Hi Alysers! I’m excited to share with you my list of Top 10 Movies to Watch This Fall! There’s nothing like snuggling under a blanket, warm apple cider in hand as you embrace the beauty of autumn. But some things can make it even better — like incredible movies that enhance this atmosphere even more!
Although this list is based on my personal preferences, I made sure to keep things diverse. Comedy, romance, thriller, adventure — you name it, I’ve listed a movie about it! Here are my top 10 movies to watch this fall; I hope you’ll like them too!
10. Weathering With You
- Date of Release: July 19, 2019
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life
Tokyo is currently experiencing rain showers that seem to disrupt the usual pace of everyone living there to no end. Amidst this seemingly eternal downpour arrives the runaway high school student Hodaka Morishima, who struggles to financially support himself—ending up with a job at a small-time publisher. At the same time, the orphaned Hina Amano also strives to find work to sustain herself and her younger brother.
Both fates intertwine when Hodaka attempts to rescue Hina from shady men, deciding to run away together. Subsequently, Hodaka discovers that Hina has a strange yet astounding power: the ability to call out the sun whenever she prays for it. With Tokyo’s unusual weather in mind, Hodaka sees the potential of this ability. He suggests that Hina should become a “sunshine girl”—someone who will clear the sky for people when they need it the most.
Things begin looking up for them at first. However, it is common knowledge that power always comes with a hefty price.
[Source: My Anime List]
Thoughts about this movie:
One reason why I love the fall season so much is that it’s visually stunning. For some reason, everything just seems much more vibrant. That’s the same impression I got when I watched this film. Every scene is beautifully and thoughtfully done – so much so that even though this is an animation, certain details appeared realistic.
Then there’s the official soundtrack, which was absolutely brilliant. It’s unlike anything you’ve heard before, and it fits the movie really well. The story of the film itself would invoke strong emotions within you, and the musical score just adds another layer of joy, sorrow, triumph, hope, and wonder.
Because this movie was created by Makoto Shinkai, who also created Your Name, I had very high expectations. Suffice to say, all these expectations were met, if not exceeded. I feel a little torn about the ending because I think that it poses a moral dilemma. But, it’s also very romantic, so I have many friends who were happy with how it all worked out.
If you’re looking for a movie that takes “you and me against the world” to the next level, this one’s for you.
9. Remember the Titans
- Date of release: September 23, 2000
- Genre: Sports, Drama, Autobiography
In Virginia, high school football is a way of life, an institution revered, each game celebrated more lavishly than Christmas, each playoff distinguished more grandly than any national holiday. And with such recognition, comes powerful emotions. In 1971 high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria. But when the local school board was forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white school, the very foundation of football’s great tradition was put to the test.
[Source: IMDB]
Thoughts about this movie:
Teamwork makes the dream work, and this movie proves it. Friendship and respect can truly overcome biases and prejudice, as long as people are willing to meet halfway.
One thing that I love about this film is that it is autobiographical. It deals with real issues, and it doesn’t shy away from the realities of racism and discrimination. It’s not just a sports movie; it’s a movie about life and community.
Remember the Titans is over twenty years old, but the story, music, lessons, and actors are timeless. In fact, you will see familiar faces here, like Denzel Washington, Hayden Panettiere, and Ryan Gosling. I personally enjoyed watching their younger versions on screen, as it made me appreciate their acting ability even more.
Although the whole length of this movie covers the team’s journey through the years, many of its most triumphant and tear-jerking scenes occur during fall. This makes it perfect for those autumn days when you want to watch something meaningful.
8. Marley and Me
- Date of Release: February 4, 2009
- Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Newlyweds John and Jenny Grogan leave behind snowy Michigan and move to Florida, where they buy their first home and find jobs at competing newspapers. Soon afterward, the Grogans adopt Marley, an adorable yellow Labrador pup. But Marley soon grows up to be a mischievous handful. Still, even while he’s destroying the furniture and failing obedience school, he always manages to bring out the best in John, Jenny, and their growing family.
[Source: Apple TV]
Thoughts about this movie:
I absolutely love my dogs, and this is my top movie choice in the fall if they’re sitting beside me on the couch. It is heart-warming, sincere, and it makes me hug them just a little tighter.
What makes this movie multi-faceted is that it follows the journey of both the Grogan family and Marley. It shows how the good and the bad become memories nonetheless. It may seem slow at first, but it eventually immerses you in the fullness of its story.
7. Legally Blonde
- Date of release: October 16, 2001
- Genre: Romance, Comedy
Elle Woods has it all. She wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But there is one thing stopping him from proposing: She is too blond. Elle rallies all of her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back.
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]
Thoughts about this movie:
This makes my list of top 10 movies to watch in the fall… and in any season, to be completely honest. But while the movie begins in Southern Califonia, where it is summer all year long, it eventually moves to Harvard, just in time for the East Coast autumn with its woolly coats, gothic buildings, and changing leaves.
One thing I really appreciate about Legally Blonde is that it breaks so many stereotypes. It was refreshing to watch a group of women supporting each other without feeling the need to tear each other down. Personally, I relate to Elle, as I am also a girly girl who loves pink. But at the same time, I am ambitious and driven. Because of this, I loved watching her flourish into her own person.
And while there is romance, it’s not the central theme. The plot has more to do with Elle’s discovery of herself, as she sheds old perceptions and wages a path of her own. Although this show may appeal more to women, I would also recommend it for men who want to watch something different.
6. Knives Out
- Date released: November 27, 2019
- Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller, Drama
The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious. But there’s one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure — everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Now, Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth.
