January/February Movies
The temperatures have dipped way below freezing in Chicago and there’s finally snow on the ground, meaning it’s the perfect weather for taking refuge under a blanket, pouring a warm beverage and turning on a movie. But how to choose the perfect movie for these circumstances? I’ve compiled a list of the best films to watch over the next two months, if you want to lean into the January and February of it all.
In order to make the list, the movie needs to meet these qualifications:
The movie takes place in January or February
OR
It’s cold. The movie features snow. Someone walking through the streets looking cold. A person wearing a puffer jacket. Scenes that take place in an ice rink.
At least 50 percent of the movie takes place in a location that experiences snow. The Midwest. New York. The fictional country of Zubrowka.
Summer doesn’t play a huge role in the movie. It’s so cold right now that I’m having a hard time remembering a time when I ever left my apartment without a down jacket. So I certainly can’t put a movie on this list that takes place at the beach or features anyone wearing a tank top.
It “feels” like January/February. It has chilly vibe. A certain unidentifiable element that makes me think January. I can’t fully explain this. You’ve Got Mail feels like Fall. Little Women feels like December. The movies on this list feel like January/February. This piece of criteria is so important that it means that even if we know the movie takes place outside of this time frame, it could still make the list.
AND
The movie is NOT a Christmas or holiday film. For example, even though the final few scenes of While You Were Sleeping are set in January, it centers too heavily around Christmas to appear here. Got it?
Tick, Tick… Boom! | One of my very favorite movies and very favorite Andrew Garfield performances. This movie-musical is exactly what this list is for. There are many scenes of the cold streets of New York, as Garfield’s Jonathan Larson walks, bikes and sings through the city. Plus the entire film is a countdown leading to Larson’s 30th birthday, which falls on February 4.
Sleepless in Seattle | Despite starting on Christmas, this Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romance speeds through the holiday season and firmly takes place over the course of the following weeks, concluding with a Valentine’s Day meet-up at the Empire State Building.
The Social Network | Okay, hear me out. I went back and forth on including this movie. I first saw it in theaters in December, which is likely why I have wintery associations with Aaron Sorkin/David Fincher’s film. It admittedly does transition from Boston to Silicon Valley but it makes that switch more than halfway through the movie. You know what solidified its placement? Mark Zuckerberg registers The Facebook domain in January.
Maggie’s Plan | A quirky movie featuring a love triangle where you never quite know who has the upper hand. Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore star in this wintery flick about a woman (Gerwig) looking for someone to have a baby with. Also Bill Hader is there.
The Grand Budapest Hotel | Wes Anderson’s best movie is set in the fictional country of Zubrowka and features an all-star cast. I first watched this movie last year and was on the edge of my seat following the enchanting world of the hotel, ominous threats of murder, snow-filled chase sequences and the secret society of concierges!
I, Tonya | I have mixed opinions about this Tonya Harding biopic, which I believe would have been stronger if it fully committed to its quirks. Margot Robbie is excellent at playing all sides of the leading character. Its ice rink setting makes it perfect for this list and the Kerrigan attack (or as the movie calls it: “the reason you’re all here”) takes place in January, solidifying its spot.
Moonstruck | Technically set in November… but it has January energy. This movie is weird but it all somehow works! It features dreamy sequences of the moon and long walks through the deserted streets of New York. A fated love story. Cher wearing fabulous overcoats. A sweet, funny ending sequence that takes place over breakfast and is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.
Before We Go | There are Christmas lights in the windows but no mention of the holidays. Feels like January to me! It’s set it in New York City and stars Chris Evans (who also directs the film), so it’s no surprise I always enjoy this wistful romantic drama about two strangers who meet in Grand Central and spend the rest of the night on an NYC adventure.
See How They Run | There’s an invitation that appears in the final part of the movie that says it’s March 31. But the question we need to ask ourselves today… does it really feel like this movie is set in March? Let’s check our criteria. Snow? Tons of it, especially in the final sequence. Location that’s cold? London. Jackets? Check. Not a hint of summer. This is a cozy mystery, featuring Saoirse Ronan at her most charming, centers around a production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
The Cutting Edge | Plenty of sequels copied the formula but none pull it off as well as the original. The 90s movie centers on an intense figure skater in search of a new skating partner and a hockey player whose injury prevents him from playing. They clash. They fall in love. They (spoiler) make it to the Olympics.
