8 Movies To Watch In Autumn

The first rains, the leaves on the pavement, the lights switching on a little earlier… it’s official - we’ve entered the season where the couch becomes a lifestyle and the blanket an extension of your own body. Autumn calls for movies, and movies it is.

Psychological thrillers, existential dramas, comforting comedies, I’ve gathered the perfect titles to survive the shorter days and turn them into home cinema nights, one for every week of the season.

Dead Poets Society

A masterpiece carried by the unforgettable performance of Robin Williams, and one of my all-time favourite films, firmly at the top of my Letterboxd top 4. Dead Poets Society has earned its title as a classic and embodies the dark-academia aesthetic like few others. Literature lovers will fall for the charm of professor John Keating (a clear nod to the English poet John Keats) and his unconventional methods. It’s an incredibly genuine and moving story, where the young protagonists leave a lasting mark on your heart (prepare the tissues for a very emotional ending). The autumnal 1950s college atmosphere is the cherry on top — a delight for anyone who loves academic aesthetics. A mix of drama and coming-of-age with iconic scenes like the famous “O Captain, my Captain” moment. A film that truly enriches you.

Mood: for every dreamer who believes in the power of art, literature, and the courage to be yourself.

Split

If you’re looking for a film that keeps you on edge the entire time and unsettles you in the best way, Split is exactly that. Inspired — albeit loosely — by the real case of Billy Milligan, an American criminal with an unprecedented dissociative identity disorder, Split is a psychological thriller where the tension lies not in horror but in a constant, creeping anxiety under your skin. The real Milligan case is fascinating, mysterious, and disturbing, opening endless reflections on how the human mind works. It also inspired the TV series The Crowded Room, starring Tom Holland. If this topic intrigues you, I recommend reading both Milligan’s real story and Daniel Keyes’ book The Minds of Billy Milligan.

Mood: for those who want a chilling movie night on a dark, rainy evening, even if you end up sleeping with the light on.

Poor Things

One of Yorgos Lanthimos’s most recent works — the mind behind The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer — and one of my favourite movies of 2024. The Frankenstein references are obvious in both plot and characters, except this time the creature is a woman - Bella, a hyper-contemporary reinterpretation whose journey is a brilliant feminist coming-of-age. The cinematography and dialogue are nothing short of exquisite. Bella evolves from a puppet-like naïf to a knowledgeable, self-aware woman, while the male characters appear mediocre and secondary within a bourgeois society shaped around their authority and progress. Poor Things is a sharp, ironic parody of society, blending gothic tradition with contemporary vision and style. A small masterpiece crowned by Emma Stone’s extraordinary performance, now the director's undisputed muse.

Mood: for those who love bold, aesthetic cinema with unforgettable female characters.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The essential back-to-school movie — set in the early 90s (and who doesn’t love a 90s aesthetic?) in a high school full of typical teenage chaos. A group of kids dealing with their own difficulties, dragging themselves into adulthood as best they can, weighed down by their big and small traumas, balancing rebellion and fear. Iconic is the scene where Emma Watson raises her arms in the wind while standing on the speeding truck, and Heroes by David Bowie is playing — a glamorous, nostalgic moment that encapsulates the entire film. A tender, bittersweet story that gives a voice to anyone who has ever felt invisible, an ode to the outsiders.

Mood: for nostalgic 90s lovers and anyone who has felt like “the strange one” at least once.

Chocolat

A 90s movie for production but not setting — which takes place in a tiny, traditional post-war French village where everyone knows everything about everyone. It’s Lent, and into this quiet world a captivating single mother - Juliette Binoche - arrives and opens a chocolate shop. Initially labelled as a temptress and sinner and frowned upon for her independence, she slowly becomes the village’s true confidante. Her shop turns into a warm refuge where secrets are shared over a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Food as therapy, in its purest form. Will the village learn to embrace her and let go of its rigid conformism? Add to that her connection with Roux — a gypsy played by Johnny Depp — and you have a comforting, heart-warming film that always feels like home.

Mood: the ideal autumn comfort movie with blanket, hot chocolate, maybe a pet curled beside you.

The Father

Anthony Hopkins (in an Oscar-winning performance) and Olivia Colman deliver an extraordinary, heartbreaking story about mental illness and its consequences. Florian Zeller chooses a unique narrative structure, gradually revealing details until the audience feels as disoriented as the characters themselves, which is precisely the point.

An accurate, immersive portrayal of confusion, memory loss, and emotional weight. Beautiful photography, always symmetrical and set indoors — the house, the room, the mind.

Mood: for those who want an intense, profound film about a sensitive topic with superb acting and storytelling.

Practical Magic

A complete genre shift with this 90s witchy cult starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. The perfect comfort movie for a cosy evening: spells, sisterhood, a touch of magic, a dash of chaos. The Owens sisters inherited their powers from a long line of witches, but an old family curse stops them from finding lasting love. Can they break it and finally embrace their magic without shame?

Mood: for those who want something light, cosy, and slightly magical — without taking the occult too seriously.

When Harry Met Sally

A quintessential autumn classic I must mention. The setting is simply perfect: a New York City dressed in golden leaves, with legendary scenes in Central Park and the famous Katz’s Delicatessen moment — one of the most iconic in cinema history, where Sally fakes an orgasm. The eternal “can men and women ever be just friends?” dilemma encapsulated in witty dialogue, sarcasm, charm, humour, and romance. A light, comforting film that leaves you smiling. The only way to know if it aged well is to give it a try.

Mood: for those seeking the perfect mix of humour, romance, and smart reflections on relationships.

There’s plenty to choose from. Now all you have to do is pick what inspires you most and hit play.