Each month, lots of new films and TV shows are added to Stan‘s library. Critic Claire White surveys the month’s selections and picks for titles most worth watching. For the full list of everything arriving on the platform, scroll down.
Top Picks: TV
Small Axe (November 8)
Although technically a film anthology series, Small Axe features a collection of five feature-length stories about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London from the 1960s to the 1980s. With each episode directed by Steve McQueen, particular acclaim has been given to the first two episodes: Mangrove, about the 1971 trial of the Mangrove Nine, and Lovers Rock, a love story about two people who meet at a reggae house party in 1980 (the latter was voted Best Film of 2020 by Sight & Sound.)
Scrublands: Season 1 (November 16)
Adapted from the best-selling Australian crime novel by Chris Hammer, this Australian noir brings uncovers the secrets of a drought-stricken rural town (much like The Dry). Luke Arnold stars as city journalist Martin Scarsden who arrives in town to investigate the effects of a traumatic event that happened one year earlier. However, as is always the way, the more he digs, the more he is convinced there is more to the story, and he is determined to
find out what. Content warning: the aforementioned traumatic event involves a priest (Jay Ryan, most known for It: Chapter Two) who opens fire on five members of his parish.
Sort Of: Season 3 (November 18)
The “sort of” coming-of-age story Sort Of concludes with its third and final season. Created by Bilal Baig, Baig also stars as Sabi Mehboob, a fluid millennial and youngest in a large Pakistani family, who tries to find balance in all these different identities. After a family tragedy, Sabi continues to seek personal fulfilment, trying to determine when is the right time to be true to yourself.
Top Picks: Movies + Specials
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (November 4)
From beloved Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Uncle Boonmee is admittedly a blind spot in my film-viewing—however, it comes highly recommended. As the film explores memory and ghosts, how we are all already an amalgamation of our lives and our relationships with others, it is the striking imagery itself that sticks with audiences long after the film has ended.
The King of Comedy (November 7)
With Killers of the Flower Moon out in cinemas, it’s Scorsese season (although I would argue it is always Scorsese season). Starring long-time Scorsese collaborator Robert De Niro as a passionate yet unsuccessful stand-up comedian, Todd Philips tried so hard to (spoof?) homage this film with his toxic bro Joker—but nothing beats the original, man.
Carmen (November 10)
Starring Melissa Barrera (dominating in the more recent Scream movies) and Paul Mescal (internet boyfriend and honorary Fitzroy boy), this musical drama is a complete re-imagining of the opera of the same name. With music by Nicholas Britell, Barrera and Mescal are a young couple who struggle to evade authorities as they journey from Mexico to Los Angeles. Although the original opera is mere inspiration, the grand sweep of this balletic musical is imbued with romantic drama that, if you missed it in cinemas earlier this year, is well worth diving into.
All titles arriving on Stan in November
November 1
Drive My Car
Fury
Knives Out
Ace and the Christmas Miracle
Christmas Is Cancelled
Happy Christmas
Christmas Casanova: Premiere
The Fabric of Christmas: Premiere
November 2
Staged: Season 2
Maria Into Life
November 3
Orphan Black: Echoes: Season 1 Premiere
Dinner For Schmucks
Super Wish: Season 1
November 4
Merry Magic Christmas: Premiere
Knight and Day
Tobacco Barns
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
November 5
Deck the Halls (2006)
Bandit
Notre Dame on Fire
Sacrifice
November 6
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Nigeria’s Female Suicide Bombers
November 7
The King of Comedy
Kompromat
November 8
The Edge of Darkness
Small Axe: Season 1
November 9
57 th CMA Awards 2023
Barbarella
Personal Shopper
November 10
D.N.Ace: Season 1 Premiere
Carmen
Crazy Ex Girlfriend: Seasons 1 – 4
Zoolander
Brave Bunnies: Season 1
November 11
Boyfriend for Christmas: Premiere
Inside the Sydney Opera House: Season 1
Destroyer
Easy Love
November 12
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Greenhouse By Joost
Luzzu
November 13
Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities of the World: Season 1
Aspromonte: Land of the Forgotten
November 14
Arctic Circle: Season 3 Premiere
The Fountain
November 15
2023 ARIA Awards
The Lazarus Project: Season 2 Premiere
Playing With Fire
November 16
Scrublands: Season 1 Premiere
Back to Life: Season 2
Street Kings
Caillou Special: The Silver Night
November 17
Rat Race (2001)
Canada’s Drag Race: Season 4 Premiere
Winter Boy
November 18
Sort Of: Season 3 Double Episode Premiere
Big Momma’s House
Big Momma’s House 2
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
November 19
Tigerland
The Case Against Cosby
Wet Season
November 20
First Contact: An Alien Encounter
Crime Story
Captain Volkonogov Escaped
November 21
Unfaithful
An Almost Perfect Town
November 22
August: Osage County
The Host (2007)
Still Life (2013)
November 23
Jones Family Christmas
Inside Men: Season 1
Pride & Glory
November 24
Coach Carter
Teletubbies Ready Steady Go: Season 1
The First Lady: Season 1
November 25
Bride Wars
While At War
November 26
The Grey
Forever Enthralled
Room 212
November 27
The Bridge (2018): Season 1-2
Savage Salvation
Nonnas On the Run
November 28
The Power of One
The Perfect Vagina
Corpus Christi
November 29
TT 3D: Closer to the Edge
By Any Means: Season 1
Family Photo
November 30
Drillbit Taylor
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Summertime (L’estate Addosso)
See also
* Best new movies and TV series on Netflix Australia
* Best new movies and TV series on Amazon Prime
* Best new movies and TV series on Disney+
* All new streaming movies & series
