NUMÉRO NETHERLANDS’ FALL FILM GUIDE: FOR THOSE WHO THINK THEY’VE SEEN IT ALL
words NATALIE GAL
edited by MAREK BARTEK
Amsterdam has this unique ability of being the perfect city for autumn. It has the brownstone brick houses we romanticize in New York, the charming cafés with terraces that define Paris, and the fallen leaves carpeting the pavements like in London’s parks. You see, dear reader, we have it all here.
There is a beautiful Dutch phrase we love to use: Gezelligheid. It’s a word that resists easy translation, evoking that singular cosiness, the warm light spilling from uncovered windows, reflected across the canals. We all know, the weather here can get really windy and stormy, making umbrellas so impossible to use, the only thing you can do is to surrender to your fate. Which is why we cling to that ability to cosy up, to find joy in a scented candle or a chunky blanket.
The season is upon us, and now, dear reader, we’ve gathered our very favourite fall films for you to enjoy.
FOR THE WHODUNNIT LOVERS
TWIN PEAKS (1990-1991)
Somehow, nostalgia always finds us in the fall, and 90s films are the perfect balm for that ache for another era. Let’s be honest, many of us didn’t even truly live through it, yet we long for it all the same.
Twin Peaks is a classic, surreal, eccentric, and unforgettable. It transports us to a romanticized, idyllic town in the heart of Washington, where FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives to investigate the murder of high school sweetheart Laura Palmer. And rest assured, the story unfolds with twists that won’t disappoint.
credits: imdb.comA HAUNTING IN VENICE (2023)
I’m fairly certain that when fall arrives, internet searches for “movies like Knives Out” reach unbelievable heights. And honestly, it makes sense, it’s one of the most perfect fall films ever made, with very few true counterparts that capture the same energy.
A Haunting in Venice is one substitute. Cinematically, in both plot and atmosphere, it lives up to that standard. No surprise there, after all, what’s Halloween without Agatha Christie?
Kenneth Branagh’s third film based on Christie’s legacy might just be the best of the three. Set in hauntingly beautiful Venice, the story draws us into a séance that ends with the death of a guest. From there, Hercule Poirot, one of the most iconic detectives in literary history, finds himself facing one of the most chilling ordeals of his career.
credits: imdb.comTHE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (2025)
A brand-new, heartwarming mystery has arrived on the scene, based on the book that became a global phenomenon. The Thursday Murder Club follows four residents of the Coopers Chase retirement village, brought to life by industry icons Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie.
The film doesn’t just dive into their investigations of mysterious deaths close to home, it also addresses pressing social issues that feel all too relevant today. It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a story that balances mystery with laughter.
credits: imdb.comROMANTIC MOVIES AND COMEDIES
MONA LISA SMILE (2003)
Another film that seems to appear on every fall-movie list is, of course, Dead Poets Society. So we thought we’d suggest an alternative that carries the same spirit while offering something new.
Starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, this film takes us to Wellesley College, an all-women’s school in the 1950s, where questions of freedom, marriage, and societal norms spark reflection and debate. It’s a film everyone should watch at least once, especially now, when these themes feel more relevant than ever.
credits: imdb.comTHE REMAINS OF THE DAY (1993)
A love story between Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson set in a grand, idyllic English estate. Need we say more?
This film is poetic, charming, and utterly transporting. Our favorite fall watches often include Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, or Atonement. This one captures that same aesthetic and literary elegance, the natural next step after you’ve exhausted every Austen-inspired classic in the repertoire.
Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s celebrated novel, the story follows a devoted maid and a cold, emotionally restrained, at times unsympathetic, butler. It’s a love story that lingers, one that makes you think and, without giving too much away, offers the kind of cathartic cry autumn was made for.
credits: imdb.comSEX AND THE CITY: SEASON 4, EPISODE 18 (1998)
It is practically impossible to talk about autumn without mentioning New York. And even more unimaginable to talk about New York without mentioning Sex and the City.
It may be an unpopular opinion, but trust me when I say this show is perfect for fall. Even if this particular episode romanticizes New York’s fallen leaves, the series as a whole is always ideal for that nightly, one-episode wind-down.
I couldn’t help but wonder, is there ever a season when Carrie Bradshaw isn’t in season?
credits: pinterest.comWHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989)
A forever member of the autumnal hall of fame, and one of the most iconic romcoms ever made, of course it had to make our list. An exploration of friendship, platonic love, and destiny, it’s a classic we simply cannot skip this fall season.
credits: imdb.comTHE FRENCH DISPATCH (2021)
No movie list feels complete without Wes Anderson, who has, without a doubt, created some of the defining films of our era. The French Dispatch may be his most experimental and conceptual work yet, an ode to journalism that offers a glimpse into the lives of a newspaper and the writers behind it.
