In Theaters: KNIVES OUT, QUEEN & SLIM and THE TWO POPES

Two new films join the box-office race over this year's Thanksgiving frame, which Disney's "Frozen II" will most certainly dominate. The first is Rian Johnson's whodunit murder mystery "Knives Out", which features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film is enjoying glowing reviews from critics and a positive reception from moviegoers ("A-" from CinemaScore's polls). It already raked in $4 million from previews, and its five-day performance could deliver around $30 million from 3,461 theaters.

The other new release is the modern day Bornnie and Clyde romantic drama "Queen & Slim" starring Daniel Kaluuya ("Get Out") and Jodie Turner-Smith ("Nightflyers"). The movie is also enjoying a very positive reception from both critics and moviegoers ("A-" from CinemaScore). "Queen & Slim" is only getting a moderate release in 1,690 theaters, but it's expected to gross over $10 million in the extended weekend frame.

In limited release, you should definitely check out Netflix's biographical drama "The Two Popes" starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce.

Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.

KNIVES OUT

Official Synopsis

Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in KNIVES OUT, a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death. With an all-star ensemble cast including Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell, KNIVES OUT is a witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.

Film Details

• Director: Rian Johnson
  
  
• Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Lakeith Stanfield, Michael Shannon, Katherine Langford, Frank Oz, Riki Lindhome
  
  
• Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 130 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including brief violence, some strong language, sexual references, and drug material
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 96% (247 fresh, 10 rotten, score: 8.3/10)
  
• Metacritic: 82 out of 100 (44 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 95% (average score: 4.5/5 from 1,371 user ratings)
• Metacritic: 6.2/10 (31 positive, 3 mixed, 17 negative).
• IMDb: 7.9/10 (7,569 votes)
  

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QUEEN & SLIM

Official Synopsis

While on a forgettable first date together in Ohio, a black man (Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya) and a black woman (Jodie Turner-Smith, in her first starring feature-film role), are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country.

Film Details

• Director: Melina Matsoukas
  
  
• Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Chloe Sevigny, Flea, Sturgill Simpson, Benito Martinez
  
  
• Genre: Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 132 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for violence, some strong sexuality, nudity, pervasive language, and brief drug use
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 85% (68 fresh, 12 rotten, score: 7.5/10)
  
• Metacritic: 74 out of 100 (28 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 92% (average score: 4.6/5 from 338 user ratings)
• Metacritic: 5.1/10 (8 positive, 1 mixed, 8 negative).
• IMDb: 5.8/10 (763 votes)
  

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THE TWO POPES

Official Synopsis

Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church. Behind Vatican walls, a struggle commences between both tradition and progress, guilt and forgiveness, as these two very different men confront their pasts in order to find common ground and forge a future for a billion followers around the world.

Film Details

• Director: Fernando Meirelles
  
  
• Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín, Sidney Cole
  
  
• Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 125 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for thematic content and some disturbing violent images
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 87% (53 fresh, 8 rotten, score: 7.4/10)
  
• Metacritic: 78 out of 100 (20 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 7.7/10 (480 votes)
  

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