Despite a lot of theaters staying closed and all of the major studios pushing back the release dates of their tentpole releases, the theater release schedule moves forward, with most movies only hitting the standard for “limited release.” 

This week we take a look at some of the films debuting (as opposed to getting archival runs) in theaters in November:

The Informer (Nov. 6) 

Released over a year ago overseas, this ensemble crime drama features a stellar supporting cast behind leading man Joel Kinnaman, who plays an ex-con who goes undercover to infiltrate the mafia at a maximum security prison. 

Rosamund Pike, Common, Clive Owen, and Ana de Armas all turn up in this flick from actor-turned-director Andrea Di Stefano. The trailer looks promising, if unremarkable.

Jungleland (Nov. 6)

This Max Winkler drama sees two brothers travelling across the country for a no-holds-barred boxing match that “becomes a fight for their lives,” according to IMDb. Sounds like Warrior meets a 1980s Jean Claude Van Damme flick to me. 

Charlie Hunnam, Jonathan Majors, and Jack O’Connell star while It-Boy Max Winkler (Flower) directs.

Also out November 6: Let Him Go, Kindred, True to the Game 2, and something called Amigo Skate, Cuba.

Dreamland (Nov. 13)

When we come to Dreamland, I realize what’s happening at the movie theaters right now. What we’re getting on this release schedule are the films that the studios either shelved or were planning on pushing to VOD. 

In other words, we’re getting the movies that the studios weren’t happy with, or didn’t think would sell well. Some have already seen limited runs, some have been released overseas, some played at festivals one, two, or even three years ago. 

This Bonnie and Clyde-esque film stars Margot Robbie, Travis Fimmel, Lola Kirke, and my guy Garrett Hedlund.

Ammonite (Nov. 13)

Filed firmly under “failed Oscar bait,” Francis Lee’s new drama features one of the most cringe-worthy premises I can recall reading: “Set in 1840s England, acclaimed but overlooked fossil hunter Mary Anning and a young woman sent to convalesce by the sea develop an intense relationship, altering both of their lives forever.” 

The film stars Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, and Gemma Jones. Maybe it’s good?

Also out November 13: Freaky, Chick Fight, and The Climb.

Thanksgiving

The Croods: A New Age and Stardust, an unauthorized David Bowie biopic chronicling his first big trips to the U.S., will be the two movies released for the Thanksgiving weekend mobs. 

But wait, will there be Thanksgiving weekend mobs this year? Or will The Croods flop? Something tells me we’ll be seeing The Croods on VOD sooner rather than later. And while Stardust features the poster of the year and great source material, the fact that it’s unauthorized makes it a hard pass.

None of these movies leave me feeling too excited, but if pressed, I would pick out Dreamland as the movie I’d watch from the November slate of releases. 

Would I go out to the theater during a pandemic to watch Margot Robbie shooting everything up? Doubt it. But I admit it is tempting.