October was a rough one. After September 2017 – bolstered in large part by IT – set a new box office record, last month saw the industry take a significant nosedive, to its lowest total in a decade. Partly, the disappointing performance of Blade Runner 2049 is to blame, as is the disastrous earnings of high-profile releases like Michael Fassbender thriller The Snowman and George Clooney’s latest directorial effort Suburbicon. The month’s only real success stories seem to be playing into the unmitigated triumph of horror cinema this year. Both Happy Death Day and Jigsaw turned tidy profits in their opening weekends, with the former already having earned nearly $50 million as of this writing based on a reported $4.8 million production budget.

But enough looking back. Let’s focus on the month ahead. November is universally when the fall movie season starts to unleash its biggest tentpoles, leading into both awards season and the holidays. After all, families need something to see after they finish their Thanksgiving dinners, right? This November has no shortage of big releases heading to a theater near you, with superhero epics and broad comedies leading the way. So, before you make your shopping plans for the holidays, here are the films you’ll need to make room for in your busy schedule.

In other words, here are 10 films to check out in November 2017:

A Bad Moms Christmas (Release Date: November 1)

It’s fair to say that no one expected Bad Moms to be quite the monster hit that it was last summer. Based on a $20 million budget, the film – written and directed by The Hangover writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore – went on to earn $183 million worldwide and effectively placed stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn at the head of a very bankable franchise.

In A Bad Moms Christmas, the titular trio reclaim the holiday season as only they can. Following the success ofR-rated, female-led ensemble comedy Girls Trip earlier this year, the chance that this sequel can duplicate its predecessor’s success is more palpable than ever. Factor in the built-in appeal of a raunchy bit of holiday counter-programming, and it should be no time before Bad Moms 3 gets a green light.

Check out the latest trailer for A Bad Moms Christmas.

Thor: Ragnarok (Release Date: November 3)

Sure, Thor and Thor: The Dark World made money. But neither film is routinely recognized among the best the Marvel Cinematic Universe has to offer. But for the third (and final?) entry in the God of Thunder’s solo adventures, Marvel Studios isn’t holding anything back. Nope, not even the Planet Hulk storyline that fans have waited years to see adapted on the big screen.

In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard to find that the infamous Hela (Cate Blanchett) has decimated his homeworld. Thankfully, he finds a familiar face along his journey in Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and launches a counter-strike against Hela. With the distinct voice of director Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) at the helm, Thor: Ragnarok is already earning critical raves for its good humor, bright-colored spectacle and pure entertainment value.

Check out the latest trailer for Thor: Ragnarok.

Lady Bird (Release Date: November 3)

Saoirse Ronan has flirted with Oscar before with acclaimed roles in films like Atonement and Brooklyn, but if the reviews for Lady Bird are any indication, the Irish actress might finally make her way to the stage at the next ceremony. A coming of age story centering on a young woman’s adventures in Northern California, the film is set to become one of this fall’s most-talked-about releases.

Greta Gerwig – who earned raves for her performances in Noah Baumbach films Frances Ha and Mistress America – writes and directs Lady Bird, which is playing in select theaters this month. Featuring a strong supporting cast that Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts and Lucas Hedges, the film might be worth hunting down for moviegoers looking to stay in the conversation as its release expands.

Check out the latest trailer for Lady Bird.

Daddy’s Home 2 (Release Date: November 10)

Believe it or not, A Bad Moms Christmas isn’t the only parental-themed, holiday-set comedy arriving in theaters this month. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg return for Daddy’s Home 2, which sees the “co-dads’” rivalry reignited by the arrival of their own fathers (John Lithgow and Mel Gibson, respectively) for Christmas.

Though far tamer than Bad Moms, Daddy’s Home proved to be a profitable reunion for The Other Guys duo Ferrell and Wahlberg. Despite opening just one week after Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, the first film reined in $242 million worldwide. Expect the sequel to likely repeat that success, as its PG-13 brand of broad comedy will make for an easy choice for families looking for a laugh.

Check out the latest trailer for Daddy’s Home 2.

Murder on the Orient Express (Release Date: November 10)

Even in the age of remakes, it’s a bit wild to imagine that we’re getting a new version of Murder on the Orient Express more than 40 years after director Sidney Lumet first adapted the 1934 Agatha Christie mystery to the big screen. This time around, Kenneth Branagh does double duty as both the director and star of the 2017 edition, playing renowned detective Hercule Poirot.

In order to retain the star-studded appeal of the original film version, Branagh has assembled an impressive ensemble cast that includes Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Leslie Odom Jr., Josh Gad and Johnny Depp. If the film proves to be a hit, it could lead to a franchise centering on Poirot, but first, let’s hope that Branagh’s take is compelling enough to warrant one.

Check out the latest trailer for Murder on the Orient Express.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Release Date: November 10)

After gaining critical praise for films like In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, writer/director Martin McDonagh was liable to get attention for any project he took on next. The fact that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri combines an intriguing premise with an outstanding cast led by Oscar winner Frances McDormand only sweetens the appeal for fans of both McDonagh’s work and cinema in general.

