With the official start of autumn last week, I thought I would share a guide to what to watch in the fall. There really is something magical about watching these shows or movies on a chilly day: rain outside, under a blanket, hot drink in hand. However, I know we all prefer slightly different things when it comes to what we watch. That is why, whilst telling you MY personal faves, I thought it might be nice to outline what a good playlist would look like for anyone.
The most essential part of a good fall playlist is to have a good mix of what I call The Three Cs: cozy, crisp, and creepy. Let’s begin with cozy.
Cozy movies usually have a darker color palette, a friendly or relaxing atmosphere, and (most importantly) characters that can be pictured sipping a warm beverage. (Mug-sipping is the main distinguishing factor between something cozy and something crisp). Here are some essentials that make up the cozy part of our list:
Everyone’s list should start either with Harry Potter or Twilight. I happen to be a Harry Potter girl. (I don’t have an explanation for this one, it’s solely a preference). These two are perhaps the most obvious choices, so either one of them should top the list.
Next, we have murder mysteries. My favorite example of these would be either Knives Out or Only Murders in the Building. For a lot of people this would be Clue. Any adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel would also do!
Something that gets its own category, I believe, is A Series of Unfortunate Events (movie or series!). It’s slightly spooky, and uses a rather dark color scheme. I love cuddling up to this show.
I’m of the opinion that any Wes Anderson movie satisfies the Fall Movie criteria. I think Fantastic Mr. Fox is perhaps the best for this occasion, but add your favorite to this list! Most Wes Anderson movies are extremely cozy.
Anything Roald Dahl and anything Tim Burton. These two creators embody fall. It’s a fact. (If I had to pick one for each, I would say Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Frankenweenie).
Fun fact! Did you know Coraline was not made by Tim Burton? Because I just found out while writing this list. You live and you learn! Coraline is a major fall essential because of its rainy, foggy atmosphere.
Monster movies and shows are next on the list. There are a few good ones, and a lot of variety in this category! Whether you prefer Pan’s Labyrinth, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Stranger Things, a good monster story has the right mood for a late fall night.
The sitcoms of this list have been split between the cozy category and the crisp one. The essential cozy ones that I love are Friends and Frasier. That rainy, big city vibe is unmatched for coziness.
Next, we’ve got small town dramas. These are almost always set in the fall, and provide mystery to draw you in, but mostly people watch it for the cozy aesthetic. Think here Pretty Little Liars or Gilmore Girls. They are constantly sipping out of mugs!
Lastly, we must include any British murder mystery ever. This is a category I am very passionate about. Cold weather is UK Television Weather. My favorite examples of these are Broadchurch and Midsomer Murders. (Also, if you’re interested in Midsomer Murders, it runs two hours per episode and is so far at 22 seasons. The perfect binge.)
The creepy category is not necessarily horror. I want to stress that this fall playlist is not the same as a Halloween one. Therefore, I only include the most aesthetic horror movies, along with some that are just a little spooky.
Let’s begin with my favorite horror series of all time: The Haunting of Hill House. It has horror elements, takes place mostly at night, and is mega-spooky. Yet, it is one of the most emotional series I’ve ever watched. It earns its own spot on the list.
The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror are more fall essentials. Both are anthology series that center on some creepy topics!
The Lobster is unique, and I felt I needed to include it. Its scenery is very centered in autumn: a lot of forests, big coats, and misty weather. It also has a really creepy premise!
Twin Peaks needs to be on any fall list because of its aesthetic. It reminds me almost of a 70s live-action Tim Burton movie. It’s an acquired taste for sure, but if you’ve acquired it, it should be on your fall list!
The list should include a healthy amount of Halloween movies. I think it needs at least a couple. My favorite Halloween movies are Halloween and Scream. Aesthetically, I find these to be the most representative of fall!
Lastly, I find Ryan Murphy shows (mostly American Horror Story and Scream Queens) to be very comforting and nice to watch in the fall. Despite their themes of horror, they can be really nice to watch on a relaxing day!
Last but not least we have crisp! Crisp is different from cozy because it is more light and airy. Rather than picturing the characters sipping from a mug, the key visual for a crisp show or movie is picturing the characters outside with fallen leaves on the ground. The characters may spend a lot of time outdoors in general, or the colors on screen might simply be bright. Here are the essentials for this part of the list.
The ultimate, and first, pick is When Harry Met Sally. This is one of the best fall movies ever. Leaves everywhere, walks in Central Park, bookstores, coffee shops; it’s all there!
Coming in a close second to this would be both Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting. These both have a very similar vibe of falling leaves, crisp air, and a very literary feel.
I would say this is the section of the list that needs to include any Nancy Meyers movie. Literally any of them. The one I would choose is The Father of the Bride. Her movies just feel very homey, relaxing, and fresh.
Next, a network sitcom must be added to the list. Many popular ones fit this category because they almost always begin airing in the fall, so they always have a Halloween and/or Thanksgiving episode. I think the most obvious option would be The Nanny, but I also love series like The Middle, Modern Family, Blackish, or Home Improvement. Your favorite sitcom probably works here!
Besides the network sitcom, there are also a couple dramas that work great for this section! Specifically, I think Gossip Girl and You are both great for the fall (not necessarily for Penn Badgely, but maybe he’s what makes it work)! Both of these shows take place in light and airy settings and have such specific fashions that work best in the fall.
Last on the list (the anchor!) we have Fleabag. One of the greatest series of all time. This is a true fall classic because it has a very homey, comfortin aesthetic. There are always leaves on the ground and the characters wear quirky fall outfits. It’s the perfect show to close out this list.
Now that you’ve made your list, you know exactly what to watch this fall. Not only that, but it’s a good building block to add and subtract from each year, and to keep returning to when you don’t know what to watch! No more going off of the “31 Days of Halloween” list, we’re making our own now!
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