Autumn is my favorite season. I’m going to go full basic bitch right now and tell you that there is nothing like the cooling temperatures, the changing colors in the trees, and the sight of pumpkins and hot drinks all over the damn place (for the record, I am not a PSL kind of girl. Give me hot apple cider any day of the week).
One of my favorite things about fall is watching seasonal rom-coms. Of course, I’ll have a list of holiday romances to watch this winter, but I decided to throw together a quick list of autumn-based romantic comedies/dramedies that are the perfect watch on a cozy autumn night with your thick socks, throw blanket and… maybe your PSL, if that’s your thing! So, without further adieu, here are some movies that I absolutely adore, so I hope you give them a chance and enjoy them as much as I did!
01. Garden State (2004)
The movie has its issues, I know that. But I still think Garden State is a pretty decent movie, and I still weirdly love Natalie Portman’s quirky portrayal of Sam, the tropey manic pixie girl who teaches a very sullen, damaged Andrew to be happy again – or something. But it’s funny and authentic, and the soundtrack is amazing. And I love kisses in the rain.
02. Love, Simon (2017)
I can’t lie. I expected a tropey teen rom-com with a happy ending but no real substance. But Love, Simon is so poignant and sincere that it feels like peak John Hughes. As a bonus, we get love and acceptance in a gorgeous autumn setting that includes football, a lot of frothy coffees, and a fun fall carnival.
03. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2019)
Teen romances tend to be slightly unrealistic (“Full of promise, full of hope, ignorant of reality.”). But TATBILB gives us a love you want to believe in. Peter and Lara Jean can go the distance! They can! They must! It’s so endearingly charming that you willingly ignore the convoluted premise to bask in this movie’s sweetness.
04. Dan in Real Life (2007)
Fair warning: this movie contains Dane Cook. But if you’re willing to overlook that, Dan In Real Life is a sweet, funny, and surprisingly tender movie about family and all that comes with it, good and bad. Steve Carrell is so good as a widower who falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend. And the cast is outstanding – Dianne Wiest! Emily Blunt! Juliette Binoche!
05. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This is another romantic dramedy in which the entire cast shines. There is so much going on in this movie, as it deals with an eccentric family, mental illness, and compulsive gambling. But Pat and Tiffany’s progression from aggravators to friends to more keeps this film afloat.
06. Stuck in Love (2012)
A writer, his ex-wife, and their two children must learn how to love, lose, and move on. It’s a gorgeous film, and everyone in the terrific ensemble delivers a solid performance. Stuck in Love has become a comfort movie of mine, and I still love watching it when the leaves begin to change.
07. Mystic Pizza (1998)
Set in a small fishing town in Connecticut, Mystic Pizza charts the friendship between three young women. They all experience love and heartbreak, but their bond (and the cozy seaside town) makes this movie worth watching. Just be warned that you’ll probably find yourself craving pizza as soon as the credits roll.
08. You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.” Meg Ryan + Tom Hanks + Autumn in NY = Rom-Com Classic.
09. Practical Magic (1998)
While Practical Magic contains romance, it is a movie primarily about the strength of sisterhood. The cast is fantastic, the story romantic and spooky, and everything about it is gorgeous, from the costumes to the scenery, to the iconic Owens seaside home. A definite must-watch every fall.
10. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Will WHMS show up on every themed list I create? Probably, yes. It’s that good. Chronicling the friendship between Sally and Harry, the movie takes place over many years, but the autumn scenes set in New York make this movie feel so wonderfully cozy and romantic.
