The Best Movies To See in Theaters – New Movies Out Now

There may be a few weeks left in autumn, but already the weather seems as crisp and chilly as a cool winter morning. As everyone tries hard to stay warm in time for the holidays, it’s perhaps not a bad idea to visit your local cinemas, basking in the warmth of the theater while enjoying any one of the phenomenal movies set for release this month.

This weekend marks a particularly exciting time for movie fans worldwide. On Friday, Hayao Miyazaki’s long-awaited Studio Ghibli film, The Boy and the Heron, arrives in theaters across the country. Along with Miyazaki’s latest epic, applauded director Yorgos Lanthimos will release his Frankenstein-esque dark comedy, Poor Things, with the psychological thriller, Eileen, also making its theatrical debut this weekend.

Along with those titles, you’ll also have time to catch up on some of the best releases from the previous few months, like Ridley Scott’s historical epic, Napoleon, the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and the latest addition to the MCU, The Marvels.

Here are all the movies you can find playing at your local movie theaters starting this weekend.

Updated: December 7.

Popular New Releases

All the movies that have audiences buzzing or that fans have been eagerly awaiting for months.

Godzilla Minus One

As most people are aware, the Godzilla franchise has released many, many, many different movies centered around the infamous, atomic breath-spewing mutated monster. This December, however, one of the most impressive films featuring the iconic kaiju creature appears in the form of Godzilla Minus One.

A short time after World War II, an enigmatic creature mutated by repeated atomic weapons testing in the Pacific emerges in Tokyo, wreaking havoc on the city and threatening every one of the community’s residents.

A meticulous homage to the original Godzilla to celebrate the series’ 70th anniversary, Godzilla Minus One has received glistening reviews from critics. With favorable attention paid to the movie’s visuals, action, and period setting, many have called it the greatest Godzilla movie of all time.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
IMDb score: 8.3

The Boy and the Heron

It’s been 10 years since Hayao Miyazaki last directed a movie, the filmmaker having won widespread renown for his 2013 anime biopic, The Wind Rises. A decade later, the founding father of Studio Ghibli returns with his most recent masterpiece, the brilliant The Boy and the Heron.

As World War II wages around him, a young boy whose mother recently passed away follows a mysterious gray heron into a magical world populated by fantastical creatures and benevolent spirits.

Like every Miyazaki film before it, The Boy and the Heron has earned incredibly warm reviews from critics, nearly all of whom have praised the film for its poignant themes, vivid animation, and wondrous depiction of grief, trauma, and healing.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
IMDb score: 7.6

Poor Things

Like most notable directors, Yorgos Lanthimos always receives respectable fanfare whenever he releases a new film, thanks in large part to the filmmaker’s skillful penchant for crafting hilarious absurdist films. Following in the footsteps of The Lobster and The Favourite, Lanthimos once again serves up a fascinating surrealist epic with his most recent film, Poor Things.

Having been resurrected by a kindly doctor (Willem Dafoe), a naïve young woman (Emma Stone) runs away with an immoral lawyer (Mark Ruffalo), experiencing the wonders of the world through a wholly new perspective.

Having won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival upon its premiere earlier this year, Poor Things has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. In addition to Stone’s powerhouse performance, critics celebrated the film for its luminous set design and quirky script.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
IMDb score: 8.5

Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé

This past year has proven to be a fantastic time for concert films. Following in the footsteps of the box office sensation, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, comes the documentary concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, chronicling Beyoncé’s record-breaking world tour.

Rather than showcasing Beyoncé’s recent concerts alone, Renaissance probes into the inner workings of Beyoncé’s creative mindset, detailing the development of her Renaissance album and the motivations behind her 2023 international tour.

Like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé has been received with an intensely positive response. When reviewing the film, critics noted the superior quality of the concert footage itself, as well as the poignant interviews collected from the singer, her family, and her various contemporaries.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
IMDb score: N/A

Napoleon

If there’s two genres Ridley Scott returns to time and time again, it’s historical dramas and ambitious sci-fi films. Falling into the former category is Scott’s latest movie, Napoleon, an epic study of how a low-ranking artillery officer became the most powerful man of the early 19th century.

As the French Revolution unfolds around him, the promising young officer Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) uses his acute military knowledge to rise through the ranks of France’s government, conquering much of Europe and formally declaring himself Emperor of France in 1804.

Though accused of overly simplifying Napoleon’s life and career at the height of his powers, Napoleon has earned generally positive reviews. With specific praise going for the movie’s performances, set designs, and battle sequences, it’s another satisfying entry in Scott’s vast filmography.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%
IMDb score: 6.7

Wish

Arriving just in time for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ centennial celebration, Wish utilizes a basic premise found across multiple Disney movies: the idea of one’s greatest dreams coming true. As novel a concept as it is, the finished film has left fans either immensely satisfied or grossly disappointed.

