It’s raining outside, and you arrive home. You finished all your homework, so you have the rest of the day free. After slipping into cozy pajamas and making a fresh hot cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing), you realize the only thing that can make this day even better is watching a show that evokes the spirit of fall. So you open your laptop or TV, but you end up wasting your time searching for shows and movies. What should I watch? You think to yourself. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of shows and movies that I believe will provide that sense of comfort, warmth, nostalgia, and the ultimate fall vibes.
* I also want to mention that these are my personal opinions, and I know there are many more amazing fall shows and movies out there that aren’t on this list. *
Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)
Starting off with a classic and my favorite show of all time: Gilmore Girls, which, in my opinion, is THE quintessential Fall show. But I will say that this show tends to be a hit or a miss, depending on the person. Personally, I LOVE this show and binge-watch it every fall.
The show follows Lorelai Gilmore, a single mother, and her daughter, Rory Gilmore. These two share a very close bond as Rory was raised solely by her mother. The show is set in Stars Hollow, CT ( a fictional town). It’s a small town where everybody knows everybody, and every person gets their coffee and breakfast at one place: Luke’s Diner. It’s the type of town that boasts festivals for every season and hosts random, quirky events. Throughout the show, Lorelai and Rory navigate huge changes in their lives, whether it’s college, breakups, almost-weddings, love triangles, or Friday night family dinners.
This is a very comforting coming-of-age show, and most of it is set in either the fall or winter. I would suggest this show if you love early 2000s shows that give off small-town, cozy vibes, fast-paced dialogue, and witty banter. Also, if you watch the show, leave a comment about which team you are on. I’m team Logan all the way!
Twitches (2005)
Twitches is one of those movies you rewatch that remind you of old Disney and your childhood. It has that spooky but not scary vibe, making it a great movie to watch with the whole family. It stars the iconic twins: Tia and Tamera Mowry. The movie is about “Twin witches who were separated at birth and were adopted by two different families meet on their 21st birthday and must use their powers to save the world in which they were born, where their birth mother still lives.” (IMDb).
If you haven’t watched this movie, you should, especially if you’re looking for a nostalgic movie or a family movie night. There’s also a sequel that came out in 2007, so if you liked the first movie, you should check out the second.
Practical Magic (1998)
Starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, Practical Magic is another one of my go-to fall rewatches. It has such a unique storyline, and has that spooky, fall, cute-town vibe. The movie follows Sally and Gillian Owens, who were born into a magical family and have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian’s vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov — and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line” (Rotten Tomatoes).
This movie was filmed in Washington State! The fictional coastal small town of Hedgebrook is actually Coupeville, Washington, on Whidbey Island. Practical Magic is also getting a sequel that is currently being shot, though unfortunately not in Washington. I recommend this movie if you’re looking for more of a spooky but not scary fall movie set in a cute coastal town.
Wildfire (2005 – 2008)
I don’t recall exactly how, but I remember discovering this show in the most random way. It’s a wildly underrated, nostalgic, and warm show, and it’s somewhat of a horse show. However, it has many good storylines throughout, so please give this show a shot even if you’re not typically into horse shows. I’m currently watching this show and am on Season 3. It gives off classic 2000s vibes, from the camera used to film it to the lighting and writing. This show deserves more hype.
Here’s a summary: “After serving time in a juvenile detention center for stealing a car, young Kristine Furillo secures a job as a stablehand at Raintree Farms. As she works her way up to jockey, she finds romance and competition from Raintree’s ruthless rivals, the Davis Farm” (Rotten Tomatoes). I would recommend this show to anyone who loves Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. By the way, I’m Team Junior for Kris 100%. I’m only on Season 3, so hopefully his character doesn’t have a downfall; they’re so cute together!
Twilight (2008)
If you know me personally, you know about my obsession with Twilight. It’s one of my favorite movie series. I understand people enjoy hating on it, but it’s such a comfort film, especially in the fall. The first movie focuses on Bella Swan, who moves during her junior year from Phoenix, AZ, to Forks, WA, to live with her dad, Charlie, the town sheriff.
Bella navigates being the new girl in school while also adjusting to Forks’ environment. Although Bella thought this would be a boring town, her perception shifts when she meets the Cullens, a family who are secretly vampires. After Edward, her classmate and a Cullen, impossibly saves her from an accident, she questions what he and his family are. As she digs around trying to uncover the truth, she also starts to fall in love with Edward Cullen. However, loving him comes with significant danger. The Twilight movies navigate this entire journey. If you love early 2000s supernatural romance movies, this is definitely a movie you should watch or rewatch!
Twilight: New Moon (2009)
If you watch the first movie, you might as well watch the second. Honestly, Twilight: New Moon is my favorite in the entire series. This movie continues following Bella Swan as she grows closer to the Cullen family, though this later shows to have its dangers. At Bella’s birthday, after a horrible accident, Edward realizes that Bella is safer without him and his family. He makes the difficult decision to leave Forks, along with his family. The movie navigates Bella’s heartbreak after the love of her life leaves and shows a growing bond between her and her childhood friend, Jacob Black, as she finds ways to rediscover her old self.
