Four movies to help you dive into Fall

With Autumn firmly here, the leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping, and the beanies are coming on. Is there a better way to welcome the best (yeah, I said it) season of the year than with a crop of seasonally appropriate films? If you’re looking to get into the Autumnal groove, check out these four movies guaranteed to get you ready for all things Fall. So, grab your apple cider, secure your cozy sweaters and warm treat of choice, and get into the spirit!

The Iron Giant (1999), d. Brad Bird

While it might not seem like a seasonally appropriate pick at first glance, hear me out on this one. The story of a boy, Hogarth Hughes, and his robot from Mars, The Iron Giant has no shortage of heart. It draws on 1950s B films, the paintings of Norman Rockwell, and existentialist questions about who we are (or, rather, who we choose to be) to create a meditation on the nature of what it means to be good. This sounds like a mess of things to stick together in a movie, and yet, The Iron Giant simply works. It’s also got some of the most gorgeous animation of changing leaves I’ve seen in an animated film, and really some of the most gorgeous animation on film, hands down. Its heartwarming story is guaranteed to keep you warm on any crisp autumn night.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), d. Peter Jackson

With its warm colors, lush New Zealand landscapes, and heartwarming introduction of characters we’ll eventually follow across a franchise, this movie seems tailor-made for seasonal viewing. The fellowship that eventually turns into a family kicks off their quest to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom and save Middle Earth. There’s adventure in spades, and plenty of iconic, now meme-ified moments that are a joy to revisit, and there’s heart to spare. In my opinion, it’s always a good idea to return to Middle Earth when the leaves start changing, preferably with a tankard of your warm beverage of choice.

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The Shape of Water (2017), d. Guillermo del Toro

So, I know one of the reasons this entry is so well-known is plain and simple—the fishman sex. There’s no way around it, but trust me, it’s not as salacious as it sounds. Plus, the real highlight in Guillermo del Toro’s take on a beauty and the beast tale is the message that there is room for all kinds of people, and all kinds of love in the world. There are also plenty of gloomy, but charming, sets, a cast of characters worth rooting for, and at least one homage to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers you won’t soon forget. It’s certainly a movie that’s worth getting lost in, especially on a rainy fall night.

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Won’t You Be My Neighbor (2018), d. Morgan Neville

If you didn’t grow up with Mr. Rogers, this documentary will help you get the hype around everyone’s favorite neighbor. If you, like me, grew up watching Mr. Rogers after school, prepare to be even more amazed by this icon of children’s television programming. It turns out Fred Rogers was just as wholesome and genuinely good as his TV persona. Dive into the warmth of sheer kindness on display here, which anyone could use year-round, but seems especially pertinent in the twilight of this garbage year. Be sure to have plenty of tissues on hand for the guaranteed tears you’ll be shedding, and your flaky pastry of choice to use as obligatory comfort food. 

I can only hope that this fruitful film harvest can bring you some small comfort, or at least a little bit of entertainment during this season. They are all, in my opinion, emblematic of the warmth and mood of the autumn season. Happy viewing dear reader, and stay warm out there!