Autumn in Review: The Best New Fall Movies of 2023
I’m kicking off the Christmas movie season by recapping the Autumn movie season. When it comes to movies, no one does holidays and seasons better then the classic family-friendly rom coms.
It has been a tradition of mine to review the best Christmas rom com movies for the last few years. With so many fun fall themed movies this year I thought I’d add fall reviews for the first time as well. These movies are full of romance, autumn season themes and mystery.
So without further ado, here are my top favorites from across Hallmark with their Fall Into Love 2023 movie slate and Great American Family with their Great American Autumn 2023 movie slate.
Top 5 New Hallmark Fall Movies
Hallmark had a total of 13 new premieres during their fall lineup. As you can tell I really thought Hallmark hit it out of the park with their mysteries this fall. I liked a majority of the mysteries over the regular rom coms.
5. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major
“Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Marco Grazzini, Adam Fergus, Risteard Cooper, and Julie Lamberton. A new teacher at an Irish prep school is shocked to find a ghost haunting her house. She decides to help solve his murder in the hopes that it will allow him to move on.
I was so excited to see this mystery as the lead actress is one of my favorites! It was set in Ireland which was fun to see and had a ghost element that added another layer to it. It was funny with comedic scenes (thanks to the ghost that no one can see other than the lead). There were multiple options for a future potential love interest. It was a bit predictable for me with who the killer was but I enjoyed the journey of getting there and learning the why.
4. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows
“Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring: Andrew Walker and Nikki DeLoach. A caterer and amateur detective, is recruited to provide food for a sizable wedding. Jessamyn Cole, the bride, is the ex-wife of Goldy’s current love interest, detective Tom Schultz.
The 3rd installment of the Curious Caterer series, this was quite possibly my favorite! I loved how the detective was a suspect and now working on the outside with the amateur to solve the mystery and clear his name. It was a fun different take and gave a different perspective. The leads worked great together as a team and as always absolutely loved watching them on screen together!
3. Notes of Autumn
“Notes of Autumn” is a Hallmark movie starring Ashley Williams, Luke Macfarlane, Marcus Rosner and Peter Porte. Ellie (Williams) is a fun-loving, classically trained pianist living in the city who gave up on her passion long ago. Her best friend Leo (Macfarlane) lives in the rustic outskirts of British Columbia. Realizing they both need a change of scenery, they decide to swap places, only to find themselves completely lost in new surroundings. Ellie gets tangled up in helping Sam (Rosner), Leo’s neighbor, put together a musical performance for a local fundraiser. Leo strikes up a friendship with Ellie’s good friend Matt (Porte) and opens himself up to writing something different that really inspires him.
I initially didn’t think much of this movie going into it but boy did it surprise me in so many good ways! It was cute and quirky. I loved the special friendship between the leads. The banter between the characters was quirky and fun. It was a really enjoyable watch with something for everyone.
2. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost
“3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost” is a Hallmark movie starring Julie Gonzalo and Chris McNally. A ghost from the 1920s refuses to leave the home just listed by Anna, a new real estate agent. Worse, the spirit is convinced she cannot “pass over” until she gets Anna back together with her ex.
I initially thought this was going to be a mystery because of the ghost element but it wasn’t. It was so good! I loved having the ghost aspect and the push and pull between the ghost and the lead. Also loved how the ghost worked as a matchmaker of sorts. It was funny, quirky, and just all around fun. The blast from the 20s was a fun little side thing too!
1. Mystery Island
“Mystery Island” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie staring: Elizabeth Henstridge and Charlie Weber. London Police psychiatrist Dr. Emilia Priestly needs to take a relaxing break from her stressful job, so her wealthy friend invites her to Mystery Island, an immersive murder-mystery-themed resort hosting a special retreat for the original investors. As the mystery game begins, tragedy strikes when the resort’s reclusive founder is murdered. Emilia “partners” with local detective Jason Trent to investigate.
This one takes the cake for my top favorite out of all Hallmark movies this fall. It was so fun and different then they’re typical cozy mysteries. I liked how the lead female wasn’t an amateur sleuth, she actually had knowledge and experience. Her friend had the fun amateur sleuth vibes still which was fun. The chemistry between the leads was so fun to watch. It even had a twist at the end I didn’t see coming and I didn’t guess the killer for once!
Top 5 Great American Family Fall Movies
Great American Family had an impressive 7 movie lineup for the newer network as part of their Great American Autumn fall movie slate.
5. Love Can Surprise You
“Love Can Surprise You” is a Great American Family movie starring: Camilla Belle & David Lafontaine. Carina (Belle) is a relationship column writer who is unlucky in her own love life. She must team up with a man (Lafontaine) to work on her articles.
