Autumn is an endless source of romance and mystery in cinema. Filming during this season adds a unique charm to melodramas and rom-coms, allowing you to create truly frightening horror films and exciting romance stories.
You will not find Sweet November or Autumn in New York in my selection. I have collected 13 underrated fall movies for those looking for a movie with an autumn mood.
Overlooked fall movies to watch.
Late Autumn, 2010.
Anna Chen’s husband is very jealous. One day, he discovers his wife is maintaining a relationship with her first love, and a scandal begins. After the chaos, Anna finally comes to her senses and realizes her husband is lying dead next to her. The woman is given nine years in prison, but after seven years, she is released for three days to attend her mother’s funeral. On the way to Seattle, Anna meets a Korean emigrant, and during these 72 hours, their paths will cross more than once.
Late Autumn is an excellent example of Korean melodrama, with piercing acting and a well-conveyed atmosphere—a minor tape built on halftones, views, and internal emotions. Against its backdrop, you will see beautiful, chilly Seattle and a romantic, bittersweet love story.
Before We Go, 2014.
In the best rom-com traditions, the heroes of Chris Evans and Alice Eve are accidentally brought together by fate. They both feel lost and confused, and each is faced with a dilemma. Evans’ hero is afraid to accept his past and to risk his future. The heroine, Eve, does not know whether she made the right choice and what she should do now. And so they spend this night together, walking around the city and trying to help each other understand themselves and their problems.
The film is beautiful in its simplicity and sincerity. It shows life as it is simply; a leisurely, cozy atmosphere accompanies every frame, every look. I was quite pleased with the open ending and the absence of many cliches inherent in melodramas.
The Blair Witch Project, 1999.
In 1995, residents of a small town in Maryland discovered a videotape in the nearby woods. It turns out that it belongs to a missing group of film students who, a year earlier, were trying to find the legendary Blair Witch. They went into the woods where, according to legends, she lived and killed everyone brave enough to wander into the witch’s domain but never returned. Noticing something strange in the woods, the group decides to return but discovers that the forest has become a peculiar trap.
Who said that autumn movies should be warm and charming? There’s a good reason why Halloween falls this season—it’s all about that eerie vibe that so many classic horror films capture, thanks to the dark and mysterious autumn settings. The Blair Witch Project is one of the best examples of this – a tired, almost dead forest from which there is no escape, and the seasonal cold that envelops the heroes like ghosts envelop their victims. In this film, the director makes you tremble with fear without a single drop of blood shown on the screen. The night scene in the tent is, without a doubt, the scariest in cinema history.
Autumn Sonata, 1978.
World-famous pianist Charlotte visits her daughter Ava, a housewife and pastor’s wife, for the first time in seven years. Eva unsuccessfully tries to please her cold and selfish mother and does not hide her dissatisfaction with life. Unresolved conflicts and grievances break out, and mother and daughter begin to sort things out.
It is simply an action movie for intellectuals. I must admit, I haven’t seen such a powerful and tense verbal conflict on screen, created by just two characters, for a long time. The tension created practically out of thin air and captured on film is powerful. There are no explosions, just two people and a lifelong conversation. In many ways, it is wordless but no less exciting.
Once, 2007.
A not very successful street musician earns extra money by fixing vacuum cleaners and even writes a song about it. He meets an immigrant from the Czech Republic who earns money by cleaning houses and composes music in her free time. The heroes become close and spend much time together, walking and playing music.
It is an independent film made for only 150,000 euros, grossed over 20 million dollars at the box office, and the leading actors and professional musicians won an Oscar for Best Song. It is one of my favorite overlooked fall movies. It’s just amazing! The film seems as modest as its leading actors, which is what sets it apart from most other films.
Mr. Morgan’s Last Love, 2013.
It is the story of an elderly American professor, Matthew Morgan. He lives alone and withdrawn in Paris and teaches philosophy at the university. His wife, whom he loved all his life, died several years ago. There is a big hole in his relationship with his children. One day, he meets Pauline, a young, cheerful, and open Parisian woman, a dance teacher. She becomes a breath of fresh air for him, and Matthew begins to look at this world differently. The frame shows autumn in Paris.
The film’s style can be described as simple and clean. Everything is in perfect balance. So here’s what I’ll tell you: if you are tired of Hollywood melodramas that try to squeeze a tear out of the viewer for no reason and want to see a touching, interesting, and quite unusual story, then pay attention to Mr. Morgan’s Last Love.
Far from Heaven, 2002.
It is a stylish drama, stylized as post-war films—the plot centers on housewife Katie. One day, she finds out that her husband prefers men. This fact becomes a real blow for her since the most important thing for her has always been family. Katie tries to “cure” her husband and turns to doctors but to no avail. Later, several other circumstances led her to have a young lover. It is a dramatic story set against the backdrop of autumn landscapes.