This movie is full of plot twists, love triangles, and new character additions to the Twilight series! I love rewatching this movie every fall. By the way, I’m Team Edward Cullen 10000%, which confuses people since many believe this movie is for Team Jacob fans. My honest opinion is that none of the movies are truly for Team Jacob (sorry!). Also, I really enjoy the cinematography, soundtrack, and lighting of this movie. And to those who think it’s the worst one in the series, I disagree. This movie perfectly depicts how much Edward loves Bella and her love for him. They literally can’t be apart because of how much they love each other!
If you loved the first film, this film is 10x better when it comes to scriptwriting and acting. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves supernatural elements, mythical legends, love triangles, and movies with a fall aesthetic.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003)
I have heard this show referenced in so many movies and other shows, plus I love Sarah Michelle’s work, so I decided to start this a few months ago, and I wish I had started it sooner! If you have watched The Vampire Diaries or any teen drama show from the early 2000s that has supernatural elements, and you’re looking for a new show to binge, this is it.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy Summers, who is “one in a long line of young women chosen for a specific mission: to seek out and destroy vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy establishes a group of supportive friends who aid her in her battles with evil, including Willow, Xander, and Cordelia. Her battles with evil are frequent, since Sunnydale, where Buffy and friends live, sits atop a gateway to the realm of the demons” (Rotten Tomatoes).
This show is full of funny and complex characters you can easily relate to. From love triangles to near-end-of-the-world battles, this show has so many storylines that will keep you entertained. I’m currently finishing up Season 3 and am so excited to see what’s next for Buffy, but honestly, her character deserves a vacation. The writers put her through everything! I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoyed shows such as Smallville and The Vampire Diaries.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
This movie is beautifully written, and any film starring Robin Williams will be an amazing, heartfelt, and tear-jerking film, and Dead Poets Society is no exception to that. This movie features fall scenery, found-family themes, and complex characters. It does, however, have a rather sad ending, so keep that in mind. Even so, please watch this movie at least once in your life.
Here’s a summary of the movie: “A new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), is introduced to an all-boys preparatory school that is known for its ancient traditions and high standards. He uses unorthodox methods to reach out to his students, who face enormous pressures from their parents and the school. With Keating’s help, students Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), and others learn to break out of their shells, pursue their dreams, and seize the day” (Rotten Tomatoes).
I recommend this movie to people who love Little Women and are looking for an extremely heartwarming, coming-of-age film.
The Vampire Diaries (2009 – 2017)
The Vampire Diaries is such an iconic show. I remember my older cousins always talking about it, and when I finally watched it a few years ago, I realized why it was so popular. The grip this show had on me at 13 years old was crazy. If you love supernatural shows, I definitely recommend this one. It’s filled with mystery, love triangles, supernatural creatures, and myths.
The show follows Elena Gilbert as she navigates life after her parents died in a car accident a few months prior. As she tries to return to her normal self, she finds herself falling in love with the new kid in school, Stefan Salvatore. She also starts noticing weird deaths and disappearances in her small town, Mystic Falls. And the more she gets to know about Stefan, the more she starts questioning what he is and if he’s human. But the heart wants what it wants, and her’s wants Stefan, or so she thought. The story continues to follow Elena’s life as it unravels, full of mysteries, love triangles, and death.
If you loved Twilight‘s plot, you should watch this show. I also recommend this show to anyone who loves Gilmore Girls and Pretty Little Liars.
All the Harry Potter Movies (2001 – 2011)
Harry Potter is a great fall or winter watch. And this is another series that I am obsessed with. If you haven’t watched it, please start it right now! This movie is so magical, heartwarming, and beautiful. This fictional universe is so well-written that it feels like it could be real. I have been watching these movies since I was 6 years old, and every time I rewatch them, I feel so nostalgic and cozy.
The movies are about “a young orphan who discovers he is a wizard and attends a magical school, where he and his friends must repeatedly face a dangerous, dark wizard. The story, told across eight movies, chronicles Harry’s journey into the wizarding world and his eventual confrontation with his destined enemy” (Google Gemini).
I recommend this movie to anyone who loves cozy, magical, nostalgic films. If you loved any of the other films above, you should watch this!
This concludes my recommendations for what to watch this fall! I hope you found something new you want to watch, and if you have any recommendations for fall shows/movies I didn’t mention above, feel free to suggest them in the comments.
Works Cited
Gillard, Stuart. “Twitches (TV Movie 2005).” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467421/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_4. Accessed 10 October 2025.
“image for Practical Magic.” Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/practical_magic. Accessed 2 October 2025.
“Main image for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer. Accessed 7 October 2025.
“Main image for Dead Poets Society.” Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_poets_society. Accessed 15 October 2025.
“Wildfire.” Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wildfire. Accessed 15 October 2025.
