The best films to see in Beijing this November

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Fantastic Beasts opens 16 Nov. Image: Warner Bros

This month, more Hollywood blockbusters make their way to China's cinemas. Take a look at our picks of the best ongoing and upcoming releases in November.

Events disappear from this page as they pass, so if you're looking at a sparse page you missed the boat [sad face]. But come back next month for another glut of events to keep you entertained.

General release

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Critics' pick

This magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle (Jack Black) in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town's sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead. To fight the growing evil, Lewis must learn the ways of magic with his uncle and their neighbour (Cate Blanchett).

Cinemas around Beijing 01 Nov - 06 Dec

The Hurricane Heist

What could be more exciting than a bank heist for over 600 million USD? A bank heist in the midst of a category 5 hurricane, that's what. Starring Toby Kebbell and Maggie Grace, this Rob Cohen film definitely blows... something.

Cinemas around Beijing 02 Nov - 02 Dec

A Street Cat Named Bob

Critics' pick

This feel-good story based on true events follows an unlikely hero in the form of a handsome marmalade tomcat. The human who finds him happens to be recovering from a drug addiction when the feline helps turn his life around. So heartwarming was this story, it became an overnight bestselling book before the movie adaption.

Cinemas around Beijing 02 Nov - 07 Dec

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Critics' pick

Starring Mackenzie Foy, Kiera Knightley, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, this star-studded cast remakes a family and Christmas favourite with a new take on Hoffmann's short story and the famous ballet.

Cinemas around Beijing 02 Nov - 04 Jan

Venom

Venom, a slick-skinned alien ‘symbiote’ who first plagued Marvel’s Peter Parker back in a 1986 comic, has a Wikipedia entry roughly 10 metres long. That’s not to say that the villain deserves his own film...

Cinemas around Beijing 09 Nov - 28 Dec

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Critics' pick

This second instalment of J.K. Rowling's wonderful world of wizards follows the story of magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). When the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) escapes custody – following his capture in the previous film – Scamander is enlisted by Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to thwart Grindelwald's dastardly plans of a pure-blood wizard world.

Cinemas around Beijing 16 Nov - 31 Dec

Crazy Rich Asians

Critics' pick

Working from a smartly condensed script by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim that retains the economic essence of the novel, director Jon M. Chu (stepping up from his Step Up movies) masterfully peppers the tale with epic views of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, an Avengers–style ensemble cast, expert-level bitchiness and a euphoric dance party. Wear your favourite jade and pearls – you’ll be clutching them.

Cinemas around Beijing 30 Nov - 31 Dec

Still playing

March of the Penguins 2

Critics' pick

A semi-sequel to Luc Jacquet's 2006 stunning film, the director and team return to Antartica to follow a young penguin on his first big trip into the unknown. With more powerful cameras, state-of-the-art equipment and Morgan Freeman as the narrator, it's a documentary not to be missed.

Cinemas around Beijing 12 Oct - 01 Dec

The Titan

Earth is overpopulated and conflict-ridden. Can an army veteran and his family help save the world by finding a way to survive on Saturn's moon Titan? Starring Sam Worthington, Taylor Schiling and Tom Wilkinson, see what happens when genetic evolution and space exploration combine.

Cinemas around Beijing 12 Oct - 01 Dec

The Spy Who Dumped Me

Critics' pick

Two best friends get entangled in shoot-outs, car chases and an international conspiracy when one of them is dumped by her spy boyfriend. See Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis star in this new American comedy.

Cinemas around Beijing 19 Oct - 01 Dec

Smallfoot

Critics' pick

Smallfoot follows the animated film trend of zany, family-friendly gags, colourful characters and catchy songs playing out a story with contemporary and politically relevant themes. The cast is too good to pass up: Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Common, LeBron James, Danny Devito and Justin Roiland of Rick and Morty and Adventure Time fame.

Cinemas around Beijing 19 Oct - 30 Nov

Early Man

Remember Wallace and Gromit? Chicken Run? Same guy directing this one. Nick Park goes prehistoric with his signature clay animation aesthetic, following Dug (Eddie Redmayne) and his porcine pal Hognob as they take on Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston).

Cinemas around Beijing 19 Oct - 30 Nov

The Predator

Earth's most vicious predators are back, with evolved genes making them even deadlier than ever. Can a mismatched bunch of humans really defeat the universe's scariest creatures?

Cinemas around Beijing 26 Oct - 21 Dec

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