The Best Autumnal Movies To Watch Right Now
With the leaves falling, the last days of summer having faded away and a chill in the air, it’s time to break the glass and reach into your emergency stash of cosy, autumn movies. From rom-coms to murder mysteries, we’ve put together a list of some of the best films to give you that autumnal feeling, no matter the weather outside.
When Harry Met Sally
Definitely a contender for “most autumnal movie ever”, When Harry Met Sally is now a comedy classic, 35 years after it first released. Billy Crystal stars as Harry Burns, while Meg Ryan stars as Sally Albright, two people who first meet in Chicago, and then share a series of chance encounters across the years. They seem like a good fit for each other, but are they just friends, or truly in love? Everyone knows the classic “have what she’s having” line and the warm chemistry that director Rob Reiner brings out of his two stars. Still, the film generally has a cosy autumn vibe- from thick jumpers (Meg Ryan Fall is a persistent social media trend) and brown leaves making for a scenic background to many of the scenes.
where to watch: Prime Video
Little Women
Another film that feels just right for the last months of the year, Greta Gerwig’s version of Little Women is one of the best and most accessible ways to experience Louisa May Alcott’s classic story. It follows a group of sisters, consisting of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, in 19th-century Massachusetts and their coming-of-age experiences. The packed cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and Bob Odenkirk, and was one of the best films of 2019. What makes it so autumnal? It’s hard to put a finger on the feeling exactly- perhaps it’s the scenes set in the New England countryside, or the cosy shawls worn by the characters, or the brown and dark green colours, or just the fact that a classic literary adaptation just feels right to watch under a warm blanket in the evening.
where to watch: Prime Video, google play, youtube
Harry Potter
Just about any Harry Potter film has an autumn vibe, and it’s not hard to think why – those snug-looking house scarves, memories of the start of the school year, and a general connection to Halloween throughout the series. The earlier films probably best fit that feeling (i.e. when the plot wasn’t quite so dark and grim), particularly the candle-lit school feasts, settling into new lessons and teachers, and the giant pumpkins outside Hagrid’s hut that the trio hide behind in Prisoner of Azkaban. Who knows if the new HBO series will capture that magic- and besides, it’s likely some ways off, so why not get stuck into the films again this autumn? You might argue for Harry Potter as a Christmas film, but let’s be honest, we’ll take any excuse to queue them up on Netflix.
where to watch: Prime Video, Apple tv, google play, Netflix
Knives Out
Knives Out, again, oozes the autumn feel. Like Little Women, the plot is set in New England, as the eccentric southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) leads an investigation into murder and deceit. When a best-selling author (Christopher Plummer) suddenly turns up dead, the police are quick to rule it a suicide- but Blanc isn’t so sure and suspects something greater may be afoot. He examines and interviews a gallery of suspects played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon, Toni Colette, Don Johnson and more. There are extended shots of the browning autumn leaves, and it all takes place around a grand, atmospheric mansion. Also, detective whodunnits just have that feeling of autumn, don’t ask us why.
where to watch: Prime Video, Apple tv, Disney+, google play, youtube, Curzon
Fantastic Mr Fox
Another decidedly “autumn” pick is Fantastic Mr Fox, Wes Anderson’s adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic. With a screenplay co-written by Anderson and Noah Baumbach, featuring the voice talents of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe and Jason Schwartzman, and animated beautifully, it’s a winner at any time of year. But it also has the October/November feel to it: our cast of foxes, badgers and other countryside creatures burrow into their homes, eat amazing feasts and go on wistful adventures. There’s an orange-brown rustic look to much of the cinematography as the smart-thinking Mr Fox (Clooney) devises ways of stealing food from three grumpy farmers. There’s no better time to escape back to your childhood with this genuinely funny animated caper.
where to watch: Prime Video, Apple tv, Disney+, google play, youtube
Dead Poets Society
Similar to Harry Potter, Dead Poets Society brings that “back to school” feeling rushing back- in a good way. Set, again, in New England (clearly the most autumnal region of America), it follows a group of students at a boarding school under the tutelage of English teacher John Keating. Of course, inspiring kids to love literature isn’t always that easy, but John (played by the late Robin Williams in one of his most memorable roles) is determined to inspire his class through poetry. He encourages them to set aside the rigid nature of the boarding school and find personal meaning in life with the help of his unconventional teaching methods. Again, there are a lot of browns and autumn landscapes and falling leaves as the boys learn to appreciate the art of poems.
where to watch: Prime Video, Apple tv, Disney+, google play, youtube
The Devil Wears Prada
This one might be the most debatable as it doesn’t scream autumn as much as some of the other films on this list, and yet there are autumnal elements for the fashion-inclined. Plenty of the outfits are ones you could happily sport in the later, colder months of the year- scarves, boots, coats. Not only that, but the film also features Paris Fashion Week, which occurs just at the beginning of autumn in the September/October months, as part of the plot. You almost certainly know the plot by now: Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway) gets a new job under famous fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), and tries her best to impress her while jostling with Emily (Emily Blunt).
where to watch: Prime Video, Apple tv, Disney+, google play
