After reigning at the box office for nearly three months thanks toSpider-Man: No Way HomeandUncharted, Tom Holland will encounter a foe that even he can’t beat in March: Batman. Warner Bros. will unleash the latest iteration of one of their most valuable characters with Matt Reeves’The Batmanon March 4. In a rare move, no rival studio is set to launch a wide-release movie that weekend or the next, with all of Hollywood anticipating (and hoping) the Dark Knight can pump as much cash into the industry as hisMarvel counterpart did last December.
BesidesBatman, there are other movies being released in theaters that target different audiences. From a thoughtful indie drama about death (After Yang) to an escapist romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock (The Lost City), studios are cautiously releasing more movies in theaters that won’t cannibalize each other. It’s all part of an ongoing process that Hollywood hopes will get the box office back to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Batman (March 4)
What’s it about:Batman encounters a mysterious burglar (Catwoman) while trying to save Gotham City from the Penguin and the Riddler.
Who will love it:Comic book fans; action film enthusiasts; almost everyone.
Preview:It’s been a decade since the last solo Batman film, and after Ben Affleck’s aborted attempt at aDark Knight Returns-type hero in the DCEU, fans are hungry for a new installment in the Caped Crusader’s cinematic oeuvre. Robert Pattinson is the latest to take the cowl, and he’s sure to bring the same intensity he showed in indie projects likeGood TimeandThe Lighthouseto this film. Following in the footsteps (or pawprints?) of Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway, Zoe Kravitz is poised to finally break out as Catwoman, who is suitably mysterious, inscrutable, and very, very lethal. In addition to the impressive cast, the film has a solid creative team, with Michael Giacchino (Spider-Man No Way Home) composing the score, Greig Fraser (Dune) as cinematographer, and Matt Reeves (the modernApesfilms) in the director’s chair.The Batman’s emphasis on the titular character’s detective skills makes this iteration stand out, and the advanced word has been positive.
After Yang (March 4)
What’s it about:In the near future, a family tries to save the life of one of their own, who just happens to be a robot.
Who will love it:Emo kids, indie film lovers; people who wanted a sequel to Spike Jonez’sHer
Preview:Colin Farrell’s busy March continues witha supporting role as the Penguin(under heavy makeup) inThe Batmanand a starring turn in this film, which wonraveswhen it was screened at Sundance earlier this year. Farrell is one of the most underrated actors currently working, with a resume that includesIn Bruges,The Lobster, andThe Killing of a Sacred Deer. He’s earned some of his best notices for his work as a grieving father inAfter Yang, and if the film is remembered later in the year, he could finally be due for some award recognition.
The Outfit (March 18)
What’s it about:An English tailor living in Chicago gets drawn into the lives of his clients, who just happen to be part of the Mafia.
Who will love it:John Le Carre fans; gangster film enthusiasts; British tailors with too much time to kill.
Preview:It’s no surprise the Oscar-winning screenwriter ofThe Imitation Gameis making his directorial debut withThe Outfit, which shares the coolly elegant period trappings and suspense plot of the former. When this film was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, critics praised the screenplay, score, and production design. What makes this film worth a look is due to Rylance, who gets a rare leading role in a genre (a mob crime film) he normally doesn’t appear in. The actor, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar forBridge of Spiessix years ago, appears to be having a ball sinking his teeth into the material. The film itself promises to be an elegant if bloody adventure, with guns, shady ladies, and a climactic showdown involving last-act revelations that echo both David Mamet and James Ivory.
X (March 18)
What’s it about:An adult film crew in 1970s Texas are terrorized by elderly farm owners.
Who will love it:Horror movie aficionados: A24 devotees.
Preview:Ti West hasn’t helmed a horror film in nearly a decade, so it’s cause for celebration when the director returns to the genre that helped make him famous with 2009’sThe House of the Devil. WhileX, with its bucolic Texas countryside setting and menacing locals, looks and acts very similar toThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre(the original, not any of the disappointing remakes or sequels), the film’s trailer promises the same blend of horror, comedy, and suspense that the director is known for. In addition, the electric cast, comprised of horror genre stars Mia Goth (2017’sSuspiria) and Jenna Ortega (2022’sScream), indie film journeyman Martin Henderson (The Portrait of a Lady), and the musician Kid Cudi, is oddly compelling, and the film makes great use of its New Zealand shooting location. Who knew the land of Kiwis could double for the Lone Star state so well?
The Lost City (March 25)
What’s it about:A romance novelist and her cover model try to find a mythological lost city (hence the title) while trying to avoid a megalomaniacal British billionaire.
Who will love it:Hope Floatsfans;Magic Mikelovers; moviegoers tired of watchingMarry Meon Peacock.
Preview:Do you likeRomancing the Stone? So does this film’s writers and screenwriters, the Nee brothers, who shamelessly rip off the central conceit of that ‘80s rom-com classic and give a modern update. The film’s trailers don’t hold much promise, with Bullock playing a role she grew out of a decade ago and Tatum regressing to his himbo status of theStep Upera. The presence of Radcliffe, playing against type as the film’s heavy, and Pitt, lampooning hisLegends of the Fallhunk image, gives us some hope the film isn’t as generic as it sounds, but we won’t hold our breath it will pull a21 Jump Street-like surprise.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (March 25)
What’s it about:A Los Angeles laundromat owner is recruited to stop an evil menace that threatens multiple realities.
Who will love it:Marvel movie fans; action film lovers
Preview:Finally, an English-language movie with Michelle Yeoh in the lead. Nearly 40 years after her debut in 1984’sThe Owl vs Bombo, Yeoh gets a chance to shine in a gonzo action film that combines the madness of Marvel’s multiverse with the modern fight choreography ofThe Raidwith a dose ofThe Farewell’s family drama thrown in. The film’s mash-up of genres is no surprise as the film’s directors preview outing,Swiss Army Man, similarly combined clashing elements to construct its oddly touching narrative. Along for the ride is an eclectic cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenny Slate, James Hong (appearing in his 445thmovie, give or take a few), and Ke Huy Quan, who is mostly known for his ’80s work inIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomandThe Goonies. Everything promises to deliver something different to the multiplex: a meditative action movie with an empowered older female lead. Who wouldn’t want to see that?
