The 7 Best Fall-Themed Rom Coms That Are Perfect For The Season

From classic romantic comedies to light-hearted fantasy films, here are some of our favorite films to mark the peak days of autumn.

Fall is in the air, bringing with it a tide of seasonal changes. From the gradual yellowing of leaves to the official start of Halloween’s festivities, there’s plenty to look forward to in regards to the new season, even if you’re not exactly the biggest fan of cooler weather or the dozens of horror movies playing on TV.

For example, autumn marks a fantastic period for certain fall-themed movies, many of which draw on the wholesome atmosphere that comes with vividly-colored foliage, warm apple cider, and the looming arrival of Thanksgiving. From classic romantic comedies to light-hearted fantasy films, here are some of our favorite films to mark the peak days of autumn.

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Quite possibly the best Thanksgiving movie ever made (an admittedly niche category), You’ve Got Mail also spells out the third and final collaboration between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Ending their unofficial romcom series on a blessedly high note, You’ve Got Mail once again makes use of Hanks and Ryan’s characteristically magical chemistry together. Though humorously dated by its ‘90s-era technology, it continues to stand the test of time as an uplifting comedy of manners lauded by every generation of viewers.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Undoubtedly among the most beloved romantic comedies of all time, one can technically describe When Harry Met Sally as a fall-themed romantic comedy, a New Year’s film, and a coming of age drama wrapped up into one tight little package. Providing an endearing look at Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s personal relationship from their initial meeting in college up to their initial romantic encounter, When Harry Met Sally illustrates how time can influence our feelings for one another. (An agreeable message we can probably all relate to in some fashion or form.)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

As with the aforementioned You’ve Got Mail, Silver Linings Playbook might establish itself more as a Thanksgiving film than strictly an autumnal-themed romantic comedy. Concerning itself with themes related to family, relationships, and personal growth and redemption, it’s a fantastic comedic drama that makes you laugh as often as it forces you to think. If nothing else, it’s impossible not to feel the chill in the air as you watch Bradley Cooper lightly jog through the Pennsylvania suburbs in the middle of a crisp fall morning.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

How many classic romantic comedies do you know that are set on Halloween night? In that sense, Arsenic and Old Lace is an entirely different sort of film, defying expectations when it comes to the conventional screwball comedy of the ‘30s and ‘40s. Starring an increasingly manic Cary Grant, Arsenic and Old Lace exists as a madcap dark comedy that combines ghoulish scares with laugh-out-loud humor, roping in such disparate elements as serial-murdering grannies, Teddy Roosevelt lookalikes, and professional criminals that bear an eerie resemblance to Frankenstein’s Monster.

Rushmore (1998)

Most of us can fondly remember the initial few months of school – the anxiety over making new friends, of joining new clubs, of making our way to class through the mountains of leaves piled onto people’s front driveways and sidewalks. Brilliantly capturing this exciting, confusing, sometimes nerve-racking period in most people’s lives, Wes Anderson adequately presents the trials and tribulations of adolescence in his early hit, Rushmore. A romcom like no other, it’s a wonderful coming of age dramedy that shows Anderson at the very top of his game.

Corpse Bride (2005)

It wouldn’t be autumn without watching at least one Tim Burton film, now would it? That being said, why not revisit one of the director’s absolute best efforts with 2005’s imaginative stop-motion film, Corpse Bride. Though it might be a tad too unsettling for younger viewers, most audience members are guaranteed to fall in love with Burton’s macabre visuals and Gothic narrative in Corpse Bride, a film that more than matches the esteem of Burton’s earlier work on Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice. 

Legally Blonde (2001)

A hilarious cross between Clueless and A Few Good Men, Legally Blonde emphasizes the idea of challenging preconceived norms, especially when it comes to our outward appearances, personalities, and distinct fashion choices. Led by a spellbinding Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde delights in showing the power of self-belief and confidence, detailing Elle Wood’s slow transformation from a fun-loving SoCal girl into a hard-working, industrious lawyer (who just so happens to use her SoCal personality to her advantage in the courtroom).