There’s something about autumn that makes staying in and watching a good film feel especially appealing. As the days get shorter, the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change, it’s the perfect time to make a cosy drink, get comfortable under a blanket and put on a movie that matches the season.
If you’re looking for movies to watch in autumn, I’ve put together a list of 30 films that capture all the best parts of the season. From cosy classics and nostalgic favourites to gothic romances, coming-of-age stories, supernatural adventures and light-hearted mysteries, there’s something here for every kind of autumn movie night.
Some are films I’d happily rewatch every autumn — think Little Women, When Harry Met Sally and Pride & Prejudice — while others lean into the darker side of the season with witches, vampires, ghosts and gothic drama. And, of course, there are plenty of nostalgic 90s and 2000s favourites for those nights when you want something familiar and comforting.
Whether you’re planning a cosy movie marathon, looking for something to watch on a rainy afternoon or simply want to make the most of the autumn atmosphere, grab your favourite blanket and settle in. Here are 30 of the best movies to watch in autumn.
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Cosy Autumn Classics to Watch
For crisp afternoons, warm drinks and films that feel like a comforting old favourite.
Little Women (2019)
Set in 19th-century Massachusetts, Little Women follows the four March sisters as they grow up, fall in love and find their own paths in life. Jo dreams of becoming a writer, Meg longs for a family, Beth finds joy in music, and Amy is determined to make something of herself. Warm, nostalgic and full of sisterly affection, it’s the perfect film for a slow autumn afternoon.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Harry and Sally meet on a road trip from Chicago to New York and immediately disagree about almost everything — especially whether men and women can really be friends. Over the years, their paths continue to cross as their relationship shifts from acquaintances to friends and, eventually, something more complicated. A cosy New York classic filled with witty conversations, autumnal scenery and one of the most iconic romantic-comedy friendships.
The Parent Trap (1998)
Separated at birth and raised on opposite sides of the Atlantic, identical twins Annie and Hallie unexpectedly meet at summer camp and realise they’ve been missing the other half of their family their entire lives. After switching places to get to know each other’s parents, they come up with an elaborate plan to reunite their divorced mother and father. Pure childhood nostalgia, complete with cosy family homes, old-school camp adventures and plenty of sibling mischief.
Matilda (1996)
Matilda Wormwood is an exceptionally clever and imaginative young girl growing up in a family that completely fails to appreciate her. When she discovers she has telekinetic powers, she begins using them to stand up to the adults who have mistreated her — particularly the terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Whimsical, funny and wonderfully nostalgic, Matilda is a childhood favourite that still feels magical decades later.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Mia Thermopolis is an awkward teenager living an ordinary life in San Francisco when she discovers an extraordinary family secret: she’s actually a princess. Suddenly, her quiet teenage existence is replaced with royal lessons, etiquette classes and the pressure of deciding whether she wants to accept her new identity. A quintessential comfort watch about growing into yourself, finding confidence and discovering that being different might not be such a bad thing.
Uptown Girls (2003)
After losing her fortune and being forced to grow up overnight, carefree young woman Molly Gunn takes a job as a nanny for Ray, an unusually serious eight-year-old girl. What begins as an unlikely friendship gradually becomes a relationship that changes both of their lives. Equal parts funny, sweet and bittersweet, Uptown Girls is one of those nostalgic early-2000s films that feels like a warm hug — with just enough heartbreak to make you reach for the tissues.
Coming of Age Movies to Watch in Autumn
For rainy afternoons, old books, autumn campuses and stories about finding your place in the world.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
At an elite New England boarding school where tradition and conformity reign, an unconventional English teacher encourages his students to look at poetry — and life — differently. His lessons inspire a group of boys to question expectations, embrace individuality and make the most of the lives they’re given. Thought-provoking, emotional and beautifully atmospheric, it’s made for a rainy autumn evening.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Quiet and socially awkward teenager Charlie begins his first year of high school feeling like an outsider until two charismatic seniors take him under their wing. Through new friendships, first love, parties and painful memories, Charlie slowly begins to understand himself and the people around him. Tender and nostalgic, it captures the bittersweet feeling of growing up and realising that the people who make a particular chapter of your life special may not always stay forever.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
In 1950s America, art history professor Katherine Watson arrives at the prestigious all-women’s Wellesley College expecting to teach her students about art — only to find that they’re being prepared for very traditional lives. Determined to challenge their assumptions about marriage, careers and independence, Katherine encourages them to imagine futures beyond what society has planned for them. A thoughtful period drama with plenty of old-school campus and autumnal New England atmosphere.
