Movies to Get You into the Fall Mood

Although almost everyone spent the spring season dreaming of warm summery days, not many are ready to say goodbye to beach days and iced beverages. Now with Halloween decorations about to fill the stores, and colored leaves starting to blanket the streets, even summer lovers must begin to admit that fall is among us. But while the season is usually associated with sadness, gloominess, and darkness, perhaps there is more to fall than what the eye meets. Take, for instance, love stories, new beginnings, and the holidays to come. Plus, who can forget about the delicious desserts?!

So, whether you’re excited about the new season or simply want to distract yourself from the fact that it’s about to get too chilly to wear shorts, here are some movies that’ll definitely get you into the fall mood.

Little Women (2019)

Retelling the classic story of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, also titled Little Women, the movie follows the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they transition from young girls to women with the American civil war as their backdrop. But as they all start to funnel out of the nest, each with big dreams to chase, will they be able to still hold onto the bond that’s kept them so close? Will they be able to understand that while they grew up under the same roof, they are all very different people with separate priorities and goals? 

Although some might consider Little Women a romantic film, director Greta Gerwig makes it very clear through the sister’s relationships with their future partners that it is anything but. Nonetheless, another form of affection, perhaps one that warms the heart even more than romantic love, can be easily found within the story, and that’s the admiration each sister has for one another and their family. Combining an excellent cast all telling a classic tale with aspects still relevant today, adding Little Women to your watchlist will be something you won’t regret.

Knives Out (2019)

With the holidays just around the corner, many usually associate fall with new romances and warm family reunions, imagining both parties cozying up in front of the fireplace, marshmallow-filled drinks in hand. But who says fall can’t have murder? And who says birthday parties can’t be deadly? After celebrating his 85th birthday with family and loved ones, recognized crime novelist, Harlan Thrombey, retires to his room with very little knowledge that that will be the last place he visits. 

While his death is initially ruled as a suicide, renowned Detective Benoit Blanc can’t help but think that there’s something more sinister afoot… or perhaps someone. But when everyone is a suspect, when everyone is guilty of something, Blanc must work fast and look beyond the lies he’s told to uncover the murderer between them, before they strike again. Director Rian Johnson manages to add his own touch to the classic whodunit storyline, mixing in comedy with plot twists you won’t see coming. 

Practical Magic (1998)

Filled with curses, witches, and above all magic, this movie is perfect for the spooky season lovers who can’t wait for Halloween. Sisters Sally and Gillian Owens couldn’t be more alike. The only thing that connects them is their magic and the fact that they’ve always been by each other’s side, continuously having one another’s back since their parent’s death. Everyone in their small New England town believes that they’re witches, but what they don’t know is that their powers aren’t always a blessing. You see, all the women of the Owens family are cursed to never love as any man they do feel for will be doomed.

Now, as young women, they both set out on different paths. With the family curse looming over them, each sister decides to take her own measures to protect herself. But no matter what they do to escape, whether that be in their small town or falling in love, both women find themselves back at their aunts’ house with lives more complicated than they thought possible. Now they must work together again to untangle the mess they find themselves in, but after all this time apart will their sisterly bond remain strong?

Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

While Christmas is usually connected with sleigh bells ringing, this particular season is typically linked to school bells buzzing. Now, if you’ve spent the last couple of weeks trapped in the back-to-school shopping cycle or want desperately to feel any excitement about the first week of classes, this film might be for you. The movie centers around Katherine, an art history teacher and modern thinker who just accepted a position at a prestigious all-girls private school during the 1950s. 

While she’s eager to shape the young ladies’ minds, she soon discovers that although they are all incredibly bright, none hold any hopes or dreams for their future besides marrying well. But can this one teacher change what the girls ever knew about their traditional roles in society? Mona Lisa Smile is a film that emphasizes the power and significance of education, something we sometimes forget.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

And last but not least comes the classic fall movie series that many rewatch every year. While all the Harry Potter movies can remind viewers of fall, the first installment perfectly sets the mood for the others to follow. This is because the film always manages to successfully make audiences nostalgic and sentimental, all the while still allowing for spookiness to rise. What other emotions better describe the fall season? 

The movie follows Harry, a young boy who discovers that he, much like his deceased parents, processes magical abilities and is invited to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry to master his skill. But will he be able to navigate this new world he’s just been exposed to? I guess there is only one way to find out!

Photo: Okrasiuk/Shutterstock

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