The Best Movies, TV, Books and Music for November

Including Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, together again, and the inevitable “Tiger King” sequel

November 1, 2021 5:53 am
Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in “The Shrink Next Door” premiering November 12, 2021 on Apple TV+.
Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell in “The Shrink Next Door” premiering November 12 on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+

Welcome to Culture Hound, InsideHook’s deep dive into the month’s most important cultural happenings, pop and otherwise. 

WATCH: House of Gucci

Ridley Scott’s been hit (The Martian) or miss (The Last Duel) over the past few years, but at 83 it’s amazing how willing he is to try new genres and ideas. Here, he tells the story of how Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, plotted to kill her husband (the grandson of fashion designer Guccio Gucci). And Scott’s enlisted Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jared Leto and Lady Gaga to make it happen … all with what appear to be hilariously embellished Italian accents. (11/24, theaters)

More new films coming to the small screen and big: Eternals (11/5, theaters); A Cop Movie (11/5, Netflix); The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (11/5, Prime Video); Finch (11/5, Apple TV+); Mark, Mary & Some Other People (11/5, VOD); Passing (11/10, Netflix); Home Sweet Home Alone (11/12, Disney+); Red Notice (11/12, Netflix); Psych 3: This Is Gus (11/18, Peacock); Ghostbusters: Afterlife (11/19, theaters); tick, tick…BOOM! (11/19, Netflix); Bruised (11/24, Netflix); The Humans (11/24, Showtime); 8-Bit Christmas (11/25, HBO Max).

WATCH: Tiger King 2

Honestly, I’m not going to tell you not to watch this trashy sequel to the trashy doc that got everyone through quarantine. The story here picks up with Joe Exotic behind bars (and looking for a pardon) while Carole Baskin attempts to take ownership of his zoo. (11/17, Netflix)

Returning TV series and specials: Head of the Class (11/4, HBO Max); Animaniacs (11/5, Hulu); Big Mouth (11/5, Netflix); Narcos: Mexico (11/5, Netflix); Dexter: New Blood (11/7, Showtime); Yellowstone (11/7, Paramount+); The Game (11/11, Paramount+); Hard Knocks in Season (11/17, HBO); The Great (11/19, Hulu); Hanna (11/24, Prime Video)

DISCOVER: The Shrink Next Door

Don’t expect Anchorman-like antics in this comedy-drama limited series, based on a true story about an unconventional, 30-year relationship between Marty (Will Ferrell) and his overreaching therapist, Dr. Ike (Paul Rudd). (11/12, Apple TV+)

More new series: Yellowjackets (11/14, Showtime); Marvel’s Hit-Monkey (11/17, Hulu); The Sex Lives of College Girls (11/18, HBO Max); Cowboy Bebop (11/19, Netflix); Hellbound (11/19, Netflix); Wheel of Time (11/19, Prime Video); Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye (11/24, Disney+); Super Crooks (11/25, Netflix)

PLAY: Call of Duty: Vanguard

The latest release in this long-running FPS series takes all the action to World War II, where you can shoot your way through a single-player campaign all over the globe (France, North Africa, dogfights in the Pacific, etc.). As well, multi-player action promises the return of the popular “Zombies” mode, a Battle Royale option and frequent and free post-launch updates. (11/5)

More new game sequels: Forza Horizon 5 (11/9); Battlefield 2042 (11/19)

STUDY: The Beatles: Get Back

Culled from 60 hours of unseen footage shot over 21 days in 1969 and 150+ hours of unheard audio, this Peter Jackson-directed docuseries chronicles the Fab Four attempting to write and record an album in just three weeks while also preparing for their first concert in years. Spoiler alert: Brilliant people in combustible creative relationships under less-than-ideal conditions rarely last. (Disney+, 11/25 – 11/27)

More new documentaries: Attica (11/6, Showtime); King Richard (11/19, HBO Max); The Hot Zone: Anthrax (11/28, Nat Geo); 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (11/29, Netflix)

The front cover of "Welcome to Dunder Mifflin"
Custom House / Amazon

READ: Welcome to Dunder Mifflin

The definitive oral history of the comedy series you keep binge-ing. (Is it just me, or is this show always on when you’re in a hotel and channel surfing?) Featuring commentary from all the actors and behind-the-scenes talent, the book is co-written by Brian Baumgartner, aka Kevin, who’s done nicely post-Office with an extensive podcast on the show while also cleaning up on Cameo

More new non-fiction: Can I Mix You a Drink by T-Pain and Maxwell Britten; My Body by Emily Ratajkowski;  (11/2); Twelve and a Half by Gary Vaynerchuk (11/9);  Death & Co. Welcome Home; The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones  (11/16)

New fiction: Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart  (11/2); Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson (11/16)

LISTEN: Nirvana

The grunge band’s seminal major label release Nevermind turned 30 in August; this month, the album gets a 5-CD reissue with a remastered version of the original, a 40-page hardcover book with photos, plus four full live shows and a Blu-ray featuring a filmed live 1991 show from Amsterdam. An 8-LP box set will follow next year. (11/12)

More new music: ABBA; Brian Fallon (11/5); Damon Albarn; Jake Shimabukuro; Rod Stewart; They Might Be Giants (11/12);  Adele; The Darkness; Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Sting (11/19)

Archive releases: Black Francis; The Black Keys; Radiohead (11/5); Taylor Swift  (11/12); Oasis; Bruce Springsteen (11/19) 

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