10 Movies To Watch This Autumn

Live:STR SELECTIONS

by Dara Morgan

10 Movies To Watch This Autumn

2 Oct 2024

Image: IMDb

The season may not look the same in Dubai — no golden leaves or pumpkin spice lattes — but who says you can't create the ultimate autumn mood with the right film? We have handpicked 10 movies to help you get cosy and embrace the ultimate hygge vibe. No, Twilight isn’t on this list (though hoa hoa hoa is definitely one of our main guilty pleasures), but here are some top-notch alternatives. Enjoy!

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Every Wes Anderson film probably screams autumn, but Fantastic Mr. Fox is an animated masterpiece. With Mr. Fox leading a wild spree of thefts, things go terribly wrong as three farmers fight back. The voice cast? Oh, just a casual list of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, and more. It is fantastic — just like the title states.

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Dead Poets Society (1989)

Not everyone is thrilled about the “back to school” vibe, but if every teacher were like John Keating (the one and only Robin Williams), classrooms would be a lot more inspiring. The film blends drama, comedy, youthful rebellion, and a touch of Williams’s endless charm. Set in 1959 at the fictional Welton Academy, it follows an unorthodox English teacher who sparks a love for poetry in his students.

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The King’s Speech (2010)

In the mood for some truly English movie? This one is all about dry wit, a dash of drama, and a brilliant bromance between Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Firth stars as the future King George VI, who, struggling with a stammer, turns to Lionel Logue (Rush), an eccentric Australian speech therapist. As they work together, their unlikely friendship deepens, and when the king’s brother abdicates, it is Logue who helps him deliver a critical wartime broadcast as Britain enters WWII. Properly regal, with just the right amount of heart.

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Her (2013)

Autumn is practically begging for some emotional introspection, and movies like Her deliver. Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with his AI assistant (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), and if that doesn’t set the melancholic autumn tone, what will?

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Four Weddings And a Funeral (1994)

Honestly, this one is perfect for any time of year, but the biting British humour hits extra hard when the days grow shorter. Hugh Grant fumbles through weddings, funerals, and romantic mishaps with all the charm of a proper autumnal rom-com.

Coco (2017)

Who needs Halloween when you have got Día de los Muertos? Coco brings music, magic, and Mexican heritage into the mix. Follow young Miguel as he embarks on a heartwarming adventure in the Land of the Dead. Bonus points for the music that will stick in your head for days. It is one of those family movies where you can’t help but tear up, even if you have got a heart of stone.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Autumn nights = Tim Burton movies. The new Beetlejuice is finally here, with Michael Keaton back as the world’s most chaotic ghost. The perfect mix of spooky and surreal, featuring a killer cast and enough Burton-esque weirdness to carry you through to Halloween.

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Good Will Hunting (1997)

Robin Williams (yes, again!) shines in his Oscar-winning, deeply moving role in this heartfelt (somewhat heartbreaking) film. It tells the story of Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a young genius working as a janitor at MIT. When a professor recognises his hidden brilliance, Will is offered a chance to leave his troubled past behind and realise his full potential, with guidance from Williams’s compassionate and wise therapist.

Paterson (2016)

Need quiet, plot-free movies to match those introspective autumn evenings? Paterson is your answer. Adam Driver plays a bus-driving poet, and it is a slow, poetic love letter to everyday life. There is no hard drama — just life ticking away as gently as falling leaves.

Knives Out (2019)

It wouldn’t be autumn without a whodunnit. Knives Out delivers a stylish mystery with a side of murder. The cast is impeccable (Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas), and the plot twists. Perfectly timed for a chilly autumn night with a cup of tea.

Image: IMDb

by Dara Morgan