From The Exorcist to When Harry Met Sally, the definition of a good fall movie dramatically differs between people. Does your ideal fall movie marathon involve being snuggled up under a blanket as the love interests finally meet in the romantic comedy, or does watching horror movies, perched anxiously at the edge of the seat awaiting the slasher’s attack sound like the more appealing experience for you? No matter your movie preference, there’s one thing I think we can all agree on; there’s no better way to get in the spirit of a holiday season than with a great classic movie. For winter it’s Elf, Home Alone, or The Grinch. For fall, here are my favorites.
5.) Zombies rising from the ground, a witches curse, contact with ghosts – all these popular Halloween themes were wrapped into one very funny stop-motion, and the product is Paranorman. The story takes place during fall in a Massachusetts town. Norman is an unusual kid, and fittingly, he has unique abilities as well. Norman has the ability to communicate with the dead, but nobody believes it. His deceased uncle Mr. Prenderghast visits him and tells him he needs to perform a ritual before sundown. Due to interference from his bully, Norman isn’t able to read from the book needed for the ritual until after sundown, and accidentally summons zombies to rise from the dead. Assisted by his vain older sister Courtney and Mitch, his friend’s athletic older brother, Norman has to save his town from a zombie apocalypse. He is visited by his ancestor Aggie Prenderghast in his dream, and she informs him that she was wrongfully convicted for witchcraft, and the council who convicted her are the zombies. It is up to Neil to help Aggie find peace and end the curse on the town allowing her and the other ghosts to pass over. Paranorman is a great supernatural movie to watch during Halloween season, as well as a comical and cute commentary on feeling like an outcast.
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4.) Just recently reaching its 25th anniversary, there’s no doubt that Gilmore Girls has cemented itself as an official autumn classic. The show’s many fans press replay the second the first orange leaf touches the ground, watching the over-achieving child prodigy Rory and her charismatic mother Lorelai’s developments over seven seasons. Gilmore Girls explores themes of mother-daughter relationships, including the one between Rory and Lorelai as well as the complicated dynamic between Lorelai and her own mother, a wealthy woman who disapproves of Lorelai’s life choices, including having Rory at a young age and being a single mom. Fans also enjoy discussing the romantic conflicts occurring in the show, both in Rory and Lorelai’s storylines. The show takes place in the peaceful town of Stars Hollow, known online for its beautiful fall scenery. If you enjoy fast-paced shows and familial dynamics, Gilmore Girls will be a perfect choice for you.
3.) Hocus Pocus is a cult classic surrounding a group of witches, appropriately taking place in Salem, Massachusetts. My friend Coral Roberts told me she watches the movie annually on Halloween, a fun autumn tradition. Just like Roberts, countless people deem the fantasy comedy Hocus Pocus a must-watch during Fall. Though the main characters are technically Max Denison, his little sister Dani, and his school crush Allison, Hocus Pocus is known for the beloved characters of the Sanderson Sisters, a colorful trio of witches from the 1600s. The sisters are named Sarah, Winifred, and Mary. Max mistakenly resurrects the convicted witches when he lights a magical candle in their abandoned cottage. With the help of the speaking black cat Binx, the kids escape. The witches are determined to get a hold of one of the three kids, as they need to consume one of their souls in order to not turn to dust at sunrise. The group of kids fight the witches for the whole movie, trying to save their souls as well as others who the witches go after. They have a lot of close calls, and Max tries to sacrifice himself to save his sister, leading Winifred to try to consume his soul. She fails when she crashes the broom and they fall in the cemetery, a location which turns witches to stone. Max, Allison, and Dani ultimately win, but the witches aren’t done. In the sequel, the witches are revived, but this time terrorizing a new group of kids in the future. Hocus Pocus is an iconic Halloween movie, with humor and lovable characters.
2.) Equal parts heart wrenching and inspirational, Dead Poets Society is a truly unforgettable movie set mostly in fall and an excellent pick for October. Dead Poets Society follows a group of boys and their eccentric teacher Mr. Keating (played by Robin Williams) in a boarding school called Welton Academy, mainly focusing on the shy Todd Anderson and his roommate Neil Perry, a bright-eyed aspiring actor. Mr. Keating breaks the students out of their shells by encouraging creative expression and teaching the importance of passion. The boys are immediately inspired by the unconventional ways of Mr. Keating, which heavily contrasts the other up-tight administration of the school, and they revive a secret club called “The Dead Poets Society.” The students meet in a cave to read poetry and discuss other things on their mind, embracing their passions. The stand-out scene is when Mr. Keating gets fired for showing the boys to not just follow orders, and the boys stand on their desks to show solidarity as he walks out. I won’t spoil the movie, because I think everybody should watch The Dead Poets Society for themselves. The film includes moments of freedom and joy, as well as moments of extreme tragedy, all to portray the meaning of following your heart and not simply conforming to what strict parents or others want for you. Not only is it a great choice for a fall movie, but it also carries an important lesson.
1.) In my opinion, Coraline is the perfect movie to watch in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Though often mistaken for a Tim Burton for its creepy qualities and stop-motion style, Coraline was directed by Henry Selick. Coraline Jones is a pre-teen girl whose (often neglectful) parents rent out an old house with a dark past. Desperate for any form of entertainment, Coraline enters a small door she finds behind the wallpaper in her new house, where she meets her alternate reality Other Mother and Other Father, but these parents are different. They cook well, they pay attention to Coraline – and they have black buttons for eyes. Throughout the film, Coraline, along with her talkative neighbor Wybie, explores her new neighborhood as well as her new reality with the loving Other Mother. She soon finds that the other-mother isn’t the perfect new parent she appears to be, and ends up in a conflict that risks the lives of herself and her whole family. Coraline has all the Halloween movie essentials: a black cat, ghosts, and thrilling chases, including creepy aspects without sacrificing the cute whimsical vibes and meaningful character development.
Next time you’re aimlessly clicking the remote on a crisp fall night, struggling to find something to watch, I recommend you try out one of these options if you haven’t already! With some whimsical Halloween classics, and a couple cozy fall watches, this list is my compiled collection of best movies to watch in October when I want to enjoy the season to its fullest
