The Best TV Shows And Movies Coming To Max In November 2023
Another spooky season has come and very nearly gone. The leaves are changing colors, the days are getting shorter (and colder), and it's time to start gearing up for the annual end-of-year rush of awards players. Not that that's any reason to stop the scary times from going. If you're like me, you'll probably spend the first part of November just catching up on all the spine-chilling entertainment you had intended to get to in October (there's just too darn much to cram into a single month — I only barely got started on the new "Goosebumps" series). Of course, if you'd prefer to get a head-start on the winter holidays, you could instead tune in to Max, which will be adding plenty of beloved festive titles over the next few weeks, and much more.
Here are our top picks for November, along with everything else that's coming to the streamer that month.
Aliens
Nothing says the holidays quite like face-huggers, Bill Paxton yelling, "Game over, man! Game over!," and Lance Henriksen getting skewered by the Xenomorph Queen, right? James Cameron's "Alien" sequel is everything Ridley Scott's original film is not. Where Scott favored slow-burn dread and a quiet atmosphere punctured by shocking bursts of violence, "Aliens" is a shoot-em-up wild thrill ride for much of its runtime. It's also the best approach Cameron could've taken. There's no way he was ever going to top what Scott did in his 1979 sci-fi horror classic, so why even try?
Surface-level differences aside, "Aliens" is actually very faithful to the spirit of "Alien." Picking up more than 50 years after Scott's film, Cameron's sequel sees Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley — sole survivor of the doomed Nostromo — pulled out of cryosleep only to find herself ensnared in yet another corporate attempt to exploit the Xenomorph for commercial gain, no matter the cost in terms of human lives. Its message about the soullessness of capitalism is firmly in line with that from "Alien," as is its depiction of the Colonial Marines as being ultimately ineffectual in the face of an unknown extraterrestrial force (a sentiment that's also in keeping with Cameron's general outlook as a storyteller).
Insidious: Chapter 3
Okay, I know the scary season is just about behind us, but "Insidious: Chapter 3" doesn't always get the love it deserves. After the second "Insidious" film tripped up a bit by trying to over-explain The Further (that and a transphobic plot twist), "Chapter 3" takes a back-to-basics approach. The film winds the clock back to 2007, with the still-living Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) being called upon to use her psychic powers to help a teen girl (Stefanie Scott) who's being plagued by a malevolent entity known as the Man Who Can't Breathe (Michael Reid MacKay). This is also the point where the "Insidious" franchise started tapping into the full potential of the Elise character, using her experiences battling demons as a metaphor for PTSD and grief.
Behind the camera, "Chapter 3" saw "Insidious" scribe Leigh Whannell make the jump to both writing and directing for the first time. He's not quite as skilled as James Wan is at weaponizing negative space and constructing scares right out the gate, but he was already showing a knack for building nerve-rattling sequences when he made the film — a talent he would only continue to refine in his subsequent horror-thrillers, most notably "The Invisible Man."
Paddington 2
With "Paddington in Peru" officially headed our way in just a little over a year, now's the time to get caught up on the misadventures of Michael Bond's endearing, marmalade-loving bear. Not that you ever need an excuse to watch (or rewatch) "Paddington 2," which is only one of the best films of the last 10 years and easily the most warm-hearted, charmingly idiosyncratic rebuttal to xenophobia and British colonialism ever made. Besides, why give yourself nightmares thinking about Hugh Grant playing an Oompa-Loompa in "Paddington 2" director Paul King's upcoming prequel "Wonka" when you can instead enjoy watching him portray a pompous, scheming actor here?
King's sequel follows the titular Peruvian-British bear (Ben Whishaw) as he's framed for a crime by Grant's Phoenix Buchanan and sent to prison. There, he quickly makes friends with his fellow inmates — following a minor laundry mishap, that is — thanks to his unrelenting kindness and politeness, all while the Browns and their neighbors do their darnedest to prove Paddington's innocence (well, except for Peter Capaldi as the racist Mr. Curry, but nobody likes him anyway). If you frequent websites like /Film, you may be tired of folks telling you "Paddington 2" is fabulous, but what is there to say? It really is that terrific.
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
Albert Brooks was a big part of my childhood growing up, so I'm naturally curious to check out this documentary about the Jewish multi-hyphenate's life and career. The Max doc is titled "Albert Brooks: Defending My Life," itself a reference to the title of Brooks' acclaimed 1991 afterlife rom-com "Defending Your Life" (for those who have never seen it, it's a bit like a feature film version of "The Good Place"). Its synopsis reads:
Since the late 1960s, Albert Brooks has been a major force in American comedy with his smart, sometimes absurdist, and truly unique sense of humor. From stand-up, to acting, to writing and directing short films, to his seven, iconic, original motion pictures, including "Modern Romance," "Lost in America," "Mother," and more, Brooks has paved the way for future generations and remains a comedic force in a league of his own. With testimonials from some of the brightest comedy talents and serious thinkers, as well as family and friends, "Albert Brooks: Defending My Life" chronicles Brooks' very early work all the way to present day. In this deep and personal conversation, [director Rob] Reiner and Brooks explore the origins and evolution of Brooks' career, the impetus for his creativity, and the impact he has had on the world of comedy.
