As we start getting through the month of September, I’m finding myself falling more and more into the festive spirit. Fall is my favorite time of year, and even though I enjoy the warmer weather, I can’t wait to break out my fall sweaters each and every year. 

The changing of the leaves, the warm drinks (my personal favorite is a warm chai latte) and one of my favorite holidays, Halloween, are all reasons I love this time of year.

Ever since I was little, Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays. I loved dressing up, I still do, and have planned my costumes months in advance ever since I was young. I have been a princess and a bumble bee, as well as an M&M. 

One of my favorite things to do to get into the mood, find inspiration, or just get cozy and enjoy, is to watch Halloween movies. 

Everyone has different opinions on the perfect Halloween movie. Some prefer scary, some prefer something fun and quirky, and some just love to stick to the classics. As for me, my favorites are always changing, but some I just have to watch every year. Before we get into the movies, some perfect nostalgic movie treats are recommended for a Halloween movie night. 

For me, I always prefer a nice warm drink, and hot chocolate is well-loved staple. This was my drink of choice when I was younger, and I still choose this one frequently today. My favorite way to spice it up a little bit is to add some vanilla syrup and a touch of cinnamon, but the classic way is always delicious. 

If you’re craving something a little more, popcorn with your favorite candy is always the best choice. Caramel corn is my preferred treat, but buttered popcorn and M&M’s is something I’ve had during movie nights since I was little and will never refuse. It’s best when the M&Ms melt a little due to the warm popcorn.

Now, let’s talk about movies. My first choice is “Practical Magic“(1998). This one is for the “Gilmore Girls” lovers, the cozy vibe of this movie perfectly matches the hometown feel of Star’s Hollow.

This movie is centered around two sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) who have been born into a magic family, despite not using much witchcraft themselves. When Gillian’s abusive boyfriend unexpectedly dies, the sisters must give themselves a crash course in dark magic in order to bring him back to life to avoid suspicion. However, they accidentally infect his corpse with an evil spirit intent on destroying the Owen family name. 

This movie is one of my absolute favorites, and one I discovered fairly recently when I was in my younger teens. I was instantly captivated by the relationships of the women in this movie, and the sisterhood shown by Sally and Gillian.

The sisters must come together to protect not only themselves but the future women of their family, and the result is heartwarming and tension-filled at the same time. It’s a thrilling film filled with love, magic and perseverance. My personal favorite moment is the Midnight Margaritas (If you know, you know).

My second movie to watch this fall is “Hocus Pocus” (1993). An obvious classic, this Disney Channel Original Movie is well-loved by many (for obvious reasons). This story begins with Max and Dani, two siblings who have just moved to the fitting town of Salem, Massachusetts in time for Halloween.

The siblings and their new friend Allison decide to explore an abandoned house after trick-or-treating. By doing so, they end up accidentally resurrecting three evil witches. Max must find the courage to protect his sister and their new friend by preventing the witches from completing a spell that would allow them to live forever. 

The protagonists of this movie (Max, Dani, Allison and a friendly talking cat that aids them along the way) are all charming and adorable in their own right, but the true stars of this movie in my opinion, are the three witch sisters.

Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Winnifred (Bette Midler) Sanderson are three sisters with an adorably hilarious dynamic that makes the movie that much more fun to watch. Their personalities and banter is so funny, and the jokes they make make me laugh even though I’ve heard them a million times.

“Practical Magic” is an underrated cult classic that is sure to charm anyone who watches it  and remains for me an immediate recommendation for anyone looking for a good cozy movie to watch. On the other hand, “Hocus Pocus” is a well known and well-loved classic that is sure to impress during each-and-every watch. 

Kennedy can be reached at [email protected].