11 Best New Movies on Netflix: November 2020’s Freshest Films to Watch

John Singleton’s seminal coming-of-age drama leads Netflix’s movie lineup this month. Boyz n the Hood  stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as Tre Styles, a young man who is sent to live with his father (Laurence Fishburne) in South Central Los Angeles, a neighborhood with a large gang presence. The violent environment molds Tre and longtime friend Doughboy (Ice Cube) throughout their teenage years and into adulthood, and Singleton’s film tracks the ups and downs of that development.

Where to stream Boyz n the Hood

There are breakout performances, and then there’s Emma Stone in Easy A. Stone’s 2010 teen comedy remains one of the best of the decade, if not the best. Stone’s performance as Olive, a high school girl who takes Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter a little too seriously, will go down in romantic comedy history, where it will be enshrined alongside the hits that inspired it, including The Breakfast Club, Say Anything…, and Clueless.

Where to stream Easy A

Relive the film that started it all (well, excluding the 1960 Rat Pack version). George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s Ocean’s Eleven is sneaking its way onto Netflix in November, and even on the 100th watch, it’s still every bit as thrilling watching Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan execute the heist of the century. Plus, the original 2001 film doesn’t feature any of the meta Julia Roberts-or-Tess commentary that marred the sequel. That’s a win for everyone.

Where to stream Ocean's Eleven

The first film in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War trilogy, Platoon follows U.S. Army volunteer Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) and his two sergeants (Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe) as they battle for control over their platoon. Stone’s critical portrayal of the Vietnam War, which had been widely glorified up to that point, earned him widespread acclaim, as well as four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Where to stream Platoon

Fans of Dear White People should definitely check out spiritual predecessor School Daze, directed and written by Spike Lee. Released the year before Do The Right Thing, School Daze tells the story of two very different groups of students, the “wannabees” and the “jigaboos,” at an HBCU in Atlanta. With these two groups at its center, the film tackles practically every issue under the sun, from colorism to political activism to fraternity and sorority hazing and beyond.

Where to stream School Daze

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan are longtime collaborators — the duo have worked together on Creed and Black Panther — but Fruitvale Station marks the first time the two crossed paths. Coogler’s directorial debut tells the tragic story of Oscar Grant (played by Jordan), a young man who was killed by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale district station in Oakland in 2009. While difficult to watch at times, Fruitvale Station is a damning portrayal of police violence that, unfortunately, remains incredibly timely even seven years after its release.

Where to stream Fruitvale Station

More than two years after Netflix first purchased rights to Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, the holiday musical is finally hitting the small screen. The family-friendly musical centers on a legendary toymaker, Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) with a knack for making whimsical inventions. Jeronicus’ holiday plans quickly go awry when his apprentice (Keegan Michael-Key in peak villain form) steals his most prized toy, prompting his granddaughter (Madalen Mills) to set out to save the day with an invention of her own.

Where to stream Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Vanessa Hudgens’ Princess Switch universe expands with The Princess Switch: Switched Again, streaming November 19. The sequel reunites viewers with Duchess Margaret of Montenaro and Stacy DeNovo (both played by Hudgens), two women who bear a striking resemblance to one another. But this time around, there’s a third lookalike waiting to crash the party: Fiona, a party girl plotting a scheme that could take down the entire Montenaron empire.

Where to stream The Princess Switch Switched Again

First there was Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, now there’s Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, a new holiday movie featuring 14 original songs from the legendary country singer. The drama centers on a rich woman named Regina (Christine Baranski) who returns to her small hometown with the goal of selling the land to developers. However, Regina will first have to go through the eclectic group of townspeople, as well as an angel (played by Parton), who teach her the real meaning of community and love just in time for Christmas.

Where to stream Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

Shawn Mendes fans are counting down the days until the release of In Wonder, a music documentary about the meteoric rise of the singer/songwriter. Filmed throughout his 2019 world tour and tied to the release of his forthcoming album, Wonder, the Netflix doc takes an in-depth look at Mendes’ attempt to comes to terms with his sudden fame and come of age as the entire world watches. Shawn Mendes: In Wonder debuts November 23, so if you’ve always wanted to spend Thanksgiving with Shawn Mendes, now’s your chance.

Where to stream Shawn Mendes: In Wonder

Love it or hate it, J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy is hitting Netflix later this month. Based on J.D. Vance’s #1 New York Times bestselling memoir of the same name, Hillbilly Elegy tracks J.D. (Gabriel Bosso) as he attempts to navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family. When J.D. is called home from Yale Law School for a family crisis, he begins to reflect on his upbringing — he was raised primarily by his grandmother (Glenn Close), as his mother (Amy Adams) spent her life battling addiction — and connect his personal experience to larger social and political issues plaguing the region.

Where to stream Hillbilly Elegy