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]
Thoughts about this movie:
I enjoy good murder mysteries, and this one was intriguing, exciting, and unpredictable. It takes Agatha Christie’s classic themes and brings them to a whole new level with modern twists.
The American baroque set is stunning, as are the costume designs and the architecture. The characters themselves are delightful and flamboyant, which should give you an idea of how outrageous the plot is going to be.
But because this is a mystery movie, I don’t want to give away too many details. All I can say is that this movie is worth the watch. It’s interesting, it’s funny, and it’s something people of all ages will enjoy.
5. Halloweentown
- Date released: October 17, 1998
- Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
On her 13th birthday, Marnie learns that she comes from a family of witches and that she too is a witch. Soon she and her younger siblings return with their estranged grandmother, a good witch, to her home in Halloweentown, where witches, goblins, and vampires lead normal lives. Marnie soon discovers that an evil force is plotting to take over Halloweentown, and she must help her mother and grandmother to save the day.
[Source: Apple TV]
Thoughts about this movie:
A list of top 10 movies to watch during fall would not be complete without a film about Halloween. Halloweentown is an old favorite, and I’ve watched it (and the subsequent Halloweentown High) repeatedly through the years. It never gets old.
It takes the themes of friendship, family, and adventure, and ties them all together with a wand of magic. While it is an inspiring Disney movie, it remains logical with little plotholes, which is something I really appreciate in a film. Light-hearted, enjoyable, and magical, it’s an easy and delightful fall movie that you can watch with the kids.
4. P. S. I Love You
- Date released: January 23, 2008
- Genre: Romance, Drama
Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life – a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry’s life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it’s a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief but in rediscovering herself. With Gerry’s words as her guide, Holly embarks on a journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship, and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into a new beginning for life.
[Source: IMDB]
Thoughts about this movie:
“It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” or so they say. This movie deals with the pain and reality of what it means to lose someone you truly loved.
It takes the meaning of fall quite literally, as I feel my heart break into a million pieces whenever I watch it. Yet still, the landscapes, karaoke scenes, Irish accent, and flashbacks can’t help but make me smile. The story is quite unique, and I was never quite prepared for how it will end.
It’s raw and heart-wrenching, but I cannot recommend it enough because I guarantee it will make you feel something.
3. 500 Days of Summer
- Date released: October 21, 2009
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Tom, a greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer, suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to try to figure out where their love affair went sour, and in doing so, Tom rediscovers his true passions in life.
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]
Thoughts about this movie:
500 Days of Summer is very reminiscent of indie films, with its vintage tones, unique storyline, and unique soundtrack. I discovered Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap through this movie, and it remains on my autumn playlist to this day.
Tom is different from your typical male romance male leads, and Summer is a manic-pixie girl in all her glory – without the pixie cut. Their chemistry is awkward yet honest and endearing. I genuinely rooted for them until the movie made me stop.
Now, you may wonder while this is on my list of top 10 movies to watch this fall, given that the movie title clearly states summer. Well, while this movie didn’t make me cry, it did make me feel quite sentimental and melancholic – entirely appropriate for fall if you ask me. And the film may follow Tom through his 500 days of summer, but it ends just as autumn arrives – the mark of a new beginning.
2. When Harry Met Sally
- Date released: July 21, 1989
- Genre: Romance, Comedy
Spanning a long decade of inconclusive debates and logical arguments on the ever-present question of whether men and women can be just friends, the successful political consultant, Harry Burns, and the New York City journalist, Sally Albright, still haven’t found the answer.
Against the backdrop of a strictly platonic friendship peppered with intense love/hate moments, Harry and Sally stubbornly refuse to accept that they are the perfect match, even though they love to banter when they are not bickering. Now, after all this time, they still find themselves before this complex ongoing problem. Will the best friends stop denying the pure magnetism that prevailed ever since Harry met Sally?
[Source: IMDB]
Thoughts about this movie:
When Harry Met Sally is arguably the quintessential rom-com, and the best parts of it take place in the backdrop of autumn, even as it follows the characters through the years. The questions tackled in this movie reflect that which occurs in real life: can men and women just be friends? Where is the line between attraction and affection? As someone who sincerely believes that men and women can be friends without developing romantic interest, this movie was interesting for me.
The great thing about this film is that despite the seeming seriousness of the issues it dealt with, it kept me laughing the entire time. The chemistry between Harry and Sally is authentic, and I had the feeling that the actors had a great relationship even in real life. Their banter is witty and magnetic, and the movie has two best friends falling in love without the typical, cheesy conventions. It’s enjoyable, rewatchable, and a classic for a good reason.
1. About Time
- Date released: September 18, 2013
- Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
When Tim Lake is 21, his father tells him a secret: The men in their family can travel through time. Although he can’t change history, Tim resolves to improve his life by getting a girlfriend. He meets Mary falls in love and finally wins her heart via time travel and a little cunning. However, as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds that his special ability can’t shield him and those he loves from the problems of ordinary life.
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]
Thoughts about this movie:
Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite actresses. Frankly, I’d include any of her movies as in my top 10 movies lists, but this one is best to watch during fall.
It contains sci-fi elements with all the time travel, and the romance is a slow burn with a whole lot of sweet — perfect movie elements to curl up to while sipping some warm cocoa. The relationships among the Lake family are also a delight – to the point that I’d call this a heartwarming family film before it is a romance movie.
I frequently watched this with my group of friends back in university, and with every rewatch since then, I still feel like I am wrapped with the same warmth. I ranked this number one because of this sentimentality, but I believe if you give it a try, you’ll find yourself enjoying it too!
Do you agree with the ranking? What are the top 10 movies you will watch this fall?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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