This November is a cinema goldmine as holiday movies, sequels and retellings of beloved stories come to theaters. The month is packed with films ranging from comedies to thrillers, allowing fans of all genres to find a viewing experience that is right for them.
The month has started off strong with three movies released on Nov. 1. The comedy/drama, “A Real Pain,” follows the journey of two cousins who visit Poland to honor their grandmother; however, the trip becomes complex as the boys begin to unravel their family history. Jesse Eisenberg is not only directing the film but will also star in it along with “Succesion’s” Kieran Culkin. Another release on this day was Steve Mcqueen’s “Blitz,” which takes place in London during WWII. A young boy and his mother are evacuated to the countryside, but he is determined to return to the rest of his family despite his mother’s disapproval. The movie will feature Saoirse Ronan and Elliot Heffermen in a touching historical drama. The last big film released on this date was “Here,” directed by Robert Zemeckis. The story explores several generations of families that inhabit the same house throughout a century.
Nov. 8 was a big day for religious movies as holiday comedy, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” showed in theaters. This Dallas Jenkins film is about the Herdman family, who are known for their poorly-behaved children, taking on their local church Christmas pageant. This movie is bound to be a holiday classic with stars Judy Greer and Pete Holms who captivate audiences and perform a Christmas miracle. Another movie that came out on the eighth is “Heretic.” The story describes two religious women who are drawn into the house of a strange man and must pursue a game of cat-and-mouse with him. The film certainly has an all-star cast, with actors Hugh Grant and Sophie Thatcher, and this thriller has shocked the box office, with well-known horror writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Finally, “Small Things Like These,” a drama starring Emily Watson and “Oppenheimer’s” Cillian Murphy was released. This film takes place in 1985 and details a father who discovers disturbing secrets at his local convent, prompting him to investigate and uncover shocking truths.
On Nov. 15, the Christmas comedy, “Red One,” will be available for viewing. The A-list cast of Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu and J.K. Simmons presents the story of an E.L.F or Extremely Large and Formidable, who is sent to join forces with experts and find Santa, because he has been kidnapped from the North Pole. This movie will surely be the perfect family watch for the holidays.
On Nov. 22, “Gladiator II” comes out, which of course will be directed by the notorious Ridley Scott. The sequel, released 24 years later, will pick up at the point where Rome was conquered, and the main character Lucious, played by Paul Mescal, must enter the Colosseum to restore Rome’s honor. The first “Gladiator” film has been considered a cult classic, so the expectations are extremely high for this production.
Towards the end of the month, “Moana 2” will be released on Nov. 27. In this tale, Moana receives a call from her ancestors that leads her to embark on a dangerous journey to Oceania. The voice actors will remain the same as “Moana” (2016), and this Disney reunion could possibly save the next generation of Disney-princess movies. Also on Nov. 27, the film adaptation of “Wicked” will be released, which has already been highly anticipated within pop-culture media. The movie gives an imaginative retelling of the classic “The Wizard of Oz,” and stars pop singer Ariana Grande and Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo.
This November is set to be a jam-packed month for cinema lovers. As the holiday season approaches people can gather together and find media of all genres to entertain themselves and their loved ones.
