The Ultimate Guide to Fall Movies: What to Watch Based on Your Mood and Where to Stream Them

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A few weeks ago, I heard someone say, "Write what you want to read," and it really stuck with me. So much so that, as I was scrolling through the internet and all the social media platforms, trying to put together a list of movies to watch this autumn season, I realized all the listicles and posts I came across lacked one thing:

Mood.

Stick with me. All the listicles, blog posts, Reddit accounts, TikTok videos, and Pinterest posts listed all the greats: The Devil Wears Prada, Dead Poets Society, Practical Magic, Halloweentown, etc. But I think we can all agree that there’s a time and place, and a specific mood, you have to be in to watch each of these movies.

And that’s when it hit me (said in a Carrie Bradshaw voice):

There wasn’t a list of movies categorized by different "fall moods." You know, movies to watch when you're PMSing and need a good, ugly cry; or movies to watch while cooking a new recipe; or when you're feeling nostalgic or missing home. Or what about all those nights you’ve spent wasting time trying to find a movie that both you and your significant other can agree on?

With sweater weather upon us and so many moods to match, this guide will help you find the perfect movie for every moment and every mood. Bookmark this guide so you can come back to it anytime fall movie night rolls around!

The Ultimate Guide to Fall Movies: What to Watch Based on Your Mood and Where to Stream Them

Please note that some of these movies might fall under multiple categories. After all, we are human and have complex emotions—or rather, moods.

Movies to watch when you're PMSing/Need a good ugly cry:

1. Me Before You: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

2. A Walk to Remember: (Hulu)

3. The Time Traveler's Wife: (Max, Hulu)

4. Remember the Titans: (Disney+)

5. Stepmom: (Amazon Prime Video)

6. Tick, tick...BOOM: (Netflix)

7. Little Women (2019): (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

8. The Notebook: (Max)

9. The Theory of Everything: (Amazon Prime Video)

10. We Are Marshall: (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

11. Remember Me: (Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

12. Radio: (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

13. My Sister's Keeper: (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

Movies to watch when you're baking or cooking this autumn:

1. Mystic Pizza: (Amazon Prime Video)

2. Julie & Julia: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

3. Parent Trap: (Disney+)

4. Eat Pray Love: (Netflix)

5. The Intern: (Amazon Prime Video)

6. Little Women (2019): (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

7. Ratatouille: (Disney+)

Movies to watch when you're feeling nostalgic:

If you are Gen Z or part of the Alpha generation reading this, please note that a millennial wrote it, and these are the movies that make her feel nostalgic, not old, so don't come for her.

1. Any and All Harry Potter Movies: (Peacock Premium, Max)

2. Any and All Twilight Movies: (Hulu, Peacock Premium)

3. Coraline: (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, ApplTV+)

4. Hocus Pocus: (Disney+)

5. Casper: (Peacock, Amazon Prime)

6. The Goonies: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

7. Halloweentown: (Disney+)

8. Corpse Bride: (Max)

9. Beetlejuice: (Amazon Prime Video)

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas: (Disney+)

11. It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown: (AppleTV+)

12. Matilda: (Netflix)

13. 13 Going on 30: (Amazon Prime Video)

14. Edward Scissorhands: (Max)

15. 10 Things I Hate About You: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

16. Paddington: (Peacock, Max)

17. Addams Family Values: (Amazon Prime Video)

18. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: (Hulu, Starz)

19. School of Rock: (Paramount+)

20. E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial: (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video)

21. The Narnia Movies: (Disney+)

22. Father of the Bride: (Max)

23. Parent Trap: (Disney+)

24. Any and All High School Musicals: (Disney+)

Movies to watch when you need a good laugh:

1. The Goonies: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

2. Young Frankenstein: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

3. To All The Boys I've Loved Before: (Netflix)

4. Beetlejuice: (Amazon Prime Video)

5. You've Got Mail: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

6. The Edge of Seventeen: (Netflix)

7. Devil Wears Prada: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

8. 13 Going on 30: (Amazon Prime Video)

9. 16 Again: (Max, Hulu)

10. 10 Things I Hate About You: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

11. The Princess Diaries: (Disney+)

12. Legally Blonde: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

13. How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days: (Amazon Prime Video)

14. School of Rock: (Paramount+)

15. Julie & Julia: (Netflix)

16. Father of the Bride: (Max)

17. Pretty Woman: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

18. Two Weeks Notice: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

19. The Intern: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

Movies to watch when you're in the mood for a cozy GNI:

1. Practical Magic: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

2. When Harry Met Sally: (Max)

3. Silver Linings Playbook: (Amazon Prime Video)

4. To All The Boys I've Loved Before: (Netflix)

5. The Kissing Booth: (Netflix)

6. You've Got Mail: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

7. Any and All Twilight Movies: (Hulu, Peacock)

8. The Breakfast Club: (Netflix)

9. Devil Wears Prada: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

10. 13 Going on 30: (Amazon Prime Video)

