1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

 

Frances McDormand stars as a single mother named Mildred Hayes who haunts her small fictional town of Ebbing, Missouri with billboards that ask why nothing has been done about the murder of her daughter. The film has been making its way around the film festival circuits and has already won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Writer and director Martin McDonagh manages to balance drama and dark humor in the film and it happens to be loaded with vulgarity and violence, as well. Frances McDormand’s performance as the angry, foul-mouthed Mildred Hayes has been getting rave reviews with many considering her a Best Actress contender come awards season. Release date: November 10

 

2. Lady Bird

 

This coming-of- age film centers around teenage a girl named Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) who deals with the drama of planning her future, relationships, and sexuality. Her love/hate relationship with her mom (Laurie Metcalf) is one of the many highlights of the film. Her mom is a nurse who works endlessly to support her family after Lady Bird’s dad loses his job.  Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf’s performances are getting rave reviews. The film is set around the year 2002, and critics are saying that writer/director Greta Gerwig does a magnificent job in her first solo directorial effort. The film currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and is already being called one of the best films of the year.  Release date: November 3

3. Mudbound

 

 

Mudbound is an ensemble film that centers around different families from Mississippi who deal with the aftermath of World War II. The film gathers a perspective from a black family, as well as a white family. Their differences are highlighted in the film but the essentially they all have something in common and all of their lives connect somehow. If you’re worried about possibly making multiple trips to the theater because there are so many movies you’re thinking about watching, fear not because Mudbound is a Netflix exclusive and will be available to stream on the day of its release. The film has received praise for its acting, particularly for Mary J. Blige, who gives a breakout performance, and Jason Mitchell, of Straight Outta Compton. Dee Rees’ wonderful direction of the film has also received high praise as well as its production design. Release date: November 17

 

4. Coco

 

Coco is the latest Pixar film, centering around a young boy named Miguel, whose family bans him from playing music. Miguel never gives up his music dreams as he is inspired by Ernesto de la Cruz, the most famous and popular musician in Mexico’s history, who has passed long ago. Miguel and his dog Dante end up in the Land of the Dead where he connects with his ancestors and the legendary Ernesto de La Cruz himself. This film brings Pixar back to its days of having its characters go on magical journeys. Release date: November 22

 

5. Call Me By Your Name

 

Based on the novel of the same title, Call Me By Your Name focuses on a young man named Elio (Timothée Chalamet) living in Italy in the 1980s who forms a romantic relationship with Oliver (Armie Hammer), one of Elio’s father’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) students who is living in their family’s villa. The film  has been receiving universal praise from multiple film critics. As of this writing, Call Me By Your Name has a score of 95 on Metacritic, which is one of the highest scores of the year. Italian director Luca Guadagnino does a great job balancing the different tones of the film that vary from romantic to heartbreaking. James Ivory’s excellent but subtle screenplay is said to be one of the highlights of the film. Chalamet, Hammer, and Stuhlbarg are also getting praise. Release date: November 24