Happy Falloween Movies
Welcome to Falloween, also known as September 1st! Autumn is my absolute favorite time of the year, so I start the celebrations early to make the most of every moment.
Here is a list of my favorite movies to get you in the fall mood. Grab a comfy blanket, light a pumpkin scented candle, toss some candy corn in your popcorn and settle in…
FAMILY FAVORITES
THE GOONIES- Because Goonies never die, and neither does this classic 80’s cult movie. Based on a story by executive producer Steven Speilberg, the screenplay is written by Chris Columbus who directed Home Alone and Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone. You and your kids will be rooting for the gang on their treasure hunt to save their town from foreclosure, and cheering when Chunk saves Sloth at the end!
HOCUS POCUS- Maybe my all time favorite Halloween movie! Set in Salem (need I say more) I am shocked, more like horrified, when someone tells me they haven’t seen this movie. The villainous yet hysterical Sanderson sisters are resurrected on Halloween night and run Amuck causing chaos and laughs throughout the film. Released in 1993, the MUCH anticipated sequel will be released on Disney + October 2022.
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE- One of the best movie adaptations of a book- I am sure we were all wondering how they were going to bring the otherworldly pages of the best selling fantasy novel to life. I still get goosebumps every time I watch the kids board the Hogwarts Express, and the Hallowe’en Feast on October 31st with the floating pumpkins is beyond amazing. There’s a total of seven novels, all made into movies, so why not make it a marathon?!
HALLOWEENTOWN- Who wouldn’t want Debbie Reynolds as your grandmother- bonus- she’s a WITCH that lives in a town where it’s Halloween everyday! A cast of kooky characters and a shop selling flying broomsticks adds to the magic. Fun fact: “Marnie” and “Kalabar Jr.” are now dating in real life. Can’t get enough? Next up watch “Halloween 2- Kalabar’s Revenge,” “Halloweentown High,” and “Return to Halloweentown!” Still not enough? You can visit the Spirit of Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon with several attractions and cast appearances.
FEEL GOOD FALL FILMS
DAN IN REAL LIFE- I can’t say enough good things about this movie… I think it’s the best of Steve Carrell’s performances (don’t come for me “Office” fans!) A single father struggling to raise three girls falls in love with a spirited out of towner in a local bookshop- no this is not a Hallmark movie- only to find out she’s dating his brother. The star studded cast all packs into their parent’s Victorian house for an annual fall family gathering and hilarity ensues. From the double date with “pig-faced Ruthie” (Emily Blunt) to the required family morning workout in the front yard- you have to watch this movie more than once to appreciate all the sweet and silly moments- many of which were improvised.
SWEET HOME ALABAMA- Ok the scene where Josh Lucas turns around on the dock and shoots a smile at Reese Witherspoon (shattering her expectations of him and melting our hearts) is reason enough to watch this movie! There is fall foliage and small town charm galore. Not to mention a festival where yes, they dance to “Sweet Home Alabama,” then Reese visits the graveyard where their dog is buried- it’s almost too much. You are either laughing or have tears welling up through most of this film with lines like “You can’t ride two horses with one ass” and “You have a baby… in a bar.” Patrick Dempsey rounds out the hotness trifecta (basically playing JFK Jr.) in this delightful film with a stellar supporting cast.
YOU’VE GOT MAIL- This movie is on every fall favorite and romantic comedy top list, and it deserves it! Practically an Ad for NYC- “come in the fall when literally everything is perfect for 2 weeks a year,” it’s almost a sequel to When Harry Met Sally- also deserving of this list! A soundtrack that will have you singing along as Meg Ryan buys more pumpkins and adds more twinkling lights to her Shop Around the Corner bookstore. She charms every child who enters, but most of all charms big bad executive Tom Hanks. You may not be old enough to remember, but this movie captures the magic of those three little words “you’ve got mail” in the most profound way. Spoiler alert- there is a happy ending, and it involves a golden retriever!
