That’s without even mentioning Paddington in Peru, which is released on November 8 and sees the beloved bear travel back to his homeland for a new adventure that also sees Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas join the cast.

And that’s not all. In fact, the month began with the release of a host of brilliant new releases already in theaters – from Sean Baker’s gorgeous Palme d’Or winner Anora and Steve McQueen’s World War II film Blitz to Clint Eastwood’s Juror No # 2 and the superbly understated drama Small Things Like These , which boasts another world-class performance from Cillian Murphy.

Another film touted as a major prize contender is the thriller Vatican Conclave, which has a star-studded cast including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini and hits UK cinemas towards the end of the month.

To help you pick out the highlights, we’ve compiled a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our picks.

Anora

Release date: Friday November 1 in theaters (out now)

Sean Baker’s wonderful film stars Mikey Madison as a sex worker who impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only for her seeming fairy tale to quickly turn sour when his family learns of the marriage.

Part romance, part twisted comedy and part crime film, the film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is positioned as a major player in the Oscar race – with Madison’s captivating central turn particularly worthy of praise.

Blitz

Release date: Friday November 1 in theaters (out now)

Steve McQueen’s latest feature is a picaresque adventure about a young boy trying to make it home during World War II – with newcomer Elliott Heffernan shining in the title role and the reliably excellent Saoirse Ronan playing his mother.

It’s somewhat broader than some of McQueen’s other works, but there’s plenty of his visual imagination and the film has an old-school charm about it while also providing plenty of social commentary and painting a more fractured version of the Blitz spirit than it is. sometimes presented.

Juror #2

Release date: Friday November 1 in cinemas (out now)

Billed as Clint Eastwood’s possible final film, Juror #2 stars Nicholas Hoult as a juror who must grapple with a moral dilemma during a murder trial that could have a significant impact on the fate of the accused.

The film received a very limited release in the US, but is playing on many screens on this side of the Atlantic and has received mostly strong reviews from critics.

Little things like these

Release date: Friday November 1 in theaters (out now)

Cillian Murphy delivers another stunning performance in this understated but immensely powerful drama adapted from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Claire Keegan, about Ireland’s infamous Magdalene laundries.

Set in 1985, Murphy plays Bill Furlong, a man who runs a small coal company in County Wicklow who struggles with whether to intervene when he discovers the abuse of a young woman at the local convent.

Heretic

Release date: Friday November 1 in cinemas (out now)

Hugh Grant has his most villainous role yet in this horror film about two Mormon missionaries who knock on the door of a seemingly charming man, only to discover that he has a deeply sinister plan in place for them.

Written and directed by A Quiet Place writing duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, it’s a tense affair lifted by Grant’s stellar performance, as he weaponizes charm to create a highly watchable but unforgivably awful character.

Paddington in Peru

Premiere date: Friday, November 8 in theaters

Britain’s favorite bear returns for a new adventure that takes him back to his homeland – with Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas joining the cast and Emily Mortimer replacing Sally Hawkins as Mrs Brown.

Dougal Wilson takes over directorial duties from Paul King and while it can’t quite match the previous film, it’s still a delightful family film with plenty of magical moments and marmalade sandwiches.

Bird

Premiere date: Friday, November 8 in theaters

Andrea Arnold’s latest film is an unconventional coming-of-age story starring Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski, with newcomer Nykiya Adams starring as 12-year-old Bailey.

She lives with her single dad (Keoghan) and her brother Hunter on a squat in North Kent, but doesn’t get much attention from her family and so seeks adventure elsewhere.

Gladiator II

Premiere date: Friday, November 15 in theaters

Paul Mescal stars in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel – which also includes a meaty role for Denzel Washington and supporting turns from Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and the returning Connie Nielsen.

Set 16 years after the events of the first film, it follows the now grown-up Lucius as he embarks on his own rage-fueled quest for revenge – aiming to bring Rome back to its people and away from its twin emperors and their endless conquests.

Evil

Premiere date: Friday, November 22 in theaters

The film adaptation of the hit Broadway and West End musical – or at least the first half of it – is finally coming to cinemas, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo starring as Galinda and Elphaba respectively.

Of course, the story will already be familiar to many: a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it follows the gradual friendship that develops between the misunderstood Elphaba and the popularity-obsessed Galinda – which soon cracks after an encounter with the Wizard of Oz.

Conclave

Premiere date: Friday 29 November in cinemas

Ralph Fiennes leads the cast in this star-studded Vatican drama, adapted from a best-selling novel by Robert Harris, in which a number of cardinals clash as they try to elect a new pope.

Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow are among the other big names playing the potential candidates, while there is also a memorable role for Isabella Rossellini as a nun who must play a key role in the intrigue.

Moana 2

Premiere date: Friday 29 November in cinemas

The sequel to Disney’s hugely successful animation sees the title character answer an unexpected call from her ancestors that takes her to the distant seas of Oceania.

Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel House and Alan Tudyk all reprise their voice roles from the first film, while Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear replace Lin-Manuel Miranda as additional songwriters.

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