15 Best Movies for a Rainy Night In

By Vlad Zakh · August 6, 2026

United States Drama slow and atmospheric feel good rainy night in

A rainy evening has its own mood, and it isn’t a loud action movie. These are films that let the weather do half the work. The Shape of Water is rain-soaked and romantic in the strangest way, Amelie is warm and whimsical, The Notebook is a rainy-night cliche that earned it, and Chocolat is cosy, slow and visually warm. Howl’s Moving Castle, Midnight in Paris, Julie & Julia, The Secret Garden, Rear Window, Groundhog Day and Little Women round out the list.

The Shape of Water (2017)

01

The Shape of Water (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 92% Metacritic 87

A mute janitor falls for a captive amphibious creature in a Cold War-era research facility.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro · 2h 03m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars138 wins & 350 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Amelie (2001)

02

Amelie (2001)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 90% Metacritic 70

A whimsical Parisian waitress secretly arranges small acts of kindness for people around her.

Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet · 2h 02m · Rated R

Nominated for 5 Oscars60 wins & 74 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Notebook (2004)

03

The Notebook (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 55% Metacritic 53

The gold standard for a proper cry, still working two decades later.

Directed by Nick Cassavetes · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

12 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Chocolat (2000)

04

Chocolat (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A free-spirited woman's new chocolate shop stirs up passion and controversy in a conservative French village.

Directed by Lasse Hallström · 2h 01m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

05

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 88% Metacritic 82

A young woman cursed with old age seeks refuge in the walking castle of a mysterious wizard.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 59m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar14 wins & 20 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Midnight in Paris (2011)

06

Midnight in Paris (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 93% Metacritic 81

A writer's midnight walks through Paris keep dropping him into the city's glamorous 1920s.

Directed by Woody Allen · 1h 34m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar26 wins & 103 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Julie & Julia (2009)

07

Julie & Julia (2009)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A modern blogger cooking through a legendary chef's cookbook finds her story intertwined with the chef's.

Directed by Nora Ephron · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Secret Garden (1993)

08

The Secret Garden (1993)

TMDB ★ 7.0

An orphaned girl discovers a magical hidden garden that transforms her uncle's gloomy estate.

Directed by Agnieszka Holland · 1h 41m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Rear Window (1954)

09

Rear Window (1954)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 99% Metacritic 100

A photographer laid up with a broken leg becomes convinced he's witnessed a murder across the courtyard.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 53m · Rated PG

Nominated for 4 Oscars7 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Groundhog Day (1993)

10

Groundhog Day (1993)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 93% Metacritic 72

A time-loop premise that still gets remade in spirit every few years.

Directed by Harold Ramis · 1h 41m · Rated PG

Won 1 BAFTA Award7 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Little Women (2019)

11

Little Women (2019)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 95% Metacritic 91

A fresh, non-linear retelling of the March sisters' story, opening on a snowbound Christmas.

Directed by Greta Gerwig · 2h 15m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar73 wins & 229 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Age of Adaline (2015)

12

The Age of Adaline (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A woman who stopped ageing decades ago must decide whether to risk her secret for a chance at love.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger · 1h 52m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Practical Magic (1998)

13

Practical Magic (1998)

IMDb ★ 6.4 RT 31% Metacritic 47

Two witch sisters try to break a generations-old family curse on their love lives.

Directed by Griffin Dunne · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Fish (2003)

14

Big Fish (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 76% Metacritic 58

A son tries to separate fact from fantasy in his dying father's tall tales.

Directed by Tim Burton · 2h 05m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar69 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Holiday (2006)

15

The Holiday (2006)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 51% Metacritic 52

Two heartbroken women swap houses across the Atlantic and each fall for someone new.

Directed by Nancy Meyers · 2h 16m · Rated PG-13

2 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.