It is easy at this time of year to feel like Christmas films are the only option, but it is still a little early. Maybe you’ve run out of inspiration, are eager and have made your way through the Christmas classics already, or perhaps you simply aren’t a fan of Christmas films. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here, I have compiled a list of some of the best winter warmer movies. From the tales of Hogwarts to a chocolate factory and a magical version of England, these films will take you to new worlds. Here are my five favourite films to watch before December. 

Stardust is a 2007 romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Matthew Vaughn and based on Neil Gaiman’s 1999 novel. It features an ensemble cast led by Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, with narration by Ian McKellen. The plot reads: “Tristan promises Victoria to get a star from the magical kingdom of Stormhold that exists beyond the Wall. Trying to keep his promise, Tristan ends up having an adventure that changes his life.”

The sixth instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a 2009 fantasy film directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 2005 novel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry’s best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively. The film’s plot reads: “Dumbledore and Harry Potter learn more about Voldemort’s past and his rise to power. Meanwhile, Harry stumbles upon an old potions textbook belonging to a person calling himself the Half-Blood Prince.”

The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy film series and based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels by C. S. Lewis. The film’s synopsis reads: “During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).”

Not the first adaptation of this book, but Greta Gerwig’s take on the book by Louisa May Alcott takes the story to new heights. It’s starry cast including Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern and Timothée Chalame give it a fresh take, while also doing the book justice. It will have the tears flooding from your eyes. The film’s synopsis reads: “While the March sisters enter the threshold of womanhood, they go through many ups and downs in life and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future.”

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 musical fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and written by John August, based on the 1964 children’s novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The film stars Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket, alongside David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, Deep Roy, and Christopher Lee. The film’s plot reads: “Charlie, a young boy from an impoverished family, and four other children win a tour of an amazing chocolate factory run by an imaginative chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and his staff of Oompa-Loompas.”