November officially kicks off the holiday movie rush — that time when family blockbusters share screens with Oscar hopefuls, and prestige dramas expand from festival chatter to mainstream buzz.
If you’ve been wondering what movies are coming out in November 2025, you’re in for a packed month. This slate brings fantasy spectacles, animated sequels, and big-budget dramas, balanced by intimate arthouse and international fare.
As the lights dim and the holidays draw near, November reminds us why we fall in love with cinema all over again—escapism, emotion, and everything in between.
Why it matters: The month is headlined by Wicked: For Good (Universal), opening November 21, 2025, followed by Zootopia 2 (Disney) anchoring Thanksgiving week on November 26, 2025.
November 2025 Movie Releases: Week-by-Week Schedule
Movies Released Early November 2025 (Nov 1–9): Awards & Prestige Dramas
Nuremberg (2025)
Release Date: November 7, 2025 (U.S.)
Director: James Vanderbilt
Cast: Rami Malek, Russell Crowe
Genre: Historical Drama / Courtroom Thriller
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Rami Malek stars as psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, tasked with evaluating Nazi leader Hermann Göring before the postwar trials. Nuremberg dives into the moral and psychological aftermath of war, with cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and music by Brian Tyler — positioning it as a major awards-season entry.
Frankenstein (2025)
Release Date: October 17 (US Limited), streaming globally November 7 on Netflix
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi
Genre: Gothic Drama / Horror
Guillermo del Toro brings his signature romantic-macabre touch to Mary Shelley’s classic. With powerful performances from Isaac and Elordi, this re-imagining of Frankenstein explores loneliness, morality, and what it means to create life — a likely player in production design and score categories come awards season.
Why it matters: Early November belongs to serious, adult-skewing dramas and prestige titles building momentum out of the fall festivals.
Mid-November 2025 Movie Releases (Nov 10–16): Now You See Me 3
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025)
Release Date: November 14, 2025 (U.S.)
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith
Genre: Crime / Heist / Thriller
The Four Horsemen return for another high-stakes illusion, taking on a global diamond syndicate in a spectacle that fuses old-school trickery with new-age tech. Directed by Venom’s Ruben Fleischer, this third installment expands the franchise’s scope while keeping the clever stagecraft intact.
Why it matters:
Compared to the blockbuster rush around Thanksgiving, mid-November is relatively quiet, with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t standing tall as the only major wide release between November 10–23.
Pre-Thanksgiving Movies 2025 (Nov 17–23): Wicked: For Good Blockbuster
Wicked: For Good (2025)
Release Date: November 21, 2025 (U.S.)
Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang
Genre: Fantasy / Musical / Drama
Distributor: Universal Pictures
The second part of the hit musical saga brings the story of Elphaba and Glinda to its emotional peak. Expect dazzling visuals, grand musical numbers, and a theatrical rollout across IMAX with Laser, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and ScreenX.
Why it matters: This is November’s defining blockbuster — a family-friendly event film with enormous brand power and award-season crossover appeal.
Key takeaway: Pre-Thanksgiving belongs entirely to Wicked: For Good, Universal’s biggest musical release of the decade.
Thanksgiving Weekend Movies 2025 (Nov 26–30): Zootopia 2 Release Date
Zootopia 2 (2025)
Release Date: November 26, 2025 (U.S.)
Directors: Jared Bush & Byron Howard
Voice Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Shakira
Genre: Animated / Adventure / Family / Comedy
Distributor: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney’s long-awaited sequel reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for a new adventure that takes them beyond the city limits of Zootopia. Bright animation, humor, and heart make it the clear family choice of the holiday frame.
Why it matters: Positioned right before Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27), Zootopia 2 will dominate matinees and family outings, cementing Disney’s grip on the holiday corridor.
International & UK Movie Releases November 2025: The Choral, Pillion
The Choral (2025)
Release Date: November 7 (UK) → December 25 (U.S. limited)
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Cast: Ralph Fiennes
Genre: Period Drama / Musical Comedy
Written by Alan Bennett, The Choral follows a WWI-era rural singing group finding humor and hope in dark times. Warm, witty, and British to the core, it’s already generating BAFTA buzz ahead of its U.S. release on Christmas Day.
Pillion (2025)
Release Date: November 28 (UK)
Director: Harry Lighton
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling
Genre: Romance / Drama
Distributor: Picturehouse Entertainment (UK); A24 (U.S. TBA)
Two estranged lovers reunite for a motorcycle journey across Europe, confronting grief and rekindled affection. A festival-circuit favorite, Pillion provides counter-programming for arthouse audiences amid the blockbuster crush.
Why it matters: Thanksgiving Weekend 2025 belongs to Zootopia 2, while Pillion adds a touch of indie sophistication to the season.
