I love fall. I love seeing the leaves change. I love everything pumpkin- and apple-flavored. Most of all, I love getting nice and cozy to watch a movie. However, I do not like horror movies. I have always been a little weakling when it comes to scary stuff. As such, I have become a connoisseur of non-scary movies that are perfect for fall. A lot of this is based on vibes — color scheme, music choices, subject matter, etc. If you’re anxious like me and hate being scared, here are five of my top picks for fall movies.
- “FantasTic Mr. Fox” (2009)
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One of the first things I do every fall is watch this movie. It’s so incredibly atmospheric. The stop-motion animation sings with its bright colors and visceral textures. As a heist movie, the stakes are raised masterfully. It’s genuinely funny and quotable while still providing a solid emotional foundation. Wes Anderson is a genius in his field (not necessarily the greatest person), and his direction lends itself beautifully to this format. This movie brings me both comfort and catharsis in its themes of self-improvement and self-acceptance.
- “little women” (2019)
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Any adaptation of this classic novel could work. This one in particular is directed by the incredible Greta Gerwig — it’s my personal favorite. “Little Women” is the story of four sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. The movie takes us through a year in their lives and uses lighting to signify changes in the timeline. It’s emotional and harrowing, really encapsulating growing pains. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Timothee Chalamet, and they each giving incredible performances.
- “When Harry Met sally” (1989)
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Anything written by Nora Ephron could be put on this list. But if “You’ve Got Mail” is spring and “Sleepless In Seattle” is Christmas, “When Harry Met Sally” is autumn incarnate. The movie follows two best friends over ten years, trying to navigate their attraction to each other. The banter is top-notch, the setting (fall and winter in ’80s New York City) feels warm and welcoming. Not to mention, the clips of older couples interspersed throughout really helps reinforce the movie’s theme of love that lasts. As a side note: More men should dress like Billy Crystal in this movie.
- “It’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown” and “happy thanksgiving, charlie brown”
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They may not be heavy on plot. They may not contain complex thoughts on the human condition. But there’s just something so comforting about popping popcorn, putting M&Ms in the popcorn and watching these movies. As everyone and their mother is entering their Snoopy era, let’s return to the source. Be it nostalgia or genuine quality, I will always recommend these two back-to-back. However, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend the Mayflower one. It straight-up lied about how the indigenous people were treated during the first Thanksgiving.
- “All too well: the short film” (2021)
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What kind of Swiftie would I be if this wasn’t on the list? I will admit it’s not necessarily comforting or happy — the kitchen and dinner scenes definitely make me anxious. The vibes, however, are there. The ending always makes me tear up. Sadie Sink is an absolute star, and I cannot wait for Taylor Swift’s full-length directorial debut.
As your average girl with a Letterboxd account, I’ve always felt a bit on the outside of film discussions during the fall. Horror movies are not the end-all be-all. Personally, I feel like recommending other fall movies allows for those of us who struggle with horror to be included.