As fall break approaches and the semester comes to a close, students feel the need to relax and unwind during the break. While avoiding the last few assignments of the semester, students can curl into a blanket and enjoy these 5 movies to enjoy their time off from classes.
“Pride & Prejudice” – This 2005 romance/comedy is directed by Joe Wright and is based on the well-loved Jane Austen novel of the same title, which I also recommend for a fall read. The story goes follows a young woman, Elizabeth Bennet played by Keira Knightly, as she begins to be begrudging friends? or enemies? with the upper-class Mr. Darcy played by Matthew Macfadyen. I particularly enjoy the way that Knightly and Macfadyen are able to portray the characters of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy so well, with the intense emotions of hatred, interest and care that they have for each other. “Pride & Prejudice” has the perfect fall atmosphere and unrequited confessions in pouring rain which will make your heart melt by the end of the movie.
“The Spiderwick Chronicles” – A family friendly fantasy film which you can enjoy with family members or by yourself. I recommend the 2008 “The Spiderwick Chronicles” by director Mark Waters. This film is based on the children’s book series, under the same title “The Spiderwick Chronicles” by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. This movie details the strange adventures that three children experience while exploring inside and outside their new home in New England. When exploring the siblings encounter various types of mythical and magical creatures which are detailed in a field guide written by the home’s previous owner. The fall vibe is enjoyed particularly when the children are exploring.
“Knives Out” – For a mysterious movie, I recommend the 2019 “Knives Out” directed by Rian Johnson. The atmosphere of this movie fits perfectly for fall. Set in an old mansion in which a detective, Benoit Blanc played by Daniel Craig, works to find the murderer of an old man. Full of intrigue and family drama, the movie offers great suspense and laughs while the viewer follows Blanc’s questioning of a complicated family that has much on the line with the passing of their rich family member. Fall always calls for a unique and intriguing story that will keep you interested which “Knives Out” fulfills through its twisting plot.
“The Cabin in the Woods” – If films surrounding romance, fantasy or mystery aren’t calling to you for fall and you want to enjoy a lighthearted horror film, I recommend the 2011 horror comedy “The Cabin in the Woods,” directed by Drew Goddard. Personally, I think this movie is great for a break, as it follows a group of friends going to a cabin, you guessed it, in the woods, while on break. In this cabin, they encounter strange objects in the basement. Based on which object they touch it dictates a “type” of supernatural horror assailant the group will have to deal with. The comedy of the movie does a great job to highlight some of the persistent stereotypes present in the horror genre and offers a hilarious spin on an otherwise predictable genre and premise.
“Frankenstein” (2025) – The most recent rendition of the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, yet another spectacular book for the fall season. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it has the perfect spooky and chilling vibe to begin the break with. Personally, I really enjoyed the movie and how the complex character of The Creature (Jacob Elordi) was developed. If you would like a further in-depth review of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” check out Larissa Lopez’s review of the film.
Whether you enjoy comedy, romance, fantasy, mystery, horror, science-fiction or a combination of any of these genres, I hope that you can find time for a movie to “fall” into this upcoming break.
