As we venture towards the festive season, there’s lots to look forward to: Christmas lights, warming drinks, and the season finale of Stranger Things.
But we’re not quite there yet – instead, the shadow of Halloween lingers as everyone’s favourite “Wicked Witch” returns to the big screen. Indeed, Wicked: For Good might just be the cinematic event of the year – and our thoughts are with all the poor cinema staff currently bracing for chaos.
Of course, if musicals and mayhem aren’t your thing (but whimsy and Wes Anderson are), head to the Design Museum’s new exhibition instead where a delicious array of movie props and costumes await.
For those that just want to snuggle up and lose themselves in some fictional dystopias, there’s Netflix’s new drama, Last Samurai Standing, as well as Vince Gilligan’s unsettling sci-fi, Pluribus.
Whatever you decide, here’s to a week of “dancing through life”.
Exhibitions
Wes Anderson: The Archives
When: 21 November 2025 – 26 July 2026
Where: Design Museum (London, UK)
We’ve had a number of great Wes Anderson-themed European pop-ups and exhibitions over recent years, mostly linked to his recent releases Asteroid City and The Phoenician Scheme. For avid fans, however, this latest one at London’s Design Museum might just be the crème de la crème. Featuring over 600 objects (most of which are being displayed in Britain for the first time), it captures the evolution of Anderson’s career – from his early ’90s experimentations to present works-in-progress. Highlights include Margot Tenenbaum’s iconic FENDI fur coat and a pastel pink model of the Grand Budapest Hotel.
MUNCH Triennale: Almost Unreal
When: Until 22 February 2026
Where: Munch Museum (Oslo, Norway)
In a time of rapidly advancing AI, the lines between reality and virtuality feel increasingly blurred. The MUNCH Triennale, now in its second year, explores this subject through a dazzling showcase of contemporary art that utilises old and new technologies to express their real-world impact. From the green glow of holograms to constellations of neon, it captures an intersection between futures: one filled with dystopian dread, the other adventurous optimism.
Bonus highlight: Brussels Design Market, one of the largest vintage design markets on the continent, takes place 22 to 23 November
Movies
Wicked: For Good
Where: European cinemas
When: 21 November
What is this feeling? Excitement for the second and final instalment of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked! We pick up where we left off, with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) now a fugitive labelled as the Wicked Witch of the West, living in the Ozian forest following her refusal to support the corrupt Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and his regime. While Glinda (Ariana Grande) soaks up the public’s adoration in Emerald City, the two must find a way to put their differences aside and restore peace in Oz.
2025 European Award Season
Where: Select cinemas across Europe
When: 18 November 2025 – 17 January 2026
Now in its third year, the European Film Academy’s Award Season (previously Month of Film) is an initiative to celebrate and make European cinema more accessible across the continent. Participating cinemas will share a programme of specially selected films from this year’s European Film Awardnominations (due to be announced 18 November 2025).
Bonus highlight: Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney as a movie star on a European tour with his manager (Adam Sandler), is out in select cinemas now – with a Netflix release due for 5 December.
TV series
Last Samurai Standing
Where: Netflix
When: Streaming now
A little bit Shōgun and a little bit Squid Game, Last Samurai Standing follows hundreds of samurais competing in a deadly contest where the last one standing wins 100 billion yen. Based on a Japanese manga and novel of the same name, it’s filled with sharp, suspenseful action and detailed sets that will transport you to 19th-century Kyoto (from the safety of your hopefully samurai-less sofa).
Bonus highlight: Malice, a suspenseful drama starring Jack Whitehall as a nanny with sinister motives, is available to stream now on Prime Video.
Music
FKA twigs: Eusexua Afterglow
When: Streaming now
FKA Twigs’s ‘Eusexua’ was already one of our favourite albums of 2025 so far, with Euronews Culture’s Theo Farrant calling it “sensual, cerebral, and otherworldly”. Now, just 10 months later, we’re being treated to a deluxe companion release that features three new tracks and a collaboration with PinkPantheress. Don’t be fooled by the title, either. While ‘Afterglow’ might suggest a reflective reprieve from its predecessors’ dark, dreamlike techno, its pulsating beats show no intention of letting the dance floor dwindle.
Bonus highlight: ‘Tis the season for deluxe editions, as Tate McRae’s ‘So Close to What???’ gets the special treatment ahead of streaming from 21 November.
