American Thanksgiving is tomorrow, which means we get a bunch of new releases both today and Friday, hence the early post. Zootopia 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 original, is set to stomp the box office over the long weekend, while last weekend’s winner, Wicked: For Good, will also clean up. One of the year’s biggest awards prospects, Hamnet, finally gets a release, as do a couple of potential international film nominees like The Secret Agent and Left-Handed Girl.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” – Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: November 26th, November 14th, and November 7th.
Stars: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson
Writer: Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell
Director: Chloé Zhao
Genre: Drama
Plot: Tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
What you should know: While the name of Shakespeare’s wife is usually spelled Anne Hathaway, in legal documents her father spelled her name Agnes.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Wagner Moura, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Tânia Maria, Isabél Zuaa
Writer/Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Genre: Drama
Plot: In 1977, a technology expert flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace. He soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks.
What you should know: This is one of the final films of German actor Udo Kier, who previously collaborated with writer and director Kleber Mendonça Filho on Bacurau.
Where to watch: In theaters
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Stars: Josh O’Connor, Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close
Writer/Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Mystery
Plot: Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.
What you should know: Like its predecessors, named after a song: “Wake Up Dead Man” is from U2’s 1997 album ‘Pop’.
Where to watch: In theaters, and on Netflix
Stars: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells, Lucy Punch, Peter Serafinowicz
Writer: Abby McDonald, Amy Reed
Director: Michael Fimognari
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: At the height of the holiday season, two strangers team up to rob one of London’s most famous department stores while accidentally falling in love.
Where to watch: Netflix
Stars: Janel Tsai, Nina Ye, Shih-Yuan Ma, Teng-Hui Huang
Writer: Shih-Ching Tsou, Sean Baker
Director: Shih-Ching Tsou
Genre: Drama
Plot: A single mother and her two daughters relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, each navigating the challenges of adapting to their new environment while striving to maintain family unity.
What you should know: Official submission of Taiwan for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category of the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.
Where to watch: Netflix
Stars: Penny Johnson Jerald, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Zora Casebere, Bria Samoné Henderson
Writer: Onye Anyanwu, Sheba Anyanwu, Kristen Adele Calhoun, Madebo Fatunde, Saidiya Hartman, Irvin Hunt, Kahlil Joseph, Elodie Saint-Louis, Kaneza Schaal, Christina Sharpe
Director: Kahlil Joseph
Genre:
Plot: Rewires history, memory, and sound into a cinematic experience unlike anything else
What you should know: Adapted from the artist Kahlil Joseph’s video exhibition that carried the same name.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Rebel Wilson, Alice Eve, Derek Jacobi
Writer: Piers Ashworth, Adam Brown, Jake Brunger, Frazer Flintham, Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler
Director: Chris Foggin
Genre: Comedy
Plot: A washed-up Hollywood action hero takes a role in a small English village’s quirky Christmas pantomime, where he finds unexpected inspiration through the show’s straight-talking dance instructor.
What you should know: Filmed in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Writer: Suz Curtis, Tamara Kotevska
Director: Tamara Kotevska
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: A farmer’s bond with a white stork intertwines with North Macedonian folklore.
What you should know: Selected as the Macedonian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, David Thewlis, Sam Spruell, Jessie Cave
Writer: Dylan Southern, Max Porter
Director: Dylan Southern
Genre: Drama
Plot: After a tragic loss, a grieving father tries to raise his young sons whilst dealing with an unlikely, unpredictable and uninvited houseguest.
What you should know: Cillian Murphy played Dad in the theatrical production at the Galway Arts Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Karl Ilves, Laura Niils, Martin Ruus, Janno Puusepp
Writer: Sander Maran, Karl Ilves
Director: Sander Maran
Genre: Comedy, Horror, Musical, Romance
Plot: Adventures await when new lovers are separated by a chainsaw killer.
What you should know: Shot during 64 shooting days in the summer and fall of 2013, and spent 10 years in post-production due to budgetary and time restraints.
Where to watch: Available VOD
Expanding
More New Releases
New to Streaming
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember (Trailer) on Hulu
Bride Hard (Trailer) on Hulu
Flight Risk (Trailer) on HBO Max
Mickey 17 (Trailer) on Amazon Prime
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?