On a magical island in the Mediterranean Sea, a 17-year-old girl (Ariana DeBose) makes a shocking discovery about the island’s king (Chris Pine)–a seemingly powerful and omnipotent sorcerer who fulfills his subject’s wishes when they turn 18.

While most critics have complimented Wish for its loving homages to Disney’s history, some felt the movie failed to utilize a strong central storyline that helped differentiate itself from past Disney movies.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%
IMDb score: 5.9

Saltburn

After making her directorial debut with the critically well-received Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell returns with the equally lucid dark comedy thriller, Saltburn. Like Promising Young Woman before it, the movie viciously mocks conventions of the elite upper class, portraying them in the most unflattering light possible.

Attending Oxford in the early 2000s, awkward young Oliver (Barry Keoghan) befriends a fellow student (Jacob Elordi) from a privileged background, who invites Oliver to meet his wealthy, eccentric family at their glamorous estate.

Garnering mostly positive reviews, a majority of critics praised Saltburn for its sharp writing, topical themes, and performances of its main cast, with Keoghan and co-star Rosamund Pike earning a particularly rave ovation.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 7.6

Maestro

Following his directorial debut on A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper returns to the music industry with his second directorial effort, Maestro. Focusing on the life and career of Leonard Bernstein, Cooper hands in a film full of heart and emotion, renewing audiences’ appreciation of the 20th century’s most notable composer.

Meeting by chance at a party in 1946, musical composer Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and theatrical actor Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan) have their relationship evolve over time, resulting in three children, two successful careers, and a 25-year-long marriage.

Arriving to theaters roughly one month before its scheduled debut on Netflix, Maestro has earned consistently favorable reviews thus far. Along with its impressive shot compositions and balance between black-and-white and color film, the movie has also been commended for its two lead performances, as well as Cooper’s awe-inspiring direction.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%
IMDb score: 7.0

Other Movies of Note

Notable films that will likely continue playing for only a few more weeks.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

It’s been almost a decade since we’ve last seen the chaotic landscape of Panem, the dystopian setting of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling Y.A. series, The Hunger Games. Now, eight years after the release of Mockingjay – Part 2, Collins’ series returns with its latest installment, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Sixty years before Katniss Everdeen’s rebellion, the 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is forced to mentor the District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) ahead of the 10th Hunger Games tournament. As they prepare for the competition, the two begin developing romantic feelings for each other, even as Snow plots ways to retain his family’s wealth and high social standing.

An ambitious prequel to the Jennifer Lawrence-led Hunger Games series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has earned largely mixed reviews from critics. Remaining true to Collins’ original novel, most critics felt the movie too bloated and overstuffed, failing to garner the same high praise as the franchise’s earlier installments.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%
IMDb score: 7.2

Trolls Band Together

The third addition to the cinematic Trolls universe, Trolls Band Together is yet another worthwhile outing for the Trolls series, making endless use of its vibrant animation, light-hearted characters, and buoyant musical numbers that viewers will be humming all day long.

Roughly a month after their previous adventure, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) helps her boyfriend Branch (Justin Timberlake) reunite with the boy band he formed with his brothers when they were children.

Achieving the same mixed to positive reviews as its predecessors, critics have complimented Trolls Band Together for its amusing style of animation and addictive musical score. Despite its favorable reviews,  critics also admitted that they felt the movie’s content and humor might be geared more towards children than a more universal audience of viewers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%
IMDb score: 5.9

The Marvels

The 33rd entry in the extensive Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels continues the narrative journeys of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan from their previous appearances in the MCU.

When their powers become entangled, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and the teenage superhero Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) are forced to ban together to protect the universe from a Kree warlord (Zawe Ashton).

Like the other recent additions to the MCU, The Marvels has earned decent if unremarkable reviews, especially when compared to its earlier phases. While the camaraderie between the three main leads has been applauded, critics felt the movie contained little in the way of an original story, rehashing the same basic narrative as the dozens of other superhero films before it.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%
IMDb score: 6.1

Journey to Bethlehem

A musical focused on the Biblical birth of Jesus Christ is probably the last thing anybody would expect to see green-lit into production. But like Broadway musicals centered around rapping Founding Fathers, the unorthodox approach works well for presenting an age-old story in a wholly new light–something that best describes the religious musical, Journey to Bethlehem.

