The feeling of fall goes beyond auburn leaves and apple ciders—it’s the warmth of a loved one’s hug, the cosiness of your childhood home, the nostalgia of flipping through old photos, the renewed optimism of starting a new semester and the abstract melancholy of a long sigh. With days growing shorter (and colder), there’s no better way to embrace the magic of the season and set the mood than by cuddling up for a movie night with your family and friends. From rom-coms to tear-jerking dramas, here are 13 films and TV shows that will fill you up with the comforting feeling of fall:
Movies And TV Shows That Will Give You All The Fall Feels
1. Gilmore Girls
Originally aired during September of each year with numerous stories told throughout October and November, almost half of all Gilmore Girls episodes take place during the fall. With multiple cups of coffee, cosy layers, crisp breeze and lots of pumpkins— the Stars Hollow life of Lorelai and Rory makes for a great rewatch during this time of the year!
2. Sweet Home Alabama
Released this week, 20 years ago, Sweet Home Alabama will get you reminiscing about simpler times and first love. The story follows Melanie, played by Reese Witherspoon, a fashion designer living in New York who returns to her small southern hometown to get a divorce from her first husband, played by Josh Lucas.
3. Practical Magic
What’s fall without some witchy vibes? Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic follows two sisters raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town who face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them from finding lasting love.
4. When Harry Met Sally
Fall and Meg Ryan films are a match made in heaven. With fuzzy knits, crisp leaves and soothing jazz music in the background, When Harry Met Sally will make you want to catch a flight to The Big Apple just to walk beneath the auburn canopies. The movie follows the two main characters from the time they meet in Chicago just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years of chance encounters in New York City.
5. Hocus Pocus 1 and 2
Conjured up by unsuspecting pranksters, three outlandishly wild witches, the Sanderson Sisters return from 17th-century Salem to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. Get ready for a devil of a time as the sequel releases on 30 September 2022!
6. Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
Hedwig’s theme, ancient castles, forbidden forests, butterbeer and a whole lot of magic are the perfect recipe for an autumnal weekend. Bringing back sweet childhood memories, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone is sure to fill you up with the comforting feeling of warm fuzzy flannel. Best part? You can turn it into a marathon and watch all eight parts!
7. The Good Witch
Think Gilmore Girls, but make it witchy! The Good Witch follows the life of Cassie Nightingale, a single mother with magical powers and her teenage daughter, Grace who shares her intuitive charm as they bring joy to the small town of Middleton. Gentle, soft and heartwarming, The Good Witch is sure to put a spell on you.
8. The Lake House
A lonely doctor begins writing letters to an architect who lives in her former home, but turns out the timing of their love story isn’t quite right. When they discover that they are living two years apart, the pair must unravel the mystery behind their incredible romance with everything coming back to one shared connection— the lake house.
9. Good Will Hunting
Will Hunting, an undiscovered genius, works as a janitor at MIT but when he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are recognised by Professor Gerald Lambeau who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will’s last chance is a psychologist Sean Maguire, played by Robin Williams, who helps him deal with his past.
10. You’ve Got Mail
“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address,” utters Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the heir to a big bookstore threatening to put Kathleen Kelly’s (Meg Ryan) little bookshop out of business. You’ve Got Mail is sure to bring a smile to your face.
11. Dead Poets Society
An Oscar-winning drama about self-discovery, free-thinking, and the unfortunate costs that sometimes comes with them, Dead Poets Society follows John Keating (Robin Williams), a progressive English teacher as he tries to encourage his students to break free from the norm and live life unapologetically.
12. Knives Out
Featuring a gorgeous autumnal palette and Chris Evans in his cosy cable knits, Knives Out is a modern take on a whodunnit that follows detective Benoit Blanc as he investigates the death of the successful crime novelist Harlan Thrombey and unravels the tangled web of secrets of his eccentric family. Want more? Knives Out 2 is coming soon.
13. Virgin River
Looking for a fresh start after a tragedy, nurse practitioner Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) moves from LA to a remote Northern California town called Virgin River and is surprised by what—and who—she finds. The show’s breathtaking scenery is the definition of cosy— so grab your blanket and get started!
Also read about 15 Fall Nail Art Designs To Get You In The Cosy Spirit Of The Season