The film has no complex plots, heartbreaking drama, or sublime love stories—just a tiny sketch of human destinies on a sinful earth, far from heaven.
Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986.
Woody Allen‘s fall-inspired film won three Oscars and is the perfect fall movie for the evening. The main characters are three sisters: Hannah, Lee and Holly. Hannah is a famous actress and an exemplary mother, Lee is the lover of an elderly artist and misanthrope. Holly dreams of becoming an actress, but she works part-time as a cook at receptions. Their quiet life is disrupted when Hannah’s husband suddenly realizes he is madly in love with her sister.
Woody Allen’s films are about atmosphere, comfort, depth, and philosophy. They are not just rom-coms, detective stories, or comedies. They are always meaningful and warm. Even the credits, with their typical design and jazz, immerse you in the feeling that you are part of his films.
Air Bud, 1997.
The film is cozy, warm, and dreamy—it comes from childhood. The plot centers on a schoolboy who gets the most loyal and best friend in the world—a dog named Buddy. The dog turns out to be very smart and happily shares the boy’s main hobby—basketball. It is an ideal autumn film for the whole family to watch.
If there were more films like this, the world could become a little kinder. I watched this film with my niece at 27 and cried with emotion along with her. Buddy the dog is a wonderful highlight of the film.
October Sky, 1999.
The action occurred in 1957 in a provincial mining town in the USA. The radio reported that the USSR was launching a satellite into space. The young guy, hearing this, got excited about the idea of conquering the sky and decided to build a rocket.
I think there is no point in spreading my thoughts over several dozen lines just to say that this is one of the best films I have seen in my entire life.
An incredible, inspiring story told in simple but at the same time beautiful language. It is how real cinema should be. I already mentioned this film in another article: The Best 16 Movies with Genius Main Characters.
The Cider House Rules, 1999.
A former orphanage pupil dreams of a medical education and does a lot of internships with a practicing obstetrician but cannot yet afford to become a student. He arrives in the backwoods of New England and settles in with a family that owns orchards and produces cider. The hero gets hired as an apple picker to pay for housing and have his own money. He is very good at it, so much so that the young man is thinking about staying there forever. Moreover, he met his first love here. The guy finds himself on the verge of an important decision: how to build his life further.
This movie really hits hard and gets right to the heart of things. It’s a tough watch that leaves you feeling heavy and devastated. It’s such a beautiful film that makes you want to adopt a child and love them even more than your own. You might even feel inspired to rescue all the stray dogs, help people without homes, and dedicate yourself to something greater. Honestly, films like this push us to be better versions of ourselves. Isn’t that what art is all about?
The Bridges of Madison County, 1995.
Iowa, 1960s. Francesca Johnson is originally from Italy, but now she is the wife of an American farmer and the mother of two children. One day, when her husband and children leave for a fair in another state, Francesca meets a visiting lonely photographer Robert Kincaid, who came to Madison County for a few days on assignment for National Geographic magazine to take pictures of local old wooden bridges. A strong feeling flares up in the hearts of Francesca and Robert, but they are given only four days for the love they have dreamed of all their lives.
Regarding love melodramas, The Bridges of Madison County is my favorite movie in this category. Not only is the story itself beautiful, but it also raises an important dilemma: what would you do in the heroine’s place? And it’s damn hard to answer that question.
Crimson Peak, 2015.
Notoriety haunts the house that towers over the city. With the arrival of winter, he is buried in bloody snow. They say it’s the clay that comes to the surface. But no soul risks setting foot on the icy slope… except her. She is in love with a mysterious stranger who lives within the ancient walls with his sister. Crimson Peak has awakened and will not fall asleep.
First of all, I want to talk about the atmosphere. You know, some films have everything – costumes, scenery, good actors, but something is missing for full immersion in the movie. But Crimson Peak is the opposite. From the first frame, you find yourself in a dark world created by Guillermo Del Toro. The aesthetic component of the film is at its best; every frame has charm, beauty, and some kind of magic that can be felt only after watching the film. No wonder I mentioned this film in the post of 16 movies with stunning visuals.
P.S.
There are so many underrated fall movies that really deserve a spotlight. They capture the cozy vibes of the season and tell some fantastic stories. Add these gems to your watchlist this fall for a memorable experience!
Do you watch movies with an autumn atmosphere?
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It’s really hard for me to get into present day movies. Air Bud for example, there is just nothing like it that has the same “good feel” feelings in it. The movie really has to be something special for me to want to bother watching these days.
Your list of underrated fall movies is a great find! I love how you’ve highlighted hidden gems that capture the cozy and reflective vibes of the season—thanks for sharing these fantastic recommendations!
I didn’t know Chris Evans was in a new movie. I want to see that one. Even more interested since you said it avoids typical cliches.
This list of underrated fall movies is a gem! I loved discovering hidden treasures like *Late Autumn* and *Once*. Perfect for cozy autumn nights—thanks for the great recommendations!