The summer movie season has all of the big action, but we’re just as fond of the fall movie season, as the film world turns more serious again. Thanksgiving week is a particular bright spot, as the family holiday means the week has become home to some of the best movies of the year.
Thanksgiving 2019 will be particularly good. We’ve got one of the most anticipated animated sequels, an inspiring true story, two suspenseful dramas and one out-of-left-field choice we can’t wait to see. Here are the best films of Thanksgiving week in 2019.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
It’s a soft-spoken tale from the past as Tom Hanks plays renowned children’s TV host Fred Rogers. Directed by Marielle Heller (CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?), the film focuses on the friendship between Rogers and Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys, “The Americans”), a character based on real-life journalist Tom Junod. When Vogel first meets with the host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” he’s jaded and skeptical, but he soon learns that Fred Rogers’ kindness is no act. (November 22)
Frozen II
The original FROZEN directors, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, return for the long-awaited sequel, which explores the origins of Elsa’s powers and takes all of the characters to new lands. Expect to meet some new magical creatures and fall in love with new songs from Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad all return, too, making FROZEN II the season’s biggest family reunion! (November 22)
21 Bridges
Directed by Brian Kirk (“Game of Thrones”), 21 BRIDGES stars Chadwick Boseman as Andre Davis, an NYPD detective who puts all of Manhattan on lockdown in order to apprehend a pair of cop killers. But as the night unfolds, Davis begins to have some deep questions about who he’s pursuing and why, and the line between cops and criminals is increasingly blurred as a massive and unexpected conspiracy is revealed. (November 22)
Queen & Slim
In the AMC Artisan Film QUEEN & SLIM, Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya play the title characters, who are pulled over while out on their first date. One thing leads to another, there is a moment of violence, and the two are soon on the run. The violence, however, was caught on video, and it has spread all over the internet, turning Queen and Slim into symbols of fear and grief for people all over the nation. Melina Matsoukas (Beyoncé’s “Formation”) directs from a script by Lena Waithe. (November 22)
Knives Out
Some family reunions don’t go well. The combative members of the Robinson family have gathered to celebrate their patriarch’s birthday… but the old guy ends up dead. Two detectives (Daniel Craig and Lakeith Stanfield) come calling to investigate, and they get a very unwelcome reception. Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer all co-star in this homage to classic Agatha Christie mysteries, written and directed by Rian Johnson (STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI). (November 27)
