Thanksgiving break is a time when students can finally kick up their feet and relax before finals season comes into full swing. November is also typically a time when major movies come out in theaters. Take some time to relax this break by going to see cinematic productions on the big screen, while munching on extremely buttered popcorn and sipping a cold soda. Going to the movies is an exciting experience, but the most important decison to make is not what snack to bring, it is what movie to watch.
Luckily, Auburn students have been interviewed in order to provide Plainsman readers with a guide of the top three highly-anticipated movie releases to see this Thanksgiving break. In no particular order, here are the must-see movie releases to enjoy this holiday season.
"Wicked: For Good"
The hit musical "Wicked" has successfully and impressively been running on Broadway for over 20 years. The musical started as a loose adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz," and has now become the fourth-longest-running show on Broadway. Due to its immense success, "Wicked" has been transformed into movie form, starring actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The second act of this two-part movie series came out on Nov. 21 . The first movie, "Wicked," leaves off on a high note (pun intended) and with viewers being anxious to see how this beloved story ends in the second act.
"Wicked: For Good, of course. What else would it be?” said Abigail Wilkinson, junior in elementary education, when asked about which movie she was looking forward to watching this Thanksgiving break.
“As a theatre kid myself, I have noticed how much thought and intention and detail that has been put into every moment of [the first "Wicked" film] , Wilkinson said."
Although Wilkinson is a huge “theatre kid” and has watched many interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the new movie's production process, she believes that this is a movie for everyone, including those who wouldn't typically watch musical theater.
"This movie could appeal to anybody, because I have a lot of friends who aren’t big theatre kids that ended up loving the first one,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson plans to watch he second part of "Wicked" during Christmas break with her friends and boyfriend. If you want to watch a memorable production this Thanksgiving break, you do not want to miss out on seeing "Wicked: For Good."
"Now You See Me: Now You Don’t"
The original "Now You See Me" blockbuster film was released in 2013, and since then, has captivated audiences with thrilling, never-before-seen plots. "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" is centered around a magician group that calls itself “The Four Horsemen.” This group is known for hosting magic shows that involve stealing from large corporations and distributing this stolen money to the show’s audience. The third movie in this thriller saga came out on Nov. 14. Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to enthrall yourself in the mysterious, action-packed world of The Four Horsemen magicians.
Anna Claire Childress, sophomore in environmental design, is ecstatic to be able to “curl up and relax” before finals at the movie theater.
“It’s so exciting because the last movie ended with all the characters going their separate ways, and now they are back in this movie with a new heist," Childress said when asked why she is so excited to watch the movie.
The thrilling aspect of the "Now You See Me" franchise is that you can try to guess what will happen next, but The Horsemen always have a surprise up their sleeve that you will never see coming.
“You should 100% watch this movie if they are into thrillers with a little bit of thinking involved. The best part is always trying to crack the mystery," Childress said
If you are a thriller-junkie or are in the mood to be on the edge of your seat, while actively trying to crack the case before it is revealed, then go to your local movie theater to watch "Now You See Me: Now You Don’t" this Thanksgiving break.
"Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery"
"Knives Out" detective Benedict Blanc will be coming back to the big screen on Nov. 26 as he stars in the third movie of the "Knives Out" series. "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" centers around Blanc’s dangerous mission to sort through suspects in order to find out who killed the new priest in a small town in upstate New York. Whodunit lovers across the nation will be flocking to theaters to be immersed in a world of secrets and mystery.
Meredith Sheldon, sophomore in political science and criminology, is eagerly awaiting the release of "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery." Sheldon explained that, as a criminology major, Whodunit movies have always been what she is drawn to. She revealed that she was actually disappointed after the second "Knives Out" movie, but the trailer of the new release caught her eye. Sheldon said this movie “raised the stakes” and "looks to be even more thrilling than ever."
The "Knives Out" franchise spared no expense with this movie, and Sheldon believes the movie is stacked with an incredible cast. Sheldon is a “movie person” and said that during Thanksgiving breaks, she gets together with hometown friends to go to the movies. She hopes this tradition continues, but if not, she is so excited for this movie that she will just go see it herself. Take Sheldon’s word for it, seeing "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" needs to be on your to-do list this Thanksgiving break.
From musical lovers to a mystery fanatics, this holiday break offers something for every moviegoer. So take a few hours to step out of reality and into a darkened theater—there’s no better time to escape.
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Katie Gibson, junior in English language education, is from Trussville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
