Happy November! Spooky season is passed (though it lives forever in our hearts), “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” lies ahead, and as usual,Netflixis keeping the people fed with binge-worthy new shows all month. But there’s always so dang much new material, so if you’re wondering what to watch on Netflix this month, we’ve got you covered with a week-to-week guide to all the best new shows and old favorites arriving on streaming in November.
The crown jewel (wink wink) this month is the much-anticipated Season 4 ofThe Crown, which continues unraveling the modern history of the British royal family and welcomes the long-awaited introduction of Princess Diana into the fold. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, there’s lots of new seasonal content to look forward to, whether you’re looking for a light-hearted YA romance (Dash & Lily) or some classic comfort TV in the form of home makeovers (Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas). In the realm of old favorites, you can look forward to a return to Capeside asDawson’s Creekreturns to Netflix, and if you need a laugh, you can turn to all three seasons ofChappelle’s Show.
If you’re looking for the full list, you can find all thenew movies and TV shows on Netflix in November 2020 right here, and check out the details on our curated picks below.
Dawson’s Creek
Available:November 1
Creator:Kevin Williamson
Cast:Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, John Wesley Shipp, Kerr Smith, Busy Philipps
If you’ve been craving a nostalgic binge, your time has come because all six seasons ofDawson’s Creekare back on Netflix this month. They may be missingPaula Cole’s iconic theme song — a binge-watching factor that’s more jarring than you’d expect in the “skip credits” era — but the tangled romances, endless pining, family drama, and fast-talking teens of Capeside remain as addictive as ever.Dawson’s Creekhas endured as one of the most iconic 90s teen soaps for a good reason, it was smart, ahead of its time, and bolstered by a killer cast of future stars, most notably leadsKatie Holmes,Joshua Jackson,James Van Der Beek, andMichelle Williams, but there’s also a legion of supporting cast members and guest stars you probably forgot, fromMichael PitttoSeth Rogen.
Chappelle’s Show
Creators:Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan
Dave Chappellehas been provoking audiences with his pointed comedy for decades, and if his razor-sharpSaturday Night Livemonologue is still ringing in your head, now’s the perfect time to revisit the Comedy Central sketch series that made him a household name. All three seasons ofChapelle’s Showare available to watch on Netflix in November, and it’s a stark reminder that white supremacy and racial divides in America have been at the forefront of political conversation for as long as we’ve been having it. It’s also one of the best sketch comedy shows ever made and a hilarious look at a masterful comedian at the top of his craft. And after you revisit his celebrated series, you should check out his recent interview onMy Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, where he got candid about his much-publicized exit from the show.
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
Hosted by:Leah Remini
Cult mentality is a driving force in culture and conversation around the world right now, from the international rise of toxic nationalism to the dueling NXIVM documentaries to a rising number of cult-oriented horror movies. And the line between cult and religion can be hard to see, as demonstrated by the docuseriesLeah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which offers an expansive, intimate look at the methodology and mindset of one of the most powerful, popular, and secretive forces in the contemporary religious landscape. Remini famously left the Church of Scientology in the early 2000s and with her docuseries, she interviewed fellow former church members, chronicling a staggering amount of abuse, manipulation, and coverup… and just how very hard it is to escape. It’s a fascinating watch that offers resonant insight into the modes of cult thinking that are shaping the world around us.
Dash & Lily
Available:November 10
Cast:Austin Abrams, Midori Francis, Dante Brown, Troy Iwata, James Saito
Netflix has been beefing up their Christmas lineup more and more with each passing year, and after going all-in on the Hallmark-esque holiday romance movies, they’re blending the beloved Christmas rom-com genre with their tried-and-true coming-of-age series withDash & Lily. The series starsMidori Francis(Good Boys) andEuphoriastandoutAustin Abramsas a pair of lonely NYC teens who spend the Christmas season trading secrets and challenges in a shared notebook. The series also has some intriguing names behind the scenes, includingStranger ThingsproducerShawn Levy, several episodes directed byFred Savage, and producerNick Jonas. Yep, that Nick Jonas!
