It’s time to put up the lights and decorations, enjoy the Thanksgiving Turkey, and get that Christmas shopping done. The holiday season, and all the November movies that come along with it, are officially here!
Let’s take a look at what’s coming to the big screen this month. These are my Top 10 November movies, Ranked by Excitement!
#10 – Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City
In at number 10, is ‘Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City’, the 7th film in the Resident Evil franchise, and the first since 2016.
Kaya Scodalerio, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell, and Neal McDonough star in this prequel set in 1998.
Set before all of the original Milla Jovovich films, we see the beginnings of the Zombie apocalypse, and Umbrella’s ‘Handling’ of the situation.
Based off the Resident Evil video games, I remember seeing the first two films in theaters, but none after that. I remember the first couple of films being fairly well made, for feeling like really low budget films.
‘Raccoon City’ seems to continue that trend with a reported $40 Million budget, which is only $7-8 Million more than the original in 2002.
Resident Evil 7 hits theaters on November 24th…
#9 – Belfast – November Movies
In at number 9 is Belfast, Writer/Director Kenneth Branagh’s take on growing up in the tumult of Belfast in the 60’s.
That’s newcomer Jude Hill as ‘Buddy’ in his first feature film. Buddy’s eyes and ears show us a kid growing up in a city about to fall apart.
Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan plays Buddy’s Dad. And, like most kids his age, Buddy looks up to his Dad as the hero of the story.
Shot in Black and White, this coming of age comedy/drama looks like it explores the magic of childhood, even in times of war.
Belfast comes out November 12.
#8 – Red Notice
In at number 8 is Red Notice, the action comedy with three of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and Gal Gadot star in this heist movie that’s Oceans 11 meets Now You See Me meets Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
The Rock and Free Guy team up to take down the Wonder Woman actress.
Director Rawson Marshall Thurber is no stranger to Comedies (Dodgeball, We’re The Millers, Easy A) and Action movies (Central Intelligence, Skyscraper). Now, we’re going to see what he can do when combining both.
Red Notice looks like a ton of fun, and a high energy ride. The kind of ride where no one quite knows who’s going to betray whom, first.
Red Notice is in limited theatrical release on November 5th and hits Netflix on November 12th.
#7 – Licorice Pizza – November Movies
In at #7 is Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth feature film, ‘Licorice Pizza’.
A coming of age Comedy/Drama about first love, Licorice Pizza is set in 1973 Los Angeles.
The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s son Cooper Hoffman stars as Gary the film nerd, and Alana Haim plays Alana Kane, Gary’s love interest.
Sean Penn, John C. Reilly, and Maya Rudolph all star in Pizza, but don’t have character names listed in IMDb. Bradley Cooper also stars and is listed as playing Jon Peters, boyfriend to Barbra Streisand.
Paul Thomas Anderson also Directed Boogie Nights which was set in L.A. in the 70’s, but the plot and subject matter of Licorice Pizza is much less Adult.
Licorice Pizza looks like a lot of fun and is beautifully shot. It is in limited release November 26th, and goes nationwide on Christmas Day.
#6 – Encanto
In at number 6 is Disney’s Encanto… About a large Colombian family that finds a magical candle that builds them a house.
That is all except Mirabel, voiced by Brooklyn 99’s Stephanie Beatriz. The rest of her family lies straight to her face to make her feel better, but Mirabel doesn’t buy it.
Not surprisingly, Mirabel gets guilted into bailing out the rest of her family, even though she received nothing.
The hard-luck Mirabel reminds me of Meg from ‘Family Guy’, or even Jan from ‘The Brady Bunch’ — all bespeckled middle sisters that everyone overlooks.
Still, the animation looks great, and you can always rely on Disney to give the story an uplifting twist. Encanto hits theaters November 24th.
#5 – Love Hard – November Movies
In at number 5 is Love Hard… A Netflix Rom-Com where Nina Dobrev gets Catfished…
Nina Dobrev’s ‘Natalie’ was misled by Jimmy O. Yang’s ‘Josh’, she thought she was getting someone else.
Of course, Josh tries to make amends, this is a Romantic Comedy, after all!
As you might expect, the fact that Natalie travels cross-country during the holidays, and shows up unannounced goes un-noticed.
Josh settles into the Friend Zone, and hopes for the best. Think, similar to, but the opposite of Ryan Reynolds movie, ‘Just Friends.’
As predictable as Romantic Comedies can be, Love Hard looks like a pretty simple setup that could be a fun way to Netflix and Chill.
Love Hard hits the Streamer, November 5th.
#4 – C’mon C’mon
In at number four is Oscar-Nominee Mike Mills’ Fourth Feature Film, C’Mon C’mon.
C’mon C’mon is the second Black and White film on my list this month. Joaquin Phoenix plays ‘Johnny’, a Radio D.J. going on a cross country road trip with his nephew Jesse, played by Woody Norman.
The trailer features Johnny reading a book about growing up to Jesse, but does not show much about the story, or the film itself.
Field Of Dreams’ Gabby Hoffman also stars, and plays Jesse’s Mom, ‘Viv’.
Mike Mills films often take a soft and reflective look at families, and C’mon C’mon looks no different.
It hits theaters November 19th.
#3 – Tick, Tick… Boom!
In at number three is Tick, Tick… BOOM! Director Lin-Manuel Miranda’s take on Rent creator Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical Musical ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’.
Andrew Garfield stars as ‘Jon’ who already feels the clock ticking away on his youth, as he tries to write the Musical of his dreams.
Alexandra Shipp stars as ‘Susan’, a co-worker and friend who keeps pushing him to reach his goals.
Jon’s youth isn’t the only thing ticking away. Rent, itself, is about the struggle of fighting disease, and how much time the people fighting it have left, too.
Vanessa Hudgens, Bradley Whitford, Judith Light, and Joel Grey lead an All Star cast.
Tick, Tick… Boom! looks to be about sending a message about never giving up on your dreams, and making the most of the time you’re given.
Tick, Tick… Boom has a limited theatrical release on November 12tth, and comes to Netflix on November 19.
#2 – Eternals
In at number two is Eternals, the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Oscar winning Director Chloe Zhao takes the helm of this ancient team up movie.
Even though I haven’t heard of the Eternals themselves before, the cast has many familiar faces, and a few new ones, as well.
I gotta be honest, the effects in the trailer are beautifully done, and the trailer itself is almost all exposition, but I STILL have next to no clue what this movie is about.
The un-named force that sent them to Earth looks more like a Transformer than something out of the Marvel universe.
But, I love the epic scale of this story, and the idea of 7000 year old beings witnessing almost all of recorded human history.
Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, and the rest hit the big screen November 5th.
#1 – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
And, in at number one in the sequel almost four decades in the making, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
Son of the late Ivan Reitman, Director of the original film; Jason Reitman writes and directs ‘Afterlife.’
The late Harold Ramis played Egon in the original film. So, this film follows Egon’s daughter and Grandkids putting the pieces back together after his death.
Paul Rudd joins the cast, as we see Egon’s Grandkids adjusting to life in a small town.
Not-so-surprisingly, the Ghosts seem to have followed them to their new home.
The film seems to pay tribute to both Reitman and Ramis, as well as replicating the fun, energy, and even special effects of the original.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is in theaters November 19.
What movies do you want to see?
What November movies are you looking forward to seeing?
Additional Information – November Movies
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