With the many cold nights ahead, it's the perfect time to dive into movies that take place during the frigid winter months. It seems like sci-fi has become more popular than ever, topping many of the most-watched lists on streaming platforms. Something about living during a time that feels totally unreal has given people a new interest in science fiction.
Luckily, sci-fi has plenty of excellent winter films to choose between, from arctic disasters to the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
Decoys (2004)
Decoys was heavily inspired by the movie Species. The film centers around a small college town in the middle of winter when a group of alien females attempt to mate with human males. The problem: the aliens need extremely cold temperatures and freeze every human during the mating process. Many now see the film as a play on gender roles, reversing the typical gendered stereotypes by putting women in sexual control. For a small indie film, it was also well received and even got a sequel in 2007.
The Thaw (2009)
A research team in the Canadian arctic discovers a mammoth thawing in the melting polar ice cap. However, they didn't realize that the mammoth was infected with a species of parasitic bugs that are now burrowing themselves into the research crew. While the movie was met with mixed reviews upon release, it has found a new audience during a time when movies about outbreaks soared in popularity, and the world realized that perhaps these films were more science than fiction...
The X-Files (1998)
In between the show's fifth and sixth season, The X-Files movie was released. It was one of the rare examples of when a movie based on a TV show became a huge hit. The movie centers around a massive government conspiracy using an alien virus.
One of the most memorable segments in the film is when Mulder has to travel to Antarctica to rescue Scully who is trapped in a secret facility under the ice. The movie would go on to make almost $200 million at the box office and was followed by five more seasons of the show, along with a cinematic sequel in 2008.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
It wasn't supposed to be winter, but after a cataclysmic series of events due to climate change, The Day After Tomorrow depicted an Earth swallowed up by the next Ice Age. The movie outraged conservatives everywhere who disliked the movie's portrayal of a careless istration (based on the W. Bush White House) and who feared that the movie would help get citizens energized about issues like climate change and pollution. Regardless of their protests, the film gained more than $550 million at the box office and had DVD sales of over $100 million.
The Colony (2013)
Another movie about climate change gone awry is The Colony. In this dystopian film, humanity attempted to control rampant global warming by creating giant weather machines. However, when the next ice age begins, society is forced underground in "colonies". The movie is about the personal struggles communities face during times of dire pain and suffering. It was also seen by many as a reminder to humanity that we are not stronger than nature.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Fans of Predator were excited when the long-awaited crossover finally arrived. The movie centers around a group of explorers who discover an ancient complex buried beneath the ice on the frigid Bouvet Island, near Antarctica. The team soon discovers that they've actually walked straight into a coliseum where Predators prove their might by going head-to-head with the Xenomorph aliens.
The movie is also credited with helping to reignite interest in the franchises, leading to the numerous Alien and Predator films that have followed.
Dreamcatcher (2003)
This lesser-known Stephen King movie was a box office failure upon release, but has gained a cult following throughout the years. It focuses on a group of friends who developed telepathic powers, and who unknowingly end up in the middle of an alien invasion while vacationing in the Maine woods. The movie is much slower, darker, and more convoluted than most of King's work. However, the movie has found a select group of fans who say it's one of King's most underrated masterpieces.
Phantoms (1998)
In this 1998 cult classic, the entire population of a small Colorado ski village is found dead. Initially, it's believed that a serial killer is on the loose, but as the investigation continues, the team soon discovers that more sinister forces are at work.
Upon release, the movie was a Ben Affleck, Rose McGowan, Peter O'Toole, and Liev Schreiber.
Snowpiercer (2013)
Snowpiercer is another dystopian film that centers around the world after it has been thrown into the next ice age, thanks to a disastrous attempt at engineering a solution to climate change. Now, the last remnants of humanity live aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that endlessly circles the planet.
However, class divides and poverty leads to a revolution onboard the train. The movie was heavily praised and even led to the Snowpierce TV reboot which stars Jennifer Connelly, Lena Hall, Sean Bean, and more.
The Thing (1982)
The Thing takes place in Antarctica when a team of American researchers discovers a body-snatching alien that can infest and perfectly imitate its prey. The movie had a lukewarm performance at the box office, but has since developed universal acclaim in the decades following its release. It's even led to a video game adaptation, a novelization, a comic series, and a prequel that was released in 2011.
