5 Movies to Put You in a Fall Mood

Today is the last day of summer, which means tomorrow it's officially fall. That means some apple cider, the leaves changing, and a little brisk weather.

I think this is the perfect time to pick a few movies to get you in the mood for the season. They should cover a wide range of genres, but all should embrace that crisp, changing feeling of fall.

Let's dive in.

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

- YouTube www.youtube.com

• Director: Rob Reiner
• Writer: Nora Ephron
• Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

Yeah, I know this is a New Year's Eve movie at its end, but its heart belongs to the fall. I mean, every shot of this movie feels like it has big fall energy. Cinematographer Johann Holtzman captures Manhattan in a wave of vibrant oranges, deep reds, and crisp golds that make us feel the love in the air. Nora Ephron’s iconic screenplay uses the changing seasons to mirror the evolving relationship between its lead characters, making the weather a character in the movie, too.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

- YouTube www.youtube.com

• Director: Peter Weir
• Writer: Tom Schulman
• Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles

Man, this movie makes me want to read a poem. Or perform. Or just stand on my desk and tell the ruling class we're not going to take it anymore. Inside this funny and tragic movie is another turning of the seasons of life. Peter Weir utilizes the fall return-to-school ritual to explore themes of growing up and coming of age. It shows life and death and the rebirth of what can be if we embrace each other.

Knives Out (2019)

- YouTube www.youtube.com

• Director: Rian Johnson
• Writer: Rian Johnson
• Cast: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer

Nothing screams fall like a murder mystery. Or maybe that's just another genre fall puts me in the mood to explore. Rian Johnson’s modern whodunit gives us that classic New England autumn setting. Once we'll explore in a couple of other movies on this list. We even see fall in the costumes, with the centerpiece being Chris Evans' viral cable-knit sweater. It proves that fall isn't just for romance, it's for killing, too.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

- YouTube www.youtube.com

• Director: Gus Van Sant
• Writer: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
• Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgård

Robin Williams is at the center of another movie on this list. Again, FGall is thematically relevant to the story. It's playoff baseball and the leaves in Boston. Gus Van Sant captures a melancholic, grounded portrait of Boston in the fall. The film uses the backdrop of MIT, Harvard, and South Boston to emphasize how hard it is to change. The famous Public Garden park bench scene between Matt Damon and Robin Williams remains an iconic reference point for outdoor movie blocking.

Halloween (1978)

- YouTube www.youtube.com

• Director: John Carpenter
• Writer: John Carpenter, Debra Hill
• Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles, Nancy Kyes

You can't talk about autumn on screen without honoring the movie that is as famous as the holiday in its title. John Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill kind of invented the Midwestern October aesthetic. And it carries a knife and wears a William Shatner mask. What's funny is, this movie was filmed in California on a micro-budget, but it spawned a whole slasher genre and sequels and a lot of fun.

Summing It All Up

These are the films that put me in the fall mood. They showcase everything I want before winter and after summer, and I can't wait to rewatch them this year.

Whatever your tradition might be, I'm excited to get back into cooler air and interesting movies. Maybe I'll add a few more to the list in years to come.

Let me know what you think in the comments.