As we get further and further into the Autumn season, we are slowly turning our heaters up, bringing our sweaters outside, and putting the TV on to watch some football. It’s finally becoming that time of year where warm food and drinks are back in—goodbye lemonade, and hello apple cider! 

Autumn is a perfect time of year to cross off some movies on your watch-list. When it’s too cold to go outside, the best idea is obviously to throw a blanket over your lap, and put an autumn-must-watch on the TV. If you check out my last article, you’ll find another list of movies that are great to watch during this time of year. 

However, there are even more movies to keep yourselves busy during Autumn! I’ve got another list of some of the best movies to watch fireside in the fall! Join me as we talk about all the films that bring out the ghoulish, pumpkin, and hay-loving sides of us.

HALLOWEENTOWN

Halloweentown is a classic family-style Disney comedy movie that will definitely set the tone for your autumn season. Whether you’re a nostalgic millennial watching Halloweentown for the one-thousandth time, or a newbie who’s venturing into an iconic Disney Channel era of original movies, Halloweentown has stood the test of time when it comes to quirky Halloween movies. 

On her thirteenth birthday, Marnie (who the film focuses on) discovers that she’s a witch and can access another world of the supernatural in Halloweentown. Vampires, goblins, and witches lead regular lives in the world of Halloweentown, a place that Marnie and her siblings discover by following their grandmother. While Marnie’s grandmother, Aggie, wants to train her to become a witch, Marnie’s mother (Gwen) wants her to be a mortal for longer. 

“How are we supposed to grow up if we can’t explore the world, try new stuff, and take some risks?”

While Marnie discovers this new and secret side of herself, she also discovers that some mysterious and dangerous plots are unfolding in Halloweentown. Evil forces are planning to take over the town, and Marnie becomes entangled, alongside her mother and grandmother, in saving the day for both worlds.

Halloweentown is available to stream on Disney+

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

This is a movie that is near and dear to this author’s English-major heart. As back-to-school season has come and already gone, Dead Poets Society is a movie that 100% yanks on your heartstrings and tends to bring out some waterworks. In that way, it’s the perfect cozy movie to watch in the fall. 

Starring the amazing Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Sean Leonard, Dead Poets Society follows the story of an English teacher who inspires and encourages his students through the power of poetry. At Welton Academy, shy kid Todd Anderson (Hawke) is assigned to room with top student Neil Perry (Leonard). As the boys get to know one another, their schools teachings are turned upside down when John Keating (Williams) demonstrates his peculiar methods in english class. Keating preaches carpe diem to each and every student, encouraging them to seize the day through their creativity. 

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” 

Fueled by his teacher’s passions, Neil restarts the Dead Poets Society—a place for all the boys to share their poetry and writings in a secret cave off campus. As each boy in the society begins to find their places in the world, they deal with all the pressure that follows from parents, their headmaster, and even fellow peers. This tight knit group shares more than just poetry with one another—the Dead Poets Society creates a safe haven away from the rest of the world. 

Dead Poets Society is available for rent on streaming platforms Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and YouTube

PRACTICAL MAGIC

“Always throw spilled salt over your shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.” 

Practical Magic is one of the best fall watches I can honestly think of. Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, this movie has it all. Romance, fantasy, the supernatural, family, love—all of it centered around two witches. Spooky season, meet cozy season. 

Sisters Sally and Gillian Owens come from a long line of witches. After the death of their parents, the two girls were raised by their aunts and were taught all the uses of practical magic growing up. The girls grow up safely with their aunt, unknowing to the curse that follows their family. 

As adults, Sally and Gillian live very different lives. Sally married and found love with her husband Michael, and the pair have two girls. Gillian moves around, following relationship after relationship, never quite finding the right spot. When a tragedy on both sides brings the sisters back together again, Sally and Gillian must deal with the consequences of their ancestors. 

Not only is Practical Magic funny and sweet, but it shows how a sisters relationships bends and breaks and fuses throughout time. Sally and Gillian find their ways back to one another when they need it most—sometimes the magic you needed was there all along. 

Practical Magic is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+

IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN

Obviously, we can’t forget about Charlie Brown and Snoppy this season! After all, it’s that time of year for Charlie Brown to get his football out and see if he can finally kick it—or, better said, if Lucy will let him. 

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is one of the cutest half-hour movies you’ll watch this fall. Lighthearted and warm, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and Sally are all preparing for Halloween, the best time of year for tricks and treats. Linus believes that on Halloween night, the ‘Great Pumpkin’ (who is described as a autumnal Santa Claus) will make an appearance in the pumpkin patch, and opts of out trick-or-treatin’ with the gang. Sally, who is infatuated with Linus and all his quirks, is convinced to join. 

[Charlie Brown’s friends] “I got five pieces of candy!”

“I got a chocolate bar!” 

“I got a quarter!” 

[Charlie Brown] “. . . I got a rock.”

Celebrate fall this season by watching Snoopy as a WWI Flying Ace, laughing at Charlie Brown’s misfortune, and joining Sally in calling Linus a blockhead. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will never fail to put a smile on your face, and some fall cheer in your heart. 

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is currently streaming on Apple TV+

TWILIGHT

“Whoa-hoa-hoa-hoa-hoa” [sounds from ‘Eyes on Fire’ by Blue Foundation]

Oh yeah, folks. It’s Twilight, need I say much else? 

Whether you’ve read the books or not, Twilight is undoubtedly the fall teenage vampire-werewolf story. Cliches? They’re happening. Teenage forbidden love? Incredibly present. Sparking, shimmering vampires? Yup, it’s the skin of a killer. Obligatory baseball game? Don’t even get me started on one of the best uses of a song in a movie soundtrack (hint, it’s ‘Supermassive Black Hole’ by Muse). 

Twilight is so bad it’s good, and so good it’s bad. However you want to call it, this movie is going to have you laughing and gasping at a teenage love story you thought you wouldn’t care about. Based on the novels written by Stephanie Meyer, Twilight follows Bella Swan, the new girl in town in Forks, Washington. Getting her feet on the ground is hard enough as a girl who ‘isn’t like other girls’, but gets even harder when Edward Cullen enters her life. 

The Cullen siblings are a big town mystery. All adopted, the pale teens only hang out with each other and chose to be aloof from the high schools population. As some odd occurrences in the town become suspicious, Bella and Edward grow closer. When Edward shockingly saves Bella in the school parking lot, somehow transporting thirty feet in a millisecond, she becomes determined to discover his secrets. Boy, does she ever. 

“I’m the world’s most dangerous predator, Bella. Every thing about me invites you in. My voice, my face, even my smell. As if I would need any of that… as if you could out run me… as if you could fight me off. I’m designed to kill.”

Twilight is available for rent on streaming platforms Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV+