I Saw 2 New Movies in Theaters This Week (Neither Named 'Wicked') and Both Were Incredible

For the first time in a while, no one is talking about the top movies on Netflix (or any streaming content for that matter). That's because the current in-theater options are quite exciting.

Obviously, Wicked is leading the pack with its arrival next week—and it's even been making headlines with its star-studded premieres (looking at you, J.Lo and special guest). And without a doubt, I'm as excited as the next person to see Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver award-worthy performances in the iconic musical. But in the meantime, I was able to check out two other films in theaters and both were really, really good.

I'm talking Conclave—a riveting drama-thriller taking place inside the Vatican—and Anora—starring incredible newcomer Mikey Madison (who will likely give Erivo and Grande a run for their money come awards season). Let me start with Conclave.

There's a reason Conclave has a 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes—it's thrilling, fascinating and phenomenally acted.

The film features an all-star cast, with Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. Fiennes portrays a Catholic Cardinal who is tasked with leading the selection process of a brand-new Pope. However, things take a turn (and then another turn and then another turn) when secrets begin to emerge about the prospects looking to be promoted to Pope.

First of all, the film delivers a captivating look inside the papal conclave, including how the voting takes place, what politics are involved and how it is ultimately a complicated and drama-filled process that plays out away from the public eye.

While a film about Cardinals and Catholics may not exactly sound thrilling, the plot of the movie (which I promise you is twist-filled) kept me on the edge of my seat for all of it. And, it did so in a clever, slowly unraveling manner (unlike the over-the-top nature of Tom Hanks's Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code).

If Conclave's 92 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating isn't impressive enough, how about Anora's whopping 97 percent rating?

Anora is a brand-new dramedy that's been gaining positive acclaim ever since it hit theaters on October 18. Madison (who I mentioned above) portrays a young sex worker named Ani, whose life is turned upside-down when she meets a Russian oligarch named Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn).

Their whirlwind romance results in the duo eloping in Vegas, but this news doesn’t sit well with Ivan’s family. It doesn’t take long for his parents to announce they're coming to America to get the marriage annulled.