Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox.Sign up nowand be one of the cool kids.
Stay safe and keep warm on this wintery weekend byhibernating at homefor some snow-themedbinge-watching.
You can curl up with cozy options like "Frozen," "Groundhog Day" and snow-covered Hallmark movies, or, if you're looking for some thrills with your chills, try a marathon of action flicks, crime dramas and supernatural mysteries set amid a deep freeze.
There's plenty of frigid-weather adventure and suspense to see from the security of your TV screen, with a pause button handy for grabbing hot chocolate refills and extra blankets. Here are 10 movies (all available to rent orstream) to help get you started.
'The Shining' (1980)
Director Stanley Kubrick's 1980adaptation of Stephen King's novelis about a troubled novelist (Jack Nicholson) prone to violent outbursts who accepts a winter caretaker job at an empty mountain hotel. Accompanying him are his anxious wife (Shelley Duvall) and young son (Danny Lloyd), who has clairvoyant powers. A masterpiece of suspense and the movie behind the popular meme of Nicholson as a veritable icicle.
Where to watch:Amazon,Apple
'The Day After Tomorrow' (2004)
This disaster epic imagines what happens when a global weather catastrophe hits the United States, forcing a climatologist (Dennis Quaid) to go on a dangerous mission to a flooded, frozen Manhattan to save his son (Jake Gyllenhaal) stranded in the New York Public Library. A cautionary tale about climate chaos and leaning into humanity when a population needs to flee to safety. (In this case, it's Americans mass-migrating to Mexico.)
Where to watch:Fandango at Home,Amazon
'Snowpiercer' (2013)
In director Bong Joon Ho's ("Parasite") bleak, dystopian look at class warfare, a train carrying survivors of a new ice age (including Marvel star Chris Evans) circles the blizzard-ravaged Earth nonstop. The front cars are luxurious havens for the rich, while the rear cars are crammed with poor people who start a rebellion. A critical hit that demonstrated sci-fi's power to address social injustice, it inspired a 2020 to 2024 TV series of the same name.
Where to watch:Tubi,Amazon,Apple
'Frankenstein' (2025)
Mary Shelley's 1818 novel gets its most vivid screen version yet in director Guillermo del Toro's dazzling saga ofVictor Frankenstein's (Oscar Isaac) obsession with the Creature (Jacob Elordi), a being he brings to life from body parts of dead soldiers. The misunderstood Creature's story is bookended by scenes involving a Danish navy ship stranded in the ice on a journey to the North Pole. Just the place for a monster of a man to hide the tragic monster he created.
Where to watch:Netflix
Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen, left) and Woody (Tom Hanks) are back on the big screen in Pixar's fifth "Toy Story." Check out our exclusive peeks at the animated adventure and all the other new films you need to see in theaters and on streaming services in 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Greenland 2: Migration" (Jan. 9 in theaters): Ten years after a comet destroyed most of Earth, the Garrity family (Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis and Gerard Butler) leave the safety of their bunker to find a new home." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"People We Meet on Vacation" (Jan. 9 on Netflix): Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) are college friends who go on holiday every summer in the romantic comedy based on the Emily Henry novel." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Internship" (Jan. 13 video on demand): Ollie Roddy (far left), Alix Villaret and Lizzy Greene star as young assassins trained in a secret CIA program in the action thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Night Patrol" (Jan. 16 in theaters): Dermot Mulroney stars as the leader of a LAPD task force that's also a group of vampires in the action horror movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Rip" (Jan. 16 on Netflix): Ben Affleck (left) and Matt Damon play Miami cops figuring out what to do with a load of cartel money in the twisty action thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Mercy" (Jan. 23 in theaters): Chris Pratt stars as a detective on trial for murdering his wife who has 90 minutes to convince an AI judge of his innocence." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Mother of Flies" (Jan. 23 on Shudder): Toby Poser co-writes, co-directs and stars in the horror film as a dark witch sought out by a young woman who gets a deadly diagnosis." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Untitled Home Invasion Romance" (Jan. 27 video on demand): Jason Biggs (right, with Justin H. Min) directs and stars in the comedy as a husband who fakes a break-in to save his marriage." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Moment" (Jan. 30 in theaters): British pop star Charli XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself preparing for a headline tour in the mockumentary." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Send Help" (Jan. 30 in theaters): Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her sexist boss Bradley (Dylan O'Brien) get stuck on a deserted island after their plane crashes in the dark comedy/survival thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Strangers – Chapter 3" (Feb. 6 in theaters): Masked serial killers Scarecrow and Pin-Up Girl return to menace their prey one last time in the horror trilogy closer." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Whistle" (Feb. 6 in theaters): Nick Frost stars in the horror movie as the teacher whose students find an ancient Aztec death whistle that, when blown, will summon their future deaths to hunt them down." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Honey Bunch" (Feb. 13 on Shudder): Jason Isaacs stars as a father whose daughter is a patient at a facility for experimental memory treatments in the horror movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Wuthering Heights" (Feb. 13 in theaters): The romance between Cathy (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) gets dark and complicated in the adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"I Can Only Imagine 2" (Feb. 20 in theaters): Trace Adkins (far left) stars as manager of the Christian rock band MercyMe (Mark Furze, Ezra Proch, Jason Burkey, Aaron Benward and John Michael Finley) in the biopic sequel." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Psycho Killer" (Feb. 20 in theaters): James Preston Rogers plays the Satanic Slasher, a serial murderer pursued by a police officer after the brutal death of her husband in the horror movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"In the Blink of an Eye" (Feb. 27 on Hulu): Kate McKinnon (left) and Yeji Kim star in a sci-fi drama featuring three stories that explore themes of humanity and connection across thousands of years." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Scream 7" (Feb. 27 in theaters): Guess who's back? Masked maniac Ghostface haunts an old foe in the latest installment in the long-running slasher franchise." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Bride!" (March 6 in theaters): Frank (Christian Bale) and his reanimated bride (Jessie Buckley) are the Bonnie and Clyde of Maggie Gyllenhaal's outlaw monster movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Hoppers" (March 6 in theaters): Thanks to some newfangled technology, Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda, center) gains new perspective on the animal world in the Pixar animated comedy." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" (March 6 in theaters, March 20 on Netflix): Cillian Murphy reprises his role as soldier-turned-criminal Tommy Shelby in a continuation of the British period drama series." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Reminders of Him" (March 13 in theaters): Fresh out of prison, Kenna (Maika Monroe) comes home to rebuild her life and connects with local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers) in the Colleen Hoover adaptation." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Project Hail Mary" (March 20 in theaters): Ryan Gosling stars as a junior high science teacher who goes to space to save humanity and befriends an alien in the sci-fi adventure." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" (March 27 in theaters): Grace (Samara Weaving, left) and her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) have to survive being hunted in the horror-comedy sequel." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Drama" (April 3 in theaters): Robert Pattinson and Zendaya star as an engaged couple whose wedding week goes seriously awry after some information is revealed in the romantic dramedy." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" (April 3 in theaters): Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day, right) throws down with new villain Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie) in the animated adventure sequel." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Apex" (April 24 on Netflix): In the survival thriller, Charlize Theron plays a grieving woman seeking solace in the Australian wilderness who's hunted by a ruthless serial killer." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Mother Mary" (April in theaters): A pop star (Anne Hathaway, right) reunites with her estranged best friend and ex-costume designer (Michaela Coel) in the psychosexual thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"The Mandalorian and Grogu" (May 22 in theaters): The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and his little buddy Grogu star in a "Star Wars" movie continuation of their Disney+ show." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Disclosure Day" (June 12 in theaters): Colin Firth has an alien encounter in Steven Spielberg's mysterious sci-fi movie, also starring Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor and Colman Domingo." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Toy Story 5" (June 19 in theaters): Old-school toys Buzz (voiced by Tim Allen, second from right) and Woody (Tom Hanks) face new technology in the Pixar animated comedy." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Supergirl" (June 26 in theaters): After debuting in "Superman," Milly Alcock reprises her role as the Man of Steel's party-girl cousin in the DC superhero movie." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Motor City" (2026 in theaters): Ben McKenzie (far left) and Pablo Schreiber star as Detroit cops on different sides of the law in the 1970s-set action thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From 'Scream 7' to 'Super Mario 2,' get a sneak peek at 2026 movies
Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen, left) and Woody (Tom Hanks) are back on the big screen in Pixar's fifth "Toy Story." Check out our exclusive peeks at the animated adventure and all the other new films you need to see in theaters and on streaming services in 2026.
'The Revenant' (2015)
A trapper (Leonardo DiCaprio) is abandoned in the wilderness by the group he was guiding after being mauled severely by a bear. Through sheer will, he attempts to make his way back to civilization and endures brutal winter conditions, at one point seeking shelter inside the carcass of a dead horse.
Where to watch:Amazon,Apple
'The Thing' (1982)
Being part of a research team at the South Pole is challenging enough, but this classic cult fave from director John Carpenter raises the stakes by adding an unearthed being from outer space that attacks and then transforms into its victims. Kurt Russell stars in this sci-fi nail biter whose motto could be: "Trust no one on your trip to Antarctica."
Where to watch:Shudder,Amazon,Apple
'Cold Pursuit' (2019)
Pity the fools who mess with anyone related to Liam Neeson characters. In this twist on the "Taken" star's action-hero persona, Neeson plays a snowplow driver who is out to get the drug gang that killed his son. We're pretty sure his customers will forgive him for the delay in clearing their driveways.
Where to watch:Amazon,Apple
'Fargo' (1996)
Filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen explored the darkest corners of the human condition in their black comedy about a car salesman (William H. Macy) whose plot to extort his father-in-law by arranging the kidnapping of his wife goes horribly wrong. As a police chief with an accent as heavy as a Minnesota hotdish, Frances McDormand upholds all that is good and decent, you betcha.
Where to watch:HBO Max,MGM+,Amazon
'A Simple Plan' (1998)
Sam Raimi directed this psychological drama about two brothers (Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton) who discover millions in cash at the site of a plane crash in wintry rural Minnesota, an event that winds up poisons their fraternal bond with suspicion and greed.
Where to watch:Amazon,Apple,Fandango at Home
'The Mountain Between Us' (2017)
Sparks fly between a photojournalist (Kate Winslet) and a neurosurgeon (Idris Elba) asthey struggle to stay alive when their plane crashesin the frigid Utah wilderness after their pilot has a stroke. It's love vs. injuries, freezing water, a bear trap, etc.
Where to watch:Cinemax,Amazon,Apple
Contributing: Kim Willis, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:Movies to watch during a snowstorm – 10 films to rent or stream
