Autumn is an ever-changing season offering a little something to every person. Whether you love sweaters and cider or costumes and Halloween, fall has the perfect mix of chill and fun. If you’re in between books and looking for another indoor activity, why not try a movie marathon inspired by your favorite novels? Read on for Bookstr’s fabulous selection of bookish films with autumnal aesthetics.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Genre: Comedic Drama, Crime
Rated PG: Action, Smoking, and Slang Humor
Inspired by the novel by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox follows the titular Mr. Fox, a master thief who loves the art of a chicken well-stolen. Upon finding out his wife, Felicity, is pregnant, Mr. Fox promises to give up his reckless career for something safer and more family-oriented. But after 12 and a half fox years of mundanity, Mr. Fox still feels the itch of his natural instincts. Intent on pulling off one last big job, he sets his sights on plundering the stores of renowned farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, unknowingly putting his family and the entire animal population at risk from their wrath.
Sleepy Hollow
Genre: Horror/Mystery, Fantasy
Rated R: Graphic Horror Violence, Gore, and a Scene of Sexuality
Expanding upon the spine-tingling short story by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow tells the tale of this mysterious New England town. A string of murders has taken place in Sleepy Hollow, and all the victims’ heads are missing. The town blames the legendary figure of the Headless Horseman, but the practical constable, Ichabod Crane, is determined to find a scientific answer for the deaths. Crane’s arrival only exacerbates the carnage, and soon, he must contend with the fact that witchcraft may be real, after all.
Persuasion (1995)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Rated PG: Brief Mild Language
Jane Austen’s sweeping romantic tale, Persuasion, is a classic second-chance-at-love story. Shy and reserved Anne Elliot was persuaded to break off her engagement to the dashing Frederick Wentworth when she was 19, due to his lack of social standing. Now, eight years later, Wentworth is a celebrated captain in the navy, and Anne is haunted by the life she could have lived with him. When her financially irresponsible father, Sir Walter, is forced to rent out their family estate to relatives of Captain Wentworth, the former lovers are unexpectedly thrown together. Eight years may have changed some things, but their love for one another might not be one of them.
A Haunting in Venice
Genre: Horror/Mystery, Crime
Rated PG-13: Some Strong Violence, Disturbing Images, and Thematic Elements
Based on Agatha Christie’s novel, Hallowe’en Party, A Haunting in Venice features her famous fictional detective, Hercule Poirot. The retired Poirot is reluctant to leave his secluded apartment, but his author friend convinces him to attend a seance at the dilapidated mansion of an actress whose daughter died years before. Also invited to the event are multiple people who may have had a hand in the young woman’s mysterious death. When someone is murdered and the extreme weather traps the guests in the ghostly house, Poirot must solve the case before morning to prevent another tragedy.
Silver Linings Playbook
Genre: Comedic Drama, Romance
Rated R: Language, Some Sexual Content/Nudity, and Some Violence
Adapted from Matthew Quick’s novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, this movie follows Pat Solatano. After a violent outburst leaves Pat with a bipolar diagnosis, a divorce, a lost job, and an eight-month stay in a mental health facility, he moves back in with his parents. Convinced he can reunite with his wife, Pat is reluctant to follow his treatment plan, the advice of his new therapist, or his father’s pleas to spend more time with the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, Pat meets the lively Tiffany Maxwell, who agrees to help him, but only if he will help her in return.
Twilight
Genre: Romantic Drama, Fantasy
Rated PG-13: Some Violence and a Scene of Sensuality
Based on Stephanie Meyer’s divisive YA romance, Twilight is the story of Bella Swan, a high school student sent to live with her father in Forks, WA. Bella is immediately intrigued by Edward Cullen, a mysterious and handsome classmate with unexplainable powers. As it turns out, Edward is a vampire, but bringing a mortal woman into his undead world could prove irreversibly dangerous to both of them.
V for Vendetta
Genre: Action/Thriller, Science Fiction
Rated R: Strong Violence and Some Language
Full of striking visuals lifted directly from David Lloyd’s illustrations in Alan Moore’s celebrated graphic novel, V for Vendetta finds London trapped in a dystopian fascist regime. Disrupting the oppressors is a mysterious vigilante named V, who dons a Guy Fawkes mask and uses terrorism and violence in his quest to overthrow the government. When he saves a woman named Evey from the secret police, the two find an ally and friend they never knew they needed.