The Liberator
Available:November 11
Creator:Jeb Stuart
Cast:Bradley James, Martin Sensmeier, Jose Miguel Vasquez, Billy Breed, Ross Anderson, Finney Cassidy, David Elliot, Kiowa Gordon, Pedro Leandro, Sam Gittins
In many ways, Netflix’s new war dramaThe Liberatorfeels very familiar. After all, war dramas are a well-worn genre, with so many great films and series behind them that it’s hard to reinvent the wheel while still honoring the reality of the experience. Fortunately,The Liberatoralso feels like a welcome refresh, not just because of its stunning visual style, but because of the characters it chooses to make the heart of its story. Set during World War II, the series follows soldiers of the 157th Infantry Battalion of of the 45th Division, a diverse unit including Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, and white soldiers alike, and a diverse perspective that brings something new to the familiar story of brotherhood forged in battle. It’s also a visual knockout. Animated with a new technology called Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid Animation,The Liberatorpaints each frame of live-action with its unique animation style, rendering the battles and bloodshed in a striking new image. To be fair, the animation style also makes it kind of hard to tell which character is which at times, but once you adjust, it’s well worth the effort for the immersive visual experience, and with a trim four-episode run, it never outstays its welcome.
American Horror Story: 1984
Available:November 13
Creators:Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy
Cast:Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Cody Fern, Lily Rabe, John Carroll Lynch, Angelica Ross, Finn Wittrock, Lou Taylor Pucci, Gus Kenworthy
I cannot in any good conscience tell you that1984is thebestseason ofAmerican Horror Story, but it is one of the most gleefully campy and giddily silly, which is really saying something. Riffing on the beloved slashers of the ’80s,1984brings backAHSfavoritesBillie Lourd,Emma Roberts,Leslie Grossman, andLily Rabe, among others, sending them to a California summer camp where a masked murderer stalks and slays the unsuspecting campers. Of course, this isAmerican Horror Story, so nothing is as it seems, and the standard slasher setup transforms into a delirious, messy, but pretty consistently entertaining saga of serial killers that spans decades. Coming off the heels of the world-building-centric seasonApocalypse,one of the most enjoyable elements of1984is how it gets back to the series anthological roots, offering a (mostly) standalone season of scares, laughs, and so much aesthetic. It’s also the first season that doesn’t featureAHSregularsSarah PaulsonorEvan Peters, which only enhances the sense that1984exists in a little world of its own. There’s nothing wrong with building an extended universe, but sometimes it’s nice to just have some straightforward scares.
The Crown: Season 4
Available:November 15
Creator:Peter Morgan
Cast:Olivia Coleman, Gillian Anderson, Emma Corrin, Tobias Menzies, Josh O’Connor, Helena Bonham Carter
The world’s fascination with the British royal family has been a steady presence in entertainment since Shakespeare. The latest season of Netflix’sThe Crownis poised to land at an interesting intersection where it both indulges and investigates that fascination. The fourth installment of the celebrated series strides into the late ‘70s, the era of Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson) and Princess Diana (Emma Corrin), the beloved first wife of Prince Charles whose tragic fate is inextricably tied to the most toxic elements of that cultural fascination. However, Season 4 focuses in on the time before that tragedy, exploring the marriage between Diana and Charles, and how it altered the fabric of the royal family during a turbulent time in British politics. Early reviews for Season 4 are celebrating another win for the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning series, and with the series’ timeline slowly catching up to the contemporary royal narrative, it’s will no doubt be even more tangible and intriguing to viewers.
We Are the Champions
Available:November 17
Narrated byRainn Wilson, Netflix’s new docuseriesWe Are the Championsinvestigates the wild and wonderful worlds of niche competition, from dancing dogs to cheese rolling. Each episode explores one of these niche communities and the dreamers who strive for the big prize, whether it’s a cash pot or ultimate bragging rights, and there’s something undeniably delightful about seeing people come together in pure passion over competitive fields most people don’t even realize exist. Hot sauce enthusiasts probably know Smokin’ Ed Currie by now, but they might not know how his maniacal hot pepper creations bring together communities of people who find catharsis in the pain of snarfing down one Carolina Reaper after the next. Likewise, you may have heard of cheese rolling or competitive Yo-Yo, butWe Are the Championslooks to put the spotlight, not on the competitions themselves, but the passionate and diverse contestants who find friendship and fulfillment in the most unexpected places.
Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas
Available:November 18
Hosted by:Benjamin Bradley
Look, it’s been a tough year. Sometimes you just need some fluffy feel-good content with a heavy dose of holiday spirit. If that sounds like what you want to watch right now, set your sights onHoliday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas, the new Netflix original that sees interior designerBenjamin Bradley, aka Mr. Christmas, surprising homeowners with grand decorating makeovers while teaching viewers how to bring his stylish designs into their own home. Tinsel, garlands, and a happy decorator sharing Christmas cheer? Yeah, I think that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.
