Film enjoyers like myself take full advantage of the extra time indoors granted by fall’s cooler climate to consume copious amounts of cinema. Whether you consider yourself a seasoned cinephile or a casual movie-watcher, the autumnal spirit presents a brilliant opportunity to watch on-brand films. Here are my rankings of the top five films to create a cozy autumn vibe.

Honorable Mention: “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966, directed by Bill Melendez)
This would top the list if not for its 25-minute-runtime and release as a television special. Watching Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang discover the legend of the Great Pumpkin defined my childhood and created the lens through which I view Halloween in its entirety to this day: a whimsical perspective underscored by the semi-mythical aspects of the holiday.

5. “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989, directed by Rob Reiner)
This classic rom-com serves as the model for a fall movie set in bustling New York City. Timeless sweater looks (à la Billy Crystal in the rug scene), the breezy aesthetic of America’s most populous city enveloped in color-changing leaves, a hearty dose of Carrie Fisher as a side character and a final reconciliation scene — what’s there not to like? I fell in love with its depiction of the Big Apple, which added a spritz of magic to the busy lives of the two main characters, weaving a love story for the ages.

4. “Good Will Hunting” (1997, directed by Gus Van Sant)
Speaking of fall on the East Coast and classic feel-good endings, Good Will Hunting paints a vivid portrait of New England, pulling audiences into the life of the titular character, Will, as he struggles to overcome personal demons and reach his true genius potential. Even further, the colorful, picturesque scenery surrounding Boston and Harvard (or “Hahvahd,” if you’re being true to the source material), distinct transitions and a soundtrack featuring singer-songwriter Elliott Smith create a heightened emotional atmosphere surrounding the story.

3. “Halloween” (1978, directed by John Carpenter)
The legendary horror director John Carpenter brings his signature evocative touch to “Halloween,” creating a film that serves as the ultimate model for slasher thrillers. Jamie Lee Curtis turns in an early yet career-defining performance as the “final girl” of the narrative, and the character of Michael Myers, played by Nick Castle, etches himself into cinematic history as one of the all-time most intimidating horror villains. This movie initially appealed to me as an exciting piece that follows Curtis and Company as they try to escape Myers’ Halloween night wrath. With that being said, the work also offered me a wide range of interpretations on topics ranging from sexual repression to the impact of religion to the folly of suburbia. All of these themes have kept me thinking for days, but, even more notably, the sheer terror the film brings keeps me up at night after every watch.

2. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009, directed by Wes Anderson)
Wes Anderson’s best trait as a director has always been his ability to utilize cinematography in a deeply stylistic manner. The claymation of Fantastic Mr. Fox does not come as an exception to this rule. The symmetrical, gorgeous fall scenery presented by Anderson amplifies a disgruntled fox, his family and his community’s rebellion into iconic status. The painstaking animation technique and naturalistic sound production bolstered the image of the film in my mind, marking it as a labor of love worthy of second place on this list.

1. “Dead Poets Society” (1989, directed by Peter Weir)
“O captain, my captain.” The tale of an English teacher’s rebellious curriculum and his band of curious and hopeful New England schoolboys reign supreme on this list of fall films. The emotionally taut narrative is sure to compel hearts as the beautiful landscape of New England in the fall captures the eyes. “Dead Poets Society” provides something more than the sum of its parts, elucidating a general idea of fall as a season of reflection and transition, one that the group of students we follow over the course of the film stays very much caught up in. So get some Kleenex, your favorite blanket and maybe even a pumpkin-flavored food or drink and settle in for the long haul with the finest fall movie ever made.