dark comedy “Fargo” centers on a pregnant Minnestoan police chief (Frances McDormand) who gets caught up investigating a triple homicide. Sure, the snow-covered dreary weather in the crime comedy makes it cozy, but it’s really all the Midwestern accents and blood-soaked crime scenes that make “Fargo” a go-to cold weather rewatch. – SB
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“Love Jones” (1997)
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection The 1997 dramedy about another shot at love deserves to be at the top of any cozy romance list. A photographer (Nia Long) falls for a poet (Larenz Tate) after meeting at a spoken word club. Yet a past relationship threatens to mangle their burgeoning love, and while both characters make mistakes, the Chicago backdrop, the fall weather, and their enduring chemistry just might be enough for the duo to make it. This isn’t a formulaic rom-com; rather, it’s realistic, raw, and above all, romantic. —SB
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“Good Will Hunting” (1997)
Image Credit: ©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won Academy Awards for writing “Good Will Hunting,” and the film remains a classic comfort watch. Gus Van Sant directed the drama, which centers on an MIT janitor (Damon) who is secretly a genius; after a bar brawl, he begins seeing a therapist (Robin Williams, who won Best Supporting Actor for the role). Affleck, Stella Skarsgard, and Minnie Driver co-star.
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‘Practical Magic’ (1998)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection Autumn’s the time to settle down and stay indoors, but it’s also the time to let your hair down and enjoy some midnight margaritas. That’s something you can do with the girls from ‘Practical Magic,’ the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman 1998 vehicle that remains a nostalgic favorite today. The two ’90s stars are splendid together as two sisters in a line of witches who struggle to overcome a curse consigning any man they ever love to an early death. Their sisterly bond makes for a perfectly sweet comfort watch, while Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing bring the comedy as the sisters’ crackling magic aunts. —WC
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“Rushmore” (1998)
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection Wes Anderson’s entire filmography feels fitting for this list, but we’ll cut to the chase and start by recommending his breakout “Rushmore.” Jason Schwartzman breaks out in this cynically sentimental tale of battling love interests as the precocious Max Fischer: a private school scholarship student warring with the older Bill Murray for the affections of a faculty member. —AF
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“October Sky” (1999)
Image Credit: ©MCA/Courtesy Everett Collection A young Jake Gyllenhaal will charm your socks off in 1999’s “October Sky,” director Joe Johnston’s adaptation of NASA engineer Homer Hickam’s memoir. The period film, also starring Laura Dern, among others, brings to life Hickam’s childhood in a coal mining town in West Virginia against the backdrop of the Cold War. —AF
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“Something’s Gotta Give” (2003)
Image Credit: Everett Turtlenecks! Beaches! Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, and Keanu Reeves! There’s nothing as cozy as “Something’s Gotta Give,” Nancy Meyers’ ode to the Hamptons, later-in-life love, and even a dash of a May-December romance. Keaton is an accomplished divorcée who meets her daughter’s boyfriend, an aging lothario (Nicholson). After his heartache, Keaton takes him in…despite also having sparks flying with a local doctor (Reeves). —SB
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“Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003)
Image Credit: ©Touchstone Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Before “Eat, Pray, Love,” Diane Lane ruled Italy as a San Franciscan divorcée who opts to fix up an old villa…as well as mend her heart. The 2003 film features stunningly lush Italian scenery, gorgeous costumes, and picture-perfect aesthetics — all refreshingly without a neat love story for the lead. It’s a cozy reminder that second (third, or fourth) chances are possible as long as you stay true to yourself. —SB
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“13 Going on 30” (2004)
Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Sure, there are no winter coats or obvious coziness to the iconic 2004 rom-com. But Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo razzle-dazzle in the coming-of-age gender-swapped take on “Big.” Garner is Jenna Rink, a 13-year-old who wakes up 17 years later on her 30th birthday. In an effort to figure out her present-slash-future, Jenna seeks out her best friend Matt (Ruffalo) and tries to balance being a “big-time magazine editor” with navigating the unexpected plights of adulthood. The Billy Joel needle drop will make you cry, the love story will make you laugh, and the aspirational friendships will certainly make you feel like you just pulled one of your favorite sweaters across your shoulders. —SB
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“Last Holiday” (2006)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Queen Latifah makes this criminally underrated story of seasonal head trauma directed by Wayne Wang work for her. Georgia is a talented chef working in a department store in Louisiana during the holidays when a workplace accident and malfunctioning medical equipment lead her to believe she is dying — and soon. The typically reserved, responsible type takes off for Europe to blow every last cent she has and stumbles on a corporate drama in the process. —AF
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“Dreamgirls” (2006)
Image Credit: ©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection There’s a warm familiarity to “Dreamgirls” for those who have seen it a hundred times. But even first-time viewers will be susceptible to the glow of writer/director Bill Condon’s triumphant adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. Sure, this is the movie that has the audacity to pretend Beyoncé can’t sing — but it also gave us Jennifer Hudson’s most glorious performance and Eddie Murphy like we haven’t seen him since. —AF
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“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009)
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection “Fantastic Mr. Fox” snuggles into your heart as an animated favorite almost instantly. It’s a defining work for Wes Anderson, about a fox (George Clooney) attempting to rehome his wife (Meryl Streep) and children, that’s set against a gorgeous autumn sky and timeless storybook atmosphere. —AF
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“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
Image Credit: ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection Arguably, every Wes Anderson movie is a comfort watch of some kind, but his sweetly endearing 2012 film “Moonrise Kingdom” has a special quality due to its innocent coming-of-age tale. Set on a fictional New England island, the film follows a young boy (Jared Gilman) who escapes for a Boy Scout camp to meet up with an anxious pen pal (Kara Hayward). Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, and Tilda Swinton star as the adults who seem only to want to keep the young lovers apart. —SB
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“Knives Out” (2019)
Image Credit: ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection There’s a certain library-ness to the eerily comforting “Knives Out”: Rian Johnson’s first installment in the filmmaker’s still-blossoming whodunnit franchise. A cast boasting Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Daniel Craig (and his outrageous accent), and more fill out this murder mystery positively crowded with talent. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and resulted in a sequel in 2022 with “Glass Onion” on Netflix. —AF
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“The Holdovers” (2023)
Image Credit: Seacia Pavao/Focus Features Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” reunites the “Sideways” Oscar winner with Paul Giamatti, who leads the 1970s-set film against the backdrop of an all-boys boarding school. Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa portray the misfits that Giamatti’s teacher character is stuck with through the New Year; together, the trio recognizes the heart of the holidays and the enduring emotion of the chosen family. —SB
