By Neia Balao
2:55pm PDT, Oct 16, 2021
Where has the time gone? As we transition into a new season, there's no better time to curate our watchlists accordingly. Join Wonderwall.com as we take a look at the best movies set in the fall to stream… starting with this Academy Award winner. Matt Damon, Minnie Driver, Robin Williams and Ben Affleck star in 1997's "Good Will Hunting," which chronicles the experiences of a 20-year-old Boston janitor and mathematics savant (Matt), who, after assaulting a police officer, is required to see a therapist (Robin), who helps him realize his potential. The film took home two Academy Awards in 1998 — best original screenplay for Matt and best friend Ben Affleck, and best supporting actor for Robin. "Good Will Hunting" is available to stream on Hulu. Keep reading for more…
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"When Harry Met Sally" on HBO Max
We had to include this Nora Ephron classic! 1989's "When Harry Met Sally" chronicles the friendship and eventual romance between Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), two recent college graduates who meet while driving from Chicago to New York together. With the age-old question of whether or not men and women can ever truly be "just friends" at the forefront of their quarrels, the film explores Harry and Sally's evolving relationship over 12 years of chance encounters and deliberate outings in the Big Apple (remember that gorgeous autumn stroll through Central Park?). In 1990, Nora earned an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay for this now-classic romantic comedy.
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"Hocus Pocus" on Disney+
Who doesn't watch this flick when fall comes around? Before Kenny Ortega directed the famed "High School Musical" series, one of the films he was most recognized for was 1993's "Hocus Pocus." The comedy set in Salem, Massachusetts, stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as as the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of diabolical witches who are accidentally brought back to life on Halloween. In the wake of their resurrection, teenager Matt Dennison (Omri Katz), with the help of sister Dani (Thora Birch) and their friend Allison (Vinessa Shaw), must find a way to prevent the wicked witches from becoming immortal.
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"You've Got Mail" on HBO Max
Leave it to Nora Ephron to serve up yet another stellar and autumnal romantic comedy! "You've Got Mail" reunites Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as a small bookshop owner and a corporate bigwig at a bookstore chain, respectively, who begin an anonymous romantic relationship online without realizing that they are actually business rivals. Set predominantly in New York City's Upper West Side, the 1998 film earned $250.8 million on a $65 million budget. "You've Got Mail" received praise for Meg and Tom's chemistry as well as Nora's writing.
"Silver Linings Playbook" on Fubo
Excelsior! This is one film that is worth streaming regardless of the season. Based on the 2008 Matthew Quick novel of the same name, "Silver Linings Playbook" tells the love story between former teacher Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), a man with bipolar disorder who recently finished a stint in a mental institution, and Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow with borderline personality disorder. Aware of Pat's fixation on reconciling with his ex-wife, Nikki (Brea Bee), Tiffany offers to deliver a letter to her from Pat on the condition he partners with her for an upcoming dance competition. "Silver Linings Playbook," which debuted in 2012, earned eight Academy Award nominations including best picture, best adapted screenplay and best director — and Jen took home the Oscar for best actress.
"Varsity Blues" on HBO Max
There's something about this coming-of-age movie that keeps us coming back! Set in West Canaan, Texas, 1999's "Varsity Blues" tells the story of Jonathan "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek), a backup quarterback who, while gifted at football, would rather leave Texas to study at Brown University. However, when the team's star quarterback, Lance Harbor (Paul Walker), suffers an injury that renders him unable to play, Mox is forced to step up. From the immense pressures put on him by his football-obsessed father to the strict, ruthless ways of his football coach, Mox has a difficult time acclimating to his new role on the team and in the football-crazed town. "Varsity Blues" earned $54.3 million on a $16 million budget.
"The Craft" on Fubo
When Bonnie (Neve Campbell), Rochelle (Rachel True) and Nancy (Fairuza Balk) — a group of aspiring witches — find out that the new kid at their high school, Sarah (Robin Tunney), possesses telekinetic abilities, they attempt to recruit her for their rituals. However, their dark pasts coupled with their newfound ability to cast spells turns the former wannabes into dangerous, power-hungry witches. The cult classic film, which debuted in 1996, earned $55.6 million against a $15 million budget.
"Autumn in New York" on The Roku Channel
Starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder, "Autumn in New York" tells the story of Will Keane, a noncommittal restaurateur on the cusp of his 50s who unexpectedly meets Charlotte Fielding, a 21-year-old woman who turns his previously held philosophy about dating on its head. While he was once cynical and unwilling to settle down, upon meeting Charlotte, Will begins to envision a life with someone long term… only to realize that time might be the one thing that isn't on their side. Sappy, tragic and steeped in melodrama, the 2000 movie is your typical clichéd romantic drama.
"Election" on Paramount+
We love a good feud! In "Election," Matthew Broderick stars as Jim McAllister, a well-respected teacher who notices one of his students, Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), using unethical means to further her campaign for student body president. His solution? To convince Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), an awkward, unexpected candidate, to run against her — but when Tracy becomes aware of Jim's secret plan to sabotage her, she seeks revenge against the beloved high school teacher. The dark comedy, which debuted in 1999 and is based on Tom Perrotta's 1998 novel of the same name, earned an Oscar nod for best adapted screenplay and a Golden Globe nod for Reese Witherspoon.
