It’s that time of year again when there’s a chill in the air, and you can’t wait to wear your coziest sweater, go apple picking, and drink some cider.

For students traveling through the busy corridors of high school, this season is the perfect opportunity to relax while watching their favorite movies and TV shows. Whether you choose to spend autumn indoors or outdoors, there’s nothing better than staying inside and watching TV, especially if it fits the season.

Gilmore Girls

 The first show that many have voted for is “Gilmore Girls,” which is a series filled with clever dialogue and touching moments perfect for fall viewing. 

In an interview with 9th grader Syniah Washington, she  said, “It gives off fall and the town that they live in looks very aesthetic.”  

The town in which the events unfold is filled with beautiful fall scenery, and the main characters, Lorelai and Rory, are able to leave the viewers with a smile.  

The plot of the series revolves around the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter about their friendship and the obstacles. One of the reasons viewers enjoyed Gilmore Girls is because they tend to see a part of themselves in the scenes, plots, and or characters such as Rory. Rory is one of the main characters. She goes to high school and afterward goes to college and faces the problems of maturing while growing up. 

“I see her in myself,” Syniah adds. This particularly shows that the show touches on the themes of finding your way in life. 

Pretty Little Liars 

When you think of fall, you’re bound to think of “Gilmore Girls”. After all, it is an essential show during the fall and winter months. But an underrated pick is “Pretty Little Liars,”  another perfect fall show. It’s got the murder mystery plot we all know and love, mixed in with teenage girl drama. Set in the fictional town of Rosewood, the show follows 4 friends; Emily, Aria, Spencer, and Hanna, dealing with the disappearance and death of their best friend Alison. The four girls start to receive texts containing information only Alison would know, each text signed “A” While the liars and the other residents of Rosewood might draw you in, be careful not to get too attached; they might not be here for long. 

Scream

Picture this: Your mother was tragically killed a year ago, and now a series of murders are starting again, targeting you and your town. If this sounds interesting, you should watch the 1996 film” Scream”. Scream is a slasher film franchise known for the iconic Ghostface mask. The best thing about Scream is that you never know who the killer is, or if it’s only one person. You’re left on the edge of your seat in anticipation. 

Ready Or Not

“Ready or Not” is a recent horror-comedy film. Newlywed Grace has to fight for her life after marrying into a strange family. She thinks she’s just married into a gaming empire, but she doesn’t know that empire was built on a sacrificial deal with the devil. Every time someone in the family gets married, their spouse has to draw a game card, and drawing hide in seek means running for your life. Will Grace survive her in-laws, or will she be sacrificed? 

Jennifer’s Body/Lisa Frankenstein

“Jennifer’s Body” has become a feminist cult classic. Megan Fox plays Jennifer Check, a demonically possessed teenage girl who survives off the flesh of her male classmates. Amanda Seyfried plays Jennifer’s best friend, Anita/Needy. Needy begins to worry about Jennifer and tries to end her killing spree. The film is beloved for its campy aspects, and dressing up as Jennifer is a popular Halloween costume.

Writer Diablo Cody is well known for this film, but it’s not the only comedy-horror flick she’s written. “Lisa Frankenstein” came out this year, set in the same universe as Jennifer’s Body. Actress Kathryn Newton plays Lisa, a misunderstood teenage girl coping with the loss of her mother and the struggles of high school. She meets and becomes close with a Victorian-era corpse brought back to life. The film is quirky but enjoyable, despite not being as popular as Jennifer’s Body.

The Addams Family

The Addams Family franchise is undoubtedly iconic. Charles Addams first drew the characters around the 1930s, and they made their way onto films, TV, and books throughout the 20th century. 

The 1991 adaptation revived the franchise and became the version most associated with the characters.

Parents Gomez and Morticia are considered an iconic couple despite their odd nature of love, Wednesday is loved for her negativity and can often be found on Halloween, and Pugsley is the picture of a humorous younger brother. 

Uncle Fester is strange but often comical, and Thing, a disembodied hand, is often considered the sidekick of the Addams family. The family has been seen in 8 live-action shows and movies, 5 animated ones, and a video game, so there’s no shortage of these iconic characters. 

Halloween

In an article about fall and Halloween movies, you have to mention the “Halloween” franchise. The movies primarily focus on killer Michael Myers who escapes a sanitarium after killing his sister Judith, and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois to terrorize its inhabitants. All his attacks occur on Halloween, hence the name of the franchise. His sister Laurie, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, is the character who often attempts to stop Myers. The franchise spans over 40 years, with the first film released in 1978 and the final in 2022. There are 13 different films, but the original is often considered the best. If you’re looking for something long to keep you occupied, this franchise is ideal for you. 

