Release Radar: Thanksgiving 2021

You may think the Thanksgiving holiday wouldn’t be the biggest release window with so much travel on deck for many people, but it’s also an extended holiday weekend where people have time at their disposal. I even went and saw movies every day of the week except for Thanksgiving Day itself, but only two of those were from this week. Anyhow, I was a little pressed for time this week so I am not going to get into detail but I’ll still point out the most interesting highlights.

Encanto (Theaters Nov. 24th)

Screenplay by: Charise Castro Smith & Jared Bush

Story by: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith, Jason Hand, Nany Kruse, & Lin Manuel-Miranda

Directed by: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, and John Leguizamo

House of Gucci (Theaters Nov. 24th)

Written by: Beck Johnston and Roberto Bentivegna (screenplay, Beck Johnston (story), and Sara Gay Forden (book)

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, and Jared Leto

This one was a lot of fun and much funnier than I anticipated. Imagine it sort of like Game of Thrones for fashion. The cast is great and it’s loaded with excellent performances.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (Theaters Nov. 24th)

Avan Jogia (left) Leon S. Kennedy and Kaya Scodelario (right) as Claire Redfield

Written & Directed by: Johannes Roberts

Starring: Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, and Hannah John-Kamen

As a hardcore fan of the Resident Evil videogame franchise, I had hope. Seeing some of the core elements of the games brought to the screen was nice and there are some very cool horror filmmaking techniques that get utilized. However, the character writing is lacking substance, and the franchises’ most beloved characters take it right on the chin. This isn’t the kind of movie I should be getting bored with, but it is what it is.

8-Bit Christmas (HBO Max Nov. 24th)

Written by: Kevin Jukabowski | Directed by: Michael Dowse

Starring: Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris, and Steve Zahn

Bruised (Netflix Nov. 24th)

Halle Berry finally fulfills her mixed martial arts dreams in her directorial debut

Written by: Michelle Rosenfarb | Directed by: Halle Berry

Starring: Halle Berry, Adan Canto, and Sheila Atim

Drive My Car (Theaters Nov. 24th)

Written by: Haruki Murakami (short story), Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, and Takamas Oe

Directed by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

Starring: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tôko Miura, and Reika Kirishima

The Humans (Theaters Nov. 24th)

Written & Directed by: Stephen Karam

Starring: Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, and June Squibb

The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+ Nov. 25th)

Director: Peter Jackson

A 3-part documentary series about The Beatles.

DMX: Don’t Try to Understand (HBO Max Nov. 24th)

A Year in the life of Earl Simmons

Directed by: Christopher Frierson and Clark Slater

A Castle for Christmas (Netflix Nov. 26th)

Cary Elwes and Brooke Shields star in Netflix’s Hallmark-esque Christmas movie

Written by: Ally Carter and Kim Beyer-Johnson | Directed by: Mary Lambert

Starring: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes, and Lee Ross

Licorice Pizza (Theaters Nov. 26th)

The latest by Paul Thomas Anderson is receiving high praise and plenty of buzz

Written and Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Emma Dumont, Bradley Cooper, and Skyler Gisondo

‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas (Apple TV+ Nov. 26th)

An interesting look at the maniacal side of the Christmas season

Directed by: Becky Read

Writing with Fire (Theaters Nov. 26th)

Directed by: Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas

Starring: Meera Devi, Shyamkali Devi, and Suneeta Prajapati


Word of mouth is still the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing, please tell somebody. Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!