In years gone by, November and December often see me rack up the most hours in screen time.

For me, as the nights draw in, I start to crave a good movie – and I often find I want to match the vibe of a film with my mood and the weather outside.

This means there are certain films I return to around this time of year, and I believe these three films in particular are best watched throughout the winter months.

Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges. In my eyes, this film is criminally underrated. It is also extremely sad. When I first watched it, I hadn’t seen the trailer, so I didn’t have any expectations, and I was blown away.

It will have you in tears, but it’ll also have you in awe, particularly at Affleck’s performance. It is a story of grief, told with saw depth and grit. The film’s setting of cold Boston is what draws me in to watch it at this time of year.

The synopsis reads: “After his brother’s death, Lee Chandler is named guardian to his 16-year-old nephew, Patrick. This forces him to return to his hometown and confront his past.”

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This is the best film of the entire franchise for various reasons. Firstly, it has a very different feel to any of the other movies, given that it was the only one directed by (one of my favourite directors), Alfonso Cuarón.

I think the film’s moody feel suits this time of year perfectly. It is darker than the other Harry Potter films, so it feels very much like a November watch, but there are lighter moments that provide comedic relief, too. For example, the iconic scene where Harry gets on the infamous night bus. There are so many memorable scenes.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts turns out to be eventful as he gets tutored by Professor Lupin, a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and tackles Sirius Black, a vengeful fugitive prisoner.

The Holdovers

The 2023 film, written by David Hemingson, can be described as a comedy-drama set in 1970s America during the Christmas period. It follows a bad-tempered instructor (Paul Giamatti) who forms a surprising bond with a brainy yet mischievous student (newcomer Dominic Sessa) – alongside the school’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph). The trio are an unlikely pairing, and their relationships truly take you through every emotion.

With the film being set during the Christmas period, this feels like the perfect watch for the wintery months, and it’s great if typical Christmas movies aren’t really your thing.