JUNО

Another movie that has been mentioned by many is “Juno”. This movie is about a teenage girl who gets pregnant and decides to give her baby to another family after she gives birth. 9th grader Alex Zvekova says, “You can kind of see maturity over time.” The movie talks about responsibility and being considerate of decisions that can change your life. 

 Juno gives the audience hope even when situations seem difficult. “I like how she grows in the process,” says Alex. With the fall atmosphere, bright colors, and cozy scenes this movie is a great choice for fall. 

CORALINE

The movie “Coraline” is also very popular among NYC school students. This animated movie is about a girl who finds an alternate world through a mysterious door. Despite the appealing appearance this alternate reality is not as perfect as it may seem.

Coraline is not only a fascinating animation but it is also full of deep meanings about the importance of appreciating what you have. 

“This movie makes you think about how a perfect life can be a deception,” said iSchool 9th grader Leo during an interview. The plot focuses on the exploration of identity and courage, making it suitable for fall viewing.

BEETLEJUICE 

“Beetlejuice” is a classic that combines horror and comedy. The movie tells the story of a couple who start to haunt their house after their death, and about the girl who can see ghosts. “Because the main characters are Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, the movie would appeal to audiences of all ages,” says iSchool student Zack. 

The Blair Witch Project

For horror fans, one of the recommended movies is “The Blair Witch Project.”  

This horror movie is about three students who went into the woods to make a documentary about a witch legend. The movie is based on the real emotions and horrors they experienced at the time. Alex said, “It actually gets lost in the movies like it was a real part of the movies and it showed really true emotions.”

Despite its low budget, “The Blair Witch Project” has become a big deal for the movie industry influencing many movies.

“It’s a horror classic that won’t be suitable for the whole family, but if you’re looking for something really scary, it’s a great choice,” adds Alex.

Hocus Pocus

“Hocus Pocus” is a comedy about three witches who come back into this world. When a group of teenagers accidentally saw them, the witches began searching for a way to get their powers again and go back to their world The film combines humor and fantasy to create a fun Halloween movie. The characters Winifred and Mary are memorable to the audience because of their uniqueness. The music they sing and dialogue make it perfect for a family audience. For many people, the movie became a tradition to watch it every year in the fall. 

Annabelle’s Curse

“Annabelle’s Curse” is a horror movie about a doll that was taken by a demon. A young couple who are expecting a baby got the doll as a gift. After the doll enters their home, they are faced with horrific things that threaten their family. Each scene keeps the audience in suspense, making them think about the consequences of everything. This movie will be a great choice for horror fans on Halloween.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a movie by Tim Burton that combines Halloween and Christmas. The main character is Jack Skellington. He is a king of Halloween and not happy with his life and decides to bring the spirit of Christmas into his world. His attempts to change the traditions lead to many funny and scary situations.  

Student Carter Wells-Wanlass says “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is his favorite Halloween movie because of the story and the animation. Director Tim Burton is famous for his creativity which is evident in this movie. Carter would recommend it to people of all ages! 

Ashe Wrocklage, a sophomore, also enjoys the Tim Burton film. They really like “the puppetry and animation and the nostalgic feeling” the movie has. 

Corpse Bride

Tim Burton is well known for his stop-motion animation movies, which are usually somewhat dark and perfect for the Halloween season. “Corpse Bride” is a perfect example of this. It tells the story of Victor, a young man preparing for his arranged marriage when he accidentally marries a corpse. The film has themes of mourning and portrays love as both a beautiful thing and a tragedy. Like all of Burton’s films, it’s visually pleasing and beloved. 

US

A  lot of students at the iSchool recommended many horror movies and Halloween movies that you will definitely enjoy. One of the most -recommended movies was “Us” by Jordan Peele. This movie is a horror film that was released in 2019. It’s about a family ( wife, husband, and two kids) that went to their beach house for a summer getaway and faced many scary things. They saw things such as doppelgangers–evil versions of themselves. There were many fights against them and their shadows, and this film was a mix of horror and fear. “Us” is the perfect movie for people who like scary movies, and are trying to find a good movie to watch in the fall season. So make sure you get your couch, your TV, and your popcorn ready and prepare yourself for some jumpscares in iSchools top favorite scary movie.

If none of these movies interest you, here’s some more! Beetlejuice and Halloweentown are sure to get you in the spirit. If you’re looking for something more violent or scary, there’s a lot of iconic franchises like, “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Final Destination,” “Evil Dead,” “Saw,” and “The Conjuring.” There’s also comedy-horror films like “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” “ “Beetlejuice,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Zombieland,” “Totally Killer,” and” The Babysitter.” 

There are also plenty of Halloween picks for younger audiences, like, “Hotel Transylvania,” “ Casper,” “Twitches,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Girl vs.Monster,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Invisible Sister,” “Corpse Bride,” “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” and  “Scooby Doo” are the perfect picks for anyone too young for gore.