The movie season is picking up considerably as November delivers major award contenders and blockbuster fare. “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” will try to attempt a “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer-style box office boost. Festival favorites like “A Real Pain” and “Bird” arrive for their official, long-awaited premieres. Elsewhere, there are two Dwayne Johnson films, an animated sequel, the second film from Luca Guadagnino in 2024 alone, and even some holiday-inspired features to help roll us into December.
READ MORE: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch
It’s easy to get lost in the glut of releases — especially this time of year. Our honorable mentions are just as worthwhile as the ones specifically highlighted. And while it’s impossible to keep up with all of the major films hitting screens and streaming at home, there’s at least a little something for everyone.
“A Real Pain”
Jesse Eisenberg writes, directs, and stars in the comedy-drama “A Real Pain.” Eisenberg plays David, who, along with his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin), travels to Poland to honor their late grandmother. Tensions rise between the unlikely duo as they explore their family history. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. (Read our review.)
Release Date: In theaters November 1 via Searchlight Pictures.
“Blitz”
Director Steve McQueen (“Small Axe”) returns with his latest harrowing drama, “Blitz.” McQueen’s film follows a young boy who travels through London during World War II, separated from his mother and facing insurmountable peril amidst the Blitz. Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson, and Elliot Heffernan star. (Read our review.)
Release Date: In theaters on November 1 before streaming on Apple TV+ on November 22.
“Juror #2”
At 94, Clint Eastwood remains prolific with his latest film, “Juror #2.” Written by Jonathan Abrams, the character-driven courtroom drama follows a man selected for jury duty for a high-profile murder trial. The case muddies when the man realizes he might have personal connections to the case, striking a severe dilemma that could influence the final verdict. Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, and more star. (Read our review)
Release Date: In theaters November 1 via Warner Bros Pictures.
“Emilia Pérez”
Director Jacques Audiard (“A Prophet,” “Dheepan”) returns with the genre cocktail “Emilia Pérez,” which blends elements of musicals, comedies, and crime-thrillers. Based on Audiard’s opera libretto of the same name, the film follows a Mexican lawyer offered a job to help a cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman. Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez all star. (Read our review.)
Release Date: In theaters on November 1 before streaming on Netflix on November 13.
“Heretic”
Hugh Grant returns to horror as the big bad in “Heretic” from writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (“Haunt.”) Grant stars as the diabolical Mr. Reed, who puts two missionaries in a deadly game of cat and mouse after they knock off his door in an effort to convert his faith. Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) and Chloe East (“The Fablemans”) also star. (Read our review.)
Release Date: In theaters November 8 via A24.
