March is here, which means a fresh month (and a fresh batch of movies) has landed on Netflix, which is perfect timing if your watchlist needs a little spring cleaning. There’s only one problem: with that huge library, getting lost in the endless scroll. We’re here to help with that.
For the week of March 2 to 8, I’ve plucked three crowd-pleasers from the tree: a big moody sci-fi that might bake your brain, a zombie-comedy with a stellar cast, and an endlessly rewatchable animated epic—ranked with the best pick saved for last.
3
Prometheus
In 2012’s Prometheus, iconic director Ridley Scott returns to the vastly expanded world of the Xenomorph for the first time since directing the first Alien film in 1979. For those not keeping score, Prometheus acts as the sort of origin story for the Alien universe, taking place some 30 years before Ripley and the events of the original film. And it’s a mindbender of a film with glorious effects and some thrilling action.
It follows archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and a team of scientists aboard the Weyland-funded search vessel Prometheus, as they travel across the stars to a remote moon in search of what they believe are the creators of humankind. The crew includes the icy company rep Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), captain Janek (Idris Elba, The Wire), and the creepy android David (Michael Fassbender), but instead of finding answers, they stumble upon precursors to the horrific Xenomorphs we all know and dread. The film wrestles with ideas about creation, god, and what happens when you meet your maker, and they’re not so happy to see you.
Fassbender is chilling as David, making the film an entertaining ride worthy of the Alien universe.
Prometheus
Release Date
June 8, 2012
Runtime
124 minutes
Director
Ridley Scott
Writers
Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof, Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon
Noomi Rapace
Elizabeth Shaw
Charlize Theron
Meredith Vickers
2
Zombieland
I love Zombieland for a bunch of reasons. First, in a sea of really dark and dire zombie apocalypse movies and TV series such as The Walking Dead, World War Z, and the 28 Days/Weeks/Years franchise, it’s really fun to see some fun and funny zombie fare, and this Ruben Fleischer-directed (Venom) sits up there with Shaun of the Dead as one of the best.
Zombieland picks up with Jessie Eisenberg’s timid, obsessive-compulsive survivor, Columbus, so named because that’s where he’s traveling, to get home to see if his parents have survived. As he works his way across the zombie-riddled wasteland alone, living by his very strict list of survival rules (they include stretching, doing cardio, wearing sealtbelts, and making sure a zombie is dead-dead after you’ve killed it), he fulfills Rule #8, Get a Kickass Partner, and befriends zombie-wrecking drifter Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), and con-artist sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin). The group decides to travel together to Los Angeles, where they believe a human sanctuary is. Along the way, they kill zombies, hang out with Bill Murray (in one of the greatest cameos in any movie), and learn that sometimes your chosen family is just as real as your blood family.
Critics mostly loved Zombieland’s fast pace and wicked humor, and Rotten Tomatoes currently has it at 89%.
Zombieland
Release Date
October 2, 2009
Runtime
87 minutes
Director
Ruben Fleischer
Writers
Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese
Woody Harrelson
Tallahassee
Abigail Breslin
Little Rock
1
The Lego Movie
My daughter was born in 2011, and when she was old enough to watch Chris Miller and Phil Lord’s absolute masterpiece of a film, The Lego Movie, the floodgates were open, and we must have watched it a dozen times. It’s just perfect. Not only is it an uplifting underdog story of by-the-instruction-book guy Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt), a construction worker in the Lego city of Bricksburg, but it’s a story of friendship, acceptance, and the battle between conformity and creativity, all wrapped in a stunningly creative animated epic that brings the world of Lego alive.
When Emmett stumbles upon the Piece of Resistance—a mysterious object that can save the world from the “Kraggle,” a power wielded by the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell) that can literally freeze the whole world in place—Emmett is branded “The Special,” a kind of Neo in The Matrix savior. He teams up with a gang of characters, including Master Builders Wyldstyle/Lucy (Elizabeth Banks) and wise wizard Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), plus crowd-favorites like Batman (Will Arnett), space cadet Benny (Charlie Day), and pirate MetalBeard (Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation), to take Lord Business down.
It’s one of the most creative and visually amazing movies I’ve ever seen, bringing to life classic, nostalgic Lego characters and building sets and lore. It’s packed full of jokes and satirical moments, and spawned one of the catchiest theme songs ever with Everything is Awesome, performed by Canadian indie pop duo Tegan & Sara, which was nominated for an Oscar. The Lego Movie is a classic you should watch with your kids or even on your own; it’s that good. It’s got a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Lego Movie
Release Date
February 7, 2014
Runtime
100 Minutes
Director
Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writers
Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Come back every week for a new list of recommendations of movies to watch on Netflix. But if you’re more of a TV series person, I also put together a weekly roundup of some great shows to watch on Netflix every weekend, too.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
