“August slipped away into a moment of time,
‘Cause it was never mine”
It’s that time of year again! The kids are heading back to school, the leaves are going to start changing colors, and warm drinks are back in season. Autumn is a special time of the year for us movie lovers, too. It means cold nights that are spent on the couch, cozying up with warm lights and a movie on the screen.
As a movie-lover, there are just certain movies we all prefer to watch during specific times of the year, and Autumn is a big season for us! While the turn of the season does mean that we’ll all be spending less time outside and in the sun, we can still make the most of it with the characters we love, and the stories we invest time into.
From spooky and scary to cozy and warm, here are some of the best movies to watch this season!
AMERICAN PSYCHO
American Psycho is a classic horror/slasher/satirical film. Honestly, it’s one of my favorites. Based on the novel written by Bret Easton Ellis, this film adaptation came out in 2000, directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale. Set in the 1980s, the movie shines a light on consumerism and yuppie culture by following Wall Street guys who think the same, talk the same, and look the same.
The story follows Patrick Bateman, a New York City investment banker who has a not-so-secret dark side as a serial killer. Patrick leads two different lives. At work, he is a polished, meticulous neat-freak who appeals to all of his high-class shallow associates. He secretly hates all of them, but plays along with the charade. Patrick’s violence is revealed as he despises Paul Allen, another business man Bateman is regularly confused as. After killing Allen in his prestige apartment while listening to “Hip to be Square” by Huey Lewis and the News (an incredibly iconic scene), Patrick’s life begins to dissolve the more people he kills, and the lines between himself and his persona are blurred.
Christian Bale’s performance in this movie is unbelievably astounding. As an audience, it’s almost disbelieving to see the different ways in which Bale portrays all of the different personas of the one Patrick Bateman. If you want to start out a spooky season with a great psychological horror and black comedy flick, this is the one.
American Psycho is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
KNIVES OUT
One of my favorite murder-mysteries of all time. Knives Out is a classic ‘whodunnit’ that stars some amazing actors—Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Don Johnson, and Christopher Plumber just to name a few.
Knives Out is a mystery/thriller that focuses on the death of Harlan Thrombey—a wealthy novelist who just celebrated his 85th birthday. After Harlan is discovered dead the next day, his wealthy money-mongering family is investigated. During the investigation, private Detective Benoit Blanc arrives at the household and believes that the cause of death is murder.
The story focuses on Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), the nurse of Harlan. She knows more than meets the eyes about Harlan’s death, which Blanc clocks immediately. As everyone in the Thrombey family becomes a suspect, Blanc has to look inside a devious plot that’s shaped like a donut; a hole inside of another hole.
Cozy murder-mysteries are an essential for a watch this season. Watch Knives Out with a blanket on as you listen to Daniel Craig’s “Kentucky fried foghorn leghorn drawl”.
Knives Out is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
Time for a switch up! We’re moving on to romance, and to be more specific, the best romance movie of all time (in this author’s opinion). When Harry Met Sally is the guidebook for rom-coms. The classic stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, the duo that perfect the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers pipeline.
“I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible”.
In 1977, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a long car ride from their college in Chicago to New York City. The two don’t get along, and argue about the semantics about men and women being friends. Harry argues that it’s simply not possible—a man can’t be platonic friends because “the sex part gets in the way”. Sally disagrees; she thinks men and women can simply just be friends without tension. The conversation leads to mutual dislike from both parties, and the two part after their shared ride, never intending to run into one another again.
When 10 years later the pair inevitably meet again, we start to see a pattern. Harry and Sally run into one another during all different parts of their lives, and become friends. When feelings develop between the two, well, the question still remains. How does a man and a woman stay friends without “the sex part” getting in the way?
As time changes and passes for Harry and Sally, so do the seasons. We see snow fall and spring turn into summer, as love blooms alongside the chilly air. When Harry Met Sally is something sweet and toasty, and is a perfect start to a rom-com marathon this Autumn.