Why These Movies Work for Fall: The Psychology of Comfort Viewing
As nights grow longer and the year winds down, audiences lean toward stories that balance spectacle with sentiment. November’s lineup—from the nostalgia of Zootopia 2 to the grandeur of Wicked—taps into three key comfort triggers:
- Emotional familiarity: Sequels and adaptations (like Wicked and Zootopia 2) provide safety in the known.
- Seasonal mood: Warm visuals and hopeful themes align with the desire for optimism and closure before year-end.
- Shared experience: Holiday releases become social rituals—families, friends, and fans gather for big-screen connection.
In short: comfort viewing isn’t just cozy, it’s collective—and November delivers that in full cinematic form.
November 2025 Box Office Predictions: Wicked vs Zootopia 2
Box Office Projection:
Wicked: For Good is projected to lead the monthly gross due to its extra release weekend and premium-format availability.
Zootopia 2, meanwhile, is expected to dominate the Thanksgiving five-day corridor (Nov 27–30) with its family-friendly draw.
Both are anticipated to cross the $500 million global mark, making November 2025 one of the strongest box office months of the decade.
Oscar Contenders November 2025: Frankenstein, Nuremberg, Award Season Buzz
- Frankenstein (Netflix) — Early frontrunner in craft categories (Production Design, Score, Cinematography). Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi may see acting nods.
- Nuremberg (Sony Classics) — Strong prospect for Screenplay and Performance categories, especially for Rami Malek.
- The Choral (UK / U.S.) — Poised for BAFTA recognition and possible U.S. craft awards in late December campaigns.
How to Watch November 2025 Movies: Schedule & Streaming Guide
| Platform | Best For | Top Titles |
| Netflix | Prestige adaptations & dramas | Frankenstein (2025) |
| Disney+ | Family favorites & animated films | Zootopia (2016) ahead of sequel |
| Universal / Peacock | Theatrical premium titles post-window | Wicked: For Good (2025) (likely 2026 streaming) |
| Apple TV+ / iTunes | Rentals & pre-release access | Nuremberg (2025) |
| MUBI / Criterion | International indie cinema | Pillion (2025), The Choral (2025) |
Complete November 2025 Theatrical Release Calendar
| Date | Film | Genre | Director / Key Cast | Notes |
| Nov 7 | Nuremberg (2025) | Historical Drama | James Vanderbilt / Rami Malek, Russell Crowe | Theatrical release – Sony Pictures Classics |
| Nov 7 | Frankenstein (2025) | Gothic Horror / Drama | Guillermo del Toro / Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi | Netflix Global (Oct 17 limited run US) |
| Nov 7 | The Choral (2025) | Period Dramedy | Nicholas Hytner / Ralph Fiennes | UK theatrical release (US Dec 25) |
| Nov 14 | Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (2025) | Crime / Heist / Thriller | Ruben Fleischer / Ensemble Cast | Wide U.S. release – Lionsgate |
| Nov 21 | Wicked: For Good (2025) | Fantasy / Musical | Jon M. Chu / Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande | Universal – Major event release |
| Nov 26 | Zootopia 2 (2025) | Animated Family Adventure | Jared Bush, Byron Howard / Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman | Thanksgiving anchor – Disney |
| Nov 28 | Pillion (2025) | Romance / Drama | Harry Lighton / Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling | UK release – A24 U.S. TBA |
Final Thoughts
November 2025 is the month where every kind of moviegoer finds their moment — from the spectacle of Wicked: For Good to the heart of Zootopia 2, the craft of Frankenstein, and the introspection of Pillion.
The holiday season begins with lights, music, and emotion — a reminder that cinema thrives when audiences gather together.
Tip: Book premium formats early for Wicked and Zootopia 2 — and tell us in the comments what you’re most excited to watch first.
FAQ: November 2025 Movie Releases
Q: What are the biggest movies coming out in November 2025?
A: Wicked: For Good (Universal) leads the month’s releases on November 21, 2025, followed by Disney’s Zootopia 2, arriving just in time for Thanksgiving on November 26, 2025. Both are expected to dominate premium formats and family audiences.
Q: When is Thanksgiving weekend at the movies in 2025?
A: Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The extended movie weekend runs November 26–30, anchored by Zootopia 2 as the family blockbuster of the holiday frame.
Q: What new dramas or award contenders will release in November 2025?
A: Prestige titles like Nuremberg (Sony Pictures Classics, Nov 7) and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (Netflix, Nov 7) headline the awards-season entries, alongside The Choral (UK release Nov 7; U.S. limited Dec 25), which is already generating BAFTA buzz.
Q: Are there any international or Bollywood releases in November 2025?
A: While no major Bollywood film is scheduled for U.S. theaters in November 2025, art-house titles like Pillion (A24 / Picturehouse, Nov 28 UK) expand the month’s global lineup with strong festival buzz.
Q: Which movie is projected to top the box office in November 2025?
A: Box Office Projection: Wicked: For Good is expected to lead total monthly grosses due to its earlier release and extended run, while Zootopia 2 may score the larger Thanksgiving weekend haul from November 27–30.
