There’s something about autumn that makes you want to romanticise absolutely everything.
Suddenly, getting a coffee before school feels like a movie scene. You want to wear your favourite jumper every day, go on long walks with a ridiculously good playlist and spend your evenings wrapped in a blanket watching something cosy.
And while we can’t promise your life will suddenly look like your Pinterest board, the right film or TV show can definitely help set the mood.
From Irish school days and cosy small towns to Halloween magic and dark academia, here are 10 TV shows and movies to watch to romanticise your autumn.
1. Derry Girls
We had to start with Derry Girls.
There’s something particularly comforting about watching a show that feels close to home, especially when you’re curled up on the sofa on a cold autumn evening. Derry Girls is full of school days, friendships, family chaos and the everyday drama that somehow feels very familiar.
It’s funny, nostalgic and incredibly easy to watch, making it perfect for those evenings when you just want to switch off for a while. Sometimes romanticising autumn isn’t about pretending you’re in an American small town, it’s about appreciating the cosy bits of home too.
2. Gilmore Girls
Coffee, cosy jumpers, colourful leaves and a small town where everyone somehow knows everyone else’s business?
Welcome to Stars Hollow.
Gilmore Girls has become one of those shows that feels almost synonymous with autumn. Whether you’re watching it for the first time or restarting it for what feels like the hundredth time, there’s something about the cosy setting and familiar characters that makes it perfect for the season.
3. Dead Poets Society
For anyone who wants their autumn to have a slightly more academic feel, Dead Poets Society is the one.
Think old school uniforms, books, boarding school, changing leaves and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to sit in a library and dramatically stare out a window.
It’s definitely a little more emotional than some of the other picks on this list, but Robin Williams as English teacher John Keating gives the film so much heart. It’s one to watch when you’re in the mood for something a little more thoughtful.
4. Gossip Girl
As Gossip Girl herself puts it, “There’s nothing quite like autumn in New York”
And she’s not wrong.
The fashion, the city, the school uniforms and the endless walking around Manhattan make the show perfect for when you want to pretend your everyday life is a little more glamorous.
Maybe you’re not actually spending autumn walking around the Upper East Side, but you can still put on a good outfit, grab a coffee and pretend for a few minutes.
5. Hocus Pocus
What would an autumn watchlist be without the original Hocus Pocus?
If October is your favourite month of the year, this is essential. Halloween night, autumn leaves and just enough chaos make it the perfect film to put on when you want to fully embrace spooky season.
It’s also one of those films that somehow gets better when you watch it every year. Make some popcorn, put on your comfiest pyjamas and let the Sanderson sisters officially kick off spooky season.
6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
There are plenty of reasons to rewatch Harry Potter, but there’s something especially magical about the first film in autumn.Hogwarts, school uniforms, the Great Hall, cosy common rooms, candles and the Forbidden Forest all create exactly the sort of atmosphere you want on a chilly evening.
It feels like the ultimate back to school fantasy, except your school day involves magic, flying lessons and moving staircases. And if you’ve watched it a million times already, that’s kind of the point.
7. Fantastic Mr. Fox
For a completely different kind of autumn feeling, put on Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The film’s warm oranges, yellows, browns and golds make almost every scene look like it has been dipped in autumn. Wes Anderson is known for his distinctive visual style, and this is one of the best examples of his love of colour and carefully designed worlds.
It’s quirky, funny and a little bit ridiculous, but that’s exactly why it works. Sometimes romanticising autumn means watching a stop motion fox wear a corduroy suit while surrounded by the most beautiful autumn colours imaginable.
8. Knives Out
Autumn doesn’t always have to mean cosy candles and cute cafes. Sometimes it means a huge old house, a complicated family, suspicious behaviour and trying to work out who did it.
Knives Out is the perfect choice for a rainy evening when you want something a little more dramatic. It has that dark, mysterious atmosphere that makes you want to turn off the lights, get comfortable and become completely invested in the investigation.
Just try not to pause every five minutes because you have a new theory.
9. You’ve Got Mail
There’s something about an autumn evening and a cosy romantic film that just works.
You’ve Got Mail gives you bookshops, coffee, New York and the kind of slower paced romance that makes you want to wander around the city with a scarf and a good book.
It’s an especially good choice when you don’t want something intense. Sometimes you just want an easy watch that you can settle into and enjoy.
10. Coraline
And for anyone who wants their autumn to be a little bit creepier, Coraline is a perfect choice.
It has that strange, slightly unsettling atmosphere that feels made for an October night. It’s spooky without being a full on horror film, making it ideal when you want something eerie but still watchable.
Dim the lights and get comfortable, but don’t blame us when you’re suddenly checking every pair of buttons in the house.
Ready To Romanticise Your Autumn?
Maybe you’re not going to wake up tomorrow and find yourself living in Stars Hollow, walking around Manhattan or attending Hogwarts.
But you can still make an ordinary autumn evening feel a little more special.
Put on a film you love. Make your favourite drink. Put on a jumper you feel good in. Light a candle, get under a blanket and give yourself a few hours where you don’t have to do anything other than enjoy the season.
Because sometimes romanticising your life is as simple as deciding that a normal Tuesday night can be a little bit magical too.