Image Credit: Joel Schumacher, The Lost Boys (1987)

Content Disclaimer: Contains spoilers and some films discuss distressing topics – for all information visit https://www.doesthedogdie.com/

The arrival of autumn welcomes a change of weather, a flurry of emotions, and a constant longing to swap the late nights out for watching a film with a hot drink and a cosy blanket. Well, at least for me it does. There’s nothing quite like settling down by 7pm when it has been dark for three hours and the temperatures are getting closer and closer to 0°C, and what’s even better is having some brilliant films to entertain you. Whether you’re having a self-care evening alone, want something great to watch with friends, or just want to bulk out your Letterboxd diary before the end of the year, here are some must-see films this autumn. 

For The Ones Who Need a Good Cry

Autumn can be an emotional season: the changing weather, the darker and colder mornings and evenings, but it also signals the beginning of an academic year which, whether you are in education or not, could have an impact on you. Sometimes you might be in need of a good cry to let out all of the pent up emotions, and these films are bound to do that. First of all, one of my personal four favourites (dare I say, my favourite film of all time), Dead Poets Society (1989). Directed by Peter Weir, this film follows a group of boys at Welton Academy as they begin a new year being taught by a new and intriguing English teacher, Mr Keating, played by Robin Williams. We follow the boys, namely Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) and Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), as they battle the pressures of youth and expectations of their families with the ambition of wanting to make their own paths in life. Everything about this film reminds me of autumn, and I savour it all year to watch at the perfect moment within the ‘-ber’ months. Scenes filled with the turning colours of leaves, silhouettes of ghost-like figures running into the forest and Robin Williams passionately reciting poetry in a classroom promise the perfect watch for this season. 

Similarly, in Good Will Hunting (1997) we find Williams in an academic setting once again but this time as therapist Dr. Sean Maguire. In this film, Matt Damon plays MIT cleaner/janitor Will Hunting who is a mathematical genius, but struggles to tackle his emotions and plans for the future with the same clarity he does with equations. The colour scheme of this film screams autumn, and perhaps like Dead Poets Society the themes of new beginnings and searching for oneself also elucidate this. The development of the connection between Hunting and Maguire creates a compelling narrative which deeply explores human nature and our relationship with past and future, but if this is your film of choice, make sure to have tissues on hand. 

The same can be said for the film adaptation of Stephen Chbosky’s coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012). This heartbreaking film isn’t necessarily set in autumn, but it does delve into themes of change and development which can be associated with the season, and like Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting, it is set within a school. We follow Charlie (Logan Lerman), a shy and introverted student in his freshman year who slowly finds himself by discovering his people; Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller) take Charlie under their wing and with this, we see him grapple with his traumatic past but ultimately he comes to feel “infinite” by the end of the film. One of my all-time favourite needle drops occurs in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, with the use of ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie in one of the film’s most famous scenes.  

For the Wannabe Detectives

What is autumn without a bit of mystery? A murder mystery to be more specific. Clue (1985) and Knives Out (2019) truly do come hand in hand and are both perfect films to watch this season. The predecessor, Clue, is a 1985 film based on the board game Cluedo (or Clue in America) where Mr Boddy (the name couldn’t be more in-your-face if you tried) is killed at a dinner party with six secluded guests-turn-suspects: Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs Peacock, Professor Plum, Mrs White and Mr Green. Led by the butler, Wadsworth, played captivatingly and hilariously by Tim Curry, the group investigate Boddy’s death and try to piece together the puzzle. Upon finally coming to a conclusion, or three in Clue’s case, the film has the classic comical murder mystery scenes containing the characters hecticly retracing their steps to replay the action of the night. If this is of interest, I’d recommend following this with a game of Cluedo yourself to truly put yourselves in the shoes of the characters. Beware though, things may get extremely competitive. 

Knives Out is a more modern spin on the murder mystery trope, ironically with the victim of the film being an author of mystery novels. Ahead of the third installment in this film franchise coming out in late November, definitely give the first a go. Daniel Craig plays a fascinating and fun role as detective Benoit Blanc, with immense charisma and uniqueness as he is called to solve the case. Anyone who has seen this film will understand why it is a must-watch in autumn: the huge and ominous mansion surrounded by piles of leaves, the steaming mugs of tea and coffee, and of course Chris Evans’ chunky knit beige jumper. Knives Out has a stacked cast, all of whom deliver a convincing performance of the ultimate chaotic and dysfunctional family. 

