There’s something about the first crisp day of fall that makes me want to pull the blanket a little tighter, brew something warm, and press play on a movie I’ve already seen a hundred times. As the leaves start to turn and the sweaters come out of storage, comfort viewing just hits differently, and the most comforting watches of all are the ones that practically raised us. The nostalgic movies and shows we grew up on are like a warm hug in TV form, and there’s no better season to revisit them than fall.
Whether you’re craving a witchy classic, a small-town romance, or a coming-of-age story with all the autumnal feels, this list has your cozy nights in covered. From beloved rewatches set against golden-hour foliage to spooky-season staples worth breaking out every October, here are 12 cozy, nostalgic movies and TV shows to add to your fall watchlist. Grab your comfiest blanket, light a candle, and settle in (or make it one of your fall date nights).
Nostalgic movies to rewatch:
1. Practical Magic
If there’s one movie that captures the moody, witchy magic of fall, it’s this 1998 cult classic. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star as the Owens sisters, two witches navigating love, family, and a centuries-old curse in a dreamy seaside town. It’s equal parts cozy, romantic, and just a little spooky, the perfect midnight-margaritas-and-blankets kind of watch. And with Practical Magic 2 finally in theaters this year, there’s never been a better time to revisit the original (or lean all the way in with some Practical Magic-inspired fall activities).
2. When Harry Met Sally
Cozy fall movies and Nora Ephron go together like pumpkin spice and, well, everything, and When Harry Met Sally might be the coziest of them all. This 1989 rom-com follows Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) over the years as they debate whether men and women can ever really be just friends. Between the chunky knits, the crunchy leaves in Central Park, and the swoony autumn-in-New-York of it all, it’s the ultimate comfort rewatch for hopeless romantics.
3. You’ve Got Mail
Another Nora Ephron gem, and arguably the most bookish, autumnal rom-com of all time. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks play rival bookshop owners who unknowingly fall in love as anonymous email pen pals, all set against a golden New York City fall. With its cardigans, coffee shops, and that famous “bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils” line, it’s basically a love letter to the season itself.
4. Hocus Pocus
No fall watchlist is complete without a little spooky-season fun, and Hocus Pocus is the campy Halloween classic that never gets old. When the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) are accidentally resurrected in Salem, chaos and cackling ensue. It’s playful, quotable, and just the right amount of spooky, an October staple for millennials and Gen Z alike.
5. Little Women
Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel is autumn in film form. It’s all cozy New England interiors, crackling fireplaces, and sisterhood that will make you want to call yours immediately. Following the March sisters through love, loss, and growing up, this ensemble (Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Timothée Chalamet) will absolutely wreck you in the best way. Save it for a rainy afternoon with a big mug of tea.
6. Dead Poets Society
For the dark-academia lovers, this 1989 classic is the ultimate back-to-school fall watch. Robin Williams stars as an unconventional English teacher at a stuffy New England prep school who inspires his students to seize the day (carpe diem, anyone?). With its crisp autumnal campus, cable-knit sweaters, and poetry-soaked coming-of-age heart, it’s moving, nostalgic, and made for a contemplative fall night.
7. Sweet Home Alabama
There’s just something about a small-town homecoming that hits different once the leaves start turning. In this 2002 rom-com, Reese Witherspoon plays a New York fashion designer who has to head back to her tiny Alabama hometown to finalize a long-overdue divorce, only to find herself falling for the life (and the person) she left behind. It’s warm, funny, and full of the kind of cozy, comforting energy that makes it a perfect low-key fall night in.
8. Fantastic Mr. Fox
If a movie could bottle the exact color palette of fall, it would be this one. Wes Anderson’s stop-motion adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic follows a sly fox (voiced by George Clooney) who can’t resist one last big chicken heist, much to the dismay of three very angry farmers. With its golden autumnal hues, corduroy suits, and cozy woodland charm, it’s a whimsical, all-ages watch that feels like fall itself.
9. Harry Potter
Nothing says cozy fall quite like a return to Hogwarts. The Harry Potter series is basically the ultimate autumnal comfort binge, all candlelit dining halls, crisp castle grounds, chunky knit scarves, and the magic of a new school year. Whether you start with The Sorcerer’s Stone or skip to your favorite, curling up with the Wizarding World on a chilly night is a fall tradition for a reason.
