November marks one of the biggest pushes for movie season. As we approach the end of the year, there are still a slew of films being pushed for big Oscar contenders that have yet to see release, some of which being from pretty big names in the business. In addition to new films from the likes of Martin Scorsese and Rian Johnson, November also sees the release of a few noteworthy sequels, gripping thrillers, and a few big genre-heavy films, allowing this month to offer something for just about everyone.
Here are the biggest films to keep an eye out for this November:
Honorable Mentions
Dark Waters (11/22), The King (11/1), Motherless Brooklyn (11/1), Terminator: Dark Fate (11/1), Waves (11/15)
1) Doctor Sleep (November 8)
Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyleigh Curran, Carl Lumbly, Cliff Curtis
The adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name (we’re really getting a lot of these this year, aren’t we?), which itself was a sequel to King’s novel The Shining, Doctor Sleep also acts as a direct sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s iconic version of the film. This wound up being quite a task, as Kubrick made some notable changes to The Shining from the original source material, which didn’t line up with events in King’s sequel. So director Mike Flanagan was faced with the challenging task of having to reconcile both King’s novels as well as Kubrick’s vision. And according to all the early reviews, he pulled it off. Word is this is yet another great adaptation of Stephen King’s work, anchored by Flanagan’s terrific direction as well as Ewan McGregor’s lead turn as the adult Dan Torrance.
2) Honey Boy (November 8)
Directed by: Alma Har’el
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, FKA Twigs
Shia LaBeouf already had one standout lead role earlier this year in The Peanut Butter Falcon, which was praised as one of his best roles to date, though Honey Boy is being seen as his true comeback film, with the actor having written the screenplay, basing his character on his own father and the experiences he had with him growing up. Early reviews for this one are in, with the film having ran in the festival circuit earlier this year, and critics have praised it as being therapeutic for its deeply personal, tragic tale about the relationship between a father and son.
3) Ford v Ferrari (November 15)
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone, Ray McKinnon
Director James Mangold makes his return to the big screen after his critically acclaimed Wolverine film Logan in 2017, and this will be the first time he’s not directing anything Wolverine related since 2010. And he returns to some familiar territory for his next film, this being a biographical drama about how a team of engineers and a race car driver come together to make a Ford car that will beat the Ferrari in a 1966 race. Mangold is no stranger to biographical dramas, having directed the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line back in 2005, so this should be right up his alley, and he’s backed by an all-star cast led by Damon and Bale, both of whom are going to push for Oscar nominations in the upcoming awards season. Early reviews have been very positive, with the only criticism directed at the film’s length, though praising both the performances as well as noting that when the film gets intense, it gets really intense.
4) The Report (November 15)
Directed by: Scott Z. Burns
Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Ted Levine, Michael C. Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Jon Hamm
Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, known mostly for his work on Steven Soderbergh’s films, makes his directorial debut with this historical drama about the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on torture of terrorist suspects in the years following 9/11. Soderbergh himself is one of the producers on the film, and judging by the trailers, this does somewhat have the feel of one of his movies, with extensive uses of close-ups and a large ensemble cast. The similarities aside, this still does look like it’ll be an intense, riveting legal drama with a timely storyline that should resonate well with viewers. Expect this film to be a major contender during Oscar season, especially for Adam Driver’s performance at the very least.
5) Frozen 2 (November 22)
Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad
It was inevitable that we’d see this. To say Frozen was a smash hit back in 2013 was an understatement. It became a cultural phenomenon. So a sequel was bound to come sooner or later, and six years later, here we are. Though look, as much as we all may lose our minds if we have to hear “Let it Go” one more time, Frozen actually was a very good movie, with its talented cast, wonderful direction, sense of humor, and great music that felt like a throwback to Renaissance-era Disney. And this appears to be no different, especially given that it brought back nearly the entire cast and crew. Even if this winds up not making as much of an impact as the first one did, it’s sure to be another solid entry into Disney’s filmography, who continuously prove with their latest track record that their animated films are much better than their live action efforts.
