March, 2026 is a month that leans heavily on variety, with a wide range of films landing across the board from major misses to one of the most complete theatrical experiences of the year. While much of the month settles into that middle tier of ratings, the top three films represent some of the best releases of the year, making March the best film month of the year so far. If you would Like to check out more in-depth reviews on any of the SXSW releases on this list, below is the link to that!
11. Pretty Lethal
44.1/100 – Vicky Jewson – Available On: Prime Video
Pretty Lethal is a women-led action film built around a strong concept and the presence of Uma Thurman in a semi-antagonistic role, but it never translates that into anything compelling. Set almost entirely in a single hotel outside of Budapest, the film builds around ballerina skill-sets and a major early twist, but the execution remains flat throughout. The action never elevates, the story never fully connects, and the film’s biggest asset, Thurman herself, is SEVERELY underutilized. What should feel like a contained, high-tension thriller instead comes off as unfocused, with an ending that feels more like a pipe dream than something earned. It has the framework of something solid, but ultimately doesn’t deliver enough to stand out, and lands as the worst film release of March.
10. War Machine
57.4/100 – Patrick Hughes – Available On: Netflix
War Machine opens as a traditional war film before shifting into a sci-fi survival story centered around a group of Rangers facing a giant alien machine, a concept that immediately feels like its biggest strength. The blend of grounded war elements with horror and science fiction creates moments of real tension, especially when the practical effects and action sequences take over. However, the film places far too much focus on its spectacle, leaving the narrative and characters severely underdeveloped. The decision to label characters by numbers instead of names strips them of any real humanity, making most of the cast feel disposable and preventing emotional investment. Even 81, the central figure, is only partially explored, with repeated ideas of grief and purpose that never fully evolve. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly jumbled, with pacing issues and narrative decisions that never fully connect. What starts as a strong concept ultimately falls into the category of a straightforward, disposable action film, carried more by its action than its story, placing it tenth on this list.
9. Undertone
65.7/100 – Ian Tuason – Available In: Theaters
Undertone is a unique A24 horror experiment built almost entirely around sound design and sensory immersion, leaning into quiet anticipation, negative space, and subliminal suggestion rather than traditional horror structure. The concept is easily the film’s biggest strength, creating moments of real tension through audio alone and turning the theater into a focused, almost interactive experience. However, while the film succeeds in how it makes the audience feel, it struggles to translate that into a fully realized narrative. The story itself is extremely simple, relying heavily on its central gimmick without ever expanding into something more complex or nuanced. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that the concept far outweighs the plot, and without a strong payoff in the final act, the experience begins to feel incomplete. Undertone stands as a creative and effective horror concept, but ultimately lands as more of an experience than a fully cohesive film.
8. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
65.9/100 – Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett – Available In: Theaters
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come brings back the chaos, gore, and entertainment that made the original a cult classic, but struggles to add anything new to elevate itself beyond that. The premise of throwing Grace back into another deadly game with new rich families is solid, but ultimately feels forced rather than inspired. While the film delivers fun moments, creative kills, and strong audience reactions, most of what works feels like a rehash of the first rather than a true evolution. Samara Weaving once again carries the film, and Elijah Wood adds one of the few fresh elements, but the lack of originality and underdeveloped characters hold it back. It’s an entertaining follow-up, but one that never escapes the shadow of its original.
7. They Will Kill You
67.4/100 – Kirill Sokolov – Available On: Theaters
They Will Kill You is a high-energy, gore-heavy thrill ride centered around Zazie Beetz navigating a hotel run by Satan and his immortal, ultra-wealthy followers, delivering a concept that is as wild as it is entertaining. The film thrives in its action and practical effects, with moments like the wildfire axe scene standing out as some of the most exciting of the month, keeping the audience fully engaged throughout. However, the film struggles in its storytelling, with backstories awkwardly inserted into the action without much nuance, making the narrative feel messy and rushed. While the chaos works at times in the film’s favor, it ultimately lacks the cohesion needed to fully land, especially with a final CGI-heavy sequence that doesn’t deliver the payoff it builds toward. It’s an absolute blast in moments, but held back by its uneven execution, and therefore lands at seven on this month’s ranking.
