As the leaves begin to fall and the days get shorter, many begin to crave entertainment that goes with the season. Rather than watching the same old cheesy Halloween movies, the following is a compiled list of movies and television shows that are not outwardly advertised as spooky, but still give warm and cozy fall vibes.
Gilmore Girls may be the ultimate fall show. It ran on The WB network, first airing in 2000, and lasted for seven seasons until the show ended on May 15, 2007. The story followed Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother-daughter duo who are exceptionally close due to the fact that they are only 16 years apart. Lorelai is eccentric, outgoing, witty, and friendly, whereas Rory is very academically oriented, introverted, and organized, but just as witty as her mother. The Gilmore girls live in Stars Hollow, a fictional town in Connecticut where everyone knows everyone, which adds to the cozy fall vibes of the show. Viewers watch how the Gilmores deal with problems, whether it be between the two of them, their kooky neighbors, Lorelai’s parents, or within themselves. This show has a wide variety of personalities, making it easy for the viewer to relate and really get invested in the plot.
Remember the Titans is a movie about the integration of segregated schools and how it shook the foundations of all parties involved, including T.C. Williams High School’s football team. The team begins to build relationships and trust each other, but disapproval from their parents and others in their community makes the progress the team has made teeter. The highs and lows of high school football portrayed in this movie are what really makes it feel like fall. Friday night lights are a staple for anyone during fall, and the way those lights affect the storyline amount to an uplifting movie the whole family can enjoy.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 90s show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar who plays Buffy Summers, a high school student who unexpectedly has to protect her entire town from vampires, while also being a teenage girl. Buffy and her friends go through things together that normal teenagers would, but when night rolls around, they have to deal with deadly vampires. The supernatural elements of this show are what give it a spooky Halloween feel. In addition to the vampires, several episodes also feature witches, werewolves, demons, and other Halloween villain essentials. The vibes of this show are amplified during the fall season, making this the most effective time to watch it.
The Goonies is a feel-good adventure that is set in October of 1984 as we see a group of friends trying to save their homes from foreclosure. Mikey, his brother, Brand, and his group of friends, The Goonies, as they call themselves, find an old treasure map that they believe will lead them to 17th century pirate, One-Eyed Willie, and his treasure. The Goonies run into Andy and Stef, two girls Brand’s age, along the way. The groups combine as the group of six begin a race against the Fratellis, a criminal family, to get to the treasure first. The set is really what gives this movie that fall feel. Many of the scenes not filmed on a set were filmed in Astoria, Oregon, where the story takes place. Racing winds that blow through the actors’ hair, gloomy skies, and the kids being bundled up made the story and its setting that much more believable.
When Harry Met Sally is a rom com about Harry Burns and Sally Albright, two college graduates who carpool to New York City from Chicago, and how their relationship progresses through the years. They start as friends, but after a night together, both Harry and Sally believe their friendship is ruined. New York City fall is really a sight to see in this movie. The bright orange leaves of Central Park give the film the fall imagery that every person who is cozied up on the couch craves. The heartwarming story is the perfect thing to keep people toasty as the air begins to get that familiar chill as winter approaches.
Knives Out is a murder mystery about detective Benoit Blanc who investigates the Thrombey family after world-renowned novelist, Harlan Thrombey, dies mysteriously. The star-studded ensemble cast that plays the dysfunctional family make for an entertaining and suspenseful movie that leaves you guessing until the end. The costuming in this movie is what legitimizes the fall aura, especially Chris Evans’ character, Ransom Drysdale, and his signature sweaters. Practically every scene showcases the former Captain America bundled up in a knitted pullover. The movie resembles the 1985 film, Clue, in a way, with its colorful cast of characters as well as the eerie mansion in which both mysteries take place.
Any of these movies and shows can be great additions to the Halloween movie roster. Whether you’re into binging on the couch or having a movie night with your friends, these picks are perfectly festive for the fall season.
