March is already upon us. How is that possible? We were only just seeing in the New Year five minutes ago. I blame Netflix. Too many amazing movies that need watching before the next set arrives. With the Oscars taking place at the end of March, there are going to be even more top films to choose from.
Each month, T3 will be rounding up what's trending, what's got critics talking and what films are setting the streaming world ablaze. These movies are specifically aimed at those in the UK with a Netflix account, although the bulk of them can be found in most places globally – mainly any Netflix Originals.
Better yet, you can always take up a VPN to start watching the latest and greatest movies from around the world. I recently invested in one so I could make my way through DC's Peacemaker starring John Cena on HBO Max. Money well spent, if I do say so. Although it finally does have a UK release date, so you can start watching the James Gunn show real soon.
But enough about that. You're here to find out what films are worth your time and what's the perfect thing to watch on a cosy evening. So, with that, let's jump into the best movies to watch on Netflix for March 2022. For a more up to date update, check out the best new films to stream on Netflix and the best new films to stream on Disney Plus.
Her
Joaquin Phoenix has built up quite the library of quality films over the years. One of the Academy Award winner's hit movies, that I only watched for the first time recently, is Her. It tells the story of Theodore Twombly, a man who develops a love interest with an AI called Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). These sort of sci-fi tropes tend to come off as seedy but Her works beautifully.
Maybe it's director Spike Jonze's humour that makes this film so endearing, or the futuristic setting that looks like something taken directly from Black Mirror, or just Phoenix's genuine performance. Whatever the case, the truly human relationship between Theodore and Samantha is more believable than the half a dozen rom-coms that get churned out on a yearly basis. One thing that amazes me is that Johansson's voice was added in post-production (via Vulture), yet you'd think the actor was on set the whole time.
Spider-Man 2
Sometimes you just want to watch something comforting, something you know is good and something that features a web-slinging superhero. Spider-Man 2 was released almost 20-years ago and thankfully, it holds up reasonably well... for the most part. Everyone remembers the shocking dance scene from Spider-Man 3 but no one dares mention the "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" montage from its predecessor that ends with a freeze-frame cut of a grinning Tobey Maguire. Ah, 2004, what a time it was.
What has stood the test of time, however, is Danny Elfman's masterful score, the adrenaline-fuelled train fight through the heart of New York and the comedic beats from one J. Jonah Jameson (played by irreplaceable J.K. Simmons). Without question, the pinnacle of all of this is Alfred Molina's Doc Ock who still holds up as one the best onscreen supervillains to this day. Returning to Spider-Man 2 after seeing the character's appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home has somehow made the performance even greater.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Homecoming
Comedian, writer, director, producer and all-around talented showman Tyler Perry (Don't Look Up, Vice) returns as the beloved Mabel "Madea" Simmons in A Madea Homecoming. Based on Perry's mother and aunt, the character has been going strong since 1999, tackling everything from prostitution and abuse to racism and infidelity. The latest of which pulls no punches with Black Lives Matter and the stigma against homosexuality put in the spotlight, as Madea's family all come together to celebrate her great-grandson's graduation.
While critical reception has been heavily divided, it's powered itself to the number one spot for the most-watched film on Netflix globally in the official weekly rankings. This is likely in part is due to the crossover element with Irish sitcom, Mrs Brown's Boys. A match made in heaven, or just two unfunny men in dresses? You decide.
Bonus: The Adam Project
Everyone loves Ryan Reynolds, right? So I couldn't help but cheat a little bit and include The Adam Project – Netflix's newest blockbuster and one of the biggest releases on the streaming platform this year. Directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Free Guy) this sci-fi coming-of-age story follows a time-travelling fighter pilot, Adam, who teams up with his 12-year-old self to save the future after crash landing in the year 2022.
Boasting an all-star supporting cast of Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldaña, the film's real highlight is newcomer Walker Scobell, who plays the younger version of Ryan Reynolds. The two Adams play off one another comedically extremely well, offering some of the best laughs in the 106-minute runtime. We also get some great lightsaber-like action and fun chase scenes. Clearly, Levy and Reynolds like working together, as the pair have just announced that Deadpool 3 will be their next project.
If you need more convincing, check out The Adam Project trailer below:
Looking for the best series to stream? Then here are our top picks for the best new shows to watch on Netflix this month.
If not, then we have plenty more recommendations for the best movies to watch on Netflix – including, the global phenomenon that was the Tinder Swindler.
