It’s that time of the year when fall is in full swing. From cozy sweaters to pumpkin-spice coffee drinks, the only thing missing from your fall checklist is the perfect fall movie. Did I say fall too much? So grab your favorite blanket and open up the popcorn because here are the top five movies that will get you into the fall mood.
- Halloweentown (1998)
-
Halloweentown is a classic movie about a teenage girl, Marnie, who learns that she comes from a family of witches. When she and her siblings follow her grandmother to a portal, they discover a different dimension with a town named Halloweentown. This town hosts many different monsters and creatures who are at risk of evil forces that Marnie and her grandmother must defeat with the help of the rest of her family. The element of taking risks to defeat the evil forces is overpowered by the strength of the family in this movie.
While the name of the movie speaks for itself, the set of Halloweentown gives the warmth and coziness of fall. With its warm colors, mythical costumes, and a plethora of carved pumpkins, this town makes you want to decorate your home the same way. When watching this film, you feel like you are a character in this town. It is easy to get lost in it. Halloweentown is a funny, upbeat, seasonal movie that makes everyone want to dress up as Marnie for Halloween.
Watch Halloweentown on Disney+
- Hocus pocus (1993)
-
Hocus Pocus is about a young, curious teenager, Max Dennison, and his sister Dani who move to Salem, Massachusetts in 1993. Max, Dani, and their new friend Allison decide to explore a house that three evil witches lived in before getting executed in the seventeenth century. When this trio of wicked sisters gets awoken by Max, the kids need to steal the witch’s spell book to prevent them from becoming immortal.
Hocus Pocus brings you the fall spirit mainly because it takes place in Salem, Massachusetts which is the town where the Salem witch trials happened. While this is the backstory of the film, the mystical scenery helps the audience indulge in the fall mood.
Watch Hocus Pocus on Disney+
- it’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown (1966)
-
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is more of a short film rather than a movie however, the videography in this film makes it a classic fall movie. This animated Halloween special is about Linus and Sally waiting in a pumpkin patch to see the fictional character, Great Pumpkin. While they are waiting patiently, all the other children go trick-or-treating as they do not believe, Linus. Linus is determined to prove that The Great Pumpkin is not a myth.
While it says it in the name, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, the Halloween special is a wholesome, family film that makes everyone want to turn the imagery in this film into real life. While none of the children have seen the Great Pumpkin, this mythical creature could be your next home decor for the fall season. All the scenes have animated fall decorations and fun Halloween costumes that will get you in the fall spirit.
Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Apple TV+
- the parent trap (1998)
-
The Parent Trap is about young twins, Annie and Hallie, who were separated at birth and strangers until they meet at the same summer camp. Their divorced parents live in London and California, each having one of the twins. After the girls discover they are in fact related and not a mere coincidence they look identical, they form a plan to switch lives and go meet the parent they were not raised by. From forming a British accent to having the same haircut, the girls make a master plan to have their family meet again.
While it starts in the summer, this wholesome, youthful movie makes you want to grab a blanket and popcorn and get cozy on your couch with a fire going. While it may not be the stereotypical fall-themed movie, I think The Parent Trap is still a classic movie that easily falls into this autumn category.
Watch The Parent Trap on Disney+
Walt Disney Pictures - Twitches (2005)
-
Twitches is a classic Halloween fantasy movie based on the Twitches book series about twin sisters, Alex and Camryn who were separated at birth and given up for adoption to keep them safe from evil spirits. When they reunite on their twenty-first birthday, Alex and Camryn realize they are twins and princesses from Coventry, a kingdom in another dimension. They find that Coventry has been taken over by evil spirits and it is up to them and their magical powers to save their kingdom.
This movie screams fall through the Halloween theme and the beautiful autumnal imagery. From Alex and Camryn’s magical powers to the mystical kingdom, Twitches makes you think about changing your Halloween costume to a witch!
Watch Twitches on Disney+
I hope you grabbed your favorite fall blanket and popcorn. These movies are guaranteed to spice up your fall mood and get you ready for the spooky season! So clear up your weekend plans because this will make you want to stay in!
Can’t get enough of HC UMass Amherst? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, listen to us on Spotify, like us on Facebook, and read our latest Tweets!