There is nothing quite like curling up on a cold autumnal night in front of a good, cosy movie. With options from the spooky through to the romantic, here is our roundup of the best films to watch in Autumn.
5. Knives Out (2019)
The Autumn Vibes here are Immaculate. From the big, vaguely haunted looking house, straight to Chris Evans’ deeply cosy jumper that launched a thousand tweets, this murder mystery gives me all the autumnal feels. The story is a tangled web of murder and murder suspects, and Daniel Craig and his… interesting accent choice must solve the murder of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey. Just like curling up with a good Miss Marple, Knives Out is simultaneously cosy and complicated, with twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your blanketed seat.
Click here to watch Knives Out on Amazon.
5. Love, Guaranteed (2020)
I will admit that this film never proclaims to be an Autumn Movie. Instead, this film is autumnal in the sense that… I’m pretty sure that’s when it takes place? And Rachel Leigh Cook drives an orange car, which is cute. Plus the colour palette of the whole film definitely leans towards the autumn. It feels like a good quality Hallmark Christmas movie – except no one is secretly Santa. Love, Guaranteed is about DW Jr and RLC taking on a court case against a dating app, who claim to be able to make anyone fall in love. However, DW Jr has been on 986 dates: still no love.
Damon Wayans Jr. shines as the male lead, and I wish this film had made more casting directors sit up and take notice of him as more than just a funny friend: he clearly has the chops to play the leading man, and I hope he gets to do it more often. Rachel Leigh Cook stars as a slightly quirky, off kilter female lead, just enough of an ingénue to be entertaining but with that steel spine (and no removing of her glasses). The only thing this film is missing is dungarees.
Click here to watch Love, Guaranteed on Netflix (UK).
4. Just Like Heaven (2005)
Reese Witherspoon could have chemistry with a bucket, but she doesn’t need to in this glorious, chaotic 2005 romcom. Instead, the lovely Mark Ruffalo is there, pre-Hulkification, and is very confused by why a disappearing woman lives in the flat he’s stared renting. I don’t want to give too many spoilers, in case you haven’t seen this classic yet, but trust me when I say these actors make this madness both believable and brilliant. It honestly might be one of my favourite films of all time, and while not technically an Autumn film, I do think the premise makes it just spooky enough to count!
Click here to watch Just Like Heaven on Netflix (UK).
2. The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993)
I have included these films as a two for one, as really, you should watch them back to back. My perfect Halloween films, they have just enough of a creepy edge to fit the spooky brief, while remaining cosy and uplifting and reminding you hat family should be about. The cast is obviously incredible, and Joan Cusack shines as the unhinged Debbie. Plus, shout out to one of my early childhood crushes, David Krumholtz, who is sure to be featured in an upcoming Christmas film list.
A great film to watch with kids around 12 (I believe that’s when they’ll be best able to appreciate Wednesday’s dry asides) there is something for every member of the family. And Addams Family Values brings attention to the season by focusing on Thanksgiving, an American seasonal essential, but with that same Addams-ian lense.
Click here to watch Addams Family Values on Netflix (UK).
1. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Hot on the heels of Sleepless in Seattle, American Sweethearts Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks made this perfect movie. I personally believe it vastly outshines Ryan’s other, perhaps more renowned autumnal romcom, When Harry Met Sally. As much as I love Mike Wazowski, I find his character in that film vaguely creepy.
Now, You’ve Got Mail is a remake of The Shop Around the Corner (1940), a black and white Jimmy Stewart Christmas Classic™. But this film only barely touches on Christmas, and in fact focuses on an autumnal New York (Hanks says: ‘Don’t you love New York in the fall? Makes me wanna buy school supplies’ and yes, Mr Hanks, same here). Hanks and Ryan are at the top of their game, making you believe these two are meant to be together. They do such a brilliant job, you forget the story is about a woman who virtually cheats on her fiancé and a man who is essentially living Jeff Bezos’ dream.
All that being said, this is my absolute favourite autumnal film, and therefore is number one on this list of cosy films to watch this Autumn.
