Five new Netflix movies to keep an eye out for in November
November is just around the corner, and Netflix has come armed with more than enough films to keep you stuck inside the house while that pre-holiday plan with your friends stares from the corner, so good luck convincing yourself you’re going to have a productive month.
Halloween’s barely over, and Netflix is already getting into the Christmas spirit. You can expect plenty of festive films taking over the homepage this November, but if the thought of watching another cheesy Christmas romance makes you barf, there is some decent stuff on the way too.
Luckily, November’s got a few films that look worth your time, so we’ve picked out five you might want to give a go. Hopefully, it’ll save you a bit of scrolling next time you’re stuck for something to watch.
Five new Netflix movies to keep an eye out for in November
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Cathryn Michon, November 6th)
Christmas is already a bit of a mad time for families, but in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, things go from bad to worse for the Goss family, with Granddad Sander still struggling with the loss of his wife and constantly clashing with his teenage granddaughter Ello. And just when the family could do with a bit of peace, a medical emergency turns their Christmas upside down, leaving their loyal old basset hound Winstead trying to bring everyone together again, which we reckon is a lovely way to tell a story about family and forgiveness.
And the best part is that Thomas Haden Church voices Winstead, so you can already imagine how sweet things might get. Dennis Quaid, Brooke Lena Johnson, Milo Ventimiglia, Mary Steenburgen and Jennifer Tilly join the cast, while Cathryn Michon directs this adaptation of W. Bruce Cameron’s novel, and given that he’s the bloke behind A Dog’s Purpose, we’d say keep a box of tissues nearby.
The Gospel of Christmas (Tyler Perry, November 13th)
Now, if your idea of Christmas involves gospel music, you are in for a treat. Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas has Tank and Fantasia Barrino playing husband and wife, but it’s the rest of the cast that’ll really get music fans talking. You’ve got CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams involved, with legends like Shirley Caesar and The Clark Sisters joining in too. Oh, and Kirk Franklin is handling the music. Not a bad bunch to have on a Christmas film, is it?
Now, you’d think with all those singers involved, we’d be getting a nice, cheerful Christmas story. Not quite. Tank plays Isaac, a pastor who’s been left in charge of his family’s church in a rough part of New York. Trouble is, the place is struggling, and Isaac’s got his own problems to deal with. He’s supposed to be the one helping everyone else keep the faith, but he’s starting to lose his own. Still, with gospel music and a bit of rap mixed into the Christmas soundtrack, this could be a good shout if you’re bored of the usual festive stuff. And come on, with Kirk Franklin involved, you’d at least expect a few songs worth turning the volume up for.
Heartland (Shana Feste, November 18th)
Right, enough tinsel for a minute, because Heartland takes us to Nashville, where the music sounds lovely, but the secrets are another story. Jessica Chastain plays Misty Jones, a former country superstar who’s kept herself out of the spotlight until her niece, an up-and-coming singer, disappears, and she has no option but to go back into a world she’d rather have left behind. And the deeper she goes, the dodgier everything looks, including people she thought she knew, which is never a good sign.
Here’s a little twist behind the scenes: Misty’s missing niece Charlie is played by real country singer Carter Faith, so there’s actual musical talent in the cast, not just actors pretending to strum a guitar. Garrett Hedlund, Ross Lynch, Jennifer Nettles and John Hawkes also turn up, while writer-director Shana Feste previously made Country Strong.
Gentle Monster (Marie Kreutzer, November 18th)
Oh, Netflix and its obsession with the word “Monster”. After introducing us to Lizzie Borden this year, now we have Gentle Monster. Now imagine moving somewhere quiet, only for the police to turn up at dawn and blow your whole life apart. That’s the thing facing Lucy in Gentle Monster: a concert pianist who moved to help her husband, Philip, recover from burnout, but then an accusation against him leaves her wondering whether she knows the man she married.
Léa Seydoux plays Lucy, Laurence Rupp plays Philip, and Catherine Deneuve and Jella Haase are in the cast too. It’s written and directed by Marie Kreutzer, the filmmaker behind Corsage, and it has already played at Cannes and Telluride before its Netflix arrival. Don’t go expecting a cheerful family drama here because this one’s more about doubt and that horrible feeling when the person closest to you suddenly seems like a stranger.
Guarding Stars (Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, November 20th)
Alright, enough gloom, time for some romance and fun. In Guarding Stars,Leighton Meester plays Hannah, a no-nonsense bodyguard hired to look after action star Jack, played by Jared Padalecki, and when the two end up spending Christmas at his family’s Montana ranch, pretending they are a couple, you know things won’t stay strictly professional.
The funny thing is, this story comes from Katherine Center’s novel The Bodyguard; only the film gives it a festive makeover, with director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, who made Purple Hearts, running the show. Andie MacDowell and Noah LaLonde are also in it, alongside country singer Walker Hayes making his acting debut. It’s got the ingredients for a warm evening watch, so make sure to add it to your watchlist.