November New Movie Preview

Wakanda Forever, Spielberg's origin story, and Weird Al Yankovic. Let's dive into all the new movies you can see this month!

Welcome to November, where holiday movies and awards players open with lofty expectations! This month is a mix of major blockbusters, Oscar-y dramas, and… Weird Al biopics? Sure! Read on for what to expect from November and what you can watch and stream over Thanksgiving with your family in a few weeks. 

Which November releases are you most excited about? Leave a comment or hit us up on Twitter and Instagram to let us know! 

Causeway (November 4, in theaters and on Apple TV+)

In Causeway, Jennifer Lawrence is a US soldier that struggles with life back home after she returns with a traumatic brain injury. This looks to be Lawrence throwing it back to her Winter’s Bone era, before she became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The indie drama also stars Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta), who is always worth watching.  

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (November 4, The Roku Channel)

I was more than a little confused when I heard Daniel Radcliffe would be playing Weird Al in a biopic, but now that I’ve seen the trailer it all makes sense. Appropriately, Weird seems like it will be a wild and wacky parody of a music biopic with a succession of funny people popping up (Jack Black, Rainn Wilson, Quinta Brunson, and Conan O’Brien). For some reason it will be streaming for free on The Roku Channel. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, in theaters)

The most highly anticipated movie release of the month and probably even the year. Any lingering concerns I harbored about how the filmmakers would handle the loss of Chadwick Boseman in this sequel was wiped out by the first teaser trailer (the soundtrack choices alone welled up strong emotions). We’re in the hands of a proven cast and one of the best blockbuster directors working today in Ryan Coogler. Let’s see this already!

The Son (November 11, in theaters)

Filmmaker Florian Zeller won an Oscar for writing The Father a couple years ago, and now he’s back with The Son, a follow-up starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, and Anthony Hopkins (he won Best Actor for The Father). And now Oscar buzz is building for Jackman, who's only been nominated once before. Can’t wait for Zeller’s trilogy capper The Holy Spirit. 

She Said (November 18, in theaters)

Is the Harvey Weinstein story getting its version of All the President's Men or Spotlight? It certainly looks possible with She Said, the story of two New York Times reporters (played by Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan) that helped break the story of the Hollywood titan that preyed on and abused women for decades. It’s the kind of contemporary issues film that tends to do well with the Academy just like previous journalist movie classics. 

The Menu (November 18, in theaters)

This is the type of tightrope-walking satire that either works brilliantly or tips off balance eventually, which makes The Menu a thrilling proposition. Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult play a couple that travels to a remote island to dine at an exclusive restaurant run by a mysterious chef (Ralph Fiennes). I do worry that too much is given away in the trailer, but that’s the challenge of promoting a movie like this. Maybe just watch the first half to get a feel for what The Menu has in store. 

Spirited (November 18, Apple TV+)

Another adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? And it’s coming out in mid-November? Will Ferrell is the Ghost of Christmas Present in Spirited with co-star Ryan Reynolds. I’ve grown tired of Reynolds’ one-note schtick, but perhaps pairing him with a comedic genius like Ferrell will play well. I’m sure I’ll check it out when it comes to Apple TV+ but I’m keeping my expectations low.

Devotion (November 23, in theaters)

Glen Powell apparently doesn’t care about getting typecast as a Navy fighter pilot, because Devotion is his second time playing the role THIS YEAR. This one is set during the Korean War (have there been many notable Korean War movies?) and co-stars Jonathan Majors, who is poised for a big next couple years as one of the MCU’s recurring villains and a starring role in Creed III. Devotion seems like it will be nothing more than fine, but I’d love to be proven wrong.

The Fabelmans (November 23, in theaters)

In a smart move, The Fabelmans – the current Best Picture frontrunner due to winning the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival – is coming out right before Thanksgiving. This is Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical story of his childhood as a budding filmmaker and how he navigated his relationships with his mother and father. It’s a personal story of family and ambition that stars Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, and Seth Rogen. You can expect it to be in the awards conversation for the next few months. 

Bones and All (November 23, in theaters)

Can I interest you in a cannibal love story from the team that brought you Call Me By Your Name (minus Armie Hammer)? Timothee Chalamet teams up again with director Luca Guadagnino for a drama that could be one of the more divisive entries of the year. 

Strange World (November 23, in theaters)

Disney will have a new animated adventure out in time for the holidays called Strange World. Jake Gyllenhaal, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, and (my DYLA cohort Billy’s favorite) Dennis Quaid lend their voices to what looks to be a colorful fun time at the theaters for the family. 

Disenchanted (November 24, Disney+)

Amy Adams, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, and more return for the sequel to 2007’s Enchanted. This film is debuting straight to Disney+ over Thanksgiving weekend when the first one made $340 million worldwide just 15 years ago! I don’t know if that says more about Disenchanted’s quality or the state of the movie business, but I do hope for the best so that Amy Adams can finally emerge from her cold streak. She hasn’t been in a good movie in a long time.