Cosy Mysteries and Whodunits Movies to Watch in Autumn
For rainy nights when you want a mystery, a murder and a cast of unlikely detectives.
The Thursday Murder Club (2025)
At a peaceful retirement community, four friends meet regularly to investigate unsolved murders simply for fun. Their cosy little hobby takes a much more serious turn when a real murder occurs right on their doorstep. With a charming ensemble cast, plenty of humour and a classic whodunit structure, it’s an ideal choice for an autumn evening when you want something mysterious without being too dark.
The Sheep Detectives (2026)
On a quiet farm, shepherd George entertains his sheep by reading them detective novels every night, never imagining they understand a word of what he’s saying. But when a mysterious incident shakes up life on the farm, the sheep put their unexpected knowledge to use and begin investigating for themselves. A quirky, cosy mystery with an irresistibly unusual cast of amateur detectives.
Gothic and Dark Autumn Movies to Watch in Autumn
For stormy evenings, candlelight, old mansions and stories that lean into the darker side of autumn.
Frankenstein (2025)
Brilliant but dangerously ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with pushing the boundaries of life and death. When his experiment succeeds in bringing a creature to life, the consequences prove far more devastating than he could have imagined. A tragic story of ambition, creation and the complicated relationship between a creator and his creation.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
A vampire recounts the story of his centuries-long existence, beginning with the man who transformed him and the complicated relationships that followed. Love, jealousy, loneliness and immortality intertwine as he struggles with what it means to live forever. Atmospheric and melancholic, it’s a perfect pick for a darker autumn night.
Wuthering Heights (2026)
Set against the windswept Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights follows the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Their connection becomes consumed by love, jealousy, obsession and resentment, leaving consequences that ripple through generations. For maximum autumn atmosphere, few settings can compete with a windswept English moor.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Beneath the grand Paris Opera House lives a mysterious, disfigured musical genius who becomes obsessed with young soprano Christine Daaé. As Christine’s career rises, so does the Phantom’s possessiveness, drawing her into a dangerous love triangle filled with music, secrets and obsession. Gothic, theatrical and suitably dramatic for a dark autumn evening.
Witches, Ghosts and Magical Worlds Movies to Watch in Autumn
For when you want autumn to feel a little more magical — and perhaps a little bit haunted.
Practical Magic (1998)
Sisters Sally and Gillian Owens come from a long line of witches, but their family’s magic has always been accompanied by a curse: any man they fall in love with is destined to die. When an old relationship brings danger back into their lives, the sisters are forced to embrace the magic they’ve spent years trying to escape. A cosy mix of sisterhood, romance, witchcraft and small-town autumn atmosphere.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
After accidentally resurrecting the Sanderson sisters on Halloween night, teenager Max, his younger sister Dani and their new friend Allison have until sunrise to stop the witches from regaining their powers. Full of campy witches, black cats, Halloween decorations and nostalgic 1990s charm, Hocus Pocus is an obvious choice for an October movie night.
Corpse Bride (2005)
On the eve of his wedding, nervous groom Victor accidentally finds himself married to a mysterious woman from beyond the grave. His new bride, Emily, is determined to make their marriage work, even if Victor was never intending to marry her in the first place. Beautifully macabre and surprisingly tender, Tim Burton’s stop-motion fantasy is perfect for a slightly darker autumn watch.
Casper (1995)
When a paranormal therapist and his daughter move into a sprawling old mansion to rid it of troublesome ghosts, they discover that one resident isn’t interested in scaring them away. Casper is a friendly young ghost longing for companionship and a chance to experience life again. A nostalgic mix of comedy, supernatural adventure and surprisingly emotional moments.
