Among the more obscure genres when it comes to cinema, there are a strong number of fans who look for the best cottagecore films on Netflix when trying to unwind. When urban life becomes too stressful, it’s the perfect time to snuggle on the couch and watch some cottagecore movies, inspiring thoughts of faraway farms and simpler times. Fans enjoy getting lost in the themes of rustic innocence and cheerful camaraderie in the romanticized view of rural life, and Netflix has an impressive selection of movies with a cottagecore aesthetic.
Think rolling green hills dappled with golden sunlight, wearing snuggly sweaters by a fire, a quaint farmstead with a thatched roof, and the smell of old beloved books. Whether cottagecore fans prefer period pieces, modern rom-coms, or something a little bit magical, there’s a wide selection of cottagecore films on Netflix that offer inspiration for the homey lifestyle. While the era of these movies also lends itself to the unsettling gothic horror movie genre, cottagecore could not be further from that, with the kind of stories that make viewers want to grab a cozy cardigan, a cup of tea, and a sense of wonder.
Persuasion (2022)
When thinking of the cottagecore vibe, it is almost impossible not to think about the writings of author Jane Austen. Her novels are filled with some of the most common aspects of the genre, from the sweeping countryside to conversations about love and life over tea. Dakota Johnson stars in this Austen adaptation of Persuasion as Anne Elliott, the daughter of a snobbish family who, years after being convinced to turn down a man of humble stature, unexpectedly reunites with him. There are some people who felt Persuasion made mistakes with its adaptation, but the chaste yet intense romance should more than satisfy cottagecore fans.
Summerland (2020)
There is one type of cottagecore movie that uses intense moments in history to tell their intimate, cozy, and comforting stories. Summerland is a perfect example of this, as it is set in a small seaside English community during World War II. A reclusive writer is forced to take care of a young boy who is among the evacuees of the city. Though she is reluctant, at first, she gradually forms a bond with the boy. The images of this sweet friendship taking shape on the beautiful coastal cliffsides of this community is the kind of images cottagecore is built from.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Just as Stranger Things prepares to end, Millie Bobby Brown has a new Netflix franchise on her hands with Enola Holmes in which she plays the sleuthing younger sister of Sherlock. When her mother goes missing and her brother, The World’s Greatest Detective, is busy being famous, Enola heads to London to solve the case herself. When she’s not running around the soot-filled streets, Enola lives in a fabulous country estate, studying poetry, classical languages, painting, and fencing. All she wants is to find her mother so they can get back to putting on fun plays by candlelight, eating biscuits, and basically having the best cottagecore lifestyle.
Falling Inn Love (2019)
When a busy executive enters a “Win an Inn” contest after suffering a horrible break-up, she suddenly finds herself leaving everything behind to live in rural New Zealand. Through transforming The Bellbird Valley Farm, she not only finds a new lease on life but on love, as well. The Lord of the Rings movies proved that New Zealand makes for a beautiful filming location, and Falling Inn Love fully captures the wild beauty of the land. Viewers shouldn’t be surprised if they take one look at the stunning countryside in this cottagecore film on Netflix and want to fly there themselves.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
The mix of cottagecore comfort and intriguing mystery-solving returns in the sequel Enola Holmes 2. This time around, Enola is struggling to kickstart her own detective agency when she takes on a case involving a missing factory worker in this cottagecore film on Netflix. Along with more conspiracies and action, Enola leans into other aspects of the cottagecore genre with elaborately costumed balls, romantic meetings in the park, and the British high society of the 1800s. Another bonus is that the sequel features a lot more of Henry Cavill’s Sherlock Holmes, sharing terrific chemistry with Brown as the siblings take on the case.
Effie Gray (2014)
When a young woman named Effie Gray (Dakota Fanning) marries a distinguished Victorian writer, she believes that she’ll be swept up into a world of romance and poetic beauty. Unfortunately, her husband can’t distinguish between seeing her as a muse or as his life partner, and she must find ways to soothe the uneasiness in her soul. Based on a true story, Effie Gray strikes a balance between being a gripping period drama from the 2010s and a feminist fairytale, revealing the power that comes with living authentically. The world in which these romantic and intense Victorian writers existed seems like the ideal cottagecore setting.
The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society (2018)
Among Lily James’ best movies are more than a few cottagecore entries, including this overlooked gem. The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society takes place on the small island of Guernsey, which was occupied by German forces during World War II. Within the small tight-knit community, a courtship between a writer from London and one of the handsome residents begins after they exchange a series of heartfelt letters. Set in the 1940s, it’s part period drama and part historical romance, with an abundance of cozy vintage garments to covet. Despite the sad reminders of the occupation that hang over the movie, it nevertheless reminds cottagecore fans to take joy in the simple pleasures of life.
The Dig (2021)
Though Ralph Fiennes is best known as Voldemort and for his other villainous roles, he is charming alongside Carey Mulligan in this quiet and dramatic cottagecore film on Netflix. It’s based on the true story of Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), a widow who hires small-time archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to unearth several mounds located on her English estate. And what they find is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. It’s impossible not to get excited with the thrill of the chase that The Dig provides, especially as new developments — and romantic feelings — keep the pace crackling.
My Girl (1991)
Summertime bike rides, first kisses, and lake swimming never looked as appealing as they do in My Girl, a cottagecore movie about a spunky tomboy who gets over the death of her mother by befriending a quirky little boy from school. The movie has such a strong following that fans are still waiting for My Girl 3 after all these years. This cottagecore film on Netflix highlights the special seeds of friendship that, when sewn in youth, offer a lifetime of keepsake memories. But cottagecore fans are warned, though: tissues are required to view Macaulay Culkin at his most precious.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)
While there is a subdued and quaint feel to many of the cottagecore films on Netflix, some of the most popular feature a passionate love affair. Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the latest adaptation of the romance novel by D.H Lawrence, which tells the story of an aristocrat’s lonely wife (Emma Corrin) who begins an affair with the gamekeeper (Jack O’Connell) on her husband’s estate. While Lady Chatterley’s Lover makes changes to the book, the movie captures the stolen glances and love scenes that take place on the beautiful grounds of the estate.
