Paddington - Available to stream with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription
The film equivalent of a warm hug from a loved one. If you’re looking to cultivate a cosy atmosphere, delving into the wholesome world of everyone’s favourite Peruvian bear is an excellent shout. It is a welcome reminder of the joy and compassion which exists in the world, all imbued with that classic Paul King humour and charm. And if the first movie isn’t enough, there’s always Paddington 2 and Paddington In Peru to enjoy as well.
Before Sunrise - Available to rent for £3.49 or to purchase from £7.99
Missing your summer holiday and wishing to be transported to a sun-soaked European city for a couple of hours? Look no further than Richard Linklater’s classic 90s romance. We follow Ethan Hawke’s Jesse and Julie Delpy’s Celine who, having met on a train journey from Budapest, choose to spend a day in each other's company wandering the cobbled streets of Vienna, sharing everything from humorous anecdotes to life aspirations. The film beautifully delves into the intricacies and intimacies of human connection, acting as a balm for the soul on a dreary winter day.
Everything Everywhere All At Once - Available to rent for £3.49 or to purchase from £7.99
For some multi-genre madness that promises intense enjoyment and immediate escapism, Kwan and Scheinert’s uniquely brilliant Everything Everywhere All At Once is a perfect pick. It is a film that transports you on a mind-bending and life-affirming trip around the multiverse with phenomenal performances from Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. It wrestles with big existential concepts through an accessible, family-oriented lens and leaves you walking away utterly dazzled.
The Grand Budapest Hotel - Available to stream with a Disney+ subscription
No one does whimsical storytelling and absurdist comedy quite like Wes Anderson but, for me, The Grand Budapest Hotel is the culmination of his talent as a writer and director. Wacky, ambitious, heartwarming and humorous, you follow Ralphs Fiennes as Monsieur Gustave, an esoteric hotel concierge on a quest for justice following his being framed for murder, which takes him on an epic journey alongside his lobby boy across the fictional country of Zubrowka. Like Paddington, this is another textbook classic comfort film to bring laughter and warmth to a cold winter day.
Nosferatu - Available to purchase from £8.99
If you are looking to embrace the cold winter weather as opposed to escaping it, you can’t look past Robert Egger’s Nosferatu. The antithesis of summer, this retelling of the 1922 gothic horror is a perfect watch for a cold (preferably snowy) January day. With star-studded performances from Bill Skarsgard as the menacing Count Orlock and Lily Rose-Depp as our haunted protagonist Ellen, this horror has the bone-chilling impact of a midwinter day - with the bonus being it can be from the comfort and warmth of your own home!