6) 21 Bridges (November 22)
Directed by: Brian Kirk
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Keith David, Taylor Kitsch, J.K. Simmons
Unlike most of the other movies on this list, this certainly isn’t going to be a movie making a big Oscar push or anything of that sorts. In fact, its release date was actually pushed back twice, originally going from July to September and then to November. It just looks like a really solid thriller, and it does have a lot going for it. It may be the feature debut of director Brian Kirk, but he has directed multiple episodes of shows like Game of Thrones, Dexter, and Boardwalk Empire. It looks to be a tense, fast-paced thriller, focusing on a detective who puts the city on lockdown to find a pair of cop killers, so this is sure to be a giant game of cat-and-mouse that will be quite fun. Plus, it has a great cast, with Chadwick Boseman at the center of it all. The film is even being produced by acclaimed Marvel directors Anthony and Joe Russo. With a sea of Oscar-related films on the way, this has plenty to offer for those who may just want a good old-fashioned thrill-ride.
7) A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (November 22)
Directed by: Marielle Heller
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper
Look, it’s Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers. Do I really need to say more? When it comes to pitch-perfect casting, just by one look at the trailers, it’s safe to say this casting choice easily topped that list. This is actually one of my most anticipated movies of the year, between the casting of Hanks as well as the fact it’s being directed by Marielle Heller, who gave us the excellent Can You Ever Forgive Me last year. Told from the point of view of journalist Matthew Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel, a journalist who has to do a piece on Fred Rogers, the film looks to show the impact Rogers has not only on this journalist’s life, but on the lives on the countless individuals who tuned into his show for years, bringing a great mix of education and entertainment and spreading joyous messages of love and acceptance of all. In a time where there’s plenty of awful things to read about on the news, we could all use a movie that’s simply nice to watch.
8) Queen & Slim (November 27)
Directed by: Melina Matsoukas
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Chloe Sevigny, Flea, Bokeem Woodbine, Indya Moore
A couple’s first date turns ugly when a cop pulls them over and they kill him in self-defense, forcing them to go on the run, and being praised as heroes when they’re not exactly looking for that sort of attention. While this is the feature debut of director Melina Matsoukas, there’s plenty else about this to make this highly anticipated. First, the cast, including Daniel Kaluuya in his first starring role since Get Out, spending 2018 in supporting roles. Second, it’s written by Lena Waithe, who also wrote by far one of the best episodes of the television series Master of None, if not the best. And lastly, given the subject matter, there’s sure to be a lot of social commentary involved that will certainly be intriguing to see. That being said, this will probably be one of the more divisive films of 2019, but the trailers look like we’re in for quite a compelling story, so this is certainly high on the list.
9) The Irishman (November 27)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
I remember years ago, reading on IMDb that Martin Scorsese was planning a film called I Heard You Paint Houses, based on the book of the same name. And nothing ever came of it, and instead we got Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Silence. But now, it’s finally happening after years of development hell. Now called The Irishman, this film looks to be everything that we all love about a typical Scorsese film, and then some. The film boasts a stellar cast, with Scorsese even managing to bring the great Joe Pesci out of retirement to take a major part in the film. Plus, despite each having long prosperous careers on their own, this will be the first time Al Pacino will finally be directed by Scorsese (you would think this would have happened much sooner). And while the film is well over three hours long, early reviews are raving that it earns its runtime and then some, hailing it as another Scorsese masterpiece, making the payoff worth it. This will actually receive a limited theatrical release on November 1, to qualify for the Oscars, before getting a wide release on Netflix the 27th.
10) Knives Out (November 27)
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer
Knives Out was on my most anticipated movies of the year list long before I even got to see one piece of footage. Given the stellar cast, and the fact it’s written and directed by Rian Johnson, who - despite being reviled by the Star Wars fanbase - is an expert at crafting wonderfully complex narratives that are highly engaging that make for countless repeated viewings. And then when I saw the trailer for this, my first thought was, “If this doesn’t end up being one of the best movies of the year, then we really messed up.” Johnson evokes the feel of an old-fashioned murder mystery, feeling like an even more darkly comic version of the film Clue or any of the Hercule Poirot stories. The film looks like it’s going to be a ton of fun, filled with thrills, laughs, as well as character drama as Daniel Craig’s detective investigates the dubious motivations of a large, wealthy family after the mysterious death of their patriarch. Already critically acclaimed thanks to early reviews, this sees release on Thanksgiving weekend, and will certainly be one of the best ways to kick off the holiday season.
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