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November 2025’s Best Streaming Titles: The Princess Bride Frankenstein Stranger Things The Godfather

As Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, et al. add more content, it can be difficult to know what to look for amidst all of the new titles. Every month, I compile a list of particularly noteworthy and interesting movies and TV shows to add to your streaming queues.

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Amazon Prime Video

Benny & Joon
(Nov 1)

I have a soft spot for this movie about a quirky relationship between a Charlie Chaplin-obsessed man and a woman suffering from mental illness (presumably schizophrenia). I watched it countless times in high school with my friends, and it’s all kinds of cute and earnest — so folks prone to cynicism beware. It also popularized The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” which might honestly be a strike against it, depending on how you feel about the song.

Fearless
(Nov 1)

When Fearless was released, it was touted as Jet Li’s final wushu (i.e., traditional martial arts) film. A loose re-telling of the life of Huo Yuanjia, a real-life martial arts master who helped defend China’s national honor in the early 20th century, Fearless easily ranks as one of Li’s best films (read my review). While it boasts some impressive combat sequences (choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping), the film’s ultimate message of piece and forgiveness makes it more than just another martial arts epic.

Rear Window
(Nov 1)

To keep from going stir crazy while recuperating from a broken leg, a professional photographer (James Stewart) takes to spying on his neighbors in their apartment complex, and becomes convinced that one of them’s a killer. Of course, this being an Alfred Hitchcock film, nothing’s as it appears. Rear Window was added to the United States National Film Registry in 1997.

Vertigo
(Nov 1)

In this classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller, a former detective (James Stewart) who’s afflicted with an acute fear of heights begins to lose his grip on reality after he falls in love with a woman who reminds him of another woman who committed suicide. Since its release in 1958, Vertigo is often considered Hitchcock’s greatest film as well as one of the greatest films of all time.

Here’s everything arriving on Amazon Prime Video in November 2025.

Apple TV+

Pluribus, Season One
(Nov 7)

In this original Apple series from Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, a virus is turning the world’s populace into happy little drones. The only person who seems immune is “the most miserable person on Earth,” a woman living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played by Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn. Apple is clearly excited about the series; they’ve already greenlit a second season.

HBO Max

Elf
(Nov 1)

Buddy desperately wants to be a hard-working elf in Santa’s workshop. There’s just one problem: he’s not an elf at all, but rather, a human being who mistakenly ended up at the North Pole as a baby. Determined to track down his real father, Buddy sets off for the magical land of New York City. But will Buddy’s dad welcome him with open arms or turn out to be on the “Naughty List”? Centered around Will Ferrell’s delightfully madcap performance, Elf is a modern Christmas classic.

Hellboy
(Nov 1)

Guillermo del Toro has proven himself with fantastical arthouse fare like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone. However, his adaptation of Mike Mignola’s acclaimed Hellboy comic is proof that the director is skilled at more straightforward action stuff, as well (read my review). Well, maybe “straightforward.” In Hellboy, a demonic-looking superhero and a clandestine government agency square off against Nazi occultists who want to summon extra-dimensional horrors that will bring about the end of the world.

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
(Nov 1)

Based on the true story of James Doolittle’s raid over Tokyo in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is considered one of the best WW2 films of all time. In order to ensure as much historical accuracy as possible, the film’s cast and crew worked with men who’d actually flown on the raid, and film incorporates actual wartime footage of the aircraft involved. The film won an Oscar for “Best Special Effects” at the 1945 Academy Awards.

Here’s everything arriving on HBO Max in November 2025.

Hulu

The Princess Bride
(Nov 1)

The Princess Bride is a classic family film that has it all: comedy, romance, swashbuckling sword fights, memorable dialog, and André the Giant. What more could you want? Just before the beautiful Buttercup’s wedding day, she’s kidnapped by a group of outlaws, which finds her ultimately reunited with her long-lost love. Her enraged fiancé will stop at nothing to get her back, but as we soon find out, not even death can stop true love.