SORTA SCARY BUT NOT HORROR
PRACTICAL MAGIC- I don’t know what category to put this in because this movie is everything. Mystical, funny, dramatic, spooky, romantic, etc. It’s not just a fall favorite, it is easily on my top 10 favorite movie list of all time. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman bring Alice Hoffman’s novel to life in the best way. From the Aunts in their Victorian mansion with a conservatory full of potions to the soundtrack and final scene where they dress up as witches and jump off the roof- I can never get enough of this movie. “There is a little witch in all of us.”
WOLF- The chef’s kiss of casting- Michelle Pfeiffer as the rich boss (Christoper Plummer’s) daughter falls in love with bad boy (and werewolf) Jack Nicholson, with James Spader as the double crossing co-worker! Add in a sprawling Long Island equestrian estate where Pfeiffer lives in the glass coach house next to the barn, plus a tasting menu that includes deer and humans. It’s juicy and twisty, and inspired the design of our floor to ceiling glass doors.
KNIVES OUT- Christopher Plummer stars again in this whodunit which will have you guessing until the end. I’ve watched it three times, mostly again for the wardrobe- “Knives Out” even changed their official twitter for one day to “Chris Evans’ Sweater Stan Account!” Speaking of that sweater- it was last year’s top gift for men and sold out everywhere. The cotton dupe from L.L.Bean is back and you can get it here. More witty one-liners and viral knits are sure to arrive when Knives Out 2 debuts next year on Netflix.
THE LOST BOYS- “People Are Strange” by The Doors plays as the teenage vampires stroll up to a carnival and that scene just sums up how awesome this 80’s movie is! Packed with jump out of your seat scenes and an all star cast- Jason Patrick is everything in this movie- but the Corey’s are also great, plus father and son Kiefer and Donald Sutherland. The title is in reference to the Lost Boys in J.M. Barrie’s stories about Peter Pan and Neverland, who, like the vampires, never grow up.
HALLMARK MOVIES BECAUSE I LOVE THEM
OCTOBER KISS- Spoiler alert- the hard working widow falls in love with the woman he hires to care for his kids. She shows them how to love Halloween again- they haven’t celebrated since their mom passed away. Yes, it’s sappy and predictable but sometimes we need that level of comfort. Plenty of Halloween decor, cookie baking, costumes, and coffee shops to inspire you to start celebrating fall. Best watched with wine and perhaps your girlfriends instead of spouse (less eye rolls lol.)
HARVEST MOON- Because the best news to come after “we have lost everything, we’re broke” is “except for that pumpkin farm we own in the country!” Bonus- it’s run by a hunky single dad farmer (another widower because Hallmark does not do crazy ex’s) and his sweet mom. Not only does Jesse save the farmer, but she saves the farm by marketing their family’s recipe for a pumpkin face cream. Yep. It’s adorable and in the end, everyone finds love- again, yay!
FALL MOVIES ON NETFLIX
FALLING INN LOVE- Because you want to believe those online contests “WIN an Inn” are real, this romantic comedy set in New Zealand proves they are! Unfortunately, the Inn is falling apart. Fortunately, the local restoration expert is handsome and single (oh, and a volunteer fireman- which comes in handy later!) There is a meddling B&B owner determined to stop Garbriela from succeeding in her renovation, and a non committal ex boyfriend that shows up. Will she return to her San Francisco design firm, or stay in the nurturing little community running the Inn? It’s worth watching to find out (although I am sure you can guess!)
HUBIE HALLOWEEN- Ok, I love Adam Sandler “Hooters! Hooters! Hooters!” and Julie Bowen of Modern Family fame so this is an easy one for me. Again, set in Salem so sign me up. Plenty of physical comedy (falling off bikes, etc) and surprise elements (the mom?!) make this a fun little film. I must say, I found his voice so distracting though! I kept hoping Sandler would have pulled a Mike Meyers (SNL actor not Halloween slasher) and gone back to redo the voice-over like Meyers did with Shrek (to absolute perfection, did you know Shrek didn’t originally have a Scottish accent?!) Still- I’ve watched it a few times because it’s cute and funny.