10 Magical Movies That Aren’t Christmas But Still Feel Like the Holidays

Some movies feel like Christmas even when nobody’s hanging stockings or singing carols.

These movies make you want to grab a blanket and hot chocolate even when there isn’t a single Christmas tree in sight. Maybe it’s the magic, or the snow, or just that cozy feeling of escaping into another world when the real one gets too heavy. Whether they’re filled with wizards, talking animals, or mysterious doorways to other realms, here are 10 movies that aren’t Christmas, but still feel like the holidays.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Young Harry Potter lives under the stairs of his Aunt and Uncle’s house, only to find out he’s actually a wizard. Off he goes to a massive castle filled with floating candles, moving staircases, and professors who can turn into cats. But here’s the thing about Hogwarts during winter – between those sweeping shots of snow-covered towers and kids wrapped in striped scarves, it’s basically a Christmas card come to life. The Great Hall scenes hit differently when those twelve massive trees show up, and something about watching Harry get his first real Christmas presents gets us right in the feelings. That cozy common room with its crackling fireplace? Pure holiday vibes, even when there’s a troll in the dungeon.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Four kids stumble through an old wardrobe into a world that’s stuck in eternal winter – which, let’s be honest, is basically every kid’s dream as they dig through their grandma’s closet. But the whole place is stuck in permanent winter because the magical White Witch is throwing the ultimate cold tantrum. Sure, the whole “always winter but never Christmas” thing is technically anti-holiday. But the way the story kicks off with a Turkish Delight and that first cup of hot tea with Mr. Tumnus sets the perfect cozy tone. Gorgeous shots of snow-covered forests and ice castles could give any holiday movie a run for its money. Plus, when Father Christmas finally shows up with his magical gifts, it feels like the ultimate holiday wish fulfillment – even if he’s handing out weapons instead of toys.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

The Harry Potter spinoff takes us back to 1920s New York where Newt Scamander is running around with a suitcase full of magical critters that keep escaping (worst pet-sitter ever, honestly). But here’s where it gets holiday-cozy: watching Newt tuck all his bizarre animals into their magical habitats inside that suitcase feels exactly like decorating your house for the holidays. And that scene in the magical speakeasy with the goblin jazz singer somehow feels like a holiday party. Plus there’s something about Jacob’s bakery and those creature-shaped pastries that hits the same as making Christmas cookies – just, you know, with more potential for them to bite back.

The Golden Compass (2007)

The Golden Compass takes us into a world where everyone’s soul has a furry or feathered sidekick called a daemon. It follows a girl named Lyra who heads to the Arctic to rescue her kidnapped friends and unravel a creepy mystery about missing kids and a strange substance known as Dust. Lyra’s trek through the snowy North, her polar bear friend, and his ice palace are winter wonderland energy. Plus something about hot air balloons floating above snow mixed with the cozy-but-weird parallel universe vibe feels like that magical week between Christmas and New Year’s when time stops making sense.

Matilda (1996)

Matilda is a tiny genius who’s stuck with a family that’s basically the Dursleys minus any redeeming qualities – total villain origin story material. But instead of growing up to destroy the world, she discovers she can move stuff with her mind – a power she mostly uses to make herself pancakes and mess with her dad’s hair. Watching Matilda find her new home with Miss Honey hits like every feel-good holiday movie ever, especially the scene where they’re making hot chocolate and reading books in Miss Honey’s tiny cottage. Plus the whole revenge-on-Trunchbull feels like a Scroog story – just swap out the ghost of Christmas future for a super-powered kindergartner with perfect pigtails and a score to settle.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children follows Jake, a teenager who stumbles upon a mysterious orphanage filled with kids who have extraordinary abilities. It’s a wild ride as he discovers his own connection to these odd kids and battles creepy creatures to protect their magical world. But there’s something about Miss Peregrine’s massive old house with all its quirky rooms and hidden secrets that’s reminiscent of exploring your grandparents’ place during holiday breaks. And the way these peculiar kids have created their own little family is textbook Christmas movie energy, minus the actual Christmas.

The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)

The Huntsman: Winter’s War delves into the backstory of the Huntsman and Queen Ravenna, revealing the chilling saga of two powerful sisters, Freya and Ravenna. After a heart-wrenching betrayal, Freya, the Ice Queen, builds an army of deadly huntsmen, forbidding love among her ranks. Sure, this movie has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. But its snow-covered forests and ice palaces feel like a winter wonderland. And that whole “love will thaw a frozen heart” theme feels like classic holiday movie stuff, just with more battle axes and fewer carol singers.

Winter’s Tale (2014)

In this magical story, a time-traveling thief and his magical flying horse are running around old-timey New York, when he falls in love with a girl who’s dying of consumption. His love becomes intertwined with a battle between good and evil as he discovers his supernatural past and healing powers. Watching Peter Lake break into mansions in the snow only to end up having tea with the girl he’s trying to rob feels like a Hallmark movie. The whole New York setting is winter eye candy – horses galloping across frozen lakes, snow falling on old brownstones, and rich people wearing fancy coats plotting evil stuff. Plus there’s something about watching Colin Farrell’s hair stay perfectly styled through a century of winter weather that feels like a Christmas miracle.

Hugo (2011)

Hugo follows a young boy who lives in the walls of a Paris train station, steals croissants and keeps all the clocks running while dodging this station inspector who’s basically the Grinch with a badge and a leg brace. The way director Martin Scorsese shoots winter in Paris is like holiday magic – steam and snowflakes and glowing clock faces. The scenes inside the station – where grumpy French people bustle around with their packages – feel exactly like last-minute holiday shopping, minus the mall Santas. And watching Georges Méliès rediscover his own movie magic feels like every “Christmas spirit” moment ever.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms spins the tale of young Clara, who finds herself in a mysterious parallel world after chasing a magical key at a holiday party. She lands in the middle of a struggle involving four fantastical kingdoms and must brave the weird and wonderful to bring harmony back to this unstable land. While the movie takes its own creative path, it’s built on the bones of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker ballet – that magical Christmas tradition that’s been making winter nights sparkle since 1892. The film’s aesthetic feels like a Victorian Christmas card. The Land of Sweets serves up major gingerbread house vibes (if your gingerbread house could start a war.) And the palace scenes with mechanical dancers are what every kid imagines their nutcracker does at night.