The Intern
With the fate of Nancy Meyers' long-awaited next film, "Paris Paramount," currently up in the air, why not pass the time by watching her last offering, "The Intern"? Easily one of the best comedies that Robert De Niro has made during the third act of his acting career, the film casts the Oscar-winner as Ben Whittaker, a genteel 70-something widower who, looking for a new challenge, accepts a job as a "senior intern" at an e-commerce fashion startup overseen by its go-getter CEO, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Much to her surprise, Jules winds up forming a close friendship with Ben as he helps her to navigate a variety of crises both professional and personal in nature.
"The Intern" has everything you could ask for from a Nancy Meyers joint (delectably furbished interiors, a story meant for adults that blends playful hijinks and witty humor with genuine drama), as well as some of the things you could do without (yes, for a film that's set in Brooklyn, its cast is almost painfully white). But most of all, it's the surprisingly potent buddy chemistry between the odd coupling of De Niro and Hathaway that makes this comedy sing. Well, again, that and the interiors. They truly are works of art in and of themselves.
Movies and TV Shows Coming to Max in November 2023
November 1
Act of Valor (2012)
After the Thin Man (1936)
Aliens (1986)
The Ant Bully (2006)
Arthur Christmas (2011)
The Avengers (1998)
The Bachelor (1999)
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
Bells Are Ringing (1960)
Black Beauty (1994)
Boys' Night Out (1962)
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
Brigadoon (1954)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
A Christmas Carol (1938)
Christmas Cookie Challenge, Seasons 1-5 (Food Network)
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
A Christmas Story (1983)
A Cinderella Story (2004)
A Christmas Story 2 (2012)
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Dennis the Menace (1993)
A Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Diner (1982)
Down to Earth (2001)
Dune (1984)
Elf (2003)
The Fantastic Four (2015)
Fever Pitch (2005)
The Foot Fist Way (2008)
Four Christmases (2008)
Fred Claus (2007)
Free Fire (2017)
Funny Farm (1988)
Get Carter (1971)
Get Smart (2008)
The Golden Compass (2007)
Gran Torino (2008)
Great Expectations (1998)
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Happy Feet (2006)
Happy Feet Two (2011)
Head of State (2003)
Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
High Life (2019)
Holiday Affair (1949)
Holiday Baking Championship, Seasons 1-9 (Food Network)
Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown, Seasons 1-2 (Food Network)
Holiday Wars, Seasons 1-4 (Food Network)
Inkheart (2009)
Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
Jack Frost (1998)
John Dies at the End (2013)
Kart Racer (2003)
Killing Me Softly (2003)
Kin (2018)
The King's Speech (2010)
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
Legally Blondes (2009)
The Lovely Bones (2010)
Major League (1989)
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Mean Girls 2 (2011)
Misery (1990)
Mistress America (2015)
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
New Year's Eve (2011)
Now You See Me (2013)
Now You See Me 2 (2016)
Ordinary People (1980)
Paddington 2 (2017)
Paycheck (2003)
The Pirate (1948)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
The Polar Express (2004)
Predators (2010)
The Prince and the Pauper (1937)
Road House (1989)
Rocky (1976)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Rocky II (1979)
Rocky III (1982)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky V (1990)
Room for One More (1952)
Running on Empty (1988)
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Song of the Thin Man (1947)
The Pioneer Woman: Hometown Stories, Season 1 (Food Network)
Traffik (2018)
The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947)
Unfinished Business (2015)
Uptown Girls (2003)
Walking Tall (2004)
Wargames (1983)
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
Welcome To Marwen (2018)
Where the Boys Are (1960)
Winter's Bone (2010)
Winter's Tale (2014)
November 2
Caught in the Net, Season 2 (ID)
Christmas Cookie Challenge, Season 7 (Food Network)
Expedition Bigfoot, Season 4 (Discovery Channel)
November 3
Border Control: Spain, Seasons 1-3
Scent of Time (Max Original)
November 4
