It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year, and while those eight words might signify festive Christmas carols, it also applies to the special season that exists right before it. Fall, autumn, spooky season, long-celebrated Halloween — whatever you call it, the “ber” months are certainly some of the most beautiful, wonderful, and cozy.
The weather cools, the crisp breeze tugs on tree branches, and leaves sway to the ground almost poetically. It is the perfect time of year to cozy up with your drink of choice and a Halloween or fall-themed warm blanket. Think cute Peanuts mugs, wine glasses adorned with ghosts, and blankets with deep reds, oranges, and forest greens to tie it all together.
But what would make a cozy night in even better? The right movie, of course. We’ve compiled a list of 15 films to get you in the mood for all things autumn. Whether it’s a Halloween film, a movie that feels like fall, or a backdrop that looks like a quaint town you’d want to relocate to, these films capture the essence of a changing season, and the most beautiful one at that.
Practical Magic
Is there anything more perfect for your fall movie watch than Practical Magic? We think not. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, two sisters who just so happen to be witches, the film explores the topic of magic and all things fall, and also serves as a lesson in being there for your people, honoring bonds that defy life and death, and being in the perfect spirit for all things cozy, warm, and mesmerizing.
The Blind Side
Okay, yes, we’re including another Sandra Bullock movie on this list — sue me. The heartfelt film echoes exactly what fall is supposed to feel like — surrounded by love, family, friends, and of course, football. That being said, including this in your fall binge-watch is going to require several boxes of tissues, so be sure to plan accordingly as you watch Bullock’s character open her household up to a young man in need of family and support.
Halloweentown
Carefully drifting into Halloween territory, it seems incredibly silly to showcase a list of eye-catching fall movies without including one of the very best — yes, that would be Disney’s Halloweentown. Decades after first premiering on Disney Channel in 1998, the fun-filled project has become a staple of Halloween and is often considered a modern cult classic. With an incredible performance from the incomparable Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell, it’s a must-watch for your festive autumn movie marathon.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Potterhead or not, I would venture to guarantee that most members of the movie-loving masses find the autumn season one of the most appropriate times to indulge in a Potter marathon. Now, one could simultaneously argue that the Christmas season is a far better time to watch all things Potter, but the spookiness presented in the later films tells a different story. So whether you’re a die-hard or not, adding the first Potter movie to your list is a wise decision this fall.
Knives Out
A murder mystery with impeccable knit sweaters? Sign me up. Knives Out is a fun movie to watch no matter when you see it, but it’s a particularly excellent fall movie because of how a foggy chill seems to weigh so heavily on the mood of the entire film. Thanks to its browns and oranges, Knives Out is one of the best movies for getting you in the mood to put on a cable knit sweater and some Chelseas and go solve a startlingly elaborate murder mystery featuring some absurdly wealthy people.
Sweet Home Alabama
Ah, let’s be honest… who doesn’t just love love? If you’re looking for the perfect heartfelt movie to enjoy this fall, then look no further than this Reese Witherspoon classic. From the movie’s gorgeous setting and fall-esque atmosphere, to its fall-adjacent release date back in September 2002, it’s hard to discount just how significant this film is at capturing that familiar fall vibe. So, what are you waiting for? Add it to the list, pronto.
Hocus Pocus
Perhaps the quintessential Halloween movie for an entire generation, Hocus Pocus has become iconic thanks to the actresses at its center and its effortless spooky vibe. It’s a movie about witches that isn’t terribly scary, making it perfect for people who like the paraphernalia around scary movies but don’t like being scared. Hocus Pocus is feel-good witchy fun, and we can’t help but fall more in love with Binx after every re-watch, or realize how much we’ve become like Billy as we’ve aged.
Coraline
It might not be the first movie concerned parents contemplate when imagining a fall lineup for their kids — you know, because of how absolutely terrifying it can be at times, but there’s simply no denying how equally fantastic Coraline is. From its engaging premise to its startling filmmaking, it is the perfect movie to inject those familiar Halloween vibes into your daily autumn routine. Don’t let the bizarre moments deter you; this needs to be on your marathon list.
Remember the Titans
There are plenty of great football movies to choose from, but none capture the fall atmosphere quite like Remember the Titans. The film, its storyline, the brotherhood, and the stellar performances by some of the biggest names in entertainment all conspire to make this film a must-watch when football season rolls around. The sport is at the heart of the film, but its more significant message is about bonds, love, and dedication to one another.
Dead Poets Society
Another movie inextricably linked to fall, Dead Poets Society is set during the fall semester of a boys’ private school. The movie’s genuine appreciation for fine art and Robin Williams’ central performance as a teacher encouraging his students to experience the world to the fullest are just two reasons to fall in love with this delightful movie. Dead Poets Society ends on a tragic but hopeful note, and it’s the perfect movie for when you want to cry into your beautiful wool sweater.
You’ve Got Mail
An adaptation of The Little Shop Around the Corner for the internet age, You’ve Got Mail is another beautiful movie about living in New York City. There are vibrant cocktail parties, plenty of exploration of AOL message boards circa 1998, and a re-pairing of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks following Sleepless in Seattle five years earlier. Despite its internet trappings, You’ve Got Mail is really a tribute to small bookstores, which may have the most excellent fall energy of all.
The Addams Family
A fall/Halloween movie lineup without everybody’s favorite kooky family? Well, that just wouldn’t feel right, would it? The 1991 classic is just as outrageous and over-the-top as most of its Halloween counterparts, but that’s what makes these projects so beloved in the first place. Plus, its ever-growing spark eventually helped create Netflix’s Wednesday, so if you needed an extra silver lining, there it is. So, go ahead, add it to the list. We promise a spooktacular good time you won’t soon forget.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox is as inventive and timeless as one autumn movie possibly can be. It’s basically a requirement to include this fall staple on every list, ever. In keeping with autumn atmospheres, there’s not much about this movie that doesn’t register as one of the perfect films to enjoy while curled up with a warm blanket and a book. To this day, the movie remains devastatingly underrated. Truly, it’s an all-around perfect movie. Plus, watching this after Hocus Pocus will help to rid you of the guilt of delighting in the Sanderson Sisters, who, we tend to forget, eat children.
Beetlejuice
I mean, it’s a classic in its own right, so we would look incredibly foolish (or ghoulish) if we didn’t include one of the best autumn/Halloween movies of all time. Starring the ever-talented Michael Keaton, the 1988 Halloween staple is exactly the sort of movie to elevate and uplift the rest of the movies on this list. It’s zany, campy, and ridiculous, and we certainly wouldn’t have it any other way, which is precisely why it belongs in your autumn binge-watch.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Is there a movie out there that conveys the feel-good autumn message more than this 1966 classic? I think not. For decades, the beloved festive special was annually broadcast on television on a variety of networks, but in today’s entertainment climate, the ever-influential fall staple is now readily available to stream on Apple TV Plus. It’s the sort of classic movie you won’t regret watching, because, let’s face it, the Peanuts gang is always entertaining.