March is typically a slow month for new movies. It comes after “Dumpuary” and before summer blockbuster season. Credit goes to Netflix, which has used March to its advantage by releasing several anticipated movies on its 2026 slate.
The first Netflix movie on this list hails from a famous television series featuring the iconic character, Tommy Shelby. It continues the events from the show and closes the door on this iteration of the Shelby family. The next movie stars one of Hollywood’s best action heroes working today. The other movie is one of the most memorable rom-coms of the last 15 years.
3
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Are you David Lindhagen?
You know when people say, “They don’t make ’em like this anymore?” That’s how I feel about rom-coms. Unfortunately, it’s a dying genre. Rom-coms used to make stars and resurrect careers. Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Hugh Grant, Richard Gere, and Tom Hanks all elevated their standing in Hollywood with successful rom-coms.
Though only released in 2011, Crazy, Stupid, Love feels like a blast from the past. It’s a rom-com packed with recognizable stars, including Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Kevin Bacon. When his wife (Moore) asks for a divorce, Cal (Carell) tries his hand at dating, but it’s to no avail. Enter Jacob (Gosling), a cocky playboy who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him the art of picking up girls. Meanwhile, Jacob starts to question his own antics after meeting Hannah (Emma Stone).
The chemistry between certain pairs—Carell and Gosling, and Gosling and Stone—jumps off the screen. The charm is turned up to an all-time high. It’s impossible to watch the apartment scene between Gosling and Stone and not smile. This movie also features an underrated twist that happened in a time when spoiler culture didn’t ruin surprises. I’d do anything for studios to make more movies like this.
2
War Machine
Alan Ritchson vs. Machine
If you’re going to pick an actor to spar with an extraterrestrial machine, Alan Ritchson is definitely one of the first names that comes to mind. Ritchson has been delivering swift justice to bad guys on Reacher for three seasons. Now, Ritchson heads to the Army to fight his toughest challenge yet—a gigantic robot—in War Machine.
A staff sergeant known as “81” (Ritchson) enters the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) in hopes of becoming an Army Ranger, one of the toughest positions to secure in the military. 81 survives the majority of the grueling training process until he and a small group of recruits reach their final challenge. It’s supposed to be a simulated mission. When the recruits arrive on the scene, they’re greeted by a war machine that plans on killing everything in his path. It’s no longer a training mission; it’s a battle to survive, and 81 becomes the de facto leader.
War Machine is like if Jack Reacher joined the cast of Lone Survivor and fought the Terminator. That sounds like a video game, and in some ways, War Machine is one. Ritchson continues to flourish in this genre, so make some time for the battle between man and machine.
1
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Tommy Shelby returns to the fold
What a run it’s been for Peaky Blinders. 13 years ago, Cillian Murphy first introduced the world to Tommy Shelby, the cold-blooded leader of Birmingham’s Peaky Blinders gang. Tommy is a gangster in every sense of the word. The show ended after its sixth season in 2022. Yet creator Steven Knight still had more story to tell, so he wrote a feature film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
The movie jumps to 1940, with World War II heating up. Tommy is now living in isolation after moving on from his old life. However, the past is hard to bury, especially when it comes in the form of an illegitimate son, Duke (Barry Keoghan). With Duke in charge, the Peaky Blinders are heading down the wrong path, one that might involve aiding Nazi Germany. Unable to sit on the sidelines, Tommy returns to the fold to save his son and gang from falling under fascist influence.
The last sentence might read like a political thriller. Trust me—it’s still Peaky Blinders, so many of these problems will be solved through violence. The Immortal Man is the movie Tommy Shelby deserved. Thankfully, Knight is continuing the series with a new generation of Shelbys, so expect more Peaky Blinders in the future.
More options for movies and television
While it’s a streaming vertical, we still appreciate the theatrical experience, and Ryan Gosling’s Project Hail Mary should be seen on the biggest screen possible. If you choose to stay home, then peruse Netflix for some eye-opening documentaries and great TV shows, including Cobra Kai and The Plastic Detox.
- Subscription with ads
-
Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
-
Two or four
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
