The 25 Most-Anticipated Winter Movies For 2023-2024
Chloe Williams serves as B+C’s Assistant Editor, entertainment lead, and resident Taylor Swift expert. Whether she’s writing a movie review or interviewing the stars of the latest hit show, Chloe loves exploring why stories inspire us. You can see her work published in BuzzFeed, Coastal Review, and North Beach Sun. When she’s not writing, Chloe’s probably watching a Marvel movie with a cherry coke or texting her sister about the latest celebrity news. Say hi at @thechloewilliams on Insta and @popculturechlo on Twitter!
After we've binged all the best TV shows and fall movies coming to our screens, it's time for this year's new winter movies. When it gets cold enough, all we really want to do is curl up with a mug of tea and dive into all kinds of different stories. These cozy picks will turn into comfort movies before long, and with themes of family, friendship, and love (plus holidays — you really can't leave out the holidays), you'll want to watch these winter movies over and over again.
Candy Cane Lane — On Prime Video December 1
When Chris (Eddie Murphy) makes a deal with elf Pepper (Jillian Bell) to win the annual neighborhood Christmas decor contest, Pepper brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life with a single spell. Now it's up to Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their kids to break the spell and save the holidays.
The Sweet East — In Select Theaters December 1
Do Revenge's Talia Ryder, The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, and Priscilla's Jacob Elordi are back in this wacky film from Utopia Pictures. The film follows high school senior Lillian (Talia), who experiences the real world for the first time when she's separated from her class on their Washington D.C. school trip. She soon meets a variety of different factions who are all living in their own alternate realities.
The Shepherd — On Disney+ December 1
This short film follows Freddie, a young Royal Air Force pilot (Ben Radcliffe) who must fly across the North Sea on Christmas Eve...and ends up losing his radio and power. All looks lost until a mysterious man (John Travolta) comes to help him.
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé — In Theaters December 1
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Concert Film isn't the only concert you'll be able to see in theaters. Relive the Renaissance Tour with RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ, too! "Be careful what you ask for, 'cause I just might comply," she says in the official Instagram announcement. We really can't wait for this one.
Waitress — In Theaters December 7
Pie-maker and waitress Jenna (Sara Bareilles) is stuck in an unfulfilling marriage in a small town, but dreams of winning a baking contest that will allow her to escape to a nearby city. When she learns that she's pregnant, Jenna has to rely on her best friends, and a handsome new town doctor, to confront her fears head-on. Watch our red carpet premiere interviews here!
Eileen — In Theaters December 8
Starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie, this winter movie follows Eileen, who's working at a prison in 1960s New England. When a new, glamorous counselor arrives, they become fast friends before their relationship quickly turns sinister.
Your Christmas Or Mine 2 — On Prime Video December 8
In the follow-up to one of last year's best Christmas movies, Your Christmas Or Mine 2 once again finds James (Asa Butterfield) and Hayley (Cora Kirk) in the middle of a *very* chaotic holiday. Their families are spending Christmas together, but after a transportation mixup, the families wind up at each other's stays...on opposite sides of the valley.
Leave The World Behind — On Netflix December 8
The Sandford and Scott families are vacationing on Long Island when they learn about a dangerous blackout — and have to make plans to survive. Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha'la star.
Poor Things — In Theaters December 8
You've never seen Emma Stone like this before. In Poor Things, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Emma plays Belle, who's brought back to life by a scientist...and then decides to join a lawyer on the adventure of a lifetime.
Wonka — In Theaters December 15
Wonka follows the titular character as he uses his own brand of magic (and chocolate) to make the world a better place. Not only is this moving going to be upbeat and very fun, but we're also pretty sure Timothée Chalamet's "I'm makin' chocolate 'o course" has already been immortalized on TikTok.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget — On Netflix December 15
If there's one thing I was not expecting for 2023, it was a Chicken Run sequel. In this film — which stars The Last of Us actor Bella Ramsey, Thandiwe Newton, and Zachary Levi — Ginger is finally at peace with her family in a bird sanctuary. But when a new evil threatens their safety, Ginger and her team have to come up with a plan to get to the mainland.
Maestro — On Netflix December 20
Directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, Maestro follows the lifelong relationship between American conductor Leonard Bernstein (Bradley) and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). This biopic is a gripping and emotional look at art and love, and the way they intertwine.
