Ah, fall. There’s something so inherently cozy about this season, whether it’s because of the sweaters, warm drinks, or beautiful leaves.
As the days get shorter and colder, it’s the perfect time to head inside and curl up under a blanket with a cup of cocoa and a good book or movie. And what better way is there to enjoy the coziness of the season than consuming media that perfectly captures that vibe?
In this post, you’ll find twenty-one of the best cozy fall movies ever made. They range from slightly spooky flicks to swoony rom-coms to charming animated films, so there’s a little something for everyone here.
Cozy Fall Movies
Little Women (1994)
The Plot: Jo struggles for independence and sometimes clashes with her beloved mother and sisters, Meg, Amy, and Beth. She also contends with their cranky Aunt March, their impulsive neighbor Laurie, and kindly linguistics professor Friedrich Bhaer.
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Kristen Dunst, Susan Sarandon
Why you should watch it: While it doesn’t take place exclusively in fall, the cozy vibe of Little Women is unmatched. Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love alongside the March sisters.
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Plot: A meek Hobbit from the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the powerful One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Sean Austin, Ian McKellen, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee
Why you should watch it: Frodo sets out on his adventure in the fall. Besides that, the sweeping vistas and travel montages will give you the itch to venture into the world and explore.
Back to the Future
The Plot: Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover
Why you should watch it: This movie happens in early November, and much of it takes place at school, whether in the 1980s or the 1950s. It’s a classic film, perfect for watching with family.
Legally Blonde
The Plot: Fashionable sorority queen Elle Woods follows her ex-boyfriend to law school, where she discovers that there is more to her than just looks.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Jennifer Coolidge
Why you should watch it: There’s something about a school story that just screams “fall”. This one, taking place at Harvard in autumnal New England, is no exception.
Matilda (1996)
The Plot: A girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers uses both to get even with her callous family and free her kindly schoolteacher from the tyrannical grip of a sadistic headmistress.
Starring: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris
Why you should watch it: Despite the dark subject matter, this movie is filled with warmth and coziness. Mara Wilson, who plays Matilda, does a fantastic job as the main character despite her age.
The Goonies
The Plot: A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure.
Starring: Sean Austin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huay Quan, Robert Davi
Why you should watch it: There are so many beautiful shots of fall in Oregon in this film. It’s also a classic example of a hilarious 80s adventure film.
Practical Magic
The Plot: Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman
Why you should watch it: If you’re looking for a film that’s cozy and a little spooky, this is a great choice. Sandra and Nicole shine as sisters who also happen to be witches.
Persuasion (1995)
The Plot: Anne, the daughter of a financially troubled aristocratic family, is persuaded to break off her engagement to Frederick, a young sea captain of meager means. Years later, Anne is again thrown into company with Frederick, who is now rich.
Starring: Amanda Root, Ciarán Hinds
Why you should watch it: This is Jane Austen’s last novel, about finding love at a more mature age. The melancholy and longing of the story mesh perfectly with autumn.
The Little Princess (1939)
The Plot: A little girl is left by her father in an exclusive seminary for girls while he fights in the Second Boer War. Later, after he is presumed dead, she is forced to become a servant.
Starring: Shirley Temple, Ian Hunter, Arthur Treacher
Why you should watch it: While this story involves great heartache and trials, it’s still quite cozy due to the themes of human kindness in hardship. It’s a great, heartwarming tale paired with Shirley Temple’s phenomenal acting.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
The Plot: Robin Hood decides to fight back as an outlaw when faced with the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Starring: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Why you should watch it: There’s something incredibly autumnal about the woodland setting of Sherwood Forest. But the real standout of this movie is Alan Rickman as the treacherous Sheriff of Nottingham.
Clue
The Plot: Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.
Starring: Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean
Why you should watch it: You’ll split your sides laughing during this hilarious murder mystery story based on the board game. Can you guess whodunit before the characters do?
10 Things I Hate About You
The Plot: A high-school boy, Cameron, cannot date Bianca until her antisocial older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. So, Cameron pays a mysterious boy, Patrick, to charm Kat.
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik
Why you should watch it: This is another great school story with cozy vibes. It’s a classic teen rom-com starring younger versions of several big actors, like Heath Ledger.
Jerry Macguire
The Plot: When a sports agent has a moral epiphany and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent agent with the only athlete who stays with him and his former colleague.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Why you should watch it: If you’re looking for a date night movie combining sports and romance, this is the one for you. It’s a heartwarming story with a little something for everyone.
Clueless
The Plot: Shallow, rich, and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school’s pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other.
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy
Why you should watch it: This classic remake of the even more classic Emma takes place mainly in the fall. It’s also just a fun teen rom-com.
Animated Cozy Fall Movies
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Plot: An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers’ retaliation.
Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon
Why you should watch it: The color palette of this movie is filled with autumnal yellow and orange tones. On top of that, you have beautiful stop-motion animation to enjoy.
Coco
The Plot: Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.
Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
Why you should watch it: The fall holiday, the Day of the Dead, is the center of this story. It’s great if you don’t like spooky movies, but still want something appropriate for Halloween.
Only Yesterday
The Plot: A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Dev Petel, Tara Strong
Why you should watch it: If you’re looking for a movie full of nostalgia and emotions about growing up, this is a great choice. It’s a lesser-known Studio Ghibli, but you shouldn’t miss it.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
The Plot: The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.
Starring: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Bill Melendez
Why you should watch it: This “movie” may only be 25 minutes long, but it’s a Halloween classic. It’s perfect for back-to-back viewing with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
The Plot: Along with her black cat Jiji, Kiki settles in a seaside town and starts a high-flying delivery service. Here begins her magical encounter with independence and responsibility, making lifelong friends and finding her place in the world.
Starring: Kristen Dunst, Phil Hartman, Janeane Garofalo
Why you should watch it: While it may star a witch, this movie is far from spooky. In fact, it will probably leave you craving a cottage in the forest and fresh-baked bread.
The Wild Robot
The Plot: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Conner
Why you should watch it: This heartwarming story about a robot mothering an orphan duck will have you sobbing by the end. The beautifully animated shots of the landscape will also give you all the fall vibes.
Over the Garden Wall
The Plot: Two brothers find themselves lost in a mysterious land and try to find their way home.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Collin Dean, Christopher Lloyd
Why you should watch it: Okay, this is technically a TV show. But you can watch the whole thing in under 2 hours, and the fall vibes are immaculate.
There’s nothing better than a cozy movie night in the fall. So, pick one of these films, get your favorite blanket, and have a good time.
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