There used to be something called “indie movies,” which were loosely defined as films not released by major studios, but rather by small distributors or companies (or, later, the “indie” divisions of the major studios, like Miramax, New Line, and Fox Searchlight).
Nowadays, the dividing line is more along the lines of “theatrical” vs. “streaming.” But some movies that get theatrical releases do still fall under the indie label. Here are some coming out in November, to look forward to:
What Happens Later
Meg Ryan is quite possibly the most decorated romantic comedy performer in history, but she’s mostly disappeared from screens in recent years. But now she’s back with What Happens Later, which Ryan directed and co-stars in with David Duchovny. The two play a long-ago couple who reunite while they’re snowed in at a regional airport, and I’m sure you can guess exactly how it ends. The film arrives in theaters on November 3.
The Kill Room
This one features the second- and third-billed stars of Pulp Fiction, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman, in a crime comedy. Jackson doesn’t play a hitman this time, but rather the boss of the actual hitman (Joe Manganiello), who team up with an art dealer (Thurman) for a crime. Nicole Paone (Friendsgiving) is the director, and the film arrives on VOD on November 3, after a brief theatrical bow a few weeks ago.
The Christmas Classic
This one sounds suspiciously like a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie but is neither. Malin Akerman plays the proverbial “Big City Girl Home for the Holidays,” who is lured by the pull of a small town and the man who lives there. Varsity Blues veteran Amy Smart is her sister, and Party Down‘s Ryan Hansen is her love interest. This arrives on November 5 on VOD.
Love Virtually
The Metaverse gets the sci-fi/rom-com treatment, featuring four couples navigating love in a virtual world. The cast includes the likes of comedian Paul F. Tompkins and SNL veteran Cheri Oteri, matching rom-com tropes with cutting-edge technology. This lands on November 7 on VOD.
It’s a Wonderful Knife
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like, a horror-based It’s a Wonderful Life riff in which a young woman finds out what would have happened if she’d never been born. The cast includes Joel McHale, Justin Long, and Katharine Isabelle. It comes out in theaters on November 10.
Fallen Leaves/Dead Leaves
This Finnish film from director Aki Kaurismäki was a festival hit, and now it hits theaters in the U.S. It tells the story of an unlikely couple (Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen) who find each other in Helsinki. This has a U.S. release date of November 17.
