We often start our monthly rundown of new Netflix additions by discussing the month in front of us. This March, for example, we’d usually say something about how spring is around the corner and we’re looking forward to getting out and enjoying the nice weather. Then of course we would say that Netflix is releasing a ton of great new content this month and who needs nice weather when we have great things to stream? That’s what we’d usually do, but let’s be honest, we don’t have time for that this month.
No, this month, this fine March of 2017, we can’t be messing around. There’s no time for anecdotes about spring or jokes about sitting inside and watching TV. We can’t waste a minute, because, look, here’s the truth: the stuff coming to Netflix this March is just too good. There’s too much of it. Launch Netflix now and cancel all your prior engagements. Lock the door, shut the blinds, get a good internet connection ready. Be prepared to not move for 31 straight days, because Netflix is relentless with the amount of quality they are bringing to us this month.
As always, we’re here to rank the best new releases and tell you what’s worthwhile, but when a Netflix release schedule looks as good as this March, the only acceptable thing to do is to watch all of it. Now. Seriously. Go! Here’s The 15 Best New Additions To Watch This March, Ranked.
15. Jurassic Park (1993) - March 1
As we said, there’s a lot of amazing new things to digest on Netflix. So let’s start off the month by taking it easy and lowering ourselves into the frenzy via a comforting classic. With Jurassic Park we can get ready for a month of insanity by watching insanity play out on the screen. We can prepare ourselves for some genuinely exciting, new, groundbreaking shows and movies by watching something that re-defined the term groundbreaking.
Joining Netflix along with Jurassic Park III on March 1st, Jurassic Park is the kind of movie that it’s impossible to get sick of. No matter how many times we’ve seen it, there’s magic to be squeezed out of every single viewing of the film. From seeing the still-stellar visuals to hearing even one note of the iconic score, every second of Jurassic Park is like being wrapped in a warm hug, and that’s a feeling we can all benefit from when we’re one month deep into a brand-new Netflix queue of everything that’s about to follow…
14. Memento (2000) - March 1
Perhaps Christopher Nolan’s epic 2000 feature Memento was meant to be watched on Netflix. Maybe with the ability to pause and rewind and skip around Memento will make sense to all the people that were too ashamed to admit that it didn’t make sense the first time around. Not that any of us here at Screen Rant feel that way…
Understanding the complex narrative aside, Memento is a spectacular film that is definitely best enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, watched at your own pace. Packed with the kind of density and artistry that only a Christopher Nolan film can have, the movie is a thrilling ride from beginning to end. Or rather, from end to beginning, as the entire film is told backwards. But you knew that already, because you’re a smart, discerning viewer and you’re definitely aware of one of Nolan’s best films. And if you’re watching this on Netflix on March 1st, it’s definitely just to enjoy it again, and not because you either didn’t see it or just didn’t understand it the first time, right?
It’s okay, we’ll keep your secret. Just make sure to watch it, whatever your reasoning.
13. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - March 13
Taking a deeper dive into Netflix binging involves being able to get dark and coming out on the other side at least pretending to be a well-adjusted human being. So when you watch Million Dollar Baby and cry your eyes out, just remember to wipe your tears and pretend that you haven’t been sitting in front of the TV for weeks on end. Smile and nod, and prepare to defend your unstable emotions by blaming everything on Hilary Swank’s world-shattering acting ability.
One of Clint Eastwood’s best movies by far, it’s nice to watch Million Dollar Baby at the end of this particularly hectic Awards Season and look back on a movie that was celebrated for its quality rather than its politics. Released at a time before we reached peak online critique, one can only guess the criticisms that everyone would have hurled at the film in the wake of its Best Picture win, but luckily we don’t have to worry about that. For once, it’s okay to just sit back and watch a well-made film like Million Dollar Baby and not worry about what statement you may or may not be making by enjoying it.
12. Pete’s Dragon (2016) - March 14
Disney has been on a roll lately adapting its most beloved movies into CGI-filled live action spectacles. Bringing their classics to a whole new generation, Disney kicked everything off with Alice in Wonderland, then moved onto Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. Somewhere in between those films was a live-action remake of Pete’s Dragon. But that’s okay if you don’t remember it existing, because chances are you also don’t remember the original 1977 animated film either. But look, as usual, Netflix is here to save your inattentive butt.
The fact of the matter is this: Pete’s Dragon is a lovely film. It’s clear that it was made with love and it’s a shame that more people didn’t pay attention to it when it was released. But now that it’s available to stream we’re hoping it finds a new reputation as what it is – one of Disney’s most intimate and caring films of recent years. Sure, there’s a dragon and CGI bursting from every frame, but at its core Pete’s Dragon is a small story about a boy and his friendship with a dragon. Focusing on the Spielbergian aspects of a small town, a strange creature, and a coming-of-age story, the film succeeds at everything it sets out to do and ends up resonating with viewers of all ages.
11. Burning Sands (Netflix Original Film) - March 10
Netflix has been tearing it up with their original films lately, and after last month’s spectacular I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore they’re looking to keep the success going; or at least keep you out of the movie theatre and in front of your TV. Coming March 10th, Netflix is giving us another Sundance hit to call our own and watch in the comfort of our own home. But this time, unlike their usual indie films that feature quirky and weird characters, they’re going with a hard drama that depicts hazing rituals at a college fraternity.
