Cozy fall-themed graphic The Xavierite
With fall coming upon us in a few days, what better way to kick it off than with a movie list to get through the ever-volatile weather. These are movies that I love to turn to when the days become moody and all I want to do is relax.
It wouldn’t be a fall movie list without “Practical Magic.”
“Practical Magic” is a movie that centers around two sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman). The sisters come from a magical family, only they try to avoid these familial powers. They become forced to embrace this magic when Gillian’s boyfriend passes away unexpectedly, drawing the suspicion of policeman Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn).
While this movie can be unfamiliar to younger audiences, if you’re a fan of all things occult and witchy, “Practical Magic” will be perfect for you.
2. “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988):
Most Studio Ghibli films are great for fall, but “My Neighbor Totoro” has a certain magical quality that suits the season perfectly.
“My Neighbor Totoro” is about two sisters, Satsuki (Noriko Hidaka) and Mei (Chika Sakamoto), who move to the countryside with their father while their mother recovers from an illness. After arriving, they discover various spirits roam the land and begin to befriend them. Totoro (Hitoshi Takagi) is one of these spirits.
This movie is comforting and warm; it’ll raise your spirits on a rainy day.
3. “Pride and Prejudice” (2005):
An iconic adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s most infamous novels, “Pride and Prejudice” serves a melodramatic romance perfect for a cold fall evening.
“Pride and Prejudice” is a movie about a woman named Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) as she navigates increasing pressure to marry. She encounters a handsome, rich bachelor named Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) who leaves a poor first impression. The two have a complicated yet intense dynamic that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.
Pride and Prejudice is a heartfelt film, perfect for those who love enemies to lovers.
4. “Coco” (2017):
Coco is one of the first movies that came to mind when creating this list. To me, nothing encapsulates fall better than Dia De Los Muertos.
“Coco” is a story about a boy named Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) who loves music despite a multi-generational family ban on anything related to it. He finds himself stumbling into the “Land of the Dead” where he finds a quirky confidant in a man named Hector (Gael García Bernal). Together, they try to solve the mystery surrounding Miguel’s family history.
This movie is dear to me, especially because of the cultural context, but I believe it is a movie anyone can find comfort in. It tells a story of family and forgiveness with the beautiful imagery of the Day of the Dead.
Before Tinder, there was AOL. I bet that gave a lot of you flashbacks. “You’ve Got Mail” depicts one of the first online love stories and it still stands as one of the best.
“You’ve Got Mail” tells the story of a small bookstore owner, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), who falls in love with a man she met anonymously online. Only, that man ends up being the owner of a rival corporate bookstore—Joe Fox (Tom Hanks)—who she happens to hate.
This love story is a favorite of mine, and I firmly believe that it’ll charm anyone with its beautiful aesthetics and enthralling character dynamics.
6. “Dead Poets Society” (1989):
I couldn’t make this list without including one of the main influences of dark academia, “Dead Poets Society.”
“Dead Poets Society” is about the impact of a new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), on an all boys preparatory school. As you can imagine, this school is rather pretentious and values things like “tradition” and “legacy.” This weighs deeply on the students, and so Keating pushes them to break free of these expectations.
This is more of a serious movie, but provides a great lesson on individuality. I believe this movie can become dear to those who’ve struggled with the pressure of conformity.
These are some of my personal fall favorites, but I encourage you to make your own list of movies to watch. What movies do you associate with fall? Are they cozy romcoms or something more spooky?
If you have no idea, feel free to reference this list. There’s a lot of good classics filled with nostalgia—and they go great with a blanket and tea.
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