This was another acquired movie for Great American Family. I really liked how the leads were both reinventing themselves, how they had to work together (even though they don’t always want to) and how they ultimately help each other professionally and personally. They’re relationship was fun to watch unfold.
4. A Harvest Homecoming
“A Harvest Homecoming” is a Great American Family movie starring: Jessica Lowndes & Trevor Donovan. Drew (Donovan) takes a sub teaching job in his hometown and begins to rethink his stance on the town and his families orchard when he meets their newest employee, Lainie (Lowndes).
Two of my favorites paired together was so fun! They worked great together and looked good together. Loved their dynamic and how they butted heads for a while. It was funny without being over the top. Love how the male lead bonded with the son of the female lead. So many different elements and layers to family dynamics and it was so fun to watch it all unfold with each individual relationship. Plus there is singing which is just one more thing to love!
3. One Perfect Match
“One Perfect Match” is a Great American Family movie starring: Merritt Patterson & Joshua Sasse. Matchmaker Lucy (Patterson) meets a business man (Sasse) and instantly feels a spark. She is shocked to learn the same business man is her newest client.
A matchmaking rom com that was still fresh and fun! I really enjoyed this one. Love the female lead and the chemistry between the two leads was so fun. Liked that it was a sweet love story throughout and there wasn’t any dislike between the leads–the struggle was simply the matchmaking job/process. It was such a good one!
2. Craft Me a Romance
“Craft Me a Romance” is a Great American Family movie starring: Jodie Sweetin & Brent Bailey. A craft store owner (Sweetin) is faced with an ultimatum when a new chain craft store opens up in town.
This one was acquired and not made directly by Great American Family but I loved it! Really enjoyed the DIY/crafting themes. It had a very “You’ve Got Mail” vibe without the secret messages. It was so enjoyed and fun to watch from beginning to end.
1. Swing Into Romance
“Swing Into Romance” is a Great American Family original movie starring: Danica McKeller, David Haydn-Jones & Gleb Savchenko. When a former dancer (McKeller) returns to her hometown she discovers her families general store is in trouble. To help, she teams up with a students father (Haydn-Jones) to compete for prize money and must also face her ex boyfriend and ex dancing partner (Savchenko) at the same time.
This one was just too good! Loved all the characters and dynamics between them. It was cute and fun to watch. It was real and had lots of family values between the adult daughter and her parents and the single dad and his young daughter. Absolutely loved the dancing element and the Dancing with the Stars debut movie. Even the ex character you loved to dislike! Such a good one I will definitely be re-watching!
Top 4 Fall Mysteries Movies
There were only 4 mystery premieres (all on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) during the fall season. Only the last didn’t make my top Hallmark list.
4. A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
“A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring Alison Sweeney & Cameron Mathison. When Hannah’s (Sweeney) mother finds a dead body during a house showing, she starts investigating.
The 8th installment in this series and 3rd since they returned after a long break. The characters are so much fun and had me literally laughing out loud often at their shenanigans. However, it was very predictable. I picked the killer not even half way through the movie. I also wasn’t a fan of the tension between the leads romance, it seemed very unrealistic and unnecessary. I probably won’t repeat watch it, but overall, still a cute movie worth the watch once.
3. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
2. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
1. Mystery Island
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
Top 5 Fall Rom Com Movies
This is a combined list of my top 5 favorite rom coms between both networks.
5. One Perfect Match
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
4. Craft Me a Romance
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
3. Notes of Autumn
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
2. Swing Into Romance
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
1. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
Top 10 of all Fall Movies
My top 10 favorites from both genres and between both networks.
10. A Harvest Homecoming
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
9. Field Day
“Field Day” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Rachel Boston, Benjamin Ayres, Shannon Chan-Kent & Carmel Amit. Jen (Boston) joins the parent-teacher organization and must plan field day with two other moms (Chan-Kent & Amit).
I didn’t think I’d be into this one going into it but was pleasantly surprised. Loved the three friends aspect focus vs the romance. It was relatable as a mom and different ways you can get stuck in life. It was funny, serious, and heartfelt. They did a great job of keeping it realistic during the somber moments but also lighthearted so it wasn’t too overpowering. Also loved seeing three women from different walks of life befriend each other and bond. Was a sweet movie.
8. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
7. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
6. One Perfect Match
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
5. Craft Me a Romance
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
4. Notes of Autumn
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
3. Swing Into Romance
See Great American Family Top 5 list above.
2. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
1. Mystery Island
See Hallmark Top 5 list above.
There were so many good ones this fall between both networks. Did you have a favorite new fall rom com premiere? Let me know below!
