As we gear up for November, there are several movies already marked on our calendars — namely, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 [1]. But hey! There's other stuff to get excited about, too. Interstellar is also taking off in theaters, a handful of shows are returning to HBO, and believe it or not, award season is revving up. Here are our picks for the best of the best entertainment items premiering this month!
Source: Lionsgate [2]
People's Choice Award Nominations
The People's Choice Awards are the "fun" awards. Our favorite movies, TV, and actors are honored, and that makes for a pretty cool show. Last year the big winners were The Heat and Sandra Bullock [3], and this year should be even more exciting. The show isn't until Jan. 7, but nominations will be announced on Nov. 4. Prep your predictions card!
— Maggie Pehanick, assistant editor
Interstellar
What's better than Matthew McConaughey [4]? Matthew McConaughey in space. The leading man is joining Anne Hathaway [5], Michael Caine, and Jessica Chastain for Christopher Nolan's buzzy space drama, out Nov. 7. Will he be able to save the human race? I hope so, and I bet he'll look pretty good doing it, too.
— MP
November Sweeps
TV lovers know November is one of the most wonderful times of the year, because the networks pull out all the stops for the ratings. This month on the small screen, Gotham will reveal Two-Face, there's a wedding on Castle, and Scandal and Grey's Anatomy [6] have their Fall finales. Oh, and Thanksgiving episodes are coming too!
— Shannon Vestal, editor
The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne is masterful [7] as Stephen Hawking in this biopic about the legendary physicist and his marriage. As his wife, Jane, Felicity Jones also makes the movie worth seeing, but we're calling it now — Redmayne is so getting an Oscar nomination for this. Help start the buzz when the movie comes out Nov. 7.
— SV
HBO Shows
The majority of shows premiere in September and October, but HBO has saved some of its series for November, including the return of Lisa Kudrow's beloved comedy, The Comeback. On the flip side, the third and final season of The Newsroom will air the same night, Nov. 9, alongside Getting On's second season premiere. Essentially, just make sure you're conveniently hanging out with a friend who subscribes to HBO that night.
— MP
Dumb and Dumber To
We may not have been blown away by the Dumb and Dumber To trailer [8], but hey, no one knew the first movie would be an enduring comedy classic either. We have an unending love for Harry and Lloyd and their every stupid line, so we'll be lining up to see if they can make us laugh just as hard on Nov. 14.
— SV
The Beginning of Award Season
It's time to start handing out the trophies again! While we gear up for some of the bigger award shows in a couple months, other events are already here. The Country Music Awards take place on Nov. 5, the Hollywood Film Awards are on Nov. 14, and the American Music Awards hit Nov. 23. Are you ready?
— SV
Foxcatcher
Since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, Foxcatcher has been earning rave reviews for its performances [9] by Channing Tatum [10], Steve Carell [11], and Mark Ruffalo [12]. The movie is based on the true story [13] of a wrestling aficionado whose passion for the sport turns deadly. I can't wait to see it when it comes out on Nov. 14.
— MP
Four by One Direction
So what if I'm 26 years old and just recently discovered my love for One Direction? You don't have to be obsessively following their Instagram accounts to appreciate their pop tunes. I'm not going to apologize for liking "Steal My Girl" and its superstrange music video [14]. Come Nov. 17, we'll get a whole new crop of tracks from the boys, and I can already tell you I'll be bingeing on Four all day.
— MP
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1
Finally! It's the fiery conclusion to The Hunger Games series — well, Part I of it, anyway. Jennifer Lawrence [15] returns to the franchise with even more fierceness as Katniss faces down the Capitol in a revolution. Mockingjay is out Nov. 21.
— SV