Picture the scene: you’re cuddled up in bed or on your couch, with some of your favourite snacks to hand. You can hear the rain against your window. That can mean only one thing – it’s time to snuggle up and watch some of your favorite rainy day movies.
From cult classics to hidden treasures or blasts from the past, we have some great recommendations to get you through a gloomy, wintery afternoon. Whether you love rom-coms, fancy an edge-of-your-seat adventure movie, or are looking to immerse yourself in a fictional faraway world, let Displate help you forget all about the rainy world outside those four walls.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Hilarious and relatable, Bridget Jones says what we’re all thinking in her infamous dairy. From navigating romantic encounters to trying to climb the career ladder (and flashing her underwear in the process), Bridget Jones is always finding herself in a predicament. The movie follows her romantic escapades, with two men vying for her attention – but will her lovable clumsiness cost her the chance to find a husband?
Set in rainy London, you’ll feel right at home in her cosy flat. The iconic rom-com is part of a trilogy, with a fourth titled Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy coming to cinemas in 2025.
The Parent Trap (1998)
Lindsey Lohan’s first feature film is the perfect choice for a rainy day of movie binging, bringing you bags of nostalgia housed within a timeless classic. The movie follows Hallie and Annie, both played by Lohan, starting off as nemeses at summer camp, before slowly realising that they are twins who were separated shortly after being born.
With Hallie living with her dad in America, and Annie living with her mum in London, they decide to swap places so they get to meet the parents they have been missing all their lives. Oh, and did we mention this is all before planning to reunite their parents, in the hopes of making them fall in love again before an unwanted love interest takes hold of their dad? There’s a reason The Parent Trap has such a cult fan following – and you’ve got to watch it to find out why!
Mary Poppins (1964)
The cinematic equivalent of a big bowl of comfort food, Mary Poppins is the perfect movie for a rainy day. The magic of Mary Poppins has been carried through generations, showcasing Mary’s quirky confidence and caring nature in the way she helps the Banks family.
With a hard-working father and busy suffragette mother, Michael and Jane are left feeling neglected until Mary Poppins appears in their life. She brings with her a whole lot of love, as well as some life-lessons, all delivered with the help of her bottomless carpet bag and a few spoonfuls of sugar. You can’t forget her heart-warming friendship with everyman Bert, too, who appears as everything from a chimney sweep to a one-man-band, and plays a pivotal role in how the plot develops.
With a perfect blend of whimsical storytelling and warmth, Mary Poppins serves to bring sunshine to your home – and will have you singing “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” under your breath for the rest of the day.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
It would be hard to imagine the magical world of Hogsmeade during a hot, dry summer, right? That’s why the Harry Potter series makes for an excellent binge-watch marathon, perfect for a rainy, stormy, wintery day.
But, if you only have the chance to watch one, the third in the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is one of the darkest and rainiest of the franchise.
The story follows Harry as he discovers he has a relative, but perhaps a relative he would prefer not to have. Especially when his godfather appears to be just as evil as “he-who-must-not-be-named”. This action-packed movie is perfect for you to curl up onto the sofa with a homemade butterbeer; although we can’t promise you won’t want to watch the others straight after, so it might be worth clearing your calendar!
Soul (2020)
Soul is a great choice for a day when you’re snuggled up and hiding away from the rain or gloom of the real world. This visually stunning movie boasts dreamlike, mesmerizing animations that fully immerse you in a new landscape, providing joyous escapism and a break from reality just when you need it the most.
The film gives you the space to have a gentle ponder about life, whilst guiding you on a journey through the protagonist Joe Gardener’s own existential crisis. With themes around living your life to the fullest, and the joy that can come from pursuing things you really care about – with more than a smattering of self-belief required – Soul brings Pixar’s trademark feel-good vibes to a whole new level. Offering you a chance to reflect on your own experiences, whilst brightening a rainy day, the film is perfect for lone-watching or to enjoy with the whole family.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
As the title suggests, Little Miss Sunshine will brighten up a rainy day – but it will also simultaneously break your heart. Don’t say we haven’t warned you.
The dysfunctional Hoover family embark on a chaotic road trip across the country so that 7-year-old Olive can take part in a beauty pageant. Throughout their road trip, in an iconic yellow VW campervan, their individual flaws and struggles with mental health are brought to the surface. Olive, Little Miss Sunshine herself, lends her innate brightness through her innocence and wholesome nature, along with a sense of naivety around the weight of her family’s mental health struggles. Little Miss Sunshine is a great movie choice if you’re looking to find that balance of tragedy and comedy, leaning into the emotion of the film while still finding warmth in the sunshiney moments.
The Goonies (1985)
This cult classic is the perfect rainy day movie to curl up on the couch with. Whether you watched it weekly as a kid or it’s a first-time viewing, The Goonies will give you an immense feeling of nostalgia; the mix of adventure, friendship, humor and childhood exploration will feel like being wrapped in a warm blanket whilst you listen to the rain against your windows.
The Goonies follows a group of misfit boys whose homes face immediate foreclosure to make way for new development. In order to try and keep their homes, The Goonies go on a quest to find the long-lost treasure of a pirate, One-Eyed Willy, from a map they find. Based on a story by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies boasts booby-traps, challenges and interesting characters aplenty, making it perfect for deep-diving into when you want to escape from the wintery world outside your window.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Dark, twisted, and very indulgent, Tim Burton’s adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, offers an immersive escape, drawing you in with captivatingly vivid visuals.
Beloved Charlie Bucket is desperate to get his hands on a Golden Ticket so he can see the magic of the secretive Wonka Factory from inside its walls. Coming from an impoverished family, he knows his chances are slim – but everyone loves an underdog, right?
Charlie and his Grandpa Joe, who used to work at the factory before Wonka closed it to the public, do in fact find a Golden Ticket – and get to experience all that the mysterious factory has to offer. From oompa-loompa encounters to Wonka’s childhood flashbacks, and, of course, plenty of chocolate, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the perfect sweet treat to sink your teeth into – whatever the weather’s doing outside.
Stay Warm and Cosy with Displate
If you’re fully committing to the rainy day movie setup, then you’re going to want to create the right atmosphere. A super snug, welcoming home is the perfect place to come back to no matter how bad the weather is outside. Decorate your home with Displate’s incredible collection of high-quality metal printed posters, perfect for bringing your favorite movie to life.
Don’t forget to check out our other collections, too – including gaming, paintings and animals! Or have a look through some of our other decor inspiration pieces and gift guides on our blog.