11. The Princess Diaries: (Disney+)

12. Mystic Pizza: (Amazon Prime Video)

13. The Notebook: (Max, Peacock)

14. The Age of Adaline: (Hulu)

15. Legally Blonde: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

16. How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days: (Amazon Prime Video)

17. Mona Lisa Smile: (Netflix)

18. Sweet Home Alabama: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

19. Sleepless in Seattle: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

20. Notting Hill: (Netflix, Peacock)

21. Pretty Woman (2019): (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

22. Just Like Heaven: (Amazon Prime Video)

23. The Wedding Planner: (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)

24. Maid in Manhattan: (Hulu)

25. Two Weeks Notice: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

26. The Intern: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

27. Enola Holmes: (Netflix)

28. Runaway Bride: (Max)

29. A Cinderalla Story: (Max)

30. Bridget Jones Diary: (Netflix)

31. Bewitched: (Amazon Prime Video)

Movies to watch when you're in the mood for Halloween:

1. Practical Magic: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

2. Coraline: (The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video)

3. Hocus Pocus: (Disney+)

4. Casper: (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video)

5. Coco: (Disney+)

6. Halloween (1978): (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video)

7. Halloweentown: (Disney+)

8. Corpse Bride: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

9. The Nightmare Before Christmas: (Disney+)

10. It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: (Apple TV+)

11. Edward Scissorhands: (Disney+)

12. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil: (Disney+)

13. The Blair Witch Project: (Max)

14. Addams Family Values: (Paramount+)

15. It: (Max)

16. Ghostbusters: (Hulu)

17. Beetlejuice: (Peacock)

18. Bewitched (2005 movie): (Starz)

Movies to watch when you feel like having nightmares:

This list might be a little controversial, but to be fair horror films are not my favorite/ I scare easily.

1. Halloween (1978): (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

2. Get Out: (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

3. The Blair Witch Project: (Max, Hulu)

4. It: (Max, Netflix, Apple TV)

5. Rosemary's Baby: (Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

6. Silence of the Lambs: (Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

7. The Shining: (Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

8. The Strangers: (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

9. Hush: (Netflix)

10. The Sixth Sense: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

Movies to watch when you have to find a compromise with your significant other:

I'm not sure if your significant other and my husband have the same taste in movies, but I had him look over my list and was pleasantly surprised when he added a few more that I never, in a million years, would have assumed he'd watch. For instance, Legally Blonde... since when, sir?! Anyway, hopefully, my husband and I have saved you and your partner a few wasted hours this season.

1. Knives Out (2019): (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

2. Friday Night Lights: (Peacock, Hulu)

3. Dead Poets Society: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

4. The Goonies: (Max, Peacock)

5. Remember the Titans: (Disney+)

6. Young Frankenstein: (Max, Amazon Prime Video)

7. Good Will Hunting: (Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

8. Any and All Harry Potter Movies (If your significant other doesn't like Harry Potter I don't trust them): (Peacock, Max)

9. Matilda: (Netflix)

10. 10 Things I Hate About You (another one I was surprised by): (Disney+, Hulu)

11. Legally Blonde: (Max, Netflix)

12. School of Rock: (Paramount+)

13. Hoosiers: (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

14. Rudy: (Peacock)

15. The Princess Bride: (Disney+)

16. Ghostbusters: (Netflix)

17. The Shining: (Max)

18. Sleeping with the Enemy: (Max)

19. The Patriot: (Netflix)

20. Any and All Sherlock Holmes Movies: (Max, Netflix)

21. Angels and Demons: (Netflix)

22. The Da Vinci Code: (Netflix)

23. Pretty Woman (again, I was as surprised as you): (Disney+, Hulu)

24. The Wedding Planner (and another one): (Amazon Prime Video)

25. The Intimidation Game: (Peacock)

26. The Great Debaters: (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

27. We Are Marshall (highly recommend while you're also PMSing): (Max)

Movies to watch when you're in the mood for a Classic:

1. The Breakfast Club: (Peacock, AMC+)

2. Devil Wears Prada: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

3. Dead Poets Society: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video)

4. Little Women (2019): (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video)

5. Pride and Prejudice: (Peacock, Apple TV)

6. Sabrina: (Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video)

7. The Notebook: (Max, Netflix)

8. Good Will Hunting: (Max, Hulu)

9. The Princess Bride: (Disney+, Hulu)

10. 10 Things I Hate About You: (Disney+, Hulu)

Movies to watch when you’re in the mood for a musical:

1. Sound of Music: (Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

2. Any and All High School Musicals: (Disney+)

3. Phantom of the Opera: (Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)

When you're looking for a movie you haven't watched before:

And last but not least, I’ve compiled a list of movies I’ve heard of but never watched, for those nights when nothing sounds good, and you're looking for something new. May this list introduce you to a new fall favorite.

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox: (Roku)

2. Sleepy Hollow: (Hulu)

3. St. Elmo's Fire: (Max)

4. Hannah and Her Sisters: (Max)

5. Lost in Translation: (Paramount+)

6. Iron Jawed Angels: (Max)

7. What's Cooking: (Amazon Prime Video)

8. If Beale Street Could Talk: (Hulu)

9. Far From Heaven: (Peacock)

10. Soul Food: (Hulu)

11. Sweet November: (Max)

12. School Ties: (Paramount+)

13. Autumn in New York: (Peacock)

14. The Lake House: (Max)

Now, all that’s left is to grab your coziest blanket, make some popcorn, and hit play. And hey, if you loved this list, share it with a friend who could use a perfect fall movie night. Be sure to subscribe to The Savvy Edit newsletter in case I add more movies to this list or when I create the Ultimate Guide to Winter Movies this season.