The Sound of Music
(Nov 1)

Julie Andrews stars as a free-spirited — and musically inclined — Austrian nun who is sent to serve as the governess for a military family. In time, she wins over the children, and even their taciturn father (played by Christopher Plummer), just as the shadow of the Third Reich begins to spread over their beloved homeland. One of the all-time great musicals and beloved around the world, The Sound of Music won numerous awards when it was released in 1965, including “Best Picture” and “Best Director.”

Here’s everything arriving on Hulu in November 2025.

Netflix

Broadchurch
(Nov 1)

When the body of an eleven-year-old child is discovered on the beach of the idyllic seaside town of Broadchurch, it’s up to a pair of detectives, played by Doctor Who’s David Tennant and The Crown’s Olivia Colman, to solve the crime. But when their investigation begins uncovering some ugly secrets, it could tear the town apart. Originally airing on British TV between 2013 and 2017, Broadchurch is an excellent crime drama featuring wonderful performances, gut-wrenching twists, and a very clear moral conviction that you don’t see too often.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
(Nov 1)

2014’s The Lego Movie was a absolute joy of a movie that honestly took me by surprise; I wasn’t prepared for a movie inspired by plastic blocks to be so creative and imaginative. The Lego Movie 2 doesn’t quite hit those same heights, but it’s still plenty fun. After Emmet Brickowski’s friends are kidnapped by the Duplo aliens and taken to their home planet, he must join forces with Rex Dangervest to save them and prevent the “Armamageddon” from happening. As with the original Lego Movie, the sequel features the voices of Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, and more.

Paddington 2
(Nov 1)

2014’s Paddington was an absolute delight of a film, following a young marmalade-loving bear’s adventures in London, and his unlikely adoption by a family there. And dare I say that Paddington 2 is an even bigger delight, filled with heart and laughs as our titular ursine hero is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and sent to jail — where his upbeat spirit begins changing his fellow inmates for the better. Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Hugh Grant’s scene-stealing performance as a washed up actor whose ego far exceeds his talent.

Tenet
(Nov 1)

Christopher Nolan’s most recent film is a trippy blend of time travel sci-fi and espionage intrigue, with a nameless hero who finds himself in the middle of a secret conflict with forces from the future. Tenet doesn’t always make the most sense, even in hindsight, and its storyline often feels opaque and needlessly convoluted. But Nolan’s sense of ambition and mastery of big screen spectacle is unparalleled, including a massive set-piece involving a crashing Boeing 747 (read my review).

Frankenstein
(Nov 7)

Guillermo del Toro’s retelling of the classic monster story looks to be one of Netflix’s most prestigious offerings yet. Frankenstein, which stars Oscar Isaac as the titular scientist and Jacob Elordi as the monster he creates, had its North American premier at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received widespread acclaim for its lavish production and Elordi’s performance. Frankenstein also stars Mia Goth, Lars Mikkelsen, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance.

Last Samurai Standing
(Nov 13)

Based on Shogo Imamura’s award-winning Ikusagami novels, Last Samurai Standing stars Junichi Okada as a samurai who enters a deadly competition in order to save his family, but there can be only one survivor. Okada also serves as the action choreographer, while Riho Yoshioka (House of Ninjas) and Taichi Saotome (Bleach) co-star.

Stranger Things, Season 5 (Volume 1)
(Nov 26)

It’s time to head back to Hawkins, Indiana for one final season of Stranger Things, as Eleven and the gang confront Vecna’s evil once and for all. Stranger Things’ final eight episodes will be broken up into three volumes, with the remaining two volumes arriving on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Here’s everything arriving on Netflix in November 2025.

Tubi

After Yang
(Nov 1)

In this melancholy and meditative sci-fi film by South Korean filmmaker Kogonada, a family grapples with the potential death of their robot Yang, who has become like a son and brother to them. As the father (Colin Farrell) seeks a fix for Yang, he discovers secrets from the robot’s past that reveal a much more complicated existence. Thanks to its deft handling of heady themes like the relationship between humans and technology, After Yang was widely acclaimed upon its release — read my review — and has been called one of the best sci-fi films of the 21st century.

