November 2026 brings a full run of big-screen releases, from a new Godzilla film and an animated Cat in the Hat this week to the next Hunger Games chapter on November 20. Studios are lining up holiday titles early, so the month has something for most movie groups, whether your friends want a monster movie, a heist comedy or a family outing before Thanksgiving.
This guide goes week by week through the US theatrical releases, using ScreenRant's November release roundup, with release dates cross-checked against Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes where both list the film. Dates can move, so confirm showtimes before you buy tickets.
New movies opening November 6
Godzilla Minus Zero is the sequel to 2023's Godzilla Minus One and the 39th film in the franchise, according to ScreenRant. Takashi Yamazaki directs, and the story is set in 1949 as postwar Japan struggles to rebuild while a new threat, King Ghidorah, emerges. Fandango lists it as opening this Friday, and it is the monster pick of the month for anyone who wants a big theater experience.
The Cat in the Hat also opens November 6. It is an animated take on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book, directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, with Bill Hader voicing the Cat and a cast that includes Quinta Brunson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bowen Yang and America Ferrera. The story follows the Cat on his hardest assignment, which is cheering up two siblings who just moved to a new town. It is the easy choice for a family group chat planning a weekend matinee.
Movies opening November 13
Two films open on November 13 according to both ScreenRant and Rotten Tomatoes. Ebenezer is Ti West's Christmas Gothic take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge and a supporting cast that includes Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen and Daisy Ridley. ScreenRant describes it as an expansion of Dickens' novella, which makes it a good pick for friends who like a darker holiday story.
How to Rob a Bank is an action comedy heist from director David Leitch. ScreenRant says it follows media-savvy robbers who document their heists on social media and give the money to people in need, while an FBI agent played by John C. Reilly and a hacker played by Zoë Kravitz try to catch them. Nicholas Hoult, Anna Sawai, Rhenzy Feliz, Pete Davidson and Christian Slater also star, and the movie suits a larger group that wants something fast and funny.
The Hunger Games returns on November 20
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens November 20 on Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and ScreenRant alike. Francis Lawrence directs this sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and prequel to the original film, and ScreenRant says it follows a 16-year-old Haymitch, played by Joseph Zada, who is selected for the 50th Hunger Games. In this special edition each district sends twice the usual number of tributes, and Mckenna Grace, Ben Wang and Molly McCann play fellow District 12 competitors.
ScreenRant also lists I Play Rocky for November 20, a biographical drama from Peter Farrelly about the writing of the original Rocky film, with Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb and Matt Dillon. That date comes from a single source, so double-check it before you plan around it.
Thanksgiving week: November 25 releases
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has the most releases of any day on ScreenRant's list. Hexed is a Disney animated film directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, with Hailee Steinfeld voicing a teenager who discovers she has magical powers, and a voice cast that includes Rashida Jones, Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins.
Focker In-Law brings back Ben Stiller, Teri Polo and Robert De Niro, with Ariana Grande as the girlfriend of the couple's grown son. Hershey is a biographical drama about the founders of The Hershey Company with Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario, and The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is David Fincher's standalone sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with Brad Pitt. ScreenRant says the Cliff Booth film plays exclusively in IMAX for two weeks before it streams on Netflix on December 23.
How to plan a group movie night
With so many options, the hardest part is picking one. A simple method for a group chat is to post two or three titles, let everyone vote and lock in a showtime by midweek. Matinees and early evening shows tend to be easier for families, and larger groups often do better buying seats together early.
If you want to stay home instead, we keep several streaming guides current. Our new Netflix movies for fall list covers what is on the service now, and the best movies in theaters this fall guide covers earlier releases that may still be playing. The December 2026 movie releases post looks ahead to what comes next.
A good name helps a movie group stay organized, and our best group chat names for movie lovers list has plenty to borrow. If your crew likes sci-fi, the best sci-fi movies on Netflix list makes a good double feature at home.
Find your people
Movies are better with people who will argue about the ending. Join the Global Cinephiles Tribe to trade picks and reviews with other film fans, and check the Tribe Events calendar on Luma for in-person gatherings, from dinners to game nights, that can turn a group chat into a real plan.
