Georgia, the weather forecast came true: an actual snow day. While the rest of the country might roll their eyes at a few flakes, we know these rare winter moments are pure magic in the South.
As flights are canceled, schools close and everyone works “remotely,” it’s the perfect time to embrace our inner snow angel with winter-themed movies.
Whether you’re curled up with hot chocolate, wrapped in a cozy blanket or watching your neighbors ski down Peachtree, these films will make your Atlanta snow day even more memorable
Perfect for kids
- “Frozen” — Disney’s musical phenomenon about sisterly love featuring songs like “Let It Go” and a lovable snowman named Olaf.
- “Happy Feet” — A young penguin who can’t sing finds a way to express himself through tap dancing in this heartwarming animated tale.
- “Ice Age” — A woolly mammoth, sloth and saber-toothed tiger form an unlikely friendship while returning a human baby to its tribe.
- “Snow Dogs” — Cuba Gooding Jr. inherits a team of sled dogs in Alaska, leading to fish-out-of-water hilarity.
- “Monsters Inc.” — Lovable monsters Sulley and Mike discover that a child’s laughter is more powerful than screams in this Pixar classic.
Heartwarming holiday classics
- “Groundhog Day” — Bill Murray stars as a weather forecaster who keeps reliving Feb. 2 until he learns to become a better person.
- “The Holiday” — Two women swap homes during Christmas and find unexpected romance, featuring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.
- “Bridget Jones’s Diary” — Renee Zellweger navigates love and life in London, with winter serving as the backdrop for her charming misadventures.
Winter thrills and chills
- “Wind River” — Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen investigate a murder on a snowy Native American reservation in Wyoming.
- “The Thing” — Kurt Russell leads a research team facing a shape-shifting alien in Antarctica in this horror masterpiece.
- “The Shining” — Jack Nicholson’s descent into madness at the isolated Overlook Hotel creates an unforgettable winter nightmare.
Olympic dreams and ice queens
- “Cool Runnings” — Based on the true story of Jamaica’s first bobsled team, this uplifting comedy captures the Olympic spirit.
- “Miracle” — Kurt Russell portrays Coach Herb Brooks in the incredible true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
- “Ice Princess” — Michelle Trachtenberg stars as a science geek who discovers her passion for figure skating.
True tales of survival
- “Touching the Void” — A harrowing documentary about a climber’s fight for survival in the Peruvian Andes.
- “Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche” — Chronicles the tragic avalanche and miraculous rescue at a Lake Tahoe ski resort.
- “The Crash Reel” — Documents snowboarder Kevin Pearce’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury and his journey back to the sport.
- “Everest” — Based on the 1996 disaster where eight climbers lost their lives on the world’s highest peak.
Family friendly winter magic
- “Chronicles of Narnia” — Four siblings step through a wardrobe into a magical world where it’s always winter but never Christmas.
- “Harry Potter” series — Hogwarts in winter provides some of the most magical moments in the series, from snowball fights to the Yule Ball.
- “The Wizard of Oz” — It’s not strictly a winter film, but it does snow during the poppy field scene. With “Wicked” now released, it’s the perfect time to watch the iconic film that started it all.
Artful tales
- “The Holdovers” — Paul Giamatti shines as a prep school teacher stuck on campus with a troubled student during Christmas break.
- “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” — Robert Altman’s masterpiece uses the harsh winter frontier as a backdrop for this classic Western.
- “Fargo” — Frances McDormand investigates quirky crimes in snow-covered Minnesota in this Coen Brothers classic.
- “Winter’s Bone” — Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout role as a young woman searching for her father in the harsh Ozark winter.
- “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet’s story of a relationship that unfolds against the backdrop of a wintry New York.
Comedy in the cold
- “Coming to America” — Eddie Murphy’s African prince experiences his first New York winter while searching for love.
- “Snow Day” — A surprise snowstorm shuts down school, and a group of students hijack a plow to keep it closed.
- “Blades of Glory” — Will Ferrell and Jon Heder play rival figure skaters forced to compete together in this outrageous comedy.