Rebuilding Black Wall Street, Season 1 (OWN)
November 5
Holiday Wars, Season 5 (Food Network)
OWN Spotlight: Oprah & Nicole Avant, Season 1 (OWN)
The Lost Women of Highway 20, Season 1 (ID)
The Mountain Kitchen, Season 1 (Magnolia Network)
November 6
Gumbo Coalition (2022)
Holiday Baking Championship, Season 10 (Food Network)
The Family Chantel, Season 5 (TLC)
November 7
Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown, Season 2 (Food Network)
Building Roots, Season 1B (HGTV)
Fixer to Fabulous, Season 5 (HGTV)
Operation Undercover (ID)
Stand Up & Shout: Songs from a Philly High School (2023) (HBO Original)
November 8
A Chestnut Family Christmas (2021) (OWN)
A Christmas For Mary (2019) (OWN)
A Christmas Fumble (2022) (OWN)
A Christmas Open House (HGTV)
A Christmas Stray (2021) (OWN)
A Gingerbread Christmas (Food Network)
The Great Holiday Bake War (2022) (OWN)
A Sisterly Christmas (2021) (OWN)
Artfully Designed, Season 2 (Magnolia Network)
Baking Christmas (2019) (OWN)
Buying Back the Block, 2 Specials(HGTV)
Candy Coated Christmas (Food Network)
Carole's Christmas (2019) (OWN)
Cooking Up Christmas (2020) (OWN)
Designing Christmas (HGTV)
Feds, Season 1 (ID)
First Christmas (2020) (OWN)
Fixer to Fabulous: Holiday Surprise, Season 1 (HGTV)
Fixer Upper: The Hotel (Magnolia Network)
Food Network: White House Thanksgiving (Food Network)
Help! I Wrecked My House, Season 4 (HGTV)
Holiday Crafters Gone Wild, Season 1 (HGTV)
Home Town: Ben's Holiday Workshop, Season 1 (HGTV)
Home Town: Christmas in Laurel, Season 1 (HGTV)
House Hunters: Ho Ho Home (HGTV)
Macy's Thanksgiving Cake Spectacular, Season 1 (Food Network)
My Lottery Dream Home: Holiday Extravaganza, Season 1 (HGTV)
One Fine Christmas (2019) (OWN)
Our OWN Christmas (OWN)
Santa's Baking Blizzard, Season 1 (Food Network)
Surprising Santa Claus (HGTV)
The Big Holiday Food Fight, Season 1 (OWN)
Turkey Day Sunny's Way, Season 1 (Food Network)
Ultimate Hanukkah Challenge, Season 1 (Food Network)
Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge, Seasons 1-2 (Food Network)
You Were My First Boyfriend (2023) (HBO Original)
November 9
My Sesame Street Friends, Season 4 (Max Original)
Rap Sh!t, Season 2 (Max Original)
Sesame Street, Season 54 (Max Original)
November 11
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023) (HBO Original)
The Craftsman: Preserving the Last Higgins Boat (Magnolia Network)
November 12
American Monster, Season 9A (ID)
Kids Baking Championship: Sweets-giving (Food Network)
OWN Spotlight: Oprah & Courtney B. Vance & Dr. Robin Smith (OWN)
November 13
Love Has Won (HBO Original)
November 14
Fear Thy Neighbor, Season 9A (ID)
How We Get Free (2023) (HBO Original)
Real Time Crime, Season 2 (ID)
Teen Titans Go!: WB 100th Anniversary Special & Intro Special (Cartoon Network)
November 15
Buddy vs. Christmas, Season 1 (Food Network)
Buddy vs. Duff Holiday, Season 1 (Food Network)
Expedition Unknown, Season 8B (Discovery Channel)
House Hunters International: Volume 8 (HGTV)
White House Christmas, 1998-2021 (HGTV)
White House Christmas Special, 2022 (HGTV)
November 16
The Dog House: UK, Christmas Special (Max Original)
Julia, Season 2 (Max Original)
November 17
Killers of the Cosmos, Season 1 (Science Channel)
Tom & Jerry Snowman's Land (2022)
November 19
Teen Titans Go!: Wishbone
The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown, Season 1 (Food Network)
November 20
Ice Age America, Season 1 (Science Channel)
November 21
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Exposed: Crimes Gone Naked, Season 1 (ID)
Road Rage, Season 1 (ID)
November 22
The Intern (2015)
November 23
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Elmo Saves Christmas
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023) (CNN Films/Max Original)
Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
November 24
Let Us Prey, Season 1 (ID)
The Lives of Felix (Las vidas de Fèlix)
November 27
Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Season 12 (Adult Swim)
Kids Baking Championship: Reindeer Games (Food Network)
The Garden: Commune or Cult, Season 1 (Discovery Channel)
November 28
Bugs Bunny Builders, Season 1G
South to Black Power (2023) (HBO Original)
November 29
Help! My House is Haunted, Season 4B
Her (2014)
Street Outlaws: Farmtruck and AZN: Down Under, Season 1 (Discovery Channel)
November 30
Bookie, Season 1 (Max Original)
Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays (Food Network)