Hey, how are you feeling now that the sun is going down at 4pm? Are you starting to feel tired all day and tucking yourself into bed earlier and earlier each night? Are you starting to feel that ever-present and foreboding sense of dread?

This time of year is hard.

There’s no denying or escaping it, so why not try leaning into it? You can’t deny that there is something so cozy, so romantic, so melancholic, so serene about long, cold nights spent curled up at home. And there’s something so human about relying on good stories to keep our minds occupied and entertained while our bodies rest.

What better way to combat your seasonal blues than through the power of film?

I’ve compiled a list of 11 films that I think are perfect to watch during this holiday season. They aren’t all necessarily holiday films, but films that will surely whisk your mind away for a few hours and leave you feeling more inspired, introspective, or contended (or hopefully all 3!) by the time you finish them.

Frances Ha (2012)

I think by now most people know of Greta Gerwig and what a gift of sunshine she is. But before directing Barbie and Little Women, she starred in this quirky little number as the whimsical and scatterbrained Frances. This film will lift your spirits and leave you feeling inspired and probably a bit better about the current state of your own life.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

The Star Wars films feel like holiday movies to me. Maybe because growing up I would have movie marathons around the holidays and Star Wars was often screened. Or maybe because the recent films have all premiered around Christmastime. Whatever it may be, I highly recommend a Star Wars marathon to help take your mind to somewhere a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Jane Eyre (2011)

I hear you and concede that this may be a Sad Girl watch. But hear me out: sometimes making yourself sad and angsty on purpose helps get rid of the feeling. It’s called catharsis, look it up. If that’s not enough, this is a Georgian period piece (hello, escapism) that centers around repressed love (hello, sexual tension). Yeah, this might be an acquired taste.

Spirited Away (2001)

Let the whimsical, magical, and hopeful spirits of this film quite literally stir you away from the winter blues. If animes are more your speed than a Hollywood Hit, you can’t forget about this classic. Enter the fairytale dreamworld of Studio Ghibli and take off into this fully imagined universe, populated by wondrous beings and haunting landscapes. There’s no way to watch this movie and not feel inspired and carefree.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Hunger Games trilogy is also a great choice to binge-watch (or rewatch) this holiday season, especially with the new prequel film premiering this past week (November 17). My favourite of the three has to be Catching Fire, as it offers unrelenting, heart-pounding action from the second it starts to its cliffhanger ending.

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

There are two main reasons I love rewatching this film, especially in the wintertime. The first is that it’s the type of film where its vibe sticks with you afterwards. This film will imbue onto your brain a lightness, satiety, and Hygge (def: a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (Oxford Languages)).

The second is that this film will gently guide you to introspect your own ideals about relationships and love and will help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself. And what better time for introspection and fostering self-growth than the depth of winter?

The Family Stone (2005)

This is a true, on-the-nose, family holiday movie, although Christmas only acts as the reason the family at the centre of this story is coming together. There are mishaps and family fights abound, but just like in real life, they only serve to bring the family closer in the end.

This is also a great watch if you just want to look at hot people. From Luke Wilson to Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker to Brian J. White, and of course, Craig T. Nelson and Diane Keaton, this movie is just as fun to look at as it is to watch.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

This is the type of film that actually allows your mind to escape to a new world. This film has it all: breathtaking cinematography, measured pacing, an action-packed Epic plot, a superb soundtrack and excellent performances by Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-fat and Zhang Ziyi. All of these elements work together to effectively suspend your disbelief and will give you a true break from reality for a couple hours.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

You simply cannot have a bad time watching this pseudo-stoner turned cult-classic film. Jeff Bridges’ performance of “The Dude” is immediately likeable and swaggeringly sexy, while the supporting cast—namely John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore, are charmingly idiosyncratic.

The story itself is an absurdist comedy of errors and yet the plot is simple enough to follow along if you do decide to watch it high. Or maybe you prefer to pour yourself a few White Russians…either way, The Dude abides.

The First Wives Club (1996)

Here’s my proposition: you, me, a big comfy couch, a bottle of red, and a light and lovable comedy set in New York City in the 90’s starring Diane Keaton, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn. You in?

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

Did you know that watching “The Muppets” is actually a clinically-proven way to get rid of the blues? Obviously, that’s not true, but there haven’t actually been any studies on it, so it is also not-not true. In any case, this film is one I love to revisit year after year for the warm-and-fozzies it gives me.

This year I’ll be battling my seasonal depression with good films and even better wine. Sounds like a foolproof plan to me.