10 Must-See Cottagecore Movies (With A Happy Ending)
As the world grows more complicated and dark by the hour, it's wholly understandable why people would feel longing for a more simple lifestyle. Enter, cottagecore as an aesthetic that's not only all over Pinterest boards, but it's an idea that's present in romance novels, movies, TV shows, and everyday conversations people have with each other.
The idea here isn't so much about a literal cottage (though, yes, that's a part of it), but it's about effortlessly vibrant locations, the outdoors, and the polar opposite of millennial grey. It's about love and friendships and quiet moments. It's about a world where there's no social media at our fingertips or even a phone that holds way too much power over our heads.
From Little Women (1994) to The Holiday, here are the best cottagecore movies that feel like a perfect escape, as well as where to stream them on platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, and more.
Choosing one out of the two amazing Little Women adaptations feels like a crime, but in many ways, it's also especially important to highlight the 1994 version because of its original score and how Thomas Newman's "Orchard House" feels like the very theme meant to encapsulate exactly what cottagecore illustrates. It's nostalgic, lovely, and in truth, utterly indescribable. It's a small taste of magic that can easily transport us all to a place that feels cozy and warm.
And while all versions of the story include Beth March's tragic death, there's still a comfort throughout when we're spending time with the March family, and happiness in each of the characters following their dreams. This goes without saying, but if you loved Greta Gerwig's Little Women (2019) and have never seen the 1994 adaptation, know that it's just as lovely, moving, and undeniably worth watching.
You can't have a cottagecore aesthetic without the movie that features the literal most stunning cottage in film history. I could write a whole dissertation on how Iris' cottage in The Holiday probably rewired all our brain chemistry with its stone walls, mismatched furniture, and dreamy sage blue window panes. It's the literal dream, in more ways than one, and the stunning love stories both Kate Winslet's Iris and Cameron Diaz's Amanda experience during the movie are everything, too.
The Holiday signifies exactly what it means to walk away from the things in our lives that are breaking our spirit and stepping into a different world that fully allows for the best version of ourselves to come out. It's a quintessential rom-com with immense heart, the most gorgeously earned happy endings (yes, plural), and an absolute must-watch Christmas movie for anyone who loves the found family element in While You Were Sleeping (1995).
Sure, Pemberley is the polar opposite of a small cottage, but the Bennet family home and all the cinematic moments of simplicity that Joe Wright captures scream nostalgia and comfort. There are plenty of reasons why this version is so revered, and the visuals are surely in the top three reasons. And while it's still mostly accurate to Jane Austen's novel, there's a vibrancy that makes the era feel extra beguiling.
You want to walk to the same clifftop Elizabeth goes to, you want to stand by the lake, or take a contemplative stroll at dawn. Pair the stunning visuals with an even more enchanting soundtrack from Dario Marianelli and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and you get an extra dose of magic that's indescribable. If you're a romance fan, it's also sheer perfection for how beautifully Elizabeth and Darcy are brought to life. Pride & Prejudice is a near-perfect movie from beginning to end, and one that's utterly dreamy when it comes to the concept of cottagecore.
Practical Magic isn't exactly cottagecore in the same way that Little Women or The Holiday is, but its coziness makes it an absolute must-watch for small-town escapism and charming nostalgia. In addition, of the many gorgeous houses that serve as a distinct character in the story, I would love the chance to live in the Owens' house. Midnight margaritas and dances in the kitchen, with trinkets in every corner and a lovely backyard that's utterly mesmerizing? Swoon.
There may be dark elements in Practical Magic with Gillian's arc involving Jimmy Angelov, but everything about the movie is still unquestionably cozy. The sisterhood, the late '90s outfits, the Owens family lore, and the romance that gives Sandra Bullock's Sally a second chance at love make for a must-watch that's guaranteed to bring joy. Plus, with Practical Magic 2 (2026) releasing this year, now's the best time to revisit the original.