"Remember the Titans" on Disney+
We're suckers for an affecting football drama. Based on the real story of Herman Boone, 2000's "Remember the Titans" chronicles the experiences of a newly appointed Black coach of a high school football team during its first season of racial integration. The film, which is set in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, stars Denzel Washington and kicks off at the start of the football season. It was a major box office success that earned $136.7 million on a $30 million budget.
"American Beauty" on Pluto TV
"American Beauty" — which stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, a disillusioned, middle-aged advertising executive who grows sick of his monotonous routine and becomes enamored of Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari), his teen daughter's best friend — was a major box office success. In addition to earning $356.3 million on a $15 million budget, the 1999 dark dramedy won five Academy Awards including best picture, best original screenplay and best actor for Kevin.
"Dead Poets Society" on Hulu
O Captain! My Captain! "Dead Poets Society," which is set in the autumn of 1959, stars Robin Williams as John Keating, a new English teacher at a strict all-boys preparatory school who introduces unorthodox methods of teaching in an effort to inspire the students to live their truths, seize the day and break free from the insurmountable pressures they face on a daily basis. The drama, which hit theaters in 1989, earned an Academy Award for best original screenplay. Robin earned his second Oscar nomination for his work in the project, which made $235.9 million on a $16.4 million budget.
"Stepmom" on Starz
The 1998 movie "Stepmom" follows the unlikely friendship between Jackie (Susan Sarandon), the mother of children Anna (Jena Malone) and Ben (Liam Aiken), and their significantly younger stepmother, successful fashion photographer Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts). Despite Isabel's best efforts, Anna and Ben are less than receptive to her presence, and Jackie is especially off-put by the new woman in her children's lives — but their relationship evolves drastically in the wake of a family crisis. Susan earned a best actress Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the affecting film.
"Sweet November" on iTunes
A meet-cute at the DMV? Count us in. Starring Keanu Reeves as Nelson Moss and Charlize Theron as Sara Deever, "Sweet November" tells the unexpected love story between two strangers who, reluctant to commit to one another right away, agree to date for one month — after which they'll call it quits. Of course, as with any love story, saying goodbye proves more difficult than they expected. The 2001 romantic drama, which is set in San Francisco, earned $65.8 million on a $40 million budget.
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" on Pluto TV
Another autumnal film that serves up major Halloween vibes? 1992's "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Starring Gary Oldman as the titular vampire, the gothic-horror film chronicles his conquest to locate lawyer Jonathan Harker's (Keanu Reeves) bride-to-be, Mina Harker (Winona Ryder), who bears a striking resemblance to his late wife. Fixated on finding Mina and immortalizing her as his own, Dracula embarks on a trip to London. The film earned three Academy Awards (for best sound editing, best makeup and best costume design) and grossed $215 million on a $40 million budget.
"Halloweentown" on Disney+ and Fubo
A place where the things that go bump in the night are functioning, normalized beings? Say it ain't so! 2005's "Halloweentown" follows Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown), a tween who, along with her younger siblings, visits their estranged grandmother (Debbie Reynolds) who resides in Halloweentown — the only place in the world where supernatural entities are able to lead completely normal lives. However, as Marnie's 13th birthday looms near, she comes to realize that her family is far more involved in the battle between good and evil than she could've ever imagined.
"St. Elmo's Fire" on Starz
"The Breakfast Club," but for adults! "St. Elmo's Fire" chronicles the experiences of a group of college graduates (Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Mare Winningham and Rob Lowe) who experience the highs and lows of life post-graduation. The film explores the difficulties of transitioning to adulthood — from secretly pining for someone who's unaware of your feelings to grasping at a corporate job that seems incredibly unattainable given your current circumstances and every misadventure in between. The 1985 coming-of-age flick, which is set in Washington, D.C., and stars members of the Brat Pack, received mixed to negative reviews from critics but was still a box office success that earned $37.8 million on a $10 million budget.
"October Sky" on Peacock
"October Sky" stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer Hickam, an aspiring rocketeer with a disapproving father (Chris Cooper) who'd rather his son follow in his footsteps as a West Virginia coal miner. However, with the help of his supportive teacher, Miss Freida J. Riley (Laura Dern), Homer leans into his newfound passion for rocket science with the hope that it'll lead to a bright, inspired future. The 1999 film, which is set in October 1957, is based on the 1998 memoir "Rocket Boys" by former NASA engineer Homer Hickam Jr.
"Practical Magic" on Peacock
Based on the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, 1998's "Practical Magic" is about disparate sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), who hail from a family of witches, as they go through the motions of life, curses and romance. While the film was a box office flop that earned just $68.3 million on a $75 million budget, it has since come to be regarded as a cult classic.
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on Apple TV+
Rounding off our list is this absolute classic! Debuting on CBS in 1973, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" chronicles Charlie's efforts to throw a Thanksgiving dinner party for the gang after Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over for the occasion. The 10th primetime animated TV special based on the "Peanuts" comic strip earned an Emmy for outstanding individual achievement in children's programming.
