The 7 best new movies on Netflix in November 2024

“Hot Frosty” (2024)

“Hot Frosty,” the 2024 Christmas movie sensation to date, stars Hallmark Queen Lacey Chabert as a small-town girl who accidentally brings a sexy snowman to life and, of course, falls in love with him. Dustin Milligan, who previously enjoyed a similarly good-natured himbo role as Ted in Schitt’s Creek, plays the snowman-turned-man and sparks a charming, super-sweet chemistry with Chabert. With a great supporting cast full of familiar comedy faces and just enough delirium to really push the story soar, “Hot Frosty” is a much more surreal and hilarious experience than your average holiday romance film, but with all the butterflies that come with the territory brings itself.

“Superbad” (2007)

Both timeless and extremely millennial, “Superbad” is considered one of the greatest raunch-com coming-of-age films – and one that has become a cultural touchstone that has spawned several other great comedies, from “Booksmart” to “Good”. Guys.” As a creative duo, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have become a force in contemporary comedy and entertainment, and “Superbad” was their feature film debut, marking their arrival on the scene with one of the funniest films of the 21st century The film was also the launching pad for its stars, including Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. It’s always a safe bet if you want to sit down and watch something that won’t stop you laughing, but your heart won’t stop either.

“Joy” (2024)

A bit formulaic, but a perfect, easy-to-watch historical drama about a moment of human ingenuity and scientific advancement, “Joy” tells the story of the scientists who invented IVF. Set over the course of a decade, from the late ’60s to the late ’70s, the film stars Thomasin McKenzie, Bill Nighy and James Norton as the pioneering trio who faced public criticism and utter scorn en route to their miraculous invention. The performances are great and the soundtrack is full of classics, plus it’s a fascinating story.

“Whiplash” (2014)

Jazz thriller? Yes, jazz thriller. The driving, queasy “Whiplash” launched Damien Chazelle’s career and earned JK Simmons a much-deserved Oscar – ten years later, it’s easy to see why. An absolute clockwork of precision, “Whiplash” stars Miles Teller as an ambitious drummer who joins a cutthroat music school and falls under the militant tutelage of Simmons’ shouting, frightening teacher. Relentless and impeccably paced (the film is neither hectic nor sluggish), “Whiplash” builds a constant tension in the first two acts before letting loose in the third act, with a finale so gratifying that it segues into exhilarating euphoria. This was my favorite film of the year when it came out, and it remains one of my favorite films of that era many years later.

“Spellbound” (2024)

“Spellbound,” a charming new animated musical from Netflix and DreamWorks Animation, is a familiar fairy tale that evolves over time into something a little meatier. Rachel Zegler plays Princess Ellian, who must embark on a quest to save her family and kingdom after an enchantment turns her parents into monsters. Even if the structure seems a bit dated at times, “Spellbound” eventually finds its groove with inventive set pieces and sweet family dynamics – not to mention the music by the legendary Alan Menken and the lyrics by Glenn Slater.

“The Piano Lesson” (2024)

Denzel Washington is filming his third August Wilson adaptation with The Piano Lesson on Netflix, this time as a producer — and it’s a family affair with his sons in front of and behind the camera. Malcolm Washington makes his feature film directorial debut, while John David Washington (“Tenet”) stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts and Corey Hawkins. It’s a fitting setting for a story centered on family and legacy.

Adapted from Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, The Piano Lesson follows two siblings’ battle over a treasured family heirloom; a piano with engraved carvings of an enslaved ancestor and a heavy history. Their ancestors were traded so that its white owner could own the piano, then the family stole it back – but in 1936, Boy Willie (Washington) wants to sell it to buy land, while his sister Berniece (Deadwyler) adamantly refuses. It’s a sprawling story, haunting and haunting, with stunning work from Deadwyler in particular.

“Our Little Secret” (2024)

Another Netflix Christmas original from 2024. This film stars new romance star Lindsay Lohan, returning to Netflix fresh off Falling for Christmas and Irish Wish. Easily the best of their Netflix romance films to date, “Our Little Secret” stars Lohan and Ian Harding (“Pretty Little Liars”) as two childhood best friends-turned-soulmates who endure a terrible breakup and reunite years later Discover that their significant others are siblings. It’s also a perfect fit for the Wicked mania, starring Kristin Chenoweth as her significant other’s meticulous mother – and host to their wild, unexpected Christmas get-together.