11. FORD V FERRARI (NOVEMBER 15)
Plot Summary: Automative designer Carroll Shelby and his driver, Ken Miles, try to build a racing car for Ford that can finally defeat the Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
The Breakdown: Between Ad Astra and Ford v Ferrari, it's looking more and more like the latter is going to be Disney and Fox's bigger Oscar contender this year, thanks to the positive buzz it's accumulated over the course of its festival tour. Most reviews single out the film's acting and high-octane racing sequences as being its highlights, and Fox has even gone ahead and entered both Matt Damon and Christian Bale's names for consideration in next year's Best Lead Actor Oscar category. All in all, it appears that James Mangold's acclaimed "dad movie" has the makings of yet another home-run for the Walk the Line and Logan director.
10. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (NOVEMBER 22)
Plot Summary: Journalist Lloyd Vogel begrudgingly agrees to write a profile piece about Fred Rogers, only to find his perspective on life transformed.
The Breakdown: Despite what its marketing would suggest, the early word from those who caught the film's premiere at TIFF 2019 is A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood isn't so much a Fred Rogers biopic as it as a moving drama about how real kindness and forgiveness are challenging to express, but all the more important because of that. Tom Hanks is earning top marks for his supporting performance as Mr. Rogers all the same, as is Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) for her direction, which no doubt comes as welcome news for Sony. Expect this one to get a serious Oscar push in the months to come, for those reasons.
9. FROZEN II (NOVEMBER 22)
Plot Summary: Elsa, together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven, sets out on a dangerous journey to protect her kingdom and discover why she was born with magical powers.
The Breakdown: Frozen II was a surefire success from the moment Disney green-lit it, so it's encouraging to see directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee are stepping up their game and crafting a sequel that, by the look of it, really builds upon the mythology and themes from the first Frozen. Naturally, the sequel will still include all the trademark elements audiences associate and love about Disney Animation (as it should), but it's also shaping up to be a richer, yet equally entertaining and fun piece of storytelling than its beloved predecessor. Fingers crossed, Frozen II will prove to be an exciting return to Arendelle, as promised.
8. KNIVES OUT (NOVEMBER 27)
Plot Summary: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey inexplicably dies just after his 85th birthday, Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
The Breakdown: If Rian Johnson's Knives Out wasn't already on your must-see list this fall, the Agatha Christie-style whodunnit definitely should be now, following its early rave reviews. So far, critics are loving everything from the film's political commentary to its witty dialogue and the collective performances by its star-studded ensemble (Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and so forth), and it sounds like a welcome return to Johnson's Brick and The Brothers Bloom form overall. The murder-mystery may not have the immediate box office pull of his Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but good word of mouth from its pre-release screenings should help its cause there.
7. JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (DECEMBER 13)
Plot Summary: When Spencer vanishes into the world of Jumanji, his friends follow him and discover the game's changed since last they played.
The Breakdown: Dwayne Johnson is headed back to the jungle yet again for December's Jumanji: The Next Level, a sequel that features the same cast and action-comedy approach as 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, but with even bigger spectacle a zanier body-swapping story. Indeed, director Jake Kasdan (also back from the last film) will attempt to further up the ante by adding Danny DeVito and Danny Glover to the equation, and having them "play" The Rock and Kevin Hart, no less. It's still going to be tough to replicate the unexpected fun of Welcome to the Jungle, but The Next Level is certainly making an admirable go at it.