(This article first appeared in the November print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Just when most industry observers thought the 2025 box office was in good shape, two costly motion pictures (Tron: Ares and One Battle After Another) and a slew of underperforming releases this October (The Smashing Machine, Roofman, After the Hunt) have put the year in financial jeopardy. While most of the studios are placing their top hopefuls this December, the chance of a breakout success early in November, and the surefire hits later in the month, will be enough to put the year over 2024’s total. Here are some of the titles to brave the fall chill at your local Showplace Cinemas and AMC Theater locations. And, always double-check to see what the current showtimes are to avoid a different type of box-office disappointment.
Predator: Badlands (Nov. 7) – Taking this legacy franchise back to the theaters for the first time since 2018’s The Predator, co-writer/director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers) helms this tale of an outcast Predator who finds an unlikely ally on one of the most dangerous planets in the galaxy. Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon, Super 8) toplines this expansion of the sci-fi/horror/action series.
Nuremberg (Nov. 7) – In this WWII drama, a psychiatrist (Colin Hanks) becomes obsessed with understanding the evil intent of the Nazi regime while he interviews Hermann Göring (Academy Award winner Russell Crowe). Fellow Oscar winner Rami Malek, Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, and veteran actors Richard E. Grant and John Slattery co-star. James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-man) adapts, produces and directs this awards hopeful.
The Running Man (Nov. 14) – While Arnold Schwarzenegger only makes a brief cameo (as the face on a $100 bill), co-writer/co-producer/director Edgar Wright and almost-superstar Glen Powell put their gonzo spin on Stephen King’s (written under the Richard Bachman name) 1982 novel. Taking place in the year 2025, a man joins a game show as a contestant where he is hunted by hired killers all over the world. The all-star cast includes Josh Brolin, Coleman Domingo, Emilia Jones, Katy O’Brian, Michael Cera and William H. Macy.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (Nov. 14) – In yet another stacked cast, and nine years since the release of Now You See Me 2, Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Rosamund Pike and Daniel Radcliff are back for another caper. Prepare yourself for more astounding cinematic illusions and snappy one-liners, this time guided by director Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Zombieland).
Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21) – In this continuation of the smash 2024 blockbuster, the relationship between Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) and Glenda, the Good Witch of the North (Ariana Grande) is put to the test. John M. Chu (Wicked, Crazy Rich Asians) once again directs, with a supporting cast that includes Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Jonathan Bailey, Coleman Domingo and Peter Dinklage.
Sisu: Road to Revenge (Nov. 21) – In the mood for something that isn’t a big-budget fantasy spectacle or dramatic awards hopeful? If you said yes, look no further than this sequel to the surprise 2022 low-budget hit! This time, the title character (Jorma Tommila) returns home to rebuild his family’s house after the war. However, a Red Army commander (Stephen Lang) discovers his whereabouts, leading to a brutal cross-country pursuit. Series creator and writer/director Jamari Helander returns to create all the computer-generated blood-splattered mess he can manage.
Eternity (Nov. 26) – After making the move to a more mid-budget film slate ($20-$80 million), indie distributor A24 is in need of a big hit by co-writer/director David Freyne (Dating Amber, The Cured), making his bigger-budget debut. In this fantasy/dramedy, Joan’s (Elizabeth Olsen) soul has one week to decide if she spends the afterlife with her husband (Miles Teller) or her first love that died during a war (Callum Turner). The studio is hoping for a Materialists-level success with this release. Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph co-stars.
Zootopia 2 (Nov. 26) – Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman return to voice Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, the odd couple rabbit and fox who team up once again to crack the toughest case of their careers. Supporting voice talent for this animated feature includes Ke Huy Quan, Quinta Brunson, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Idris Elba, and Macaulay Culkin. Byron Howard returns to co-direct with writer/co-director Jared Bush. Walt Disney Animation is hoping the holiday crowd hops into theaters the same way they did for the original.
