By Ireti Asemota.
As the holiday season ramps up, November 2025 delivers a cinematic feast blending sci-fi thrills, historical showdowns, and heartfelt tales. From Edgar Wright’s pulse-pounding adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man to a star-studded sequel in Zootopia 2, here’s a curated guide to 12 must-see releases. We’ve highlighted key dates, casts, and why they’re buzzing—perfect for your watchlist.
1. The Running Man
Stephen King’s dystopian gem gets a gritty reboot under Edgar Wright’s direction, far truer to the Richard Bachman original than Arnie’s 1987 romp. Glen Powell stars as a desperate everyman entering a lethal TV game show: survive 30 days on the run from elite hunters, win millions. Wright calls it “disturbingly relevant” to our surveillance age—entertaining yet eerily prophetic. Stars: Glen Powell, Edgar Wright (dir.) Release: 6–14 November internationally
2. Nuremberg
A tense psychological duel unfolds at the 1945–46 war crimes trials, where US psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) probes Nazi bigwig Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) for sanity. Adapted from Jack El-Hai’s novel by James Vanderbilt, it’s a riveting cat-and-mouse game amid history’s reckoning. Critics hail the Oscar winners’ “thrilling chess match” as magnetic. Stars: Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant Release: 7 November (US), 14 November (UK/Ireland), 27 November (New Zealand)
3. Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier reunites with Renate Reinsve from The Worst Person in the World for this Oslo-set dramedy. Reinsve plays a rising actress clashing with her self-absorbed director dad (Stellan Skarsgård), who casts Hollywood import Elle Fanning in her stead. It’s a graceful dive into family fractures and fame’s follies—humane and full of surprises. Stars: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning Release: 7 November (US)
4. Die, My Love
Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) turns domestic bliss into psychological horror. Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson are a steamy couple retreating to the countryside for creative idyll—until parenthood and absences ignite Grace’s unraveling rage. Co-written with Alice Birch and Enda Walsh, it’s an intimate gut-punch on expectation’s toll. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson Release: 7 November (US, Canada, UK, Ireland)
5. Jay Kelly
Noah Baumbach’s bittersweet satire stars George Clooney as a fading Hollywood icon grappling with mortality after his mentor’s death. Adam Sandler shines as his exasperated manager on a reflective European train odyssey. Co-written with Emily Mortimer, it’s a sly riff on celebrity’s hollow core—witty, warm, and Clooney’s finest turn yet. Stars: George Clooney, Adam Sandler Release: 14 November (US/UK cinemas), 5 December (Netflix international)
6. Left-Handed Girl
Sean Baker (Anora) co-writes and produces this iPhone-shot gem from Shih-Ching Tsou, a vibrant Taipei family saga. Janel Tsai leads as a single mom relocating to the city with her daughters, navigating motherhood’s mess amid urban buzz. It’s a compassionate juggle of perspectives—propulsive, funny, and deeply felt. Stars: Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye Release: 14 November (US/UK cinemas), 28 November (Netflix international)
7. Wicked: For Good
The Wicked saga’s second act promises box-office sorcery after 2024’s smash. Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda get fresh songs in this Oz prequel, weaving in the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion’s backstories. Grande teases Glinda’s redemptive arc: “I’m going to become deeply, truly good.” Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande Release: 17–21 November internationally
8. The Secret Agent
Kleber Mendonça Filho (Bacurau) delivers a surreal Brazilian thriller set in 1970s dictatorship-era Recife. Wagner Moura is a professor dodging assassins during Carnival chaos after bucking a corrupt pol. It’s a vivid cocktail of fear, farce, and flair—viciously alive with political edge. Stars: Wagner Moura Release: 26 November (US)
9. Zootopia / Zootropolis 2
Disney’s anthropomorphic hit returns, unpacking the mammal metropolis’s reptile-free history through sly fox Nick (Jason Bateman) and bunny Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin). Co-director Jared Bush dives into “thousands of years” of lore—social satire, slapstick (sloth DMV flashbacks!), and evolutionary Easter eggs. Stars: Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin (voices) Release: 26 November internationally
10. Eternity
Elizabeth Olsen reboots as afterlife Joan in this high-concept rom-com, picking eternal bliss (beach? nightclub?) and love (loyal hubby Miles Teller or lost flame Callum Turner?). It’s a whirlwind of silly, sexy, soulful what-ifs—smart, sensational, and swoony. Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, Callum Turner Release: 26 November (US), 28 November (Turkey/Taiwan), 12 December (UK/Ireland)
11. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) tackles a Gothic church whodunit in upstate New York—locked-room murder amid clashing clerics and parishioners (Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott). Rian Johnson’s third outing amps the darkness and laughs, blending miracles with mischief. Stars: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close Release: 26 November (US cinemas), 28 November (UK cinemas), 12 December (Netflix international)
12. Hamnet
Chloé Zhao adapts Maggie O’Farrell’s novel on Shakespeare’s grief-fueled Hamlet, sparked by son Hamnet’s 1596 death. Paul Mescal is ambitious Will; Jessie Buckley his wife Agnes. It’s a soul-shattering portrait of creation amid loss—beautifully violent, like first love or parenthood. Stars: Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley Release: 26 November (US)
November’s lineup spans King’s chills to Oz’s whimsy—grab popcorn and plan your screenings. Which one’s calling your name?
#NovemberMovies #NewReleases #EdgarWright #RamiMalek #Wicked2 #KnivesOut3 #DisneySequels #FilmSpotlight