As seen through the eyes of a pledge, played here by spectacular up and coming actor Trevor Jackson, Burning Sands is set to be a dark ride through a difficult topic. The type of challenging movie that you wouldn’t necessarily watch when you want a fun night at home, Burning Sands has the advantage of being important, and that means you’ll feel proud of yourself for watching it. While the critical praise and hype for this movie are off the charts, at the very least Burning Sands will give you refuge from the feel good films, superhero stories, and comedies that Netflix is bringing us this month. And that’s definitely not a bad thing.
10. Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (Netflix Original Film) - March 17
If you were cooking up a 2017 Netflix Original Film in a lab, chances are you’d make something along the lines of Deidra & Laney Rob a Train. It’s got all of the now-required points working for it, including but not limited to; Sundance hit (check), diverse cast (check), female driven (check), comedy-drama hybrid (check), crime caper (check), quirky as hell (check). And we’re most certainly not complaining.
If Netflix is building their Original Films into a niche-y little corner, so be it, it will only be a matter of time until they break themselves out. But in the meantime we get to enjoy this film from director Sydney Freeland that follows two sisters that support their family via train robbery after their mother gets sent to jail. As hijinks ensue, the movie doesn’t exactly have the same punch that last month’s I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore had, but it’s Disney-channel-esque teen vibe will certainly be charming to the right audience. And this being Netflix, if you’re the right audience you’ll know. The movie will show up on your home page and you can feel pretty confident in clicking “play.” After all, who knows you better than Netflix?
9. The BFG (2016) - March 15
Remember a few entries ago when we said that Pete’s Dragon was Spielbergian? Well, The BFG is also Spielbergian, but like, in a more Spielbergey way, specifically because it was directed by Steven Spielberg. But nonetheless, the two family films share a lot of the same DNA, what with both films featuring a human child making friends with a giant CGI creature.
Having said that, there are enough differences in the two movies to make both of them worth watching. While The BFG is certainly not Speilberg’s best film, his use of technology to tell a beautiful story is worthy of whatever little flaws you may see along the way. Cute, heartwarming, energetic, and fun for the whole family, the film is a nice way to spend an evening on Netflix. Furthermore, it does what so few films on this list – or on Netflix in general – do; it offends no one, it’s not boring, and literally no one can complain if you start streaming this in a room full of people.
8. Grace and Frankie: Season 3 - (Netflix Original Series) - March 24
If you didn’t know that Grace and Frankie was still going strong then you don’t know anything about Grace and Frankie. Of course Grace and Frankie is still going strong! Have you seen Grace lately? She still gets upset with Frankie’s tomfoolery. And don’t get us started on how Frankie puts up with all of Grace’s crap. Basically, take our word for it, there’s a shockingly large amount of life left in Grace and Frankie, and if you haven’t given the show a chance yet, now’s the time.
Entering its third season of senior shenanigans, Grace and Frankie is the surprisingly poignant show about two older women whose husbands leave them for each other. Forced to cope with a shocking change at a late stage in their life, the two women resort to humor and a surprising amount of fart jokes, much to our delight. Though not for everyone, this is a Netflix series through and through, which is to say it’s something that we would absolutely not find anywhere else. And for those of us that are into storylines (and again, fart-jokes) featuring characters and actors in their late-70s – and who isn’t? – we couldn’t be happier that Grace and Frankie is back.
7. The Most Hated Woman in America - (Netflix Original Film) - March 24
We can all count on Netflix to give us fascinating films featuring incredible stories that we didn’t even know we wanted. We can also count on Netflix to give us the best true crime stories around; Making a Murderer proved that. So we’re particularly excited about The Most Hated Woman in America, a true-crime biopic starring Melissa Leo about the disappearance of the founder of the American Atheists.
With the true life story of Madalyn O’Hair – a woman who got the Supreme Court to ban bible readings in schools – acting as the plot and a host of amazing actors filling every role, we can’t wait to see where this film fits in with Netflix’s own very high standards. Featuring Peter Fonda, Josh Lucas, Juno Temple, and Adam Scott, The Most Hated Woman in America is another film-festival movie that’s skipping theatres and being brought right to us – for free. Basically, Netflix refuses to stop dropping amazing movies right at our feet and it’s getting a little embarrassing.
6. Better Call Saul: Season 2 - March 27
Let’s be honest, Breaking Bad would be nowhere without Netflix. It’s original run on AMC didn’t exactly generate stellar ratings and it can be argued that the show only exploded in popularity when people found it on Netflix. In fact, you could say that Breaking Bad is what kicked off our binge-obsessed culture. So it only stands to reading that Better Call Saul – the highly addictive spin-off series featuring lawyer Saul Goodman – is equally at home on Netflix.