This one is for true cinephiles, those who love to be surprised and challenged by something new. It’s a masterclass not only in Anderson’s signature style but also in narrative craft and design. It is brought to life, of course, by his ever-brilliant, star-studded cast.
credits: imdb.comHORRORS AND THRILLERS
DRACULA (1931)
It’s nearly impossible to choose just one Dracula film for a list like this, they’re all so distinct, each brilliant in its own way. So the answer is simple: we go back to the original.
Bela Lugosi, who came from the world of silent cinema, became one of the defining figures of a new era with this early sound film. His performance is at once haunting and magnetic, while Dwight Frye is unforgettable, and utterly terrifying, in his role as Renfield.
There’s simply no way to talk about horror cinema without mentioning this film. After all, this is where it all began.
credits: imdb.comTHE CONJURING: LAST RITES (2025)
After honoring the oldest horrors, it only feels right to turn to the newest, this season’s talk of the town. The Conjuring saga comes to a close with a chilling finale, as Lorraine and Ed Warren face their last, and perhaps most terrifying, venture yet.
The film is now playing in cinemas, and truly, what could be better than experiencing the final Conjuring on a rainy day at Theater Tuschinski?
credits: imdb.comHALLOWEEN (1978)
It’s hard to single out just one Halloween film, so our recommendation is to go all in with the full marathon. The original is a perfect fix for that much-loved 1980s nostalgia, while the final installment, Halloween Ends (2022), delivers a fitting climax to this iconic saga.
credits: imdb.comTERRIFIER (2016)
We’ve made sure to include films that are spooky enough to give you a shiver, but not so terrifying that you’ll be sleeping with the lights on. Still, we had to add something for the true horror fans, the ones who crave the over-the-top fright.
Terrifier is that film. I’ll admit, I couldn’t even finish it, and I consider myself a fan of all things chilling. This one, though, is strictly for the hardcore. But if that’s you, it’s perfect, because if not in fall, when else is the time to chase the shivers? A true American slasher, it trades the supernatural and mysterious for the bloody, brutal, and unforgettable.
credits: imdb.comOUR SPECIAL FILM FESTIVAL PICKS
FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER (2025)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch and produced by Saint Laurent, this film took home the Golden Lion for Best Film at this year’s Venice Film Festival. It weaves together three stories, three relationships, three narratives, each exploring themes of love, family, and emotional depth.
An “anti-action” film at heart, it invites us not to rush, but to sit with it, to process, and ultimately, to talk about what it stirs within us.
images: courtesy of SAINT LAURENT PRODUCTIONS
THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025)
This film reimagines the age-old fairytale of Cinderella from a new perspective, still dreamlike, but far closer to a nightmare. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to cover your eyes…even as you can’t resist watching.
credits: imdb.com
BUGONIA (2025)
One of the undeniable highlights of this year’s Venice Film Festival, this film will leave you with shivers, glued to your seat from start to finish.
It follows the story of a successful CEO kidnapped by two men consumed by a mysterious conspiracy. The result is unique, unsettling, and nothing short of a modern masterpiece.
credits: imdb.comIT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (2025)
Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, this film unravels a chain of mistakes and accidents as a troubled political prisoner sets out on a path of revenge. Directed by Jafar Panahi the movie deals with extremely pressing and controversial societal issues, bringing this cinematic work to Cannes was in itself a powerful statement. A must-watch to everyone this year.
credits: festival-cannes.comHONORABLE MENTIONS
TIM BURTON’S ALL WORKS
Dear reader, I’m sure you’ve already been wondering, where is Tim Burton? Fear not. Of course he deserves the greatest of honorable mentions, because truly, there is no fall movie season without him. A master of style, the architect of an aesthetic all his own.
Our favorites? In no particular order:
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Beetlejuice
Corpse Bride
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Edward Scissorhands
credits: pinterest.comADDAMS FAMILY AND THE WEDNESDAY SERIES
We can’t forget our beloved Addams Family. We’re devoted fans of the original films, and of course Wednesday, which has just returned with a brand-new season.
Funny, sharp, and, dare I say, a true example of family goals, the Addamses remain one of our personal favorites.
credits: pinterest.comMOVIES COMING OUT SOON
Of course, there are a few films we couldn’t include simply because they haven’t been released yet, but rest assured, dear reader, we’re just as excited about them and will keep you updated. The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, is set to arrive this January, while Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is landing in just one month, on October 17th. These are, without a doubt, among the releases we’re most eagerly awaiting.
credits: imdb.com