Must Be The Season Of The Witch: 5 Must-Watch Fall Films
- marissarotolo13
- Oct 1, 2025
- 3 min read
By Marissa Rotolo
The death of something perhaps beautiful, but the rise of something new. Crisp air, tricks and treats, and the world dipped in caramel. Autumn is an annual reckoning with the coldness within all of us—innovation giving way to warmth, a lure to nostalgia, and stories that mirror the bittersweet charm of the changing seasons. There’s no better way to embrace fall than by sinking into films and shows that capture its essence. Below are 5 classic, must-watch picks for the season.
1) Practical Magic (1998)
How could I make a list of Fall Films and not include this film? This 1998 classic features Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witchy sisters. Sally and Gillian witness their aunt perform a love spell that leaves Sally hoping to never find love, leaves Gillian grasping for it however she can. However, the two also inherit a family curse: every man they fall in love with is doomed to an untimely death.With the blood bond of their sisterhood, and the promise to use practical magic, the girls find themselves in spellbinding predicaments. Draped with the foliage of a crisp Massachusetts setting and the brisk East Coast air, this movie is the quintessential fall watch. And for fans of the original, a long-awaited sequel is officially set to arrive in 2026. So before you dive into this Fall classic, remember to always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.
2) Scream (1996)
Scream isn’t just a slasher — it’s the slasher that reinvented the genre. The 1996 classic is delightfully meta, poking fun at its own tropes while still delivering genuine scares. Suspenseful yet witty, it’s the perfect “beginner” scare — spooky enough to thrill without being nightmare-inducing. With a star-studded cast, five killer sequels, and the perfect blend of fall atmosphere and ’90s nostalgia, this film is an October dream.
3) Totally Killer (2023)
Totally Killer is a horror-comedy that totally deserves more attention. The film follows Jamie, a teen whose mother was murdered by the “Sweet Sixteen Killer,” a murderer who went on a spree 30 years earlier. After discovering a way to time-travel back to the 1980s, Jamie is tasked with befriending her mom as a teenager and undoing the murders to change her mother’s fate. With its playful mix of slasher thrills, time-travel twists, and neon-drenched nostalgia, Totally Killer is an underrated fall gem.
4) When Harry Met Sally (1989)
My favorite “will-they-won’t-they” movie of all time, When Harry Met Sally… plays with the age-old question: Can men and women really just be friends? Set in New York, the story follows Harry and Sally over 12 years of chance encounters, shifting friendships, and undeniable chemistry. The dialogue feels as sharp and natural as real life, capturing the nuances of what’s said — and unsaid — in relationships.
5) St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
St. Elmo’s Fire will absolutely tug at your heartstrings. The film follows eight friends navigating life after graduating from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. This coming-of-age story captures the limbo of being in a season of change — the trials, tribulations and uncertainty of early adulthood. It reminds viewers that life can sometimes feel like a highlight reel, and that everyone around us is experiencing it for the first time too. Not everyone has it figured out, nobody is perfect, and there really is no place like home — especially in the fall.
Fall is fleeting, but the stories we return to each year are timeless. Whether it’s a witchy New England tale, a self-aware slasher, or pure ’90s nostalgia, these films capture the bittersweet charm of autumn. Grab a blanket, light a pumpkin spice candle, and let yourself fall into them.
Comments