18 Wintry Shows and Movies That Put the Chill in Your Binge-Watching Session

When the weather outside is frightful, sometimes you want to indulge in a show that whisks you away to a tropical location—and other times, you want to lean into the chill. If you're the type who likes to cuddle up with a hot cocoa and chill with a wintry show that features plenty of snow and ice, we've got you covered. Check out some of the best snowy shows to watch right now.

True Detective: North Country

No need to binge your way through all the seasons—pick up this creepy detective series on Season 4. Jodie Foster and Kali Reis investigate an unsolved murder from the past, and a new horrific (and wild) group killing during the total darkness of winter in northern Alaska. This season feels like a mashup of Silence of the Lambs and the X-Files, with a little touch of Twin Peaks thrown in.

Where to watch: Max

A Murder at the End of the World

An out-of-the-way (and absolutely gorgeous!) Icelandic retreat becomes the setting for a murder—and an amateur detective (played by The Crown's Emma Corrin) is there to solve it.

Where to watch: Hulu

Northern Exposure

Want a lighter look at life way up north? This early 1990s fish-out-of-water show about a New York doctor sent to live in a tiny Alaskan town finally is available to binge—and filled with plenty of moose, too.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Society of the Snow

This based-on-a-true-story movie follows the Uruguayan rugby team that crashed in the Andes—leaving 45 people to try to survive for more than two months in frigid temps. (Bonus: It's nominated for the best international film Oscar this year.)

Where to watch: Netflix

Yellowjackets

If you want even more crashed passengers trying to survive in the wilderness, check out the series Yellowjackets. It swaps the men's rugby team for a teen girls' soccer team, and extends their stay in the wild to more than 19 months—then catches up with them as adults trying to deal with the aftermath of what happened.

Where to watch: Paramount Plus

Lilyhammer

A New York mafioso (the Sopranos' Steven Van Zandt) enters the witness protection program and ends up in Norway in this fish-very-out-of-water tale that'll have you kind of wishing you were in Norway too—if only for those amazing sweaters!

Where to watch: Netflix

Fargo

There's two ways to enjoy a little chilly murder in Fargo. You can watch the epic Oscar-winning movie with Frances McDormand's stellar turn as a very pregnant local sheriff investigating a string of murders around a kidnapping gone wrong. Or you can catch the anthology series inspired by its dark comedy murder vibe—including this season, which has several ties back to the original movie.

Where to watch: Max (movie), Hulu (series)

The Great

This darkly comic show follows young Catherine as she marries Russia's Peter III, and the power plays she made to be crowned empress of Russia. There's eye candy galore—with plenty of snow and some incredible fur costumes, too.

Where to watch: Hulu

Doctor Zhivago

The epic (and beloved) forbidden romance is set against the wintry tundras of Russia during the Russian Revolution and World War I.

Where to watch: Tubi

Game of Thrones

The show that brought us the infinitely meme-able "Winter is coming" and the aptly named Jon Snow has plenty of frigid scenes in the northern climes—whether in the Stark's Winterfell castle or at the 700-foot ice wall along the Northern border. And the creepy White Walkers will definitely chill you, even in the midst of summer.

Where to watch: Max

30 Days of Night

Alaska's dark winters attract a gaggle of vampires to a tiny town in this creepy, wintry horror fest.

Where to watch: Netflix

Life Below Zero

If you're looking for a long and true-to-life winter show, check out this National Geographic documentary series. They follow people who live at the outer edges of Alaska and document their stories over more than 20 seasons of shows.

Where to watch: Disney+

Frozen & Frozen 2

Get the kids in on your winter binge watch! Create a Frozen fest (and sing-along) with everyone's favorite ice princess and comic relief snowman. And don't forget the marshmallows for the hot cocoa!

Where to watch: Disney+

The Shining

If you're snowed in, at least feel grateful that you're not stuck in a haunted hotel with a psychotic husband during a blizzard. Stephen King knows how to make cabin fever feel truly horrific.

Where to watch: For rent on Apple TV

Empire Strikes Back

The second (and arguably best) Star Wars movie starts out on the frigid planet Hoth, where the Rebels risk death by frostbite or Yeti-like Wampas to escape the grasp of the Empire. The action heads to warmer climes—but freezing definitely comes into play at the end again.

Where to watch: Disney+

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Would you be willing to forget a lost love? That's the premise of this offbeat romantic movie, where a scientist has hacked people's brains to erase painful memories—and Joel and Clementine both attempt to undergo the procedure—with very interesting results.

Where to watch: The Criterion Channel

Pretty Much Every Single Hallmark Movie

Hallmark may be famous for its Christmas movies, but they have plenty of saccharine seasonal fare beyond the holidays, too. (Think A Winter Wedding, or Valentine in the Vineyard.)

Where to watch: Hulu and Peacock TV