Labyrinth (1986)
After wishing that the Goblin King would take away her baby brother, teenage Sarah discovers that her wish has come true. To get him back, she must enter a strange and fantastical labyrinth filled with riddles, goblins and bizarre creatures. Dreamlike and wonderfully strange, Labyrinth feels like stepping into an old storybook.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Nineteen-year-old Alice returns to the strange world she visited as a child, finding Wonderland under the control of the tyrannical Red Queen. Reunited with familiar characters including the Mad Hatter, she discovers that she may have a larger role to play in restoring the balance of this fantastical world. A visually extravagant choice for when you want something whimsical and escapist.
Stardust (2007)
To prove his love, a young man promises to retrieve a fallen star from the magical kingdom beyond the wall surrounding his village. What begins as a simple quest soon becomes a much more dangerous adventure involving witches, princes, pirates and a star who turns out to be far more than he expected. A charming fantasy adventure with romance, magic and plenty of fairytale autumn energy.
Romance Movies to Watch in Autumn
For falling leaves, complicated relationships, cosy settings and films that might leave you reaching for the tissues.
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Elizabeth Bennet is immediately unimpressed by the wealthy and seemingly arrogant Mr Darcy when their paths first cross. But as their lives become increasingly intertwined, first impressions begin to unravel and both are forced to reconsider what they believe about one another. Sweeping landscapes, candlelit interiors and a slow-burning romance make this quintessential autumn viewing.
One Day (2011)
Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their university graduation and agree to stay friends, with the film returning to the same date each year to see where life has taken them. Over the course of decades, their friendship evolves through relationships, careers, mistakes and missed opportunities. Bittersweet and deeply nostalgic, it’s a story about timing, friendship and the possibility of finding your way back to someone.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Troubled teenager Landon Carter is forced to take part in community service, where he finds himself spending time with quiet, kind-hearted Jamie Sullivan. Despite coming from completely different worlds, the two gradually fall in love, changing each other’s lives in ways neither expected. A classic tearjerker for anyone who wants their autumn movie night to end in tears.
Dear John (2010)
Soldier John Tyree falls for college student Savannah during a brief period of leave, but their relationship is soon tested by military service and long stretches apart. They attempt to maintain their connection through letters and memories as life keeps pulling them in different directions. A melancholy romance about love, distance and the choices that shape a life.
Remember Me (2010)
In New York City, troubled young man Tyler Hawkins meets Ally after a chance encounter brings them together. Both carrying their own complicated family histories, they find comfort and connection in one another as their relationship develops. A romantic drama with a distinctly early-2010s atmosphere and a much heavier emotional turn than you might expect.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Successful New York fashion designer Melanie Carmichael seems to have created the perfect new life for herself, complete with a glamorous career and a wealthy fiancé. But before she can move forward, she has to return to Alabama and convince the husband she left behind years ago to finally give her a divorce. A charming small-town romance about old lives, second chances and discovering that home isn’t always where you expect it to be.
Sense and Sensibility (2026)
After losing their family home, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are forced to leave behind the life they’ve known and navigate the uncertainties of love, money and social expectations. Where Elinor approaches romance with restraint, Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve. This new adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic promises all the wit, romance and period-drama atmosphere you’d want from an autumn watch.
Supernatural Movies to Watch in Autumn
For misty forests, rainy towns, forbidden romance, and fully embracing your supernatural era.
Twilight (2008)
When Bella Swan moves to the perpetually rainy town of Forks, Washington, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious Edward Cullen. His strange behaviour and unusual family eventually reveal a secret far more dangerous than she could have imagined: Edward is a vampire. With its gloomy Pacific Northwest setting, brooding romance and soundtrack full of early-2000s nostalgia, Twilight is practically an autumn movie by association.
Dracula: A Love Tale (2025)
After suffering the devastating loss of his wife, a 15th-century prince turns his back on God and is cursed to live forever as Dracula. Centuries later, he continues to wander the world, driven by the hope that he might somehow be reunited with the woman he lost. A romantic, gothic interpretation of one of literature’s most enduring monsters.
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