I don’t know about you all, but my absolute favorite way to spend an evening is to cozy up on the couch with a blanket, grab my favorite comfort meal and watch a good movie. Whether I’m at home for the upcoming holidays and watching a cute film with my family or cramming way too many of my friends onto one couch to watch a cheap movie, movie nights are always my favorite go to. There’s just something about the crisp and cold autumn weather that demands a warm and comfortable night in. 

As November approaches and a sea of holidays comes closer, there’s so many movies to choose from to match the cheery mood. For the cold days when the weather has forced you to stay indoors or for those of you who just want a homey night in, here’s a list of my favorite fall movies.

“Knives Out”

Genre: Mystery/Crime 

If you think your family gatherings are dramatic during the holiday season, then the Thrombey family takes the cake. Beyond being a hilariously dysfunctional family and starting the most absurd arguments, each one is suspected of murdering the head of the house: Harlan Thrombey. While we may have to put up with our family’s silly antics at Thanksgiving dinner, detective Blanc has to painstakingly listen to and weed through the most ludicrous lies to get to the bottom of Harlan’s murder. “Knives Out” will definitely make for an interesting night and might just end your family gathering with a laugh instead of a last jab.

“October Sky” 

Genre: Drama/Family

Midterms season steamrolled over the majority of us and may have left some of us feeling defeated or discouraged from our studies. Even though we might be a little down in the dumps, Homer reminds us why we all strived to go to UC Berkeley and what we’re working to achieve. It is both heart wrenching and heartwarming, making it the perfectly moody film for the fall season. Gather a few of your friends, order some takeout and reinvigorate your passion for your study. Who knows, you might just do something awesome like Homer.

“Coco”

Genre: Children’s animation

With El Día de los Muertos right around the corner, “Coco” is the perfect movie to rekindle our appreciation for our family, both those with us and those who have passed. Following the touching tale of a boy who desperately wants to be a musician and accidentally journeys into the land of the dead, he discovers the mysteries behind his family’s traditions. Miguel encourages us to remember to be grateful for our friends, family and cultural heritage during the holiday season. Make sure you’re all ready to sing along to some of the catchiest songs and have a few tissues ready because you’ll definitely shed a few tears.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” 

Genre: Children’s classic

It’s not November without Charlie Brown. If you grew up in the public school system, then I’m sure your teachers played “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” every single year too. Even though it’s a short and comical watch, Snoopy and the Peanuts perfectly capture how difficult it can be to plan everything and see everyone we want to during the holidays. It’s an iconic childhood favorite that’ll have you reminiscing over the simple good old days of being a kid.

“Harry Potter” 

Genre: Fantasy

I say “Harry Potter” in general because literally all eight of the movies emanate the epitome of fall vibes. The windy and snowy weather, the chunky layered sweaters, the abundance of warm drinks and tables piled with steaming food encapsulate exactly how I imagine the perfect fall season. Coupled with an overwhelmingly crazy school year that has all kinds of bizarre twists and turns, their struggles feel as daunting and real as ours do. Grab a few friends and cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider and binge watch as much of the series as you can. I rewatch this series every year in the fall so I can attest to it being possible. 

Unfortunately this list doesn’t do justice to the amazing abundance of movies that perfectly fit the fall weather. These five just happen to hold a special place in my heart and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Whether or not you want to watch these specific movies or choose your own, I encourage you all to wind down for a weekend and have a relaxing movie night with your friends or family. It’s easy to forget to spend time with our friends and family due to all the hectic things happening at school and work, so it’s a nice change of pace to sit down and watch a good movie with those you care about as the holiday season approaches.