Gladiator
(Nov 1)

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator was one of 2000’s biggest and most successful films, thanks to an epic plot, incredibly special effects, and thrilling action sequences. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a disgraced Roman general who is enslaved and forced to compete in Rome’s brutal gladiatorial exhibitions. Gladiator also stars Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed (in his final film appearance), Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, and Joaquin Phoenix as the corrupt Roman emperor.

The Godfather
(Nov 1)

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and more star in Francis Ford Coppola’s sprawling crime epic about the Corleone family’s rise to power in post-WW2 New York. Originally released in 1972, and based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel, The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, and its influence can be found throughout cinema.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters
(Nov 1)

As the title implies, King of the Monsters finds the Big G squaring off against some of his biggest foes, including Rodan and Kong Ghidorah, as an eco-terrorist organization seizes technology that allows them to control the Titans. Meanwhile, the Titan-studying organization Monarch races to learn the true origins of King Ghidorah while aiding Godzilla in his struggle. Suffice to say, King of the Monsters is filled to the brim with kaijū spectacle.

The Long Kiss Goodnight
(Nov 1)

Samantha Caine is a small town schoolteacher with a cute daughter and a loving boyfriend. Her life seems perfect, except for the fact that she can’t remember her past. But when a freak accident begins to unlock her memories, she discovers that she possesses some decidedly non-schoolteacher skills, which will come in handy when she lands in the middle of s vast conspiracy. Starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, and featuring a script by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Lethal Weapon), The Long Kiss Goodnight is an under-rated ’90s action flick.

New Jack City
(Nov 1)

Starring Wesley Snipes, Chris Rock, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, and Judd Nelson, New Jack City chronicles the rise of a vicious drug gang and the detectives determined to take them down. Upon its release in 1991, the film was a critical and commercial success and had a massive influence on the hip-hop and R&B scenes. The soundtrack, which featured songs by Ice-T, Keith Sweat, Color Me Badd, and 2 Live Crew, dominated the Billboard charts and quickly went Platinum, selling over a million copies.

No Country for Old Men
(Nov 1)

In this harrowing adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, a hunter discovers a bunch of drug money and decides to keep it — which puts him in the sights of a psychotic hitman (Javier Bardem, in a chilling performance). Meanwhile, the only one who might save him is an aging, world-weary sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones, also giving a fantastic performance). No Country for Old Men may not have the quirky humor that the Coen Brothers are best known for — O Brother, Where Art Thou? this most certainly is not — but its depiction of human evil and darkness is captivating and provocative in its own right (read my review).

Pale Rider
(Nov 1)

Pale Rider features Clint Eastwood in one of his most iconic roles, that of an otherworldly gunfighter who sides with a group of prospectors against a greedy businessman and corrupt marshal. Critically acclaimed by the likes of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, the movie was also a commercial success, and has since come to be regarded as one of the greatest westerns of all time.

Silverado
(Nov 1)

Written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan — of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire Strikes Back fame — Silverado is a rollicking western that takes some classic genre tropes and breathes new life into them. Namely, an unlikely group gunfighters and cowboys must join forces to prevent a wealthy cattle baron from taking over all of the surrounding land. Silverado stars Scott Glenn, Kevin Kline, Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, John Cleese, and Jeff Goldblum.

Super 8
(Nov 1)

I know I seemed a bit harsh on J. J. Abrams in my review of The Rise of Skywalker, but if you want an example of where his nostalgia-driven approach to filmmaking does work, then check out Super 8. An obvious love letter to classic Spielberg films — it was even produced by Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment — Super 8 is nevertheless a fun sci-fi action romp as a group of teenage filmmakers find themselves caught between an alien life form and the military trying to capture it.

Here’s everything arriving on Tubi in November 2025.

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