AUTUMN FILM LIST
Read on for our favourite selection of films to curl up on the sofa to this Autumn.
ADULT
Autumn in New York is a 2000 American romantic drama film directed by Joan Chen and starring Richard Gere, Winona Ryder, and Anthony LaPaglia. Written by Allison Burnett, the film follows a successful middle-aged restaurateur and womaniser who falls in love with a young woman who is terminally ill.
Beetlejuice is a 1988 fantasy comedy film directed by Tim Burton. The plot revolves around a recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who become ghosts haunting their former home, and an obnoxious, devious poltergeist named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) from the Netherworld who tries to scare away the new inhabitants.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula A 1992 American gothic horror film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. It stars Gary Oldman as Count Dracula, Winona Ryder as Mina Harker, Anthony Hopkins as Professor Abraham Van Helsing, and Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker.
Dan in Real Life A comedy drama starring Steve Carrell as Dan and Juliette Binoche as Marie. Dan is a widower and a single father, dedicated to his children. One day, he meets Marie and is smitten with her but as they get to know each other, he is shocked by a certain revelation.
Edward Scissorhands A 1990 fantasy romance film directed by Tim Burton. Johnny Depp plays an artificial humanoid named Edward, an unfinished creation who has scissor blades instead of hands. The young man is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter Kim (Winona Ryder).
Good Will Hunting This 1997 drama film stars Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, and Stellan Skarsgård. Written by Affleck and Damon, the film follows 20-year-old tearaway Will, who works as a janitor at a university. He writes the solution to a maths problem on a classroom blackboard, so impressing the professor that when Will is arrested for brawling, the professor arranges to have his sentence suspended if Will agrees to study with him and seek therapy.
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American biographical sports film based on the true story of an African-American coach (Denzel Washington), and his attempt to integrate the T. C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971.
Sleepy Hollow A 1999 gothic supernatural horror film directed by Tim Burton, loosely based on Washington Irving's 1820 short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The film stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, with Miranda Richardson and Michael Gambon in supporting roles. The plot follows police constable Ichabod Crane (Depp) sent from New York City to investigate a series of murders in the village of Sleepy Hollow by a mysterious Headless Horseman.
family / CHILD friendly
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving A 1973, 30 minute animation based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.
Addams Family Film Series The Addams Family was released in 1991, The Addams Family Values in 1993 and the Addams Family Reunion in 1998. The supernatural, black comedy films are based on the characters from the cartoon created by cartoonist Charles Addams and the 1964 TV series. The films star Angelica Houston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci. More recently, The Addams Family film animation was released in 2019.
Brave is a 2012 computer-animated fantasy film. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film tells the story of a princess named Merida who defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in the kingdom by expressing the desire not to be betrothed. When her mother falls victim to a beastly curse turning into a bear, Merida must look within herself and find the key to saving the kingdom. Merida is the first Disney Princess created by Pixar and the film itself is dedicated to Steve Jobs, who died before the film's release.
Casper A doctor (Bill Pullman) who specialises in ghosts is hired by an heiress to rid a mansion of spirits, but his daughter (Christina Ricci) befriends a friendly ghost that lives there.
Fantastic Mr Fox Based on Roald Dahl’s 197o novel, this is a 2009 stop motion animated comedy film. The film is about a fox who steals food at night from three mean and wealthy farmers who become fed up with Mr. Fox's theft. The farmers try to kill Mr. Fox by digging their way into his home however, the animals are able to outwit the farmers and live underground.
Halloweentown A 1998 Disney channel film and the first instalment in a series. Marnie and her younger siblings travel with their estranged grandmother, a good witch, to Halloweentown; a place where creepy creatures lead very normal lives. On her 13th birthday, Marnie gets a supernatural surprise when she discovers that she, too, is a witch.
Harry Potter Film Series Based on the eponymous novels by author J. K. Rowling, consisting of eight fantasy films: Harry Potter and the: Philosopher’s Stone (2001), Chamber of Secrets (2002), Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Goblet of Fire (2005), Order of the Phoenix (2007), Half-Blood Prince (2009), Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010) and Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011).
Hocus Pocus Three hundred years after they were sentenced to die in Salem, a trio of witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) return to gain their revenge. Terrorising the town’s trick-or-treaters on Halloween, the only thing that can stop them is a black cat; a boy who was turned into feline form on the day of the witches’ original execution.
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Join the Peanuts gang for a timeless adventure as Charlie Brown preps for a party, Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron, and Linus awaits a pumpkin patch miracle.
James and the Giant Peach A 1996 film based on the novel by Roald Dahl. When James spills some magic crocodile tongues, a giant peach grows as huge as a house. Climbing inside, he embarks on a thrilling and magical odyssey.
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington is a man from Halloween who becomes converted to Christmas and sets out to spread joy in the world. However, when Jack’s new mission leads him to kidnap Santa, it becomes clear that he is not really in tune with the Yuletide spirit.
The Witches Another classic from Roald Dahl in which a boy and his grandmother go on vacation, only to find their hotel is hosting an international witch convention. (And don't forget to check out the updated remake, coming out today just in time for Halloween, starring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Rock.)