Nothing gets you in a fall mood than movies that are the metaphorical equivalent of a warm cup of spiced cider. 

Grab a blanket and a warm beverage of your choice; we’re binge-watching fall movies! If you are looking for romantic comedies, dark academia drama, kid-friendly fantasies, or thrillers, then this list is for you. 

Romantic Comedies

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

This 1989 movie starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal set in New York City will have you wanting for an autumnal romance filled with coffee dates and a breezy walk at a park littered with red leaves. If that’s too much, then at least watch it for Meg Ryan’s covetous fall outfits. Seriously, her blazer collection alone will get you in the fall mood almost immediately.

Juno (2007)

This coming-of-age movie starring Canadian icons Elliot Page and Michael Cera will warm your heart so get your tissues ready. Page’s character, Juno, is a sixteen-year-old high school student who gets pregnant by Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). After the failed attempt at abortion, Juno then decides to keep the baby and put it up for adoption. The movie follows the teenager navigate expeditious adulthood through the lens of another family.

Dark Academia Drama

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Set in Vermont in the autumn of 1959 (that phrase alone should convince you that this is perfect for fall), a group of students in an elite prep school was inspired by their English teacher as he taught them the art of poetry. Fair warning that this movie is sweater-vest heavy. 

The Riot Club (2014)

This thriller drama movie starring Sam Clafin, Max Irons and Douglass Booth is about a fictional elite all-boys club at the University of Oxford. As expected, an exclusive club filled with arrogant, rich, spoilt boys leads to a thrilling, dark story that involves excessive drinking, right-leaning politics, and murder. 

Kid-Friendly Fantasies

The Harry Potter Series

One can argue that the entire Harry Potter movie series are both applicable as Halloween and Christmas movies. Since we’re talking about fall, movies like Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban are the ones that will get you in the fall mood. 

The Addams Family (1991)

A movie about a romantic goth family who are oddly wholesome? Need I say more?

Thrillers

Knives Out (2019)

A whodunnit mystery film revolving around a strange death of a wealthy novelist. This star-studded film is a fun watch that will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. 

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

This psychological thriller is a movie adaptation of a novel of the same name. It revolves around a young woman who is thinking of ending things with her new boyfriend while also agreeing to take a trip with him to meet his parents. This highly-acclaimed movie is a must-watch. 

Crimson Peak (2015)

A movie described as “ghost story and gothic romance”, this stylized ghost movie will capture you through Guillermo del Toro’s knack for a beautiful creepy atmosphere. It’s cold yet romantic and with the help of impressive performances from Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, and Tom Hiddleston, this movie will fill you with Victorian horror appropriate for the cooling season. 

Published by HOLR Magazine.