Netflix is refreshing its catalogue once again, and this month is shaping up to be a good one. With two major cinema releases coming to Netflix very shortly after, November is shaping up to be an excellent month for viewers, and we haven’t even discussed the films yet.
After taking a look at what’s coming, I have selected the upcoming Netflix series that I believe are “must-watches”. Here are my top four.
Ballad of a Small Player (October 29)
Ballad of a Small Player is a British psychological thriller film directed by Edward Berger, written by Rowan Joffé, and based on the 2014 novel The Ballad of a Small Player by Lawrence Osborne. It stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, and Tilda Swinton. The film’s plot is as follows: “When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.”
Death by Lightning (November 6)
The series’ synopsis reads: “Death by Lightning is a drama series that brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.” Death By Lightning is a historical drama miniseries created by Mike Makowsky and based on Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. The series is slated to premiere on November 6, 2025 on Netflix.
Frankenstein (November 7)
The film’s synopsis reads: “Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.” Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Lauren Collins, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.
Train Dreams (November 21)
The film’s synopsis reads: “Based on Denis Johnson’s beloved novella, Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century.” Train Dreams is a drama film directed by Clint Bentley, who co-wrote the screenplay with Greg Kwedar. It is based on the 2011 novella of the same name by Denis Johnson and stars Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., Kerry Condon and William H. Macy.