A short time after marrying her husband Joseph (Milo Manheim), the virgin Mary (Fiona Palomo) is told by an otherworldly angel (Lecrae) that she will give birth to the Christian savior of mankind: Jesus Christ.

As critics have been quick to acknowledge, Journey to Bethlehem was purposefully made with a direct audience in mind, said demographic being Christians and Catholic viewers ready to embrace the religious undertones of Christmas. Even then, though, Journey to Bethlehem does a fantastic job making its story approachable for all audience members, relying on a rich soundtrack and buoyant dance numbers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%
IMDb score: 6.6

Thanksgiving

In 2007, horror director Eli Roth crafted a humorous fake trailer for a Thanksgiving-themed slasher for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s exploitation film, Grindhouse. Sixteen years later, Roth expands this brief trailer into a feature-length film, delighting audiences with the over-the-top horror movie, Thanksgiving.

After an unfortunate accident at a local Black Friday event, a vengeful serial killer masquerading as a pilgrim arrives in Plymouth, Massachusetts, dishing out just deserts to the town’s populace.

Early reviews for Thanksgiving have been overarchingly positive, with critics praising its homage to ‘80s-era slashers and its intelligent dissection of mass consumer culture. Smart, funny, and hilariously kitschy, it’s a bloody good time of a film.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
IMDb score: 7.7

The Holdovers

Throughout his career, director Alexander Payne has consistently churned out some of the best movies of the century so far, including dark comedies like Nebraska, Sideways, About Schmidt, and The Descendants. With The Holdovers, Payne returns to the layered films of his early career, balancing laugh-out-loud humor with some poignant studies of hopelessly flawed characters.

At the prestigious Barton Academy in the early 1970s, an authoritative history teacher (Paul Giamatti) is tasked with chaperoning four students unable to return home for the holiday.

With critics hailing the movie as a return to form for Payne, The Holdovers has been met with universal acclaim from viewers. Along with the praise heaped upon the principal cast (Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph), reviewers have also commended The Holdovers for its blend of comedy and drama–a standout feature found in most of Payne’s earliest films.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 8.3

Next Goal Wins

Taika Waititi has been a very busy man lately. A prolific actor and director, the current star of Our Flag Means Death returns to the big screen for his latest directorial foray, Next Goal Wins, a sports comedy that follows the American Samoan soccer team’s quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

Dismissed from his duties at the Under-20 United States men's soccer team, Dutch coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) reluctantly agrees to sign with the atrocious American Samoan soccer team.

As celebrated as most of Waititi’s previous films have been in the past, Next Goal Wins has failed to garner a favorable response from critics. Receiving mixed to negative reviews thus far, most critics felt the movie’s humor, story, and performances lackluster, featuring little of the same wit that made Jojo Rabbit or Thor: Ragnarok so enjoyable in the first place.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%
IMDb score: 6.5

Priscilla

The 2020s are proving to be a great time for Elvis fans. Fresh off the release of Baz Luhrmann’s epic biopic Elvis last year, the King returns in Sofia Coppola’s gripping biographical romance film, Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

Meeting the iconic rockstar Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi) by chance at a party, teenager Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) is shocked to find how tender, romantic, and open Elvis is in his private life, leading to an intense, often turbulent relationship between the two.

In contrast to most other biopics centered around Presley’s life and career, Priscilla offers a more sincere look at Elvis as a person, rather than as a larger-than-life figure in the music industry. Earning incredibly positive reviews from critics, it’s been hailed as one of the most touching films centered around Elvis to date, due in large part to its focus on Priscilla and her relationship to Presley.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
IMDb score: 6.7

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Taylor Swift’s record-setting, international Eras Tour is still going strong, covering a total of 146 shows that Swift plans to wrap up by November 23, 2024. While it might be difficult securing the absurdly-priced tickets for her shows, viewers can at least experience what Swift’s concerts are like with the recent film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Jamming out in front of thousands of Californians, The Eras Tour interweaves footage from three different Taylor Swift concerts in Inglewood, featuring a larger-than-life, cinematic rendition of Swift’s performance in front of an adoring crowd.

Already the highest-earning concert film in history, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour has been met with widespread acclaim from critics and diehard Swift fans alike. Though it’s nothing quite like seeing an actual performance of Swift in-person, the theatrical presentation of the film does a great job capturing Swift’s charismatic performance on the stage.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
IMDb score: 9.2

Killers of the Flower Moon

Thanks to pandemic-related delays, Killers of the Flower Moon has been a long time coming, with Scorsese extensively working on the movie for almost five years. Unsurprisingly, the director’s hard work on the project has paid off in spades, Killers of the Flower Moon drawing an immediate positive response from everyone fortunate enough to see it.

