Looking for something new to watch next time you go to the movie theater? Curious about some upcoming films? Here’s a list to check out; maybe you’ll find a new favorite.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, coming November 11, is the long-awaited sequel to the Marvel movie Black Panther, which was released in 2018. Both movies are based on the Black Panther comic book series. The first Black Panther movie focuses on T’Challa, who was played by Chadwick Boseman.

Boseman passed away in August of 2020, but Marvel decided not to recast his character and instead decided to build his death into the Marvel Universe. The original Black Panther movie was critically acclaimed and commercially successful, so expectations are high for the sequel. However, those expectations may be difficult to live up to without the original lead.

Strange World, which is scheduled for release on November 23, is a computer-animated Disney film with a mix of science-fiction, action, and adventure. This movie follows the Clades, a family of explorers venturing to a mysterious planet which is inhabited by surreal lifeforms. 

They are forced to put aside their differences and rely on each other to tackle their latest and most crucial mission to find a special creature. 

According to Don Hall, director of the film, Strange World is inspired by pulp magazines–popular fiction from the first half of the 20th century.

Disenchanted is the sequel to the 2007 Disney film Enchanted, and will be released on November 24. I loved the original Enchanted as a young child and I am looking forward to this long-awaited sequel.

Enchanted uses a combination of live-action filmmaking, traditional animation, and computer-generated imagery. I’m hoping that the sequel includes traditional animation as well, as I prefer it to the 3-D animation that Disney has adopted with current films.

Violent Night, scheduled to release on December 2, is a dark Christmas action comedy based around Santa Claus having to save a kidnapped family from mercenaries on Christmas Eve. The film portrays St. Nick as violent and gruesome, which contrasts with his usual portrayal as a jolly old man. The concept seems a bit silly, but Violent Night should be an entertaining Christmas movie with a darker twist.

Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, is perhaps the most anticipated movie on this list. It is the second film in the Avatar franchise, following Avatar (2009) and scheduled to hit theaters December 16. The first Avatar movie grossed almost $3 billion worldwide and captivated audiences with CGI effects and 3-D technology that were new at the time. The Way of Water was originally aimed for a 2014 release, but it was significantly delayed due to technological difficulties. 

The success of the original Avatar comes from the time, thought, and effort behind it. The director had numerous inspirations, such as his favorite books and movies, historical events, his life experiences, and several of his own unproduced projects. It will be interesting to see if the sequel earns the same success and demonstrates the same level of effort.

Babylon is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 25, before expanding worldwide on January 6. It is a comedy-drama movie set in the 1920s, during Hollywood’s transition away from silent films, and explores the rise and fall of multiple characters.

I enjoy movies and TV shows set in previous decades, especially when they can tell a fictional story while teaching the audience about the era, so this movie should be enjoyable.

I’m looking forward to seeing these movies when they come out. Once I’m in the theater, I can watch trailers for other movies to make a list of what I want to watch next (it’s a cycle). 

Hopefully I helped you decide what to watch next, either with friends, with family, or by yourself. And of course, don’t forget your popcorn and Cherry Coke while you lose yourself for a couple hours in a make-believe world.