Streaming in 4K and absolutely deadly to start if you ever want a good night’s sleep, Better Call Saul Season 2 is coming to Netflix in preparation for the premiere of Season 3 on AMC. With all the nods to Breaking Bad that you could possibly want, what’s so great about Saul is that even without the Breaking Bad connection it’s a stellar show. Whether you’re well versed in the epic saga of Walter White or you’re simply looking for some lush 4K New Mexico desert shots to drool over, start streaming Better Call Saul now and immediately regret it when you find yourself unable to stop.
5. Amy Schumer: The Leather Special (Netflix Original Special) - March 7
Netflix just keeps on giving, and this month it’s not just original series, and it’s not just award winning original movies, but it’s also comedy specials. And hey, would you look at that, it turns out Netflix is also killer at making a great stand-up comedy special. Add to that the fact that Amy Schumer sure knows what she’s doing in the world of comedy, and what you have is Amy Schumer: The Leather Special, a Netflix Original Special that is not only worth your time, but also your tears. Yeah, you’ll laugh crying with this one.
At the top of her game and unflinching in every joke she tells, Amy Schumer knows who her fans are and she doesn’t shy away from being herself. While her comedic style is certainly not for everyone, Netflix knows how to package a comedy special and they know your taste. But then again, even if they don’t explicitly recommend The Leather Special to you, you should still check it out. Maybe you’ll turn it off in disgust, but maybe you’ll be surprised and find yourself being Amy Schumer’s new number one fan. Go on, live a little, click play.
4. 13 Reasons Why: Season 1 (Netflix Original Series) - March 31
It’s been a while (at least in Netflix-time) since The OA was the obsession of the world, so let’s have a refresher course. It was a mysterious show featuring good looking people raising more questions than answers. Got it? Good. In that sense, the first season of Netflix’s new series 13 Reasons Why looks to be the new OA. Mystery, drama, intrigue, good looking people, and a creepy headline – If you’re listening, you’re too late – all make us very excited for this adaptation of the bestselling 2007 YA novel by Jay Asher.
The series follows a teenage boy coming home to find a mysterious box on their porch. Inside are a series of cassette tapes recorded by a girl – the boy’s crush and classmate – that committed suicide two weeks earlier. In the tapes she details the thirteen reasons why she killed herself, and all we’re left wondering is how a mashup of The OA, Paper Towns, and Perks of Being a Wallflower has us so damn intrigued. Whatever the answer or lack thereof, we’ll be watching come March 31st.
3. Love: Season 2 (Netflix Original Series) - March 10
The first season of Love may not have been the most talked about Netflix Original, but there’s a strong argument to be made that it’s one of Netflix’s best. Produced by Judd Apatow and starring Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust, Love is the exact type of understated comedy you’d expect to find on FX or HBO. But it’s not on FX or HBO, it’s on Netflix and as a result it’s weirder, funnier, and more raw than anything you’d find on cable TV.
Simply put, Love is a wonderful show that is all at once painfully human and laugh out loud ridiculous. The first season took its time developing the screwed up relationship between Gus and Mickey, and ever since last February we haven’t been able to keep our anticipation in check regarding Season 2. With the cliff-hanger ending of last season and the fact that happy endings, and endings in general, don’t seem to be the series’ main goal, we’re thrilled that the time has finally come to re-join Gus and Mickey on their seriously messed-up trip through Love.
2. The Discovery - (Netflix Original Film) - March 31
The Discovery is without a doubt Netflix’s biggest original film to date. It represents a huge bet for the company, and the film is easily something that would be making a huge box office splash if it were being released traditionally. But it’s not, it’s coming to us, and everything that needs to be said about it can be written in bullet points.
It’s another Sundance hit. It’s starring Jason Segel. Rooney Mara too. Don’t forget Robert Redford and Jesse Plemons. It has rave reviews. It’s about a world where the afterlife has been scientifically confirmed, and mass suicides start so that everyone can end their suffering. It’s dark and sad and beautifully shot and perfectly acted and by all accounts it should be brilliant. Also, those last two sentences were not bullet points, but please excuse us, we’re more than just a little excited about this movie. To be totally honest, we can’t wait, but we’ll be patient. It seems like that’s the theme that the movie is trying to convey, anyway.
1. Marvel’s Iron Fist: Season 1 (Netflix Original Series) - March 17
Speaking of being unable to wait, the time has finally come. Marvel’s Iron Fist is here and the moment that you’ve been waiting for since Marvel and Netflix announced their four series plan in November of 2014 is finally here. Forget Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, the real badass that everyone wants to see has arrived and his name is Danny Rand.
Following on the heels of the incredibly successful and magnificently entertaining Defenders series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage), comes Iron Fist, the final piece in the puzzle before all of our Marvel heroes cross-over with each other and kick some collective ass. Sure to be full of brutal fights and the same gritty New York setting that we all came to love in the other series, Iron Fist stars Game of Thrones’ Finn Jones as the titular hero. Considering that Iron Fist himself is a lesser known but still deadly cool character in the Marvel Universe, we can’t wait to see what kind of stories he gets into during his debut and exactly how his arsenal of superpowers will be represented on the small screen.
Which incredible Netflix addition are you most excited to watch this month? Do you think you’ll be able to find enough excuses to blow off everything in your life and stream Netflix for 31 straight days? Let us know in the comments!