When Harry Met Sally is available for rent on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
LITTLE WOMEN
Any version of Little Women is going to be perfect for fall. If I had to pick though, I would highly suggest that director Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation is the best one. Louise May Alcott’s story is one that everyone enjoys watching when it’s a bit colder outside, when the leaves are almost off all the trees, and when you can be with friends and family, celebrating the fall holidays.
Little Women is a coming-of-age novel that follows four sisters from childhood to adulthood. The March sisters are all very different from one another, all having different goals and wanting different things out of life. Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy grow with one another, grow apart, and come back together as sisters throughout their lives. As the family struggles during the time of the Civil War in New England, they persist with their love for each other and for their family.
“Just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.”
The acting is this adaption is amazing and hosts some pretty big names. Actors like Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep are brilliant in one of the most successful coming-of-age stories. When it’s just a little too cold outside, watching Little Women will provide the warmth you need.
Little Women is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
HOCUS POCUS
An instant classic movie that will surely get one into the Halloween mood, Hocus Pocus provides the spooks, laughs, and nostalgia you just might be looking for this fall. This Disney film was released in 1993 and directed by Kenny Ortega—an iconic filmmaker knowns for his productions like the High School Musical trilogy, as well as Newsies and Descendants.
Hocus Pocus follows three villainous witches who are accidentally resurrected by Max Dennison, a teenage boy who is out trick-or-treating with his little sister, Dani. As the Sanderson sisters rise from beyond the grave, they cause havoc and chaos in Salem Massachusetts, realizing that in order to stay alive they must suck the life out of at least one child.
Max and Dani must warn the town that the witches are going to be out hunting on Halloween night, but soon realize that no one will take their concerns seriously. Taking fate into their own hands, these teens must save their town and all of the people in it from the Sanderson sisters.
“You know, I always wanted a child. Now I think I’ll have one . . . on toast!”
Hocus Pocus is currently available to stream on Disney+
THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future”.
These movies are a personal favorite, and always will be.
I think fall is the best time to give one of the best film trilogies in all time another re-watch. Autumn especially is a perfect time to celebrate all things that a hobbit loves. Food, drinking, dancing, elevensies, second breakfast, afternoon tea . . . the dining habits of a hobbit are all important, of course! My personal favorite way to celebrate The Lord of the Rings is to prepare several meal courses and beverages, just like hobbits do, as you attempt to marathon every movie, the extended versions only of course. Good luck! It’s a full-bellied challenge.
Many people know the story, but Lord of the Rings is a book published as three volumes, written by the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien. Just as the volumes proceed, the film adaptions directed by Peter Jackson are titled The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
We follow several characters within these volumes, but our main hobbit is Frodo Baggins—cousin and heir to Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, which precedes The Lord of the Rings. When Bilbo’s magical ring is placed into the care of Frodo, evil plots begin to unfold in Middle Earth. Frodo, along with his friends Sam, Pippin, and Merry, must make the treacherous and incredibly dangerous journey to Mordor—the only place capable of destroying the Ring of Power.
There is no cozier story that focuses on the power of friendship, love, good, and hope than Lord of the Rings. Whether watching by yourself or with friends and family, these movies are a great way to get your in the fall mood. You’ll want to start wearing cloaks and using walking sticks by the time you finish your hobbit-y marathon.
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is currently available to stream on HBO Max
Of those recommended above, I would back American Psycho.
This film, even if you have already seen it, is worth another watch.
I like filmmaking that challenges our perception of reality.
Christian Bale might’ve peaked a tad early in his career. Not to say he hasn’t had a brilliant career overall. But, his portrayal of this ‘psycho’ is nothing short of magnificent.
The reason why I say to give American Psycho another watch is because you will be rewarded with details that you missed in the first viewing.
In fact, I say watch it 3 times.
Upon my last watch, I came to the conclusion that his character was just a Wall Street guy that fantasized about being a serial killer.
There.
I said it.
Not an actual psychopath.
But, that’s just my humble interpretation.
And it took me 4 times of watching it to come to this conclusion.
See for yourself.