Screen time – November 2024 –

The holidays are upon us, and while for the gaming world that means everything comes to a halt, the film and TV sectors continue to release plenty of exciting offerings and projects. This November is a big one for several reasons. We have waited a long time for new seasons, promising sequels, anticipated spin-offs and also a few creative original works. Needless to say, this is going to be a busy Screen Time.

Before we get into the choices, however, a brief disclaimer. As usual, we have based our selection on a UK release calendar, so be sure to check locally for accurate listings and information.

Anora – November 1

A spicy film to start this month. Mikey Madison stars in Anora, a film about a young sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch and is soon threatened by his family when the news reaches them in the motherland. This drama, directed by Sean Baker, will try to end November as one of the leading indie productions.

Heretic – November 1

The spooky season may be over, but A24 has another freaky movie in the pipeline. This time Hugh Grant will trade the quirkiness of Notting Hill for the light of the Lord in Heretic, a film in which he shines as a strange man playing a cat-and-mouse game with a pair of young religious women who have appeared on his doorstep. Grant’s days as a romcom icon couldn’t be further away in this disturbing offering.

Super/Man: The Story of Christopher Reeve – Nov. 1

Is it a bird? Is it an airplane? No actor resembles that phrase more than the late, great Christopher Reeve, star of several Superman films in the 1970s and 1980s. This entertainment legend will be brought back into the spotlight in a detailed documentary that follows his career up to the near-fatal horseback riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Juror #2 – Nov. 1

Clint Eastwood may be well into his 90s, but he still has plenty of movie juice left in him. His next project is Juror #2, a drama revolving around Nicholas Hoult’s juror as he is tasked with overcoming a moral dilemma while serving on the jury of a high-profile murder trial. Starring Zoey Deutch, alongside JK Simmons, Toni Collette, Keifer Sutherland and more, this will be a very emotionally complex film.

Little things like this – Nov. 1

Despite Oppenheimer winning him an Academy Award, Cillian Murphy continues to appear only in films and movies that interest him. Next up is the historical drama Small Things Like These, a film that revolves around father Bill Furlong as he discovers dark and harrowing truths about the local monastery and how they are connected to him.

Red – Nov. 6

There may be no bigger vacation movies planned for 2024 than Red One. This film brings together Chris Evans, Dwayne Johnson, JK Simmons, Lucy Liu and more for a story that unpacks what happens when Santa Claus is kidnapped, leaving the head of security at the North Pole with the challenge of teaming up with a notorious bounty hunter in an attempt to find him. Yep, this will be a different vacation story than you’re used to.

Piece by piece – Nov. 8

For starters, we’re not sure how many people are actually interested in a documentary about Pharrell Williams, especially one told in a brick form made entirely of Lego. Yes, that’s what Piece by Piece is, a retelling of Williams’ life using animated Lego as the medium, and with lots of musical numbers.

Paddington in Peru – Nov. 8

One of the most anticipated films of the entire year, everyone’s favorite marmalade-loving bear returns for his third live-action outing in Paddington in Peru. The Ben Whishaw-voiced British icon returns to his Peruvian homeland to visit his Aunt Lucy, before being thrust into an unexpected adventure with the Brown family. Expect a delightful, charming and sweet family-friendly story for fans of all ages.

Arcane: Season 2 [Netflix] – November 9

One of the most acclaimed and popular adaptations to video games. Riot Games’ League of Legends series, Arcane, returns this month for its second and final season, a season that will conclude the gripping and unexpected events from the stunning first batch of episodes. Arriving in three companies spread over a weekly basis, expect episodes that delve into the growing chaos and rift between Piltover and Zaun and sisters Vi and Jinx.

Yellowstone: Season 5B [Paramount+] – November 11

It has taken a long time, but Yellowstone will soon actually conclude its fifth season. After many production delays and conflicts, the second half of season 5 will arrive in November, ending John Dutton’s story and placing the famous ranch completely at the mercy of his bickering children. This modern western finale will undoubtedly be one of the biggest hits of the entire month.

Conclave – Nov. 15

Ralph Fiennes attempts to portray a prominent Catholic cardinal charged with overseeing one of the world’s most secretive and influential events: the selection of a new pope. Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence must contend with intrigue and a conspiracy that could bring down the Church, while ensuring that the right person is selected for the job to overtake and continue the old tradition.

Gladiator II – November 15

Perhaps the biggest theatrical film of the month. Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated historical sequel continues after the events of the acclaimed original and sees Paul Mescal’s Lucius enter the Coliseum after his home is captured by a tyrannical emperor of Rome. With Connie Nielsen returning to the franchise and Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington also part of this stacked cast, you can expect an action-packed, ambitious follow-up that will no doubt be looking to generate awards.

Cobra Kai: Season 6 – Part 2 [Netflix] – November 15

We are almost at the end of the road for the Cobra Kai journey. The Karate Kid spin-off series is halfway through its sixth and final season, and we get the second part of that season this month. This series of episodes will revolve around the global Sekai Taikai tournament, where the best dojos around the world compete against each other, including Miyagi-Do and the seemingly immortal Cobra Kai.

Dune: Prophecy [Max/Sky] – November 18

It’s a great time to be a Dune fan, especially one who has enjoyed the universe that Denis Villenueve put into action. Dune: Prophecy will take us back to that world, albeit to a much earlier period, some 10,000 years before the Paul Atreides saga and revolves around the lives of several powerful women as they try to establish the Bene Gesserit order. Needless to say, this will be a very different Dune experience than the one we learned about on Arrakis.

Bad – Nov. 22

We’re going to see the Wizard! Actually, not quite this time. Wicked is not another retelling of the Wizard of Oz, but this is a prequel based on the play that explores how Elphaba changed from a kind-hearted soul into the Wicked Witch of the West, while her good friend is instead placed on a pedestal and crowned Glinda the Good Witch. This adaptation is also only the first part of the musical Wicked film version, with the second scheduled for the fall of 2025.

Enchanted [Netflix] – November 22

Netflix’s most prominent feature offering this month is an animated adventure called Spellbound. This project revolves around the princess Ellian as she goes on a dangerous quest to save her family and kingdom after a twisted spell turns them into disturbing monsters. With Rachel Zegler leading the cast and John Lithgow, Jennifer Lewis, Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman in the lead roles, this will be an animated film you won’t want to miss.

Moana 2 – November 29

Yet another animated film in November. In this sequel to one of Disney’s modern classics, Auli’i Cravalho returns as the titular heroine Moana as she sets off on a grand adventure across the distant waves of Oceania to face new and mystical threats, all with the help of the god Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson. With many musical numbers planned, this animated sequel is one you won’t want to miss.

That’s another screen time in the books. We have one left for 2024, so be sure to check back in a few weeks when we see what the busy vacation season has in store for film and TV fans.