In 1920s Oklahoma, the Indigenous members of the Osage Nation become targets in a large-scale murder plot after lucrative oil deposits are found on their land.

Ranking as one of the finest films Scorsese has ever directed, Killers of the Flower Moon has been met with widespread positive reception from critics and audience members. With its lengthy runtime, ensemble cast, and meticulous recreation of early 20th century America, it’s a detailed study of America’s strained relationship with Native Americans, shining a light on a little-known episode in American history.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
IMDb score: 8.6

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Continuing its tight grasp over the children’s television genre, the popular superhero multimedia series known as The PAW Patrol returns with its latest outing, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Though perhaps not as singularly inspired as the first movie in the series, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie contains enough lighthearted humor to entertain most viewers, regardless of their age.

After gaining superpowers from a mysterious meteorite that crashed in Adventure City, the PAW Patrol have their skills put to the test when the evil Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo) attempts to steal their powers for himself.

Drawing warm reviews from most critics, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie has been complimented for its ability to sustain viewers of every age group through its diverse humor and pleasing visuals (even if hasn’t been as altogether well-received as PAW Patrol: The Movie).

Where to watch:In theaters/On Paramount+ and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%
IMDb score: 6.1

Thriller

For audience members who want to be on the edge of their seats throughout.

Eileen

Adapted from Ottessa Moshfegh’s best-selling debut novel of the same name, Eileen is a tense psychological thriller of Alfred Hitchcockian proportions. With its nightmarish tone and deep-seated psychological themes, it’s among the finest indie movies released this past year.

In 1960s New England, a depressed young woman employed at a youth detention center (Thomasin McKenzie) becomes enamored with the facility’s new psychologist (Anne Hathaway). As their friendship deepens, they realize the darker secrets buried beneath each other’s outward appearances.

Adhering closely to Moshfegh’s original novel, the cinematic adaptation of Eileen has been met with very positive reviews. With standout praise directed at the movie’s period setting, Eileen has also been applauded for its stirring performances (especially McKenzie’s and Hathaway’s).

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
IMDb score: 6.7

Horror

For movie fans looking for a good scare.

The Cello

A supernatural horror film from Saudi Arabia, The Cello combines an international cast and crew to maximum effect. From the same creative minds as the Saw series, The Cello’s smaller-scale production ensures a stylistically distinct movie from the Saw franchise, complete with its own thrills and chills.

Aspiring to become a famous musician, a promising cellist (Samer Ismai) acquires a beautiful age-old cello from a mysterious shop owner (Tobin Bell), learning all too late the terrible curse attached to the instrument.

With Bell and Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons rounding out the cast, The Cello makes for a fascinating enough supernatural horror fan that’s bound to please diehard fans of the genre. However, most viewers have expressed apprehension about the film, feeling that it failed to measure up to the bone-chilling terrors of Saw.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: 6.8

Action

For movie fans who like a rush.

Silent Night

Hoping to avenge his son’s death, a family-loving father (Joel Kinnaman) whose wounds prevent him from speaking sets out to punish the criminals responsible for destroying his life.

Ever since Die Hard’s release in 1988, dozens of action movies have attempted to coincide with the seasonal festivities, from Tim Burton’s gothic superhero film, Batman Returns, to 2022’s comedy adventure movie, Violent Night.

Joining that niche collection of films is the latest holiday-oriented action movie, Silent Night. Earning largely mixed to positive reviews from critics, many viewers have described the movie as a worthy addition to John Woo’s action-heavy filmography (which includes such hits as The Killer, Hard Boiled, and Face/Off).

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
IMDb score: 7.6

Popular Re-Releases

Iconic movies that are headed for the big screen for a limited time.

Die Hard

Returning to theaters just in time for the holidays, Die Hard ranks as one of the most popular Christmas movies of the entire season. A crowd-pleasing fan-favorite that reinvented the entire action genre in the 1980s, it’s as widely-watched today as A Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone, or It’s a Wonderful Life.

While attending a corporate Christmas party at his wife’s (Bonnie Bedelia) company, a N.Y.P.D. detective (Bruce Willis) is forced to rescue his fellow party guests when a band of terrorists seize control of the building.

Endlessly quotable and consistently enjoyable, there’s a reason Die Hard stands tall as the best action movie of its era. Tracing John McClane’s uphill battle against the villainous forces of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), it’s a certified great time from the moment you hit play.

Where to watch: In theaters for a limited time/On Hulu
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
IMDb score: 8.2

Those are the movies out now.

Grab your tickets ahead of time and skip the lines at the theater.