I went back and forth a bit with whether to add Sense and Sensibility (1995) or Northanger Abbey, and we're going with the latter solely for the gothic vibes as an addition for the people who want their cottagecore aesthetic to feature a little more of a bite. And a part of Northanger Abbey that works to showcase the vibe best is, like Pride & Prejudice, found in the moments in between. It's during the strolls in Bath and the countryside, but it's also a bit in the titular estate.
There's also something about Catherine Morland's means of romanticizing all the stories she reads that bleeds into this very aesthetic of what we're doing while we watch these movies. It matters significantly to honor how we all consume and interact with art. It's also one of the more underrated of Austen's stories, so if you do love Sense and Sensibility, be sure to watch Northanger Abbey for all of Jane Austen's familiar yearning.
While Disney live-action movies rarely feel as magical as their animated counterparts, Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella shines as an example of how to get it right. And though the story in general is the opposite of cottagecore, as it explores the idea of moving on to bigger and better, there's still plenty of charm and simplicity in how Ella and Kit fall in love that makes it the right kind of escape.
There's a quaintness in Lily James' embodiment and how she layers Ella with so much kindness and lovely warmth. There's a transparency in how they fall in love with each other long before they ever dance together at the ball—out in the woods, with the animals, and when he sees her for who she really is. Branagh's vision in ensuring that the entirety of Ella's arc is wrapped up in this beautiful glow with her love and attachment to nature is exactly what makes the film so lovely.
Like Cinderella, Pride & Prejudice, and even Northanger Abbey, while The Sound of Music takes place mostly in a larger estate, everything about the film embodies cottagecore, including the moment where Captain von Trapp heroically rips up the Nazi flag. The nostalgia and simplicity of the cottagecore aesthetic isn't about wanting to escape grand lifestyles, but it's about yearning for the comfort of a world where things are lovely and good—where there are characters and men we could trust.
And for me personally, I'd consider a terrace a part of the aesthetic, and I know I'm not the only person who was forever changed by Maria and Captain von Trapp's dance. This is the exact moment where romance peaked, and we're all better for it. There's a warmth and indescribable feeling that's transcendent after watching The Sound of Music, and it's exactly what makes it such a beautiful classic.
There are a few versions of Anne of Green Gables that quite literally fit the cottagecore aesthetic down to every minute detail, and alongside Netflix's adaptation, Anne With an E (2017), is the 1985 limited series (basically, you can't make a list like this and not include our beloved Anne.) The limited series does a perfect job of encapsulating the beloved story, but the two episodes also essentially make it feel like a movie, so you won't have to commit to five or six episodes.
Anne of Green Gables is an iconic and deeply special story for so many of us, so having any of these films or shows on rotation works to feed the longing for cozy, simple vibes in the countryside. From the costumes to the performance and every set piece, the limited series holds up and continuously reminds you of why it's so enormous for girls growing up. And if you've yet to watch it, now's the chance to change that.
Miss Potter is a mix of heartbreak and second chances, but it's also a lovely account of Beatrix Potter's life, and perfect for anyone who adores Jo March's arc in Little Women. Renee Zellweger delivers a tremendous performance as the titular character, and every beat where we see her fighting for her dreams is especially profound. The life of a writer isn't always as idyllic as films paint it to be, but how everything comes to pass in Miss Potter makes for a lovely escape.
It might be a stark contrast to the realities, but it's a lovely reminder of the idea that it's worth trying to do the very thing you feel like you are born to do. Though there's death and heartache, the bittersweet ending isn't too devastating, and the entire movie is worth watching at least once.
While The Notebook also doesn't have a quaint, tiny cottage, the film's entire heart is about choosing simplicity and the love that shapes you. It's a romance that's so worthwhile and so timeless that there are few things cozier than its heart, especially when Noah and Allie are younger. And let's be honest with ourselves, Noah might build Allie's dream home, but it's certainly not a castle or a mansion—it's a home built from the ground up with memories of a time where everything was lovely.
And Allie's choice to leave her comfortable life to stay with Noah in the space where she spent her greatest summer is so significant when it comes to recognizing how cottagecore is all about the simple things instead of the luxuries. It's the kind of romance that sees two people dying together because that's how powerful their connection is. Perfect for anyone who loves the second chance romance trope.
