5 Heartwarming Movies With Julia Roberts to Brighten Chilly Fall Evenings

5 Heartwarming Movies With Julia Roberts to Brighten Chilly Fall Evenings
Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing

The actress' filmography consists of movies that are just perfect for the fall.

Julia Robert can undoubtedly be called the queen of rom-com and an icon of a generation. The actress has a ton of roles in a variety of genres, but most often, Roberts' movies are associated with the fall season.

From iconic rom-coms to heartbreaking dramas, here are five films starring Julia Roberts that are perfect for watching during the colder months of the year.

1. Mystic Pizza, 1988

Mystic Pizza is a forgotten movie starring Julia Roberts, which became one of the first high-profile projects in the actress' career.

The story takes place in a small town where sisters Kat and Daisy and their friend Jojo work as waitresses in a local pizzeria. Dates with suitors, a failed wedding, preparing for university – the girls' wild youth never lets them get bored.

Another way to spend a perfect fall evening is to order a pizza and watch Mystic Pizza, where the recipe for the sauce is the main intrigue of the plot. Otherwise, we have a pleasantly predictable story about the youth of three different heroines who find themselves on the threshold of adulthood.

2. Mona Lisa Smile, 2003

Julia Roberts as a free-spirited teacher, a retro 1950s setting, an all-girls college, and a class full of young talents analyzing works of art – what movie could be more fall than Mona Lisa Smile?

Mike Newell's feminist film tells the story of Katherine Ann Watson, who begins teaching at a conservative school. The young woman teaches her students to understand not only the styles of painting, but also their own desires.

Before meeting Katherine, many girls would never have thought that life could be about more than marriage. A series of disappointments and many opportunities await ambitious ladies, but nothing is scary if you remember the words of Miss Ann Watson and listen to your own heart.

3. Runaway Bride, 1999

When talking about Julia Roberts, it would be unforgivable to overlook a classic rom-com. The most autumnal film of the genre starring the actress is Runaway Bride: the story begins with an iconic scene of Roberts' character in a wedding dress riding a horse against a backdrop of yellow trees and endless fields.

Soon, Maggie is preparing for her wedding again, despite the fact that her previous attempts to get married failed on her initiative. Meanwhile, journalist Ike has arrived in town and written an unflattering article about Maggie.

The woman manages to get the author fired for libel. But the man is not satisfied: Ike wants to see the bride change her mind about remarrying.

4. Stepmom, 1998

Stepmom is one of the best fall movies in Julia Roberts' filmography. Look at the cozy sweaters of the main characters, Susan Sarandon's red hair and the colorful poster of the movie.

Fall is not only the background of the plot, but also a kind of metaphor: Jackie, a mother of two, faces a terrible illness and begins to fade away. Isabel enters her life – a new passion of her ex-husband and the future stepmother of the children. The two women, despite their differences and conflicts, will have to find a common language.

5. Dying Young, 1991

The title of Joel Schumacher's movie already prepares the viewer for a sad drama about a deadly disease. Victor has leukemia and is about to undergo an unpleasant course of chemotherapy. The young man needs a nurse to keep him company during this difficult time.

The charming Hilary gets the job: she has just broken up with her boyfriend, has no money and comes to the interview with a vague idea of what to expect. Predictably, a strong and tender bond develops between the characters: soon Victor and Hilary are leaving everyone behind for a house by the river, trying to preserve their fragile happiness.