What’s New in Pop Culture: November 18-24, 2024
Releases this week in TV, Music, Movies & Games
“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” returns; Wicked finally arrives in theaters; Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection gets a physical release.
TELEVISION
Tuesday 11/19: “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” (Bravo; Reality TV)
Former Netflix exec Bozoma Saint John joins the cast, and Jennifer Tilly becomes a Friend Of, as both Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley navigate their disintegrating marriages.
Tuesday 11/19: “Interior Chinatown” (Hulu; Comedy, Drama)
Taika Waititi produces this series based on Charles Yu’s book, starring Jimmy O. Yang as a waiter who is thrust into the limelight when he witnesses a crime.
Wednesday 11/20: “Surveilled” (HBO; Documentary, News)
Ronan Farrow leads this investigation into spyware and how the technology can turn anyone’s smart phone into an unwitting — and invisible — tool for nefarious forces.
Thursday 11/21: “Cruel Intentions” (Prime Video; Drama, Soap)
A TV adaptation of the 90s teen-film adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons, this time set in college sororities and with political overtones. Expect plenty of sex and blackmail, and a cocaine crucifix.
Friday 11/22: “Outlander” (Starz; Drama, Romance)
It’s been 15 months since the first half of Season 7 of this time-bending romance aired. Fans are finally getting 8 more episodes, with the Frasers returning to Scotland and Jamie in peril.
MUSIC
Friday 11/22: Body Count Merciless (Metal)
Friday 11/22: Father John Misty Mahashmashana (Folk Rock)
Friday 11/22: Ice Cube Man Down (Hip-Hop)
Friday 11/22: Kim Deal Nobody Loves You More (Alt-Rock)
Friday 11/22: Marilyn Manson One Assassination Under God (Rock/Metal)
MOVIES
Friday 11/22: Wicked (Wide; Musical, Fantasy)
Ladies, it’s time. The prequel musical to The Wizard of Oz hits theaters — Part 1 of it, anyway — featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Friday 11/22: Gladiator II (Wide; Action, Drama)
Ridley Scott directs this sequel to his Oscar-winning epic, with Paul Mescal playing the son of Maximus (Russell Crowe), now himself fighting to survive. With Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal.
Friday 11/22: The Piano Lesson (Netflix; Drama)
This adaptation of the 1930s entry in August Wilson’s Century Cycle tells the story of an African-American family with a piano as the touchstone. With John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.
Friday 11/22: Spellbound (Netflix; Animated, Family)
Rachel Ziegler (West Side Story) voices a princess whose parents are transformed into giant beasts, and only she can break the spell. With John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, and Nicole Kidman.
Friday 11/22: Blitz (Apple TV+; Drama, Period Piece)
Perennial Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan stars in Director Steve McQueen’s story about a mother and son separated during the London blitz of World War II.
GAMES
Wednesday 11/20: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PC, XSX/S; Horror, FPS)
This sequel to the first-person-shooter game takes you into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where horrific mutants besiege you.
Thursday 11/21: Total War: Empire (iOS, Android; Strategy, War Simulator)
If the state of the world isn’t intense enough for you, throw it back to the 18th Century with this mobile game in which you fight battles in Europe, India, and the Americas on land and sea.
Thursday 11/21: On Your Tail (Switch, PC; Mystery, Cozy)
In this cozy game you play a fox/human hybrid trying to enjoy a lovely trip to an Italian seaside village (it's giving Pixar's Luca), but you're also drawn into solving a mystery.
Friday 11/22: Spirit Mancer (PS5, Switch, PC)
In this 2D hack-and-slash, you capture defeated enemies and then summon them as playing cards to do your bidding.
Friday 11/22: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection (PS5, Switch; Fighting)
This collection featuring classic 90s arcade games X-Men: Children of the Atom, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, and other titles gets a physical release.