My Salinger Year
Genre: Drama
Rated R: Language and Some Sexual References
Based on Joanna Rakoff’s memoir, My Salinger Year sees new college graduate Joanna landing a job at a literary agency that represents the esteemed and reclusive author, J. D. Salinger. An aspiring writer herself, Joanna is bothered to find that the only task she has been given is to process Salinger’s fan mail and send a prewritten response to all the letters. But as she begins to read each message, she finds herself driven to write a proper reply under Salinger’s name. In the process of implementing another writer’s voice, Joanna ultimately finds her own, which she’d been looking for all along.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Genre: Romantic Horror, Fantasy
Rated R: Sexuality and Horror Violence
Inspired by the classic gothic horror, Bram Stoker’s Dracula follows the centuries-old Count Dracula, a vampire living his sinful eternity in his Transylvanian castle. When a young man named Jonathan Harker is sent to settle a land deal with him, Dracula sees a photo of Harker’s beautiful fiancée, Mina, who bears a striking resemblance to Dracula’s long-dead wife. After imprisoning Harker, Dracula takes off for London, obsessed with making Mina his bride.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Genre: Drama, Coming-of-Age
Rated PG-13: Mature Thematic Material, Drug and Alcohol Use, Sexual Content, and Some Violence
Based on Stephen Chbosky’s novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the story of shy high school freshman, Charlie. When he meets two extroverted senior students, Sam and Patrick, Charlie is soon swept up into their circle and surrounded by more friends than he has ever had. Between his new acquaintances and his inspirational English teacher, Mr. Anderson, Charlie’s life begins to take shape, and he slowly starts to break free from his shell. But as the end of the school year approaches, Charlie’s fear of loneliness reawakens an old childhood trauma he never learned to face.
The Woman in Black
Genre: Horror/Thriller, Drama
Rated PG-13: Thematic Material and Violence/Disturbing Images
Adapted from Susan Hill’s chilling novel, The Woman in Black tells the tale of grieving widower Arthur Kipps, a lawyer who is sent to settle an estate in a mysterious marshy town. The community warns him to avoid the house, which is purported to be haunted by the ghost of a wrathful woman who targets and kills children. As Arthur’s stay becomes increasingly harrowing, he works to unravel the mystery behind the ghost and finally put her spirit at rest.
The Great Mouse Detective
Genre: Adventure, Mystery
Rated G
Inspired by Eve Titus’ children’s series, The Great Mouse Detective follows Basil of Baker Street, a mouse who lives beneath the famed Sherlock Holmes’ apartment. When a renowned rodent toymaker goes missing, his daughter enlists Basil to solve the case. As Basil works to unravel the crime, he finds himself face-to-face with his old nemesis, Professor Rattigan, who plots to usurp the queen herself.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Genre: Comedic Drama, Coming-of-Age
Rated PG-13: Thematic Material Involving Sexual Education and Some Suggestive Material
Based on Judy Blume’s iconic novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is the story of 11-year-old Margaret Simon, whose family just moved from New York to New Jersey. As if adolescence weren’t confusing enough, Margaret also finds herself in a crisis of faith. Though her maternal grandmother is Christian and her father is Jewish, Margaret was raised without a religion, but she feels drawn to discover what God could mean to her. Supported by her mother and paternal grandma, Margaret embarks on a journey to discover who she really is.
Wuthering Heights (2011)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Not Rated: Contains Frightening Images, Violence, Language, and Some Sexual Content
Emily Brontë’s enthralling gothic romance, Wuthering Heights, is the story of the Earnshaws. When Mr. Earnshaw takes in the poor Heathcliff as his ward, his daughter, Cathy, develops a close relationship with the boy over the course of their childhood and adolescence. Heathcliff’s obsessive love for Cathy is thrown into turmoil when she marries the kind, if passionless, Mr. Linton. The twisted relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy haunts the legacy of both the Earnshaws and the Lintons as the moors linger over the somber landscape.
October Sky
Genre: Drama
Rated PG: Language, Brief Teen Sensuality, Alcohol Use, and Thematic Elements
Based on Homer Hickam’s inspiring novel, October Sky tells the story of Homer, a teenage boy stuck in a stifling mining town. Homer thinks his future has already been chosen for him, but when Sputnik is launched in October 1957, he sets his sights on the stars. Inspired by their teacher, Homer and his friends learn how to build rockets and aim to win college scholarships at the national science fair.
Whether you’re a horror junkie or in the mood for a dramatic romance, this movie list has the perfect thing for you! Curl up with your favorite fall treat and watch these amazing books come to life.
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