November is synonymous with fall, the season of warmth and coziness. As we watch the leaves transform into various shades of brown and enjoy cooler breezes, many are motivated to cozy up indoors. Hot chocolate, pumpkin-spiced goodies, and holiday films typically go hand in hand, and thankfully, there is no shortage of flicks set in autumn to get you in the mood to snuggle up on the couch. While November movies might not be as bountiful as those set in its neighboring months of October’s Halloween thrills or December’s holiday romps, there’s still much to enjoy this month – even if you’re just looking for cozy vibes.
Whether you’re a rom-com connoisseur, enjoy an excellent tear-jerking drama, or prefer a horror plot based around the holiday season, there is no shortage of options for this time of year. While we won’t ruin your viewing experience with spoilers, here are just a few films and their synopsis that will inspire you to snuggle up on the couch and enjoy a movie marathon this weekend.
Friendsgiving (2020)
IMDB rating: 4.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 19%
Where to Watch: Starz, YouTube, Hulu, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Philo, Google Play, Fandango at Home, Apple TV
Friendsgiving is a lighthearted flick that recruits an ensemble cast including Wanda Sykes, Deon Cole, Jane Seymour, and Kat Dennings. As the title suggests, Friendsgiving follows Molly (Malin Åkerman) and best friend Abby (Dennings) as they plan to have an intimate Thanksgiving dinner together. With Molly going through a divorce and Abby coming to grips with her sexuality, the friends plan to lean on one another over good food until word gets out, and the dinner balloons into a full-blown group dinner with their quirky friends, who invite other exciting figures.
Remember the Titans (2000)
IMDB rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 71%
Where to Watch: Disney+, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
For football season vibes with a dramatic edge, Remember the Titans is a biographical sports drama produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. With director Boaz Yakin, they weave a tale loosely based on the story of Herman Boone, a high school football coach who, in 1971, led the Williams High School football team to their state championship. If November movies are synonymous with football for you, don’t miss Denzel Washington in this 2000s classic.
Soul Food (1997)
IMDB rating: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
While it doesn’t necessarily take place in November, Soul Food can still align with the Thanksgiving mood of a family dinner. This dramady, George Tillman Jr.’s directorial debut in a major studio, has an ensemble cast that’s packed with familiar faces. Vanessa Williams, Vivca A. Fox, Nia Long, and more portray a family that meet together every Sunday. Their various trials are seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Ahmad, played by Brandon Hammond. Hammond would wind up winning an NAACP Image Award for his work in this November movie.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
IMDB rating: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
Where to Watch: AMC+, Paramount+, Philo, YouTube, SlingTV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Unveiled in November 1999, Sleepy Hollow is a dark supernatural horror, which isn’t exactly a feel-good story, but it is a great fall movie night selection. Based in 1799, a New York City police constable, Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), is assigned to the village of Sleepy Hollow, which is being haunted by an uptick of brutal murders committed by a terrifying headless killer. While he is not entirely a believer in the paranormal, the case forces him to face the unexplained.
Cinderella (1997)
IMDB rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86%
Where to Watch: Disney+
While it might not seem like it, the warm color palette with splashes of icy blue in 1997’s Cinderella give this film the feeling of a cozy autumn that’s dancing into winter, making it a perfect November movie. It was also released within November of 1997, for an added bonus. Starring Brandy, this is one to put on for and with the kids – or, just for yourself if you’re craving a wholesome fairy tale. It’s considered one of the best adaptations of the classic story, and definitely worth an autumn watch.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
IMDB rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Where to Watch: Max
Silver Linings Playbook is set in the fall and is an Oscar-winning masterpiece that follows the story of Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Jr. (Bradley Cooper), a bipolar man who spends eight months in a psychiatric hospital. After his release, he desperately wants to win back his wife, Nikki (Brea Bee). However, she has taken out a protective order against him after he caught her in the shower with another man and beat him to a pulp before he was committed to the facility. After moving back to his parent’s home, he meets a widow in the neighborhood, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). In exchange for being her partner in a dancing match, Tiffany offers to help him get Nikki back, though the two quickly get closer as they train together as Pat continues to struggle with his mental health.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
IMDB rating: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
You’ve Got Mail is a classic 90s romance that tells the story of two business competitors who are in an online relationship. The problem is that neither Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) nor Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) realizes they are speaking frequently with one another in the digital world as they bump heads in real life. Kathleen runs The Shop Around the Corner, a children’s bookstore, while Joe helps lead his family business, the more prestigious Fox Books. Their conflict arises when Fox Books opens a new location near The Shop Around the Corner, threatening Kathleen’s livelihood. However, in their web lives, they both find solace with one another, using screen names “Shopgirl” and “NY152.”
Autumn in New York (2000)
IMDB rating: 5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 20%
Where to Watch: Tubi, Pluto TV, VIX, YouTube TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime
Autumn in New York is a touching romantic drama, but beware, you will undoubtedly need the tissues nearby. Will Keane (Richard Gere), a successful 48-year-old restaurant owner and serial bachelor, meets the young and vibrant Charlotte Fielding, who is celebrating her 22nd birthday at his Manhattan eatery. Despite learning that Charlotte is the adult daughter of his now-deceased ex-girlfriend, the pair eventually embark on a steamy romance. However, it was meant to be a casual situation. However, things take a serious turn when she reveals that she is terminally ill and given just a year to live.
Thanksgiving (2023)
IMDB rating: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84%
Where to Watch: Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime
Thanksgiving is a holiday slasher centered around Turkey Day. It is based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which is still recovering from a bloody Black Friday sale at RightMart the year before. Unfortunately, they are soon faced with more tragedy when an elusive killer known as “John Carver,” due to the terrifying mask he wears imitating the famous pilgrim who became Deputy Governor of Plymouth Colony in the 1600s. The murderer begins terrorizing the close-knit community, targeting several of the people involved in the Black Friday stampede. The town’s sheriff, Eric Newlon (Patrick Dempsey), is investigating the killer, though he has secrets of his own that will shake the residents to their core.
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