As we enter the penultimate month of the year, the cinematic big hitters usually come out in droves, and this November is no different. There are plenty of genres to pick from, so grab some popcorn and let’s see what’s on the way.
First up is a sci-fi drama called The Finch, starring Tom Hanks as an aging inventor and one of the last humans on Earth. The story follows him as he builds an android (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to travel with him and his dog across the country. It should be a somber and slowly unfolding story, with Hanks’ unstoppable charm to boot. It releases to Apple Plus on Nov. 5.
Next is a horror-thriller titled The Beta Test. Written, directed and starring both Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe, the plot revolves around a Hollywood agent who receives a mysterious letter propositioning a sexual encounter, leading to all sorts of problems down the line. Cummings, who previously directed and wrote Thunder Road and The Wolf of Snow Hollow, has a unique indie film sensibility that is a joy to watch in an increasingly overcrowded superhero world. It comes out Nov. 5.
For your dose of Western cinema, check out The Power of the Dog. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, the movie depicts Cumberbatch as a sadistic rancher who launches a less-than-kind campaign against Dunst and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) when they come to live on his ranch after Dunst marries his brother, played by Jesse Plemons. With stellar reviews already in, it should be a slow burn with some Oscar-worthy performances. It releases Nov. 17 and hits Netflix on Dec. 1.
If you’re in need of a shot of nostalgia, Ghostbusters: Afterlife should do the trick. A direct sequel to the original two Ghostbusters films, this entry sees the daughter of Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014), played by Carrie Coon, relocating to a small farmhouse in Oklahoma with her two children (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) as they discover their roots and tackle a new, otherworldly threat. Original cast members Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts all return for what is sure to be a fun ride down memory lane. It’s also directed by Jason Reitman, son of original director Ivan Reitman. Added bonus: Paul Rudd also stars! It releases Nov. 19.
Lastly, a three part documentary series called The Beatles: Get Back should be something any fan of music would want to see. Directed by Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), the doc covers the making of the Beatles’ final album, Let It Be. Although it uses footage from the original 1970s documentary – also titled Let It Be – this version attempts to show the band in a less contentious light. Jackson was granted access to over 55 hours of unseen footage. The three episodes will premiere on Disney Plus on November 25, 26 and 27.
