The year’s shortest month is behind us, but not without first handing us outstanding films like Get Out, The LEGO Batman Movie, and John Wick: Chapter 2. Smaller films that left their mark included Netflix’s I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore and The Girl with All the Gifts. March’s wave of theatrical releases are determined to deliver the same in quality, but in greater quantity. Here are 11 must-see March 2017 films, because “better late than never.”
Opening March 3rd
– Logan –
Grossing over $100 million already, Logan should be a stranger to no one. I added this to my list of March 2017 films simply for those still hesitant after previous X-Men films (X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) burned them. Once you read our review though, be assured Logan isn’t just one of the best entries in the X-Men cinematic universe, but is one of the best comic book superhero flicks ever made. You’ll absolutely want to catch this in theaters!
– Catfight –
Catfight is one of the more bizarre March 2017 films mentioned, but certainly not the last. In this dark action-comedy, Anne Heche and Sandra Oh play bitter rivals that resented each other since college. At a party, the two exchange very personal insults before coming to blows, to unexpected long-term results. It’s brutal, it’s funny, it’s ridiculous, it cannot be missed.
Opening March 10th
– Kong: Skull Island –
Worst case scenario: the latest Kong reboot is a fun, dumb monster movie with forgettable characters. For a theater-going experience, I’m satisfied with that potential result. Reviews have been moderately mixed on Kong: Skull Island thus far, but its deep cast (Loki! Captain Marvel! Sam Jackson! 2 of the 3 Straight Outta Compton leads!) and stunning CG introduced in the trailers are calling me to the cinema to witness this blockbuster first-hand.
Opening March 17th
– Beauty and the Beast –
Yet another title critics are attempting to temper my expectations on: the live-action Beauty and the Beast. Nothing will hinder my hype for this – whether it’s fueled purely by nostalgia or unchecked emotional connections to the 1991 animated feature, I’ll never tell. The music and visuals always moved me in every trailer thus far, and I’m certain I’m not alone. I’ll gladly be this movie’s guest in theaters on St. Patrick’s Day.
– Song to Song –
I might be a sucker considering how much I was let down by Terrence Malick‘s last effort Knight of Cups, and how little 2011’s The Tree of Life spoke to me. Malick has such a skilled eye nonetheless that I just can’t turn my interest from. Add to that the unrelentingly loaded cast of Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Val Kilmer, Benicio del Toro, and more, I think this picture (debuting at South by Southwest – where we’ll soon be ourselves!) deserves a shot.
– T2 Trainspotting –
Questionable title aside, T2 Trainspotting should be on everyone’s radar. Trainspotting was a revolutionary moment in film-making, and regarded by many as the best Scottish movie of all time. The fact that the entire original cast returned, along with accomplished director Danny Boyle, bodes well for our experience seeing this unforeseen sequel.
– The Belko Experiment –
You thought that was all St. Patty’s Day had to offer? Incorrect. The Belko Experiment, from the offbeat mind of James Gunn, also drops, which looks utterly insane. Horror films with a mysterious social experiment plot intrigue me to no end. This is a packed weekend for cinephiles, but time should absolutely be spared for Belko.
Opening March 24th
– Life –
From the writers of Deadpool and Zombieland, and the director of Safe House, comes a sci-fi horror flick tonally similar to Alien. Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jake Gyllenhaal star as members of a space station crew who recently discovered life on Mars. Yet that life provides them with more trouble than its worth. The most compelling part is the mystery surrounding Life. What’s so disastrous about the organism they found? How in the world will this end? I. Must. See.
Opening March 31st
– The Zookeeper’s Wife –
Why would I put “Schindler’s List but with animals” on this list of highly anticipated March 2017 films? Most importantly, filmmaker Niki Caro demands our attention. She’s directed McFarland, U.S.A. and Whale Rider to very high praise, and will next tackle the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Mulan. What adds more interest, besides the incredible true story behind Zookeeper’s Wife, is Jessica Chastain leading the picture. Simply put, to me she’s a force in every film she’s in. Sign me up!
– The Discovery –
You won’t need to rearrange your schedule and spend exorbitant amounts of money at a theater for sci-fi romance film, The Discovery. You can stay glued to your couch or bed and put this ambitious story on your Netflix streaming device. This Charlie McDowell picture occurs in a world where the afterlife is scientifically-proven fact, which causes millions of suicides around the planet. I don’t even care who’s in it with such a unique premise; I just have to bear witness to it.
Final Thoughts
If you have a March 2017 films schedule in front of you, you’ll see some startling omissions from my selections like Ghost in the Shell, The Boss Baby, and other blockbusters. Could they be called “must-see?” I need convincing on that perspective personally, but I plan to see them like you do…after I see the rest of the aforementioned 11 movies listed above. Don’t worry though – April will present ample make-up time for your March movie homework.
