Before the season of nostalgic Christmas movies and cheesy Hallmark Channel love stories comes television with its own unique aesthetic — movies and TV show episodes that simply match September-November energy. The fall season has lots of nostalgic, light-hearted choices to pick from, so here is a list of my top movies and TV shows to watch as the weather starts to cool down. This list purposely excludes horror movies, as they are a category of their own.
Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video)
Hocus Pocus is arguably a classic Halloween movie. The three witches always work their way into my fall season, and considering the second Hocus Pocus movie released around this time last year, I figure it deserves a place on this list. Hocus Pocus is also streaming at local Baltimore movie theaters this October — watch this classic at The Senator Theatre, AMC White Marsh 16 and other locations!
Girl vs. Monster (Disney+)
Yes, this may be a Disney Channel original movie, but I have not been able to go one fall season without thinking about it. Girl vs. Monster is one of those movies you saw ads for as a kid on Disney Channel but perhaps have only seen once or twice. This movie brings back the memories of wholesome elementary school Halloween parties, complete with everything from sugar highs to metallic, glittery costumes. This movie is a great watch for anyone seeking nostalgia during the fall season.
Gilmore Girls (Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV)
A favorite among many Netflix watchers, Gilmore Girls perfectly emulates the mood that autumn portrays. Although not specifically created for viewing in the fall, I most associate the aesthetics of this show with the fall season, as me and my close friends find ourselves rewatching our favorite episodes right as the weather cools down. Something about the show is very comforting, whether it be the large cast of friendly characters or purely Lauren Graham’s voice — the show sports the season well.
The journey of character developments the directors take us on throughout Rory Gilmore’s life and the amount of characters mixed into the television show put viewers in a trance, wanting to know what happens next in Rory’s life. From the iconic Carole King theme song to the cozy vibe of the town scenery, and even the fashion choices made throughout, this show is the perfect binge-watch during the fall season.
Friends Thanksgiving Episodes (Max, Spectrum TV, Watch TBS, Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV)
The Friends Thanksgiving episodes include “The One with All the Thanksgivings,” “The One with the Football,” “The One with the Rumor,” “The One with the Late Thanksgiving,” “The One Where Ross got High,” “The One Where Underdog Gets Away,” “The One with Rachel’s Older Sister,” “The One with the List” and “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”.
Whether or not you are a fan of the sitcom, Friends displays the dramatics of chaotic Thanksgiving dinners perfectly. Out of 236 episodes, Friends shows nine Thanksgiving episodes, each one coming with their own disarray. These episodes portray the common holiday stressors of having to see family you haven’t seen in years, cooking a huge meal for a large number of people in one day and just trying to make the holiday enjoyable for all those partaking with you. I find myself remembering and rewatching “The One with the Football” every fall season, as the outfits worn by the characters manage to embody the cold weather while still keeping within the autumn mood.
These are just a few of my favorite fall staples that rotate through my Recently Watched list every autumn. I hope these movies and shows give you the same warm feeling as they do for me!
