Have you ever searched the web for "movies happening in the fall" only to discover that most of the lists are almost exactly the same? Or maybe they're all horror movies and you're not in the mood for that. And perhaps you're just as obsessed with fall as I am and you've basically seen all the "classics," but you're yearning for more.
To quench my thirst for something new, I watched countless movie trailers in search of a few autumn gems hidden in the rough. Allow me to present to you my fall bounty: 10 movies that don't usually make it on the autumn lists, but definitely should.
Enjoy!
1. Meet the Parents (2000)
Synopsis: Male nurse Greg Focker meets his girlfriend's parents before proposing, but her suspicious father is every date's worst nightmare.
Foliage: Peak
Fall vibes: All the way through the movie, with beautiful colors and sweaters and leaves. A must see!
2. Penelope (2006)
Synopsis: A modern romantic tale about a young aristocratic heiress born under a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with someone who will accept her as one of their own.
Foliage: Tail end
Fall vibes: Colorful trees here and there, a few outdoor scenes and a Halloween party at the end. This one is not overwhelmingly autumny, but it does have a few good scenes, and the movie is quite enjoyable!
3. The Lovely Bones (2009)
Synopsis: The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.
Foliage: Peak, into winter
Fall vibes: Chock-full of autumn feels. There are a few winter scenes, but most of the movie happens in the fall, along with beautiful foliage, leaves blowing in the wind, and everything else.
4. August Rush (2007)
Synopsis: A drama with fairy tale elements, where an orphaned musical prodigy uses his gift as a clue to finding his birth parents.
Foliage: Tail end, into winter
Fall vibes: Very chilly with lots of bare, end-of-fall trees and leaves on the ground. Foggy breath, jackets, rainy days, and everything nice.
5. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Synopsis: Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Foliage: None, but... London fog!
Fall vibes: Alright, so this one doesn't have much foliage, but it's happening in London in the late 1800s, and the entire film has a beautifully chilly, gray and foggy look that screams "fall" to me.
6. Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Synopsis: A Chicago librarian has a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, creating complications in his marriage.
Foliage: Peak to end, into winter
Fall vibes: This movies spans all the seasons, but a good chunk of it happens in the fall/winter, and those scenes are absolutely wonderful. It's also a great (albeit sad) movie, highly recommended!
7. Love & Other Drugs (2010)
Synopsis: A young woman suffering from Parkinson's befriends a drug rep working for Pfizer in 1990s Pittsburgh.
Foliage: Peak to end, into winter
Fall vibes: It eases itself into fall and stays there for a good bit, with gorgeous foliage scenes and orange light, cozy coats and rainy days. Fair warning: The drug rep is marketing Viagra, so... expect some nudity and sex (it's definitely not straight up porn though, don't worry!).
8. The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Synopsis: High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.
Foliage: Peak
Fall vibes: Lots of gorgeous scenes full of leaves and colorful trees, and a very sweet and beautiful story.
9. The Book of Henry (2017)
Synopsis: With instructions from her genius son's carefully crafted notebook, a single mother sets out to rescue a young girl from the hands of her abusive stepfather.
Foliage: Peak
Fall vibes: Lots and lots and LOTS of fall vibes in this one! It's happening smack-dab in the peak of fall and there's a whole lot of autumn eye-candy. It's pretty sad though, fair warning.
10. Vanilla Sky (2001)
Synopsis: A self-indulgent and vain publishing magnate finds his privileged life upended after a vehicular accident with a resentful lover.
Foliage: Peak to tail end
Fall vibes: Fall in New York city with an absolutely breathtaking scene around the middle. It's also a classic, mind-blowing movie that everyone needs to see at least once.
If you know of any other lesser-known movies happening in the fall, let me know!
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