15 Un-Halloween Movies You Should Watch If You Love Fall But Hate Horror

It’s autumn and we have mixed feelings about it. While milder weather is wonderful, and the coming fall colors are also great, October is also a sign of winter. Let’s enjoy some of these perfect-for-fall movies while we make the most of it.

While we enjoy horror movies, and this season is a great one, it has been getting a bit too real for a while now. So there’s no shame in seeking entertainment that doesn’t include a single serial killer or vengeful ghost. There are movies that are lighter, more fun, more warm, and sometimes even more uplifting. There are many fall movies that will suit all moods. Not all of them are filled with pumpkin spice and sweets. However, any good seasonal movie will help us get through the dark nights and difficult times. You deserve to rest. Grab a blanket, a warm beverage, or something edible.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Although few people admitted liking the clever silliness of Hocus Pocus in 1993, it has cultivated enough of an cult following that a sequel is planned for next year. It will reunite Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as three bumbling witches returning from the dead. If you are looking for something witchy and Halloween-y that won’t cause too many nightmares, this is a good choice.

Where to watch: Disney+

Soul Food (1997)

For the Josephs, every Sunday is Thanksgiving. Every week, the close-knit Chicago family gathers for dinner. This is a long-standing tradition that was beloved until Mother Joe, the matriarch of the family, succumbs to a devastating stroke. Ahmad, 11 years old, sees all this struggle and warmth through his eyes. The soul food title is more than a traditional style.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Peacock, IMDb TV

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Verse is possibly the most charming of all super-hero movies. Miles Morales takes the lead among a variety of spider-people. It is fast-paced, entertaining, charming, and 100% family-friendly. You can feel the fall vibes in the movie’s positive nature and the autumn scenery, which is especially evident in the last two acts.

Where to watch: FX Now

Remember the Titans (2000)

Football is the best way to describe fall… at least that’s what we have heard from football fans. Remember the Titans is a sports movie. However, it’s also a fascinating historical drama about Herman Boone (the first Black coach of a team at an Alexandria school). If you are feeling depressed by the fall weather and worried about the passing of time, Denzel Washington’s case might be a good option.

Where to watch: Disney+

Waiting to exhale

This film is set in Phoenix, Arizona and offers a warmhearted feeling of hope and renewal. It follows the struggles and triumphs of four women, who are in bad relationships, and their support. The iconic car fire will keep your soul warm on those cold fall nights.

Where to watch: HBO Max, IMDb TV

Knives Out (2019)

Although the film was technically shot in winter, those of us who are sensitive to cold will still be wearing our Chris Pine sweaters well before December. Fall seems to be a great time for murder sagas. There’s a reason why this genre is called the “cozy mystery”. It’s a time to curl up under a warm blanket, enjoy the puzzles and not worry about where you might end up. Ryan Johnson’s blockbuster is clever and uses Agatha Christie-esque conventions. However, we think we all can agree on Chris Pine’s sweaters.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Trains, planes, and. Automobiles (1987)

Are you planning Thanksgiving travel? After watching this classic Steve Martin/John Candy movie (directed by John Hughes), you might reconsider your decision. But most likely, you will just relax and be thankful that this is unlikely to happen to you. Although it is a hilariously absurd comedy, it isn’t mean-spirited. It builds up to a heartwarming conclusion that will warm even the coldest of hearts.

Where to watch: Hulu, Paramount+, AMC+, Epix

She’s got to have it (1986)

Spike Lee’s feature directedorial debut is set in black and white. It’s also entirely set in Brooklyn. So you won’t get many fall colors. You will see the story of Nola Darling, a sex-positive lead (Tracy Camilla Johns), a woman who dates three men simultaneously and chooses freedom over commitment. Although some elements aren’t quite as well-received in 2021, the story is still entertaining and has feminist themes. It culminates with a memorable Thanksgiving dinner where all Nola’s men can be invited.

Where to watch: Netflix

Far From Heaven (2002)

With this beautiful romance, starring Dennis Haysbert & Julianne Moore, director Todd Haynes paid tribute the rich, jewel-toned melodramas Hollywood’s golden age (especially those of Douglas Sirk). Although the movie is set in suburban Connecticut in the 1950s, it deals with homophobia and racism issues that older films wouldn’t have. The chemistry between them is strong and there is perhaps no more beautiful fall scene in film history, though Sirk’s in 1955’s classic All That Heaven Allows is up there.

Where to watch: Disney+

The Trouble with Harry (1955)

Fall would seem like the ideal season to shed your body. The ground isn’t frozen solid yet, and it’s not too hot. This is a rare and underrated entry in Alfred Hitchcock’s oeuvre. It suggests that conventional wisdom regarding corpse disposal may not always be correct. The Trouble with Harry tells the story of a body that refuses to be buried. If you love fall comedy with lots of sexual innuendo, this movie is for you.

Where to watch: Digital rental

God’s Own Country 2017

The film is set over a long period of winter (“lambing seasons” to the leads). However, the stark Yorkshire landscape maintains a chilling fall feel all through the film. This makes it the perfect setting for a budding romance between a farmer who wants to raise sheep and a worker who comes to work on his farm. The central story is grounded in a verisimilitude of scenes related to sheep farming. It’s also a rare gay drama that does not lean towards tragedy.

Where to watch: Hulu and Kanopy

Addams Family Values (1993)

Although technically the sequel was set in the summer, the Addams Family lives in perpetual autumn. No matter where they are or when they are there, Halloween is always within reach. It also pays homage to Thanksgiving with Wednesday’s fantasy of Indigenous revenge. Although it may be a bit inappropriate, it is still very satisfying.

Where to watch: Paramount+ and AMC+

Harold and Maude (1971)

Is there anything more autumnal than a love of death? You know, aside from the contemplative tones of Cat Stevens in the early ’70s. This movie has them both. It’s set against a February-December romance that Bud Cort and Ruth Roman have, which is as funny as it is moving. This is a dark comedy with warmth that counters the misty gloominess of San Francisco Bay and Harold’s nihilism.

Where to watch: Prime Video and Kanopy

The Wiz (1978)

It turns out that Thanksgiving at Diana Ross’s house is just as wild as you would expect. This riff on L. Frank Baum novels kicks off with an all-star cast. It also takes us into a fantasy Queens version that plays very differently to the earlier, rural-inspired versions of Oz. There were many memorable songs and dance numbers before it was over. It also promised hard-won renewal, which is just what we need to keep our spirits strong for the winter ahead.

Where to watch: Peacock

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Fall isn’t much different in the San Fernando Valley. (Easterners will notice that trick-or treating doesn’t require a coat). But, in true Steven Spielberg fashion, there’s more warmth and heart than there is danger in this alien invasion movie.

Where to watch: Peacock