Anyone But You — In Theaters December 22
Call all rom-com watchers! If you're an enemies-to-lovers stan, or a sucker for fake relationships, this Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney movie is a must-see. Anyone But You follows two arch-nemeses who haven't seen each other since their college graduation. But when they reunite for a destination wedding, they have to pretend to be lovers.
American Fiction — In Theaters December 22
Jeffrey Wright stars as novelist Monk, who's had it with how Black communities are represented, and how the entertainment industry profits off of them. He decides to write his own book under a pen name, and ends up discovering much more about himself than he anticipated.
Memory — In Select Theaters December 22
In Memory, Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard's Sylvia and Saul are deep in love, but they must overcome past trauma as they try to strengthen their relationship. The film also stars Merritt Weaver and Elsie Fisher.
All of Us Strangers — In Theaters December 22
Screenwriter Adam (Andrew Scott) and his neighbor Harry's (Paul Mescal) encounter feels like fate. The closer they get to one another, the more Adam feels drawn to his childhood home where his parents appear to still be living. The only problem? They died 30 years ago.
The Color Purple — In Theaters December 25
This classic film is getting a musical adaptation this Christmas. Featuring original music from Halle Bailey, and starring Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, and H.E.R., The Color Purple movie revolves around Celie, who grows up in 1900s Georgia, but dreams of reuniting with her sister in Africa.
Lift — On Netflix January 12
Kevin Hart's Cyrus Whitaker leads an international heist crew given one simple task: lift $500 million in gold off a passenger plane — while it's mid-flight. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Úrsula Corberó, Billy Magnussen, Jacob Batalon, Jean Reno, and Sam Worthington round out the cast.
Mean Girls — In Theaters January 12
Speaking of movie musicals, Mean Girls is a winter movie that we'll see at the beginning of 2024. We can't wait to see Reneé Rapp,The Summer I Turned Pretty's Christopher Briney, and The Last Thing He Told Me's Angourie Rice. The movie follows former homeschooler Cady, who decides to infiltrate the mean girl clique during her first year at public high school.
Role Play — On Prime Video January 12
Emma (Kaley Cuoco) loves her husband David (David Oyelowo), her kids, and her life in New Jersey's suburbs. But when she and David decide to spice things up, her biggest secret comes out: she's actually an assassin for hire.
Argylle — In Theaters February 2
Argylle is exactly what we've been looking for when it comes to a blockbuster: it promises to be funny, heartwarming, and just sarcastic enough that it's self-aware. Elly Conway is a reclusive espionage novel author who's sucked into real-world spy work when a group of baddies decides her novels are not quite fictional enough. Plus, the cast (which includes Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard, and John Cena to name a few) is phenomenal.
Lisa Frankenstein — In Theaters February 9
Goth teen Lisa (Kathryn Newton) feels totally misunderstood by everyone around her. Until she reanimates a Victorian corpse (Cole Sprouse) and decides to turn him into the perfect man. This isn't your average Frankenstein story, but considering it's coming around Valentine's Day, it is giving us major Warm Bodies vibes.
Madame Web — In Theaters February 14
Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O'Connor, and Emma Roberts round out this powerhouse superhero cast. Dakota stars as Cassie Webb, a paramedic who starts getting visions of the future — both her own and three young women from her past.
Bob Marley: One Love — In Theaters February 14
This biographical movie musical follows the life of reggae icon Bob Marley, from his rise to fame until he passed away in May of 1981. Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, Jesse Cilio, and James Norton star, while Bob's son Ziggy is producing. We got a sneak peek at this year's CinemaCon and the movie looks amazing.
Drive Away Dolls — In Theaters February 23
Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) are looking for a new start when they head out on a spontaneous Florida roadtrip. But things quickly go south (well, considering they're already headed south, things go even *more* south) when they run into a group of criminals. The film also stars Beanie Feldstein, Matt Damon, and Pedro Pascal.
Which winter movie are you excited to see? Let us know on Facebook.
Lead image via Warner Bros.
This post has been updated.
Chloe Williams serves as B+C’s Assistant Editor, entertainment lead, and resident Taylor Swift expert. Whether she’s writing a movie review or interviewing the stars of the latest hit show, Chloe loves exploring why stories inspire us. You can see her work published in BuzzFeed, Coastal Review, and North Beach Sun. When she’s not writing, Chloe’s probably watching a Marvel movie with a cherry coke or texting her sister about the latest celebrity news. Say hi at @thechloewilliams on Insta and @popculturechlo on Twitter!