A bonus recommendation for this section is See How They Run (2022), a murder mystery film starring Saorise Ronan, Sam Rockwell, Harris Dickinson and Adrien Brody in 1950s London. While the former two films are more serious takes on a murder mystery (although Knives Out at times plays with the idea of being an Agatha Christie spoof), this feels more like a parody who-dunnit style with some back and forth comedy between the double act of the eager new constable Agent Stalker and experienced Inspector Stoppard. 

For the Nostalgics

This category in itself could be split into two: the films that make me nostalgic towards my childhood in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and the films that encapsulate a time I never lived through, the ‘80s. 

First, the films of my youth. A highlight for me has to be Monster House (2006). I have a distinct memory of watching this at a young age with my best friend at a sleepover and being utterly terrified of the scene where a huge shadow of a hand envelops DJ’s (Mitchel Musso) bedroom before a jump scare. Taking the concept of the haunted house and bringing it to life (literally), this film is genius in its animation style and narrative. Similarly, The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) is an action-packed fantasy film suitable for any age. Its exploration of unknown and magical creatures, as well as the autumn vibes which are exuded from the time spent in the natural world during this film, make it perfect for this time of year. A final film which I watched a lot when I was younger is Halloweentown (1998), a Disney Channel original with equal moments of cringe and nostalgia. 

Back to the ‘80s and two films which I love that make me think of autumn are St Elmo’s Fire (1985) and Heathers (1988). They are two wildly different films, but perhaps like the aforementioned films in academic settings, it is the coming-of-age aspects which make me feel nostalgic. The first is more along the lines of The Breakfast Club (1985) or Sixteen Candles (1984) with many of the ‘brat pack’ starring in St Elmo’s Fire. It follows a group of close friends as they navigate life after graduation, transitioning from adolescence into adulthood. Conversely, Heathers is a cynical and clever spin on high school clichés. Veronica (Winona Ryder) aims to lay low and survive her time in Westerburg High School until she gets involved with the all-powerful Heathers. But, under the influence of J.D, a troubled new student, she is driven down a darker path. 

A couple of other nostalgic films for me are Hocus Pocus (1993), The Iron Giant (1999) and Lemonade Mouth (2011). 

For the Halloween Lovers 

It was difficult not to stuff this list with Halloween films, but I had to dedicate at least one section to the spooky holiday. It is the ultimate time of year for horror and psychological thrillers. These recommendations, however, are just some of my favourite Halloween films; they aren’t particularly scary, they’re just classics in my opinion. 

It might very well be a universal experience for people of my generation that when they first watched Coraline (2009), usually at a young age, they were terrified. I for one couldn’t look at buttons in the same way at the age of five. For the first of two films on this list directed by Henry Selick, I had to mention Coraline because Halloween simply doesn’t feel right without it. In such a dark and unnerving film aimed to be suited for a younger audience, what stands out to me is the use of colour and storytelling in crafting a world of creativity and imagination. 

If you’d rather go down the route of vampires or witchcraft, I recommend The Lost Boys (1987) or The Craft (1996). The former is an ‘80s staple filled with dodgy CGI and melodramatic scenes of vampire transformations. Kiefer Sutherland, as always, plays a fantastic antagonist as the leader of Michael’s (Jason Patric) new mysterious friend group who only come out at night. Simultaneously, Michael’s brother Sam (Corey Haim) befriends some comic fanatics Edgar (Corey Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander) who are right on the tail of this trouble-causing group. Although this is clearly a horror take on J.M.Barrie’s ‘lost boys’ of Peter Pan, it can probably also be categorised as a quintessential period piece of the 1980s: the haircuts, the costumes, the attitude, the soundtrack, everything screams ‘80s.

A similar case can be made for The Craft in all of its ‘90s glory. Think if the Heathers or the Plastics were witches. Sarah (Robin Tunney), Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell) and Rochelle (Rachel True) play four high school students who are outcasts from society. As a result, they turn to witchcraft as a way of exploring desires, revenge and power in a blend of typical high school tropes and a unique spellbinding narrative. 

1996 was a busy year for Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich as they also starred alongside each other in the first installment of Scream (1996). From the very beginning of this film, with the infamous scene starring Drew Barrymore, it consolidated itself as a must-watch for the autumn season, specifically for Halloween. The entire franchise plays with archetypes of the slasher horror genre, but it certainly doesn’t feel stale. Sidney Prescott is the ultimate ‘final girl’ in this series and all six films are worth a watch, but there’s no better time to start than now. 

