November is an exciting month for fans of the popular streaming services. To start, there are plenty of new and old holiday fare making its way to get people excited for the festive season. Notably, however, Disney is celebrating its two year anniversary on November 12, with a slew of exciting new series, movies, and behind-the-scenes content for so-called Disney Day.
With exciting blockbusters, spirited shows, and some revealing documentaries, there is much to enjoy in November. Here’s everything coming to Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, as well as some top picks you don’t want to miss.
The newest recruit in the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits Disney+ in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings.” This mystical martial arts adventure follows young Shaun, a valet driver in San Francisco, as his past catches up with him as his father, wielder of the Ten Rings, beckons his children to return home and aid him in a magical quest. Shang-Chi boasts some impressive action sequences and a tender familial story, though is most notable for its embrace of Asian and Asian American culture. The cast is predominantly Asian and Asian North American and draws influence from the stories of Jackie Chan and Ang Lee.
This action-packed summer blockbuster was initially offered as part of Disney Premier Access, but now arrives on Disney+ for all subscribers to enjoy. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, this fun lark provides easy entertainment propelled by his two charming leads: Blunt is a scientist in search of a rare plant while Johnson is the savvy boat captain she hires to lead her into the jungle. A sequel is already in the works.
It’s not clear exactly what will be revealed during this special, but Marvel fans will definitely want to block out time to enjoy as soon as possible. With so many projects on the horizon, including series such as “Moon Knight” and “She-Hulk”, a Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special and plenty of films, it’s safe to say there will be some new trailers and sneak-peeks. Casting announcements, release dates, and maybe new titles - perhaps something about “Fantastic Four” - will hopefully be included. Even if it’s stuff we’ve seen, Marvel puts together a great sizzle reel.
Star Wars will take part in Disney Day as well, with this documentary special about one of the most famous bounty hunters in all the galaxy. Boba Fett returned in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian” and will get his own series in the next few months, but this special should hold over eager fans.
Disney+ loves Olaf. In addition to the two “Frozen” films, he’s appeared in a handful of shorts; now in this special, he offers his own retelling of some popular Disney animated classics. These goofy series of shorts will tackle “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” and many others for an amusing escape with the beloved and highly-talented snowman.
This documentary series starring Jeff Goldblum was one of the initial offerings when Disney+ first bowed, and now returns for a second series on the two-year anniversary of the service. Five new episodes will debut, with the beloved actor asking curious questions and taking a look at the global cultural fascination with magic, dogs, fireworks, monsters, and dance.
The fourth live-action MCU series arrives in November as one of the original Avengers takes center stage. Jeremy Renner returns as Clint Barton as he joins up with a young and talented admirer to face the consequences of his actions following Thanos’ snap. The series is set around the holidays, adding a bit of spirit to the show, and like those that preceded it, we're expecting lots of action, humor, and plenty of setup for the future.
This six-hour documentary series features never-before-seen footage from one of the greatest bands of all time, as Peter Jackson presents an intimate look at The Beatles. Detailing the making of Let It Be and leading up to their iconic rooftop concert, this three-part series looks to present a more comprehensive look at the group's dynamics. Mined from over 55 hours of footage, Peter Jackson has restored and edited the content in stunning clarity and detail to tell a story for all music and pop culture fans.
This special episode of “Taste of the Nation” is sure to get some viewers in the holiday spirit, or at least whet their appetites. Host Padma Lakshmi connects people of different backgrounds and beliefs through food and celebrations in this four-part series. This holiday special will look at a Hanukkah dinner in New York as well as a Cuban Christmas eve feast in Miami as it continues to shine a light on the meals that bring people together.
This violent animated series is another entry into Hulu’s Marvel foray; they’re not part of the MCU, but they’re definitely an entertaining vision of lesser-known characters. For the unfamiliar, Hit Monkey is about an assassin whose spirit connects with a monkey bystander following his untimely death. Bloodshed, bullets, and comedic hijinks ensue as Bryce (voiced by Jason Sudeikis) commands his new monkey friend to enact vengeance on those that double-crossed him.
Elle Fanning returns as Catherine the Great in the second season of this rich, devious costume drama. The first season, initially conceived as a limited series, was quickly embraced for its wit and charm centering upon the scheming and knowing Catherine. A second season looks to boast more backstabbing and betrayal, and it welcomes icon Gillian Anderon as Catherine’s mother.
Released earlier in 2021, this Nicolas Cage film is another entry into the actor’s latest stretch of weird and intense films, but this option is more cerebral and surprising than some of the more outrageous Cage offerings. Here he plays a truffle forager whose beloved pig is stolen, and while he seeks out his companion, it’s not exactly the warpath of violence and vengeance that Cage usually undertakes in his films. This emotional story is definitely worth a watch for Cage’s performance alone.
Youngsters can get into the holiday spirit with this special of the popular animated series “Madagascar” that debuts the day after Thanksgiving. Melman meets a wayward goose in New York City and a shambolic and warm-hearted adventure awaits as they try to find his flock.
This lively biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive response and enjoyment. Cumberbatch is Louis Wain, an English artist credited with popularizing cats through his noteworthy and ubiquitous paintings. With a quirky tone and plenty of humor, this is a welcome escape into charm and whimsy.
This docuseries follows Jane Noury, a transgender teenager finishing up high school and ready to take on college while learning to live her truth. This intimate story details her life with family and friends along with her lofty aspirations, including becoming a model. It’s an uplighting and emotional tale, filled with love, determination, and honesty that everyone should watch.
Amazon's long-awaited answer to HBO’s “Game of Thrones” finally hits the service in November. “The Wheel of Time,” based on the popular fantasy series of the same name, tells an epic fantasy story that involves magic, prophecies, and dragons. An early trailer teases lots of action, some sensuality, and a sprawling tale with a large cast and stunning set. The first three episodes become available at once, with more following in the weeks to come.
The third season of the action-adventure series “Hanna” returns to Amazon Prime, with the young assassin gearing up to face another big baddie. Ray Liotta joins the cast as the season's villain in a series that continues to raise tension, as Hanna seeks out answers as well as her freedom all while seeking vengeance on those that deceived her.
Another film that first bowed at TIFF, this documentary follows the catastrophic wildfires that consumed Australia in 2019 and 2020. This intense story is filled with harrowing scenes of overwhelming power as well as a strong political message stressing the importance of facing climate change. Directed by Australian documentarian Eva Orner, this honest, intense look at the devastation is captivating and jarring.
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Anthony Marcusa is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
