As the nights draw in and the leaves turn orange, red, and gold, autumn is the perfect time for cosy nights in front of the fire watching films. With the weather turning grim, many are turning to streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV for the perfect film to give that warm feeling inside. Here are 13 essential films that capture the beauty and warmth of the season, and where to watch them.
Classic Romantic Comedies
When Harry Met Sally features one of its most famous scenes in New York's Central Park on a picturesque autumn day. Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the 1989 film begins with college graduates Harry and Sally bickering during a car ride to New York over whether men and women can ever be platonic friends. Ten years later, the pair reunite at a bookstore and decide to test the theory. It is available to rent via Apple TV, Prime Video, or the Sky Store.
You've Got Mail is also set during a beautiful autumn in New York City. Ryan stars as Kathleen Kelly, a struggling boutique bookseller who strikes up a rivalry with Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a corporate chain bookstore after he moves in across the street. When they anonymously begin chatting online, they strike up a romance oblivious to the other's true identity. It is available to stream on HBO Max and NOW TV, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Spooky and Magical Picks
Practical Magic, the 1998 cult classic, stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who descend from a line of witches and are raised by their aunts after a family curse kills their parents. As adults, they are forced to use their magic to destroy the spirit of Gillian's abusive boyfriend before it kills them both. It is available to stream on Netflix, HBO Max, and NOW TV, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki's 2001 film, follows 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents as they discover an eerie abandoned amusement park. After her parents are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets Haku, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings and that she must work there for the witch Yubaba to free herself and her parents. It is available to stream on Netflix.
Hocus Pocus, the 1993 classic, follows Max Dennison and his sister Dani after they move to Salem, Massachusetts. They explore an abandoned house with their new friend Allison and accidentally free a coven of witches – Sarah, Mary, and Winifred Sanderson – and must steal their book of spells to prevent them from becoming immortal. It is available to stream on Disney Plus, and to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Heartfelt and Whimsical Stories
Dead Poets Society stars Robin Williams as English teacher John Keating, who begins a new job at all-boys preparatory Welton Academy. With his unorthodox teaching methods, Keating endeavours to inspire his students to pursue their dreams. It is available to stream via Disney Plus, and to rent via Apple TV, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, or the Sky Store.
Fantastic Mr Fox, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, sees the crafty Mr Fox break a promise to his wife to raid the farm of their human neighbours. The heist goes awry and forces the Fox family and their friends to hide deep underground, but he has a plan to rise up against their opposition. It is available to stream via Prime Video and Sky, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and Rakuten TV.
Good Will Hunting tells the story of Will Hunting, a genius who works as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a near-impossible math problem, he catches the attention of Professor Gerald Lambeau, who enlists the help of therapist Sean Maguire after Will is arrested for attacking a police officer. It is available to stream via Paramount+, Netflix, and YouTube, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
St Elmo's Fire centres on a group of recent graduates of Georgetown University as they adjust to life after their studies. The gang includes wannabe lawyer Kirby, writer Kevin, budding politician Alex and his girlfriend Leslie, and Wendy, who is in love with Billy. It is available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store.
Stepmom follows Isabel, who gets engaged to Luke, a divorcee, and tries to integrate with his family. Luke's ex-wife Jackie is initially at loggerheads with Isabel, but their lives are turned upside down when Jackie is diagnosed with cancer. The film is packed with sweeping backdrops of New York City and Hudson Valley filled with crunchy leaves and autumnal fashion, and its narrative follows the changing of the seasons both literally and metaphorically. It is available to stream via Sony Pictures Core on Prime Video, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Little Women, the 1994 movie directed by Gillian Armstrong, follows the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – as well as their mother, Marmee, as they struggle to survive when their father leaves to fight in the Union Army. The story spans several years and seasons, with plenty of scenes reflecting the earthy tones and cosiness of autumn. It is available to stream via Channel 4, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Nostalgic Favourites
The Addams Family, released in 1991 based on the comic strip of the same name, stars Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christina Ricci, and others as the kooky and spooky aristocratic family. In it, they believe a long-lost relative is Gomez's brother Fester Addams. The comfort and nostalgia of the film is perfect for the colder months. It is available to stream via Paramount+, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
Twilight follows seventeen-year-old Bella Swan as she moves from sunny Arizona to rainy Forks, Washington, to live with her police chief father. There, she meets the mysterious Edward Cullen, whom she is immediately enamoured by, though he avoids her at all costs. As they become closer, he reveals his secret – he and his family are vampires. The rainy, misty setting of Forks is the perfect autumn backdrop, and its signature desaturated, icy-blue, earthy-brown colour grading offers something different from the usual reds, oranges, and yellows. All five films are available to stream via Netflix and ITVX, and to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, Rakuten TV, and the Sky Store.
