November is finally here, which means the holidays aren’t too far behind. We all know that Christmas movies will be pushed to the top of our watchlists in a matter of weeks, but until then there are still some phenomenal options for us to get to this weekend.Mikey Madisonstars in one of the year’s best films, while Gru and the family finally hit streaming inDespicable Me 4. Also, the king of the monsters turns 70, which means he’s headed back to theaters. Here is everything you need to watch this weekend.
Where To Watch: In Theaters
‘Anora’ Review: Sean Baker’s Spectacular, Palme d’Or-Winner Thriller
The top winner at the festival is an absolutely magnificent and devastating look at modern class exploitation.
Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Chase Hutchinsonpraised Madison’s performance in his review:Madison expertly captures all the vulgarity and visceral parts of Ani’s personalitythat she has built as armor for herself as she does this just as we begin to see it starting to crack. Baker is similarly attuned to every single moment of her stunning performance, letting the small moments linger until they all accumulate into something substantively shattering.
Anora follows a young sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, igniting a potential fairy tale. Upon learning of the union, his influential parents travel to New York to annul the marriage, jeopardizing her unexpected chance at a new beginning.
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‘The Substance’
Where To Watch: On VOD, Mubi
‘The Substance’ Review: Demi Moore Is Back in Stylish Body Horror | Cannes 2024
Also starring Margaret Qualley, this film is a raucous ride.
Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance that promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.
Caleb Hammondsaid in his review:ConsideringThe Substance’s ending builds on the blood-soaked ending ofRevenge, then God help us for what Fargeat has in store for us for her third feature.The Substanceensures she’ll have a legion of new horror fans anxiously anticipating it.
The Substance
A fading celebrity, Elisabeth Sparkle, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth. The drug temporarily creates a younger version of herself, named Sue, who quickly ascends to the fame Elisabeth once craved.
Rent on Prime Video
‘The Diplomat’ Season 2
Where To Watch: On Netflix
‘The Diplomat’ Season 2 Review: A Conspiracy Thriller Worth Getting Tangled Up In
Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell are back as the dysfunctional married couple, with Allison Janney joining as Vice President Grace Penn.
A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters US Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world (Keri Russell). Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the UK didn’t come from a rival nation, it came from inside the British government. As Kate chases the truth, her only real ally is her almost ex-husband Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), very much alive and very much involved. She faces a fraught marriage, a complex dynamic with British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and a threatening visit from Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney).
Taylor Gatessaid in her review:The DiplomatSeason 2 amps up the stakesestablished in Season 1while simultaneously ensuring an evenwilder ride for Season 3by its final seconds. The writing continues to be sharp and clever, with heart-pounding and laugh-of-loud moments alike, and the performances go even deeper than before.The DiplomatSeason 2 is one conspiracy thriller definitely worth getting tangled up in.
The Diplomat
Watch on Netflix
‘Godzilla Minus One’
Where To Watch:In Theaters, On Netflix
‘Godzilla Minus One’ Review: The Iconic Monster Smashes His Way to Netflix
You’ve never seen the legendary kaiju quite like this. Long live the king.
The King of the Monsters shines in this Academy Award-winning film. As we celebrate 70 years of Godzilla, fans get to experience his latest (and arguably greatest) film again on the big screen.Godzilla Minus Oneis a kaiju epic that features some of the most emotional writing you’ll ever see in the genre,with human characters that actually matter.
Here’s what Chase Hutchinsonsaid in his review:When it all comes down to it and the door potentially left open for more,Godzilla Minus Onemore than carves out its place among the best entries of this long-running series. Whatever comes next for this refreshingly unique incarnation of the creature and his seemingly insatiable hunger for destruction, one can be glad this beautiful behemoth rose up once more.
Godzilla Minus One
Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’
Where To Watch: On Disney+
‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Review: The Magic Mostly Returns in Disney+ Sequel Series
David Henrie and Selena Gomez reunite in a promising return to this wizarding world.
We’re headed back to Waverly Place and everything is still not what it seems.David HenrieandSelena Gomezreprise their roles as Justin and Alex Russo as the sequel series echoes a similar tone we’ve come to love from the Disney Channel original series.
Marisa Williamsbelieves thatWizards Beyond Waverly Placehonors the original and will be exactly what fans are hoping for:Fans are in for a solid ride in this reintroduction to the world first brought to us byWizards of Waverly Place. This Russo family is perfect for a new generation of aspiring wizards, as the sequel series offers just the right blend of nostalgia and new. Only time will tell if Gomez’s absence beyond the first episode will truly hurt the show, butWizards Beyond Waverly Place’s performances give it a fighting chance for success so far.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Watch on Disney+
‘Despicable Me 4’
Where To Watch:On Peacock
Gru (Steve Carell) and the minions make their return to theaters inDespicable Me 4. Gru welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who’s intent on tormenting his dad. However, their peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.
Tania Hussainsaid in her review:Despicable Me 4thrives on keeping the franchise’s appeal alive through its distinct style and verve. But it does face some challenges in balancing the new with the old, even with its signature humor and vibrant animation we’ve all come to love and expect.
Despicable Me 4
Gru and his family are back, welcoming a new member, Gru Jr., who causes chaos at home. Facing a new nemesis, Maxime Le Mal, and his partner Valentina, Gru and his family go on the run.
Watch on Peacock
‘Here’ Review: Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks Are Back, but Not Better Than Ever
The team behind ‘Forrest Gump’ reunites for an ambitious yet flawed story that spans millions of years.
It’s aForrest Gumpreunion asTom HanksandRobin Wrightstar inRobert Zemeckis' latest feature film. Based onRichard McGuire’s graphic novel,Herefollows multiple generations of couples and families who have inhabited the same home for over a century.
Ross Bonaimehad this to say aboutHere:Hanks, Wright, and Bettany especially are doing solid work with a presentation that could’ve easily ailed them, while Zemeckis and Roth are trying to create a world that shows the ordinary beauty in the everyday, and sometimes succeeding at that goal.Still, strange storylines, a sprawling narrative, and some awkward choices bring down what is an aspirationally impressive film.
