Not Only Melodramas: 8 Very Different Movies With the Perfect Autumn Mood, Ranked by IMDb

Autumn is more than just a season, it's a whole palette of emotions: nostalgia, comfort, a hint of melancholy, and anticipation of the mysterious.

However, the fall atmosphere isn't created only by sentimental melodramas – it can be found in unexpected genres, such as gripping thrillers, poignant dramas, and gothic detective stories.

8. 'Autumn in New York', 2000

IMDb Score: 5.6/10

Will Keane, a 48-year-old businessman, meets Charlotte, who is just 22 years old and the daughter of one of his ex-girlfriends.

What starts as a fleeting romance turns into a more serious affair. However, this relationship has no future because Charlotte is terminally ill.

Joan Chen's film could have been a traditional melodrama, but the plot takes a darker turn. Nevertheless, it's impossible not to fall in love with the charm of autumn parks where the characters savor their time together.

7. 'The Village', 2004

IMDb Score: 6.6/10

Somewhere in the forest, a small 19th-century community lives. The residents are afraid to venture into the thicket because they believe monsters live there.

At night, sentries guard the perimeter against intruders. However, a young man named Lucius Hunt decides to venture through the forest to find medicine for his loved ones.

The approaching cold weather emphasizes the defenselessness of the residents, and Joaquin Phoenix character's yellow cloak has become one of the film's most recognizable symbols.

6. 'You've Got Mail', 1998

IMDb Score: 6.7/10

Kathleen Kelly is the owner of a small bookstore who anonymously corresponds with a charming man online. Meanwhile, a large competitor store opens next door.

The manager of the new store, Joe Fox, is very abrupt. Later, Kathleen realizes that he is her online lover.

You've Got Mail is based on Miklós László's play Parfumerie, and even more so on its first film adaptation, The Shop Around the Corner. While the classic film had a Christmas atmosphere, the remake takes place during a warm fall in New York City.

5. 'Stepmom', 1998

IMDb Score: 6.8/10

Luke Harrison left his wife, Jackie, for the young, beautiful Isabel. She is trying to mend fences with his children from his first marriage, who visit on weekends, and is gradually making progress.

Jackie grows increasingly jealous, but everything changes when she learns of her own grim prospects.

Chris Columbus' entire movie is imbued with a cozy fall vibe. It's a blend of melodrama and comedy with humorous scenes juxtaposed with heartbreaking tragedy.

4. 'Sleepy Hollow', 1999

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

Mysterious murders are occurring in Sleepy Hollow. Young Constable Ichabod Crane arrives to investigate.

Upon arrival, he discovers that the victims have been beheaded. The villagers believe that they are being attacked by a demonic Headless Horseman. To find the real villain, Crane must unravel an ancient mystery.

Director Tim Burton based his movie on Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, transforming it into a dark, mystical tale.

3. 'Days of Heaven', 1978

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

In 1916, Bill accidentally kills a factory foreman. He then flees with his girlfriend, Abby, and his sister, Linda. In Texas, they find work harvesting crops for a wealthy farmer.

Bill accidentally learns that the farmer has a fatal illness and convinces Abby, whom he introduces as his sister, to marry him so that he can become the farmer's heir. However, she soon develops genuine feelings for her husband.

Terrence Malick's films such as The Tree of Life and A Hidden Life are distinguished by their stunningly beautiful shots of nature, but it is in Days of Heaven that Malick captures the atmosphere of early fall most beautifully.

2. 'Knives Out', 2019

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

Renowned writer Harlan Thrombey celebrates his 85th birthday, reuniting his entire extended family. The next morning, he is found dead.

It turns out that someone has hired renowned detective Benoit Blanc to investigate. Blanc takes an unconventional approach to finding the culprit, but he's determined to get to the truth.

The movie is set in a private house in an autumn park – yellow leaves fall all around as the characters wander through the area in a light fog, searching for clues or planning to hide them.

1. 'The Sixth Sense', 1999

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe experiences a dark event in his life when a former patient, now a dangerous criminal, breaks into his home. Some time passes, and Dr. Crowe encounters an unusual boy, Cole.

Cole claims he can see the ghosts. At first, Crowe believes the child is hallucinating, but he eventually realizes that the boy can truly communicate with the other world.

M. Night Shyamalan's film is considered one of the best supernatural thrillers, with one of the most unexpected endings, but it is also a strikingly beautiful work with a truly autumn vibe.