6. Forbidden Fruits
69.8/100 – Meredith Alloway – Available In: Theater
Forbidden Fruits is a unique satire horror thriller that is surely set up to be a cult classic, that throws together early 20s fashion culture, witches, and over-the-top comedy into a film that does a lot, even if it doesn’t fully come together. It’s a mixed bag, with big swings that don’t always land, as the story feels unresolved and the comedy hits about half the time. However, the film is carried by strong performances from its female-led cast and an energy that makes it consistently engaging and addicting. There’s a lot to appreciate in its ambitious and conceptual approach to satire, even if it feels like it’s trying to do too much at once. It doesn’t fully get there, but there’s clear groundwork for something fun and creative underneath it, and an eye opener for four great young actresses in Hollywood.
5. Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
71.0/100 – BenDavid Grabinski – Available On: Hulu
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a messy but enjoyable thriller built around some intriguing sci-fi ideas, including its use of duplicate characters, even if the execution doesn’t always land, that was one of the surprises of the month for the TwilightRoom. The film leans heavily on its action and chaotic energy, while the comedy and dialogue feel hit or miss and at times underwritten. Despite that, there’s something about the overall story and concept that works, even if it feels like a middle-tier streaming release more than anything else. It’s not a standout, but it’s the kind of film that, if you’re on its wavelength, ends up being a really fun watch, and the TwilightRoom sits on the proper wavelength for this one.
4. The Bride!
76.7/100 –Maggie Gyllenhaal – Available In: Theaters
The Bride! is an ambitious and visually intriguing reinterpretation of the Frankenstein mythos that leans heavily into chaotic storytelling and bold stylistic swings. The film thrives in its performances, with Jessie Buckley delivering an energetic and erratic performance that carries much of the film, while Christian Bale complements her with a more restrained presence. Its experimental tone and 1930s-inspired atmosphere create a unique identity, blending genres in a way that feels both creative and unpredictable. However, the film struggles with uneven writing and underdeveloped ideas, as multiple plotlines and characters are introduced without fully being explored. The result is a film that feels messy at times, with its narrative unable to match the strength of its vision. Despite its flaws, The Bride! remains a fascinating and bold swing that works more often than it doesn’t, landing pretty far behind the third spot on this list, but comfortably fourth.
3. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
82.6/100 – Tom Harper – Available On: Netflix
A giant step up in quality, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man serves as the long-awaited conclusion to Tommy Shelby’s story, leaning heavily into the darker, more reflective tone that defined the later seasons. The film is visually strong and emotionally grounded, with Cillian Murphy delivering a career-defining final performance that carries much of its impact. While it successfully balances spectacle with introspection and provides a fitting end to the character, the film struggles with slow early pacing and uneven narrative execution. It takes time to find its footing, but once it does, it delivers the tension and payoff expected from the series. Ultimately, it stands as a solid and satisfying conclusion, even if it falls just short of being truly great, earning it the third spot on this list of March releases.
2. Hoppers
85.1/100 –Daniel Chong – Available On: Theaters
The number 2 release in March is the animated beaver flick Hoppers, a chaotic, funny, and heartfelt Pixar original that takes a familiar premise and pushes it in a much more unhinged and energetic direction than expected. The film thrives in its fast-paced storytelling, blending comedy, environmental themes, and creative character work in a way that feels fresh, even if the message can be a bit on the nose at times. Its biggest strength lies in its ability to balance that chaos with genuine charm, making the experience consistently fun while still delivering on its core idea. The animation and character expression, especially through Mabel’s transition into the animal world, are incredibly well executed and keep the audience fully engaged. While the film lacks some of the emotional stakes that define Pixar’s very best, it more than makes up for it with its energy and originality. Hoppers stands as one of the most entertaining and refreshing films of the month. Earning it a spot at the top of this list.
1. Project Hail Mary
97.3/100 – Phil Lord & Christopher Miller – Available In: Theaters
Project Hail Mary is THE large-scale sci-fi blockbuster of the year. A film that blends high-concept storytelling with a deeply personal and emotional core, delivering one of the most complete theatrical experiences in recent memory. The film balances its spectacle with sharp humor and strong character work, led by a career-defining performance from Ryan Gosling that anchors his filmography and the film itself. Its narrative structure, moving between past and present, keeps the mystery and emotional weight consistently engaging, while the relationship between Grace and Rocky elevates the film into something far more meaningful and heartfelt than a typical survival story. Visually stunning and emotionally impactful, the film succeeds on every level, combining scale, storytelling, and performance into something that feels genuinely special. It stands far above everything else this month, establishing itself as the best film of the year so far by a considerable margin and one of the ten best films of the decade so far.
Overall, March is a solid and enjoyable month, carried by a strong upper tier and a group of films that each bring something unique to the table. At the top, Project Hail Mary clearly stands out, elevating the month as a whole and leaving a lasting impression as the defining theatrical experience.
