For many, fall brings back cozy memories and the beloved pumpkin spice beverages to coffee shops throughout the country. However, saying goodbye to a sun-soaked summer is never an easy task, but with autumn comes the comfort of warm hoodies and movie nights at home. Whether football is your forte or it’s the glow of autumn leaves that you love, movies encapsulate some of the very warmth that the season emulates itself. Just because horror movies aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, it doesn’t mean the season is barren on comfort films. Here are ten of the most essential autumn movies, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
10 Silver Linings Playbook
The Weinstein Company
Every September, NFL fans kickoff the football season. Silver Linings Playbook, the film that won Jennifer Lawrence her Academy Award for Best Actress, heavily relies on football to drive the plot home. Pat Solitano, played by Bradley Cooper, lives in Philadelphia and is a huge Eagles fan. One of the film’s scenes even takes place at a tailgate at Eagle’s Stadium. Silver Linings Playbook is the perfect movie to watch if you’re looking for a great profession of love, or if you’re really stoked for football.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 The Village
Touchstone Pictures
M. Night Shyamalan has a long list of thrillers that conclude with a shocking twist, and 2004’s The Village is one of them. The film is by no means overtly scary, but the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. Assumed to be some time in the 1600s, a group of villagers is told they can’t leave the parameter of the town or monsters that reside in the woods will attack them. The villagers dress in a vibrant mustard yellow cloak when venturing near the woods to keep the monsters away. The Village is a film that feels like damp leaves, and is perfect for an autumn watch without any jump scares.
8 Good Will Hunting
Miramax Films
Good Will Hunting is a heart-warming film about second chances and embracing change. Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, has recently been paroled from jail and is working at a university as a janitor. He solves a difficult problem posted by Professor Lambeau, played by Stellan Skarsgard, but remains unknown. After he is caught solving another problem, Lambeau takes Will under his wing and puts him in contact with Dr. Sean Maguire, played by Robin Williams. With the guidance of Maguire, Will is able to find peace with himself.
7 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
Charlie Brown holiday specials seem almost essential at this point, however, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is one of the all-time best. Linus, voiced by Christopher Shea, waits in the pumpkin patch for “the great pumpkin” to appear. The 25-minute short showcases all the aspects of fall that there are to love, but essentially reminds us of the magic Halloween brings through the child-like wonder of Linus making it an absolutely autumn must-watch.
6 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Harry Potter marathon usually makes its way to TV on Thanksgiving, however, there is absolutely no shame in starting one sooner — or whenever you want for that matter. The Harry Potter Series is the perfect way to welcome the new school year, as in almost all the early films, the young wizards are heading back to Hogwarts. Yet, one of the most dazzling parts of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is being introduced to the world for the very first time. This includes all the glorious feasts — especially the Halloween feast. The floating jack-o-lanterns and themed foods are more than enough to put you in the autumn spirit.
5 The Goonies
Warner Bros.
It is hard to think about movies from the 80s and not recount the cult classic The Goonies. The film is set in Astoria, Oregon along the coast, where a group of young boys embark on the adventure of a lifetime. The Goonies is the ultimate feel-good movie. The film is about friendship, adventure, and not judging a book by its cover.
4 Coraline
Laika
2009’s Coraline is a stop-motion animated film about a young girl who finds herself dazzled by an idealized world that embodies an alternate version of her parents. Oh, and they have buttons for eyes. The film has a PG-rating, and although it is completely child-friendly, Coraline has moments that are straight horror. Despite a grim plot at points, the film is full of lessons and is easily one of the best animated horror movies ever made.
3 The Craft
Columbia Pictures
Witches seem to come in all shapes and varieties, and 20th-Century movies feature some of the best. The Craft is just about as 90s as any 90s movie can be, and the cast is absolutely stellar. Four high school girls form a bond that stretches far beyond their means, and together work to gain what they want through witchcraft. The Craft is a great movie to pop on during the autumn season if you’re looking for something entertaining and not remotely scary.
2 Sleepy Hollow
Paramount Pictures
There is no better time than autumn to settle in with an American classic short story, and 1999’s Sleepy Hollow is the perfect movie to put you in a gloomy mood. Tim Burton’s retelling uses dark hues and moody blues to bring to life Ichabod Crane and his brush with the Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow pairs perfect with a rainy fall day.
1 Hocus Pocus
Walt Disney Pictures
No autumn movie watch list can be complete without the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus. This year is extra special because the Sanderson Sisters are set to return for the long awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2, which, per Digital Spy, is set to debut on Disney+ on September 30. The first film is a yearly must-watch not only for its overwhelmingly on-point comedic beats, but it allows viewers to return to Salem, Massachusetts alongside the three witches. Hocus Pocus is a staple on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween schedule, with it airing almost every day and being the network’s final movie on Halloween night. How many times will you relight the black flame candle this fall?
