Great Movies That Take Place In Autumn

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 12.9K votes 1.2K voters 53.3K views
Over 1.2K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Great Movies That Take Place In Autumn
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite movies that have an autumnal aesthetic, with colorful changing leaves and the brisk scent of fall in the air.

Colorful leaves and cool breezes make fall many people's favorite time of year. Maybe that's why it's such a popular setting for films. The best movies set in the autumn months feature compelling characters who fall in love and pursue new adventures at this beautiful time of year. This is a list of the greatest movies set in the fall including everything from When Harry Met Sally to Dead Poets Society to The Blind Side. They also make for great movies to watch in the fall.

What films will you find on this list of good fall movies? Good Will Hunting captured an autumnal feel with its MIT setting. Few movies are made about Thanksgiving, but Planes, Trains and Automobiles celebrated the spirit of the season on the big screen. Other good movies featured on this best fall movies list include Hannah and Her Sisters, Rushmore, and October Sky.

Which movie set during fall is your favorite? Give the best films a vote up and vote down any films that other fans should skip.

Most divisive: Rocky
Ranked by
  • Dead Poets Society
    1

    Dead Poets Society

    Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
    384 votes
    • Released: 1989
    • Directed by: Peter Weir
    In the captivating drama, Dead Poets Society, English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) introduces his students at the conservative Welton Academy to the world of poetry. His unconventional teaching methods, centered around the motto Carpe Diem - seize the day, inspire his pupils to challenge the status quo and explore their individual identities. The narrative unfolds as Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), an aspiring actor, grapples with his authoritarian father's expectations. This 1989 Peter Weir-directed film was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Original Screenplay.
  • Hocus Pocus
    2

    Hocus Pocus

    Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
    393 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Kenny Ortega
    In the whimsical film Hocus Pocus, three witch sisters, Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy), are accidently resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night. This resurrection is unwittingly caused by Max Dennison (Omri Katz), a teenager new in town. Alongside his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch) and his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max must outsmart the vengeful witches to save the town's children before sunrise. The movie, known for its comedic charm and fantasy elements, has become a beloved cult classic since its release in 1993.

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  • It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
    3

    It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

    Lisa DeFaria, Christopher Shea, Bill Melendez
    300 votes
    • Released: 1966
    • Directed by: Bill Melendez
    Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the elusive Halloween symbol to appear.
  • Stepmom
    4

    Stepmom

    Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris
    211 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Chris Columbus
    Three years after divorcing Jackie (Susan Sarandon), the mother of his children, Luke Harrison (Ed Harris) decides to take the next step with his significantly younger girlfriend, fashion photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts). But, when the flaky Kelly meets Harrison's children for the first time, their fierce allegiance to their mother is obvious. Try as she might, Kelly fails to endear herself to her young charges -- and to Jackie -- until a looming family crisis changes everything.

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  • Sleepy Hollow
    5

    Sleepy Hollow

    Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson
    222 votes
    • Released: 1999
    • Directed by: Tim Burton
    In the eerie, atmospheric film Sleepy Hollow, constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is dispatched from New York City to the secluded town of Sleepy Hollow. His task: investigate a series of beheadings rumored to be the work of a supernatural Headless Horseman. Backed by a star-studded cast including Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel and Miranda Richardson as Lady Van Tassel, director Tim Burton weaves a chilling tale that combines elements of horror and mystery. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction, a testament to its striking visual style. As Crane delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers dark secrets that blur the line between reality and nightmare.

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  • Good Will Hunting
    6

    Good Will Hunting

    Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck
    273 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Gus Van Sant
    In the heart of Boston, a self-taught genius janitor, Will Hunting (Matt Damon), solves complex mathematical problems at MIT unnoticed. His talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård). The professor seeks therapy for Will's emotional issues from Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), an empathetic psychologist. As Will grapples with his past and future, he finds solace in his relationship with Skylar (Minnie Driver), a Harvard student. Good Will Hunting, a compelling drama directed by Gus Van Sant, won two Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay.

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