Nostalgic TV shows to rewatch:
1. Gilmore Girls
Every year, when the crisp air rolls in, so does the urge to revisit my favorite mother-daughter duo. Set in the impossibly charming small town of Stars Hollow, the show follows Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) as they bask under coffee shop windows in between fast-talking banter, romance plots, and chaotic family drama. Basically the patron saint of cozy fall TV, it mixes comfort and drama like nothing else. (Quick heads-up: Gilmore Girls left Netflix earlier this year and now lives on Prime Video and Hulu.)
2. Pretty Little Liars
One of my favorite cultural moments as a teen was decoding who we thought “A” was during lunch period. The hot gossip after each episode aired made it feel like the whole world was in on the plot, and obsessing over every clue and shocking reveal was basically a full-time job. Packed with twists, secrets, and steamy romances. Pretty Little Liars has just the right amount of small-town spookiness to make it a perfect fall binge, especially as Halloween creeps closer.
3. Charmed
Nothing says spooky season like a good witchy rewatch, and this late ’90s classic delivers. Following three witch sisters (Prue, Piper, and Phoebe) who band together to protect innocents from evil, Charmed had a spellbinding eight-season run packed with iconic fashion moments and an intro theme that still plays in my head like a spell on loop. If you never had the chance to watch it as a teenager, cozy season is the perfect time to finally binge it.
4. Gossip Girl
XOXO, your new fall binge is here. The original Gossip Girl follows Manhattan’s most privileged prep-school teens as they scheme, date, and betray one another, all narrated by a mysterious blogger who knows everyone’s secrets. Between the Upper East Side prep-school aesthetic, the tights-and-headbands fashion, and the crisp autumn backdrops, it’s the ultimate nostalgic drama to cozy up with when you want a little glamour and a lot of chaos.
5. Dawson’s Creek
For a truly nostalgic small-town rewatch, you can’t beat Dawson’s Creek. Set in the quiet coastal town of Capeside, Massachusetts, this beloved teen drama follows Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen as they navigate first loves, friendship, and growing up (all set to that iconic “I Don’t Want to Wait” theme song). It’s angsty, heartfelt, and full of cozy East Coast autumn vibes, perfect for a weekend spent under a blanket.
6. Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Okay, if Charmed is the moody witchy rewatch, consider Sabrina the Teenage Witch its sweet, goofy little sister. Melissa Joan Hart plays Sabrina Spellman, who finds out on her 16th birthday that (surprise!) she’s a witch, and then has to juggle all the usual teen stuff, high school, crushes, the works, with a whole lot of magical chaos, two delightfully meddlesome aunts, and Salem, the sassiest talking cat to ever grace our screens. It’s silly, it’s charming, and it’s witchy in the coziest, least scary way possible—basically the ultimate feel-good binge for a gray fall afternoon when you just want to zone out under a blanket. Just make sure you’re queuing up the original ’90s series and not the much darker Chilling Adventures reboot.
7. The Vampire Diaries
For the girlies who like their fall binges with a side of supernatural swoon, The Vampire Diaries is a nostalgic must. Set in the moody little town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows Elena Gilbert as she falls for Stefan, a brooding 100-something-year-old vampire, and gets pulled into a world of witches, werewolves, and his very bad-boy brother, Damon. It’s angsty, dramatic, and full of small-town autumn atmosphere, basically comfort TV for anyone who came of age in the 2010s.
8. Ghost Whisperer
For a nostalgic pick that leans cozy and just a little spooky, Ghost Whisperer is a perfect fall throwback. Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Melinda Gordon, a small-town antique-store owner who can see and communicate with earthbound spirits, helping them resolve their unfinished business and cross over. Set in the charming town of Grandview, it blends warm, small-town comfort with gentle supernatural mystery, ideal for anyone who wants their spooky season on the softer, more heartfelt side.
9. Once Upon a Time
For a little fairy-tale magic with your fall binge, Once Upon a Time is a nostalgic gem. The quaint New England town of Storybrooke, Maine, looks ordinary from the outside, but it’s secretly full of cursed fairy-tale characters who have no memory of who they really are. With its cozy small-town setting, twisty storytelling, and clever spins on the stories we grew up on, it’s an easy, whimsical watch to get lost in when the nights turn cool.
Andrea Navarro, Assistant Editor
Andrea is a writer and editor with 10+ years of experience in women’s lifestyle and commerce content. She is based in Los Angeles, California, and her work appears in Vogue, Glamour, The Zoe Report, and many more.