Finally, Jack Nicholson’s ability to play unhinged characters could not be ignored in this list. Based on Stephen King’s novel, The Shining (1980) sees Nicholson take on one of his most demanding and bewitching roles in Jack Torrance, alongside Shelly Duvall as his wife Wendy and Danny Lloyd playing his son Danny. This film is filled to the brim with Gothic archetypes including the setting of the isolated Overlook Hotel, the motif of doppelgangers and the psychological horrors that come to plague the Torrance family. Stanley Kubrick delivers an insanely impressive adaptation, with the cinematography and score being particularly effective in heightening the dreamlike state the characters find themselves in.

Some honorary mentions also include The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Ghostbusters (1984) and Beetlejuice (1988). 

For the Ones Romanticising Autumn

Sometimes you simply have to romanticise life, especially in autumn, and these films will help you in that endeavor, whether it is a classic romance or a film that makes you feel the cosiness of the season. Basically any film involving Nora Ephron will help in achieving that feeling. The three I’m going to recommend are probably her most well-known but for good reason. When Harry Met Sally… (1989), You’ve Got Mail (1998) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993) all hold a warming charm which would be perfect for a cosy night in. Meg Ryan stars in all three, two of which with Tom Hanks, and the pair have such a fantastic connection on-screen. The fashion choices in all of these films are also impeccable and help to make them even more fitting for autumn. Each has a rather simple narrative but the way in which Ephron writes her characters and the way they are brought to life is so vivid and enthralling. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) very well may be THE ultimate autumn film. It’s the one my mind jumps to when I think of this season, and it’s one that I never get sick of. Wes Anderson’s mastery never falters and this film in particular is a beautiful presentation of his craft. The colour palette mixes bright orange and yellow shades with more burnt and muted browns and reds in order to lure us into the world of Mr. Fox and his family as they try to escape the villainous trio, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. If you enjoy this, you could also try out some other Anderson films, The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). 

Finally, the king of Halloween and gothic horror, it would be difficult to escape Tim Burton’s films during autumn. I won’t go into depth with these, because you’ve probably already seen a lot of them but the list is huge: Corpse Bride (2005), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Dark Shadows (2012) and Frankenweenie (2012) are just a few that I haven’t already mentioned. 

For the Ones Wishing it Was Christmas Already 

The shelves of supermarkets are already filled with Christmas food and gifts, so why not get into the mood with these films too! No, seriously though, I am a Christmas lover but Halloween needs to be given its time to shine. These two films teeter on the line between Halloween and Christmas, and there is much disagreement around what category they truly fall into, so maybe they’d be more suitable for the gloomy days of November. 

“Is it a Halloween film? Is it a Christmas film?” If you find yourself asking these questions when watching The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), watch it twice a year in October and December. The innovative stop motion animation of this film brings Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, to life. Blending elements of fantasy and musical, this is my ultimate go-to for a spooky film that makes me smile and it appeals to audiences of any age. I also always come away from watching with ‘What’s This?’ and ‘This is Halloween’ circling around in my head for days, as Danny Elfman’s soundtrack and score is addictive and perfectly gothic. Not only this, but the visual elements and storytelling of this film are just as incredible. Each character is captivating and you will find yourself obsessed with the world of Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie and the other inhabitants of Halloween Town. 

Another Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands (1990) could arguably be suitable for Halloween or Christmas, as it weaves together elements of both holidays. We see Edward (Johnny Depp), a synthetic man with scissor blades for hands, enter a suburban landscape which feels foreign to him and fall in love with Kim (Winona Ryder). In some of the film’s more wintery scenes, we see Christmas decorations, blankets of snow and Edward crafting an ice sculpture, but the Gothic elements of this film make it just as much of a welcoming watch around Halloween. Edward is somewhat of a ‘Frankenstein’s Monster’ type of character, an outcast from society who at his core is gentle but on the surface is intimidating, and his home, a huge, abandoned mansion provides a perfect setting for a film you’d expect to see in ‘spooky season’. Whether it’s Halloween or Christmas though, Edward Scissorhands is a classic which if you haven’t seen already, you certainly should. 

So there you have it, plenty of recommendations to keep your watchlist full for the rest of the autumn season. Happy watching!