10 perfect movies for a rainy afternoon
Now that September is here, summer feels like a distant memory already. No longer does the weather feel appropriate for a last-minute picnic in the park with your friends or eating ice cream by the seaside. It’s officially the season of the sun going down far too early in the evening, blankets and candles, rainy days, and watching endless movies.
When the rain is hammering down outside, and the prospect of having to leave the house seems daunting, sometimes there is nothing better than closing the curtains, flicking the kettle on, and putting on a film.
But what is the best thing to watch when it’s rainy and cold? A movie set in a hot European country might work if you want to imagine you’re somewhere else, but we suggest honouring a downpour by watching something that taps into that rainy, gloomy atmosphere.
Whether it’s a deeply romantic and emotional story or one that just possesses an unmistakably autumnal and cosy vibe, here are ten films that are perfect for a rainy afternoon.
10 movies for a rainy day:
When Harry Met Sally (Rob Reiner, 1989)
There are few movies out there more appropriate for autumn than When Harry Met Sally, which chronicles the will-they-won’t-they relationship of the titular characters, who cannot seem to forget each other, no matter their situation. Set in New York, the movie features a jazzy score courtesy of Harry Connick Jr, which instantly makes you want to grab a blanket and a hot drink and sink into the season’s warm grasp.
It’s a classic Meg Ryan rom-com, full of iconic comedic scenes, such as when she pretends to have an orgasm in the middle of a diner. Billy Crystal is great, too, playing the often challenging but loveable Harry, who makes for one of the most memorable leading men in the romantic comedy genre. If this film doesn’t make you want to book a one-way ticket to New York, I don’t know what will.
A Man and A Woman (1966, Claude Lelouch)
Sometimes, a rainy day calls for something hopelessly romantic and emotional, and Claude Lelouch’s A Man and A Woman is the perfect choice. The film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant and Anouk Aimée as single parents who meet when dropping their children off at school and form a connection. Yet, it’s not that simple; the pair are both haunted by the memories of their deceased lovers, with both individuals trying to navigate grief as they move forward with their romance.
There are many beautiful shots, with Lelouch mixing film stocks, such as black-and-white 35mm and nostalgic Super 8 to create a movie that feels effortlessly intimate. Full of longing and bittersweetness, it’s hard not to get swept away by the couple’s chemistry.
Submarine (Richard Ayoade, 2010)
If you were a teenager during the 2010s with a love of British indie music, there’s a chance that you grew up watching Submarine over and over. Yet, it’s a film that certainly endures beyond this due to its gorgeous visuals and brilliant humour. Craig Roberts plays the titular character, Oliver, terrifically. Awkward, cruel, insecure, and selfish, but wholly relatable at the same time, his character guides us through a damp and rainy vision of Wales.
Soundtracked by Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner, the film is cosy and picturesque, and the use of Super 8 clips gives it a warm feeling. The overall atmosphere of the film, which feels as though it’s set sometime in the ‘80s, is distinctively autumn appropriate. It begs association with the nights drawing in early and misty villages—perfect to stick on when the weather is less than glorious.
Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)
Although Paris, Texas begins in the desert, where the dry heat causes dust to settle in the wrinkles on the face of the main character, Travis, the movie provides plenty of sadness and bittersweetness to make it the ideal movie to play while it rains. Why not tap into the miserable mood outside your window by immersing yourself deep into a painful emotional drama? You might find yourself crying at this one – a tender yet heartbreaking exploration of family, love, memory, mistakes, and moving forward.
The film follows Travis, played beautifully by Harry Dean Stanton in his first leading role, a man who is rescued from aimless wandering by his brother, who assumed he had died. Travis is reunited with his young son, and the pair set out to find Jane, his estranged wife. That final scene, with neon lights contrasting the dark sky, makes for perfect rainy-day watching.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Jacques Demy, 1964)
What would a rainy day movie list be without a film that directly references such weather? Jacques Demy’s emotional French New Wave musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, centres around a woman, Geneviève, who works with her mother in an umbrella boutique, and she soon meets a mechanic named Guy and falls in love. It’s a story about heartbreak and the futility of love, with one of the best, most emotional endings in cinema history.
Even if musicals aren’t your thing, the movie is hard not to like. With its stunningly vivid aesthetics and compelling romantic plotline, it’s the sort of movie you want to curl up with as the rain gently kisses the window panes. For 90 minutes, Demy immerses us in his hopelessly devastating film, both gorgeous and moving.
Paddington (Paul King, 2014)
If you’re looking for a reason to plonk yourself under a warm blanket and increase your level of cosiness, then what better companion than a childhood bear? Paddington may have all the credentials necessary to situate itself as a children’s movie, but there’s genuine humanity in that duffel-coated bear.
There’s something about Paddington that feels like a warm hug on a cold, drizzly day. Full of British charm and a bright palette, it’s a film that radiates positivity. Paddington’s adventures around London, from finding a home with the Brown family to foiling a taxidermist’s sinister plans, are all about finding love and kindness in unexpected places. A rainy afternoon is the perfect backdrop to fall in love with this marmalade-loving bear, even if he is equipped to take on the weather outside.
Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
Many of the movies on our list are about escaping the rain. However, for the pluviophiles among us, there is only one movie that truly captures the intensity of a good old-fashioned downpour: Ridley Scott‘s 1982 masterpiece Blade Runner.
Scott’s sci-fi epic unfolds in a futuristic Los Angeles perpetually soaked by downpours, and there is something incredibly enticing about each of those raindrops. As Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard hunts down replicants in a neon-lit, noir-influenced dystopia, the constant rain becomes part of the film’s identity. There’s a melancholic beauty to this world, where the line between human and machine blurs as much as the reflections in rain puddles.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson, 2009)
Wes Anderson may have a case to make as the ultimate drizzly director. His ability to deliver pleasantly warming yet subtly unchallenging pictures is a genuine gift at this time of year. As the rain taps on your window, there’s no better place to escape to than the autumnal, underground world of Fantastic Mr. Fox.
A wily fox voiced by George Clooney is the kind of friend everyone needs, and the unique storytelling of Roald Dahl heightens the earthy tones of the cinematography. Whimsy, quirky characters and comforting style make this one of Anderson’s most underrated movies. Diving head first into his world is the ultimate hideaway from the turning weather.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Coen brothers, 2000)
If Wes Anderson is the autumnal auteur, then George Clooney may well be his acting equivalent. With a warm vocal as strong and comforting as his Nespresso, Clooney also takes centre stage in the wonderfully haphazard O Brother Where Art Thou? from the Coen brothers.
With its mythic, Odyssey-inspired tale, this offbeat comedy follows George Clooney and his companions on a surreal journey full of bluegrass music, escaped convicts, and zany misadventures. The rich visuals and toe-tapping soundtrack will have you forgetting the dreary skies outside. It’s a caramel cup of pure cinematic bliss that should not be disqualified.
Double Indemnity (Billy Wilder, 1944)
As essential as a cosy blanket and a warm cup of your favourite beverage, film noir is the ideal genre for a rainy day spent indoors. The condensation on your windows is given extra credence, the rain on your roof lands more loudly, and the cool breeze of autumn feels as chillsome as ever when you watch a film noir like Double Indemnity.
Watching Fred MacMurray’s salesman get tangled up in a web of criminal deceit is made all the better with a few raindrops on your window. With a moody palette lightened only by red-hot dialogue, Double Indemnity acts as the perfect weighted blanket for your afternoon.