Hitting limited release this month, Three Billboards combines McDonagh’s signature blend of dark comedy and rich, character-based drama to tell the story of a mother (McDormand) who challenges the local sheriff (Woody Harrelson) to investigate the unsolved murder of her daughter. Oscar buzz is already swirling for McDormand, Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, with Rockwell particularly tipped as an early favorite.

Check out the latest trailer for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Justice League (Release Date: November 17)

Love it or hate it, the DC Extended Universe (or whatever we’re calling it now) scored a major win earlier this year with the tremendous $821 million worldwide gross of Wonder Woman. Now, Warner Bros. and DC Films are following up its highest-grossing domestic earner with its most ambitious project yet: Justice League. Maybe you’ve heard of it, thanks to the endless stream of rumors, speculation and intense scrutiny surrounding the film?

Interestingly, the studio has largely kept Henry Cavill’s Superman out of the Justice League marketing campaign, leaning most heavily on the established appeal of Ben Affleck’s Batman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman to build audience interest. Yet, with so much divisiveness over Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (the release which directly precedes it chronologically), we’re curious if Justice League will reaffirm fans’ relief that the DC Films slate has finally hit its stride.

Check out the latest trailer for Justice League.

Coco (Release Date: November 22)

Disney and Pixar’s once-stellar reputation may have taken a few hits over the years, mostly due to subpar sequels like Cars 2. But the folks at Pixar have almost always wowed audiences with their fresh storytelling, with Inside Out being the most recent example of an original concept that everyone loved. So hopes are high that Coco can continue that trend.

The animated film follows aspiring musician Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) on an epic journey through the mythical Land of the Dead in search of his great-great-grandfather, a legendary musician named Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). Early word is that Coco offers just as much heart, humor and unforgettable visuals as previous Pixar adventures.

Check out the latest trailer for Coco.

Darkest Hour (Release Date: November 22)

Gary Oldman has consistently proven to be one of Hollywood’s greatest talents, slipping effortlessly into almost any role and often making himself unrecognizable as a result. Yet, aside from a sole nomination for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in 2012, Oldman has never really been on the Academy Awards radar. That all might change with Darkest Hour.

Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement), the film sees Oldman disappear into his work yet again as a newly appointed Winston Churchill during the beginning of World War II. Following its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September, Darkest Hour began to inspire much praise for its direction, deft handling of history and especially Oldman’s tour-de-force performance.

Check out the latest trailer for Darkest Hour.

Call Me By Your Name (Release Date: November 24)

Call Me By Your Name is one of those low-budget films – reportedly, it cost less than $5 million to make – that has steadily gained buzz all year. Now that it is finally set for a limited release this month, its critical praise and awards potential are expected to position it as one of the major players in the upcoming awards season.

Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash) co-wrote and directed this romantic drama set in Italy during the 1980s. At its heart, the film is a love story between a graduate student (Timothée Chalamet) and an older man (Armie Hammer) who find connection in the unlikeliest of ways. Chalamet, Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) are all earning strong notices for their work, with Call Me By Your Name currently winning near-universal acclaim. Don’t expect that to change as the film’s reach grows.

Check out the latest trailer for Call Me By Your Name.

-

Whew. We said this was a jam-packed month of entertaining prospects, and we meant it. To be sure, one of the big stories will be pitting Thor: Ragnarok and Justice League against each other in the latest incarnation o the needless “Marvel vs. DC” drama. Still, we expect both films to lure in audiences with their distinct takes on their respective comic book source material. In addition, we’re curious to see how Coco – the first original, non-sequel Disney/Pixar release since the underwhelming The Good Dinosaur in 2015 – will fare in the crowded box office. Seeing as it’s one of the only animated films releasing this month (and we always hesitate to bet against Pixar), Coco may very well wind up the frontrunner for next year’s Best Animated Feature Oscar. We’ll discover these answers and others (will smaller films like Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name live up to their pre-release hype?) soon enough. For now, we’ll see you at the movies.

Once again, here are the 10 films to check out in November:

November 1: A Bad Moms Christmas

November 3: Thor: Ragnarok, Lady Bird

November 10: Daddy’s Home 2, Murder on the Orient Express, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

November 17: Justice League

November 22: Coco, Darkest Hour

November 29: Call Me By Your Name

Let us know in the comments section which ones you’re most excited to see!

  • A Bad Moms Christmas Release Date: 2017-11-01 Thor: Ragnarok Release Date: 2017-11-03 Lady Bird Release Date: 2017-11-10 Daddy’s Home 2 Release Date: 2017-11-10 Murder on the Orient Express Release Date: 2017-11-10 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Release Date: 2017-11-10 Justice League Release Date: 2017-11-17 Coco Release Date: 2017-11-22 Darkest Hour Release Date: 2017-11-22 Call Me By Your Name Release Date: 2017-11-24