What to Watch in March 2024

From science-fiction epics to supernatural horrors and family adventures, here's our guide to the best new films and TV shows arriving in March...

Films

Dune: Part Two (March 1)

 It’s been a long wait for the second instalment in Denis Villeneuve’s beautifully-crafted adaptation of this sci-fi classic, but Dune: Part Two finally arrives in cinemas this week and is sure to be worth the wait. Alongside the already star-studded cast returning to the fray there are some new additions for the sequel too, including Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Léa Seydoux.

Watching the first chapter before viewing is recommended (it’s currently available to stream on Netflix or rent on Apple TV / Prime Video) and, given the complexity of the storyline in Frank Herbert’s notoriously difficult to adapt novel, even those who’ve already seen it might benefit from a refresher.

Broadly speaking though, we pick up where Part 1 left off in the aftermath of the Harkonnen invasion of Arrakis driving Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) into the desert to seek refuge with the planet’s indigenous tribe known as the Fremen. Here he finally comes face to face with Chani (Zendaya), previously a figment of his dreams, and begins his journey toward his destiny to unite the planet and reclaim his place as its ruler.

The sequel is due in cinemas on March 1, you can find the trailer below…

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (March 22)

 If we’re ignoring the all-female reboot of Ghostbusters that arrived in 2016 – and the people behind the franchise seem to be doing just that – then Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is technically the fourth film in the series that began all the way back in 1984 with the beloved trio of Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis.

Billed as a ‘spiritual sequel’ to Ghostbusters II, the Jason Reitman-directed Ghostbusters: Afterlife landed in 2021 and introduced a new, younger cast in a storyline packed with nostalgic links to the original films (and even featuring a cameo or two).

Its follow-up Frozen Empire arrives in cinemas on March 22 and sees the return of Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and McKenna Grace, alongside appearances from old favourites such as Murray, Akroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts. This time around Gil Keenan directs a plot that revolves around the Spengler family’s decision leave Oklahoma and return to the Ghostbusters’ iconic firehouse base in New York City.

Wrap up, it’s going to get chilly…

Imaginary (March 8)

If you’ve enjoyed being suitably freaked out by the many weird and wonderful horror films to emerge from Blumhouse Productions in recent years, then strap yourselves in for another unsettling fright-fest from the people who brought you the likes of M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy’s.

Imaginary hits UK cinema screens on March 8 and stars DeWanda Wise as a mother who returns to her childhood home with her daughter Alice and discovers her old stuffed bear Chauncey, with whom Alice starts to form a bond. However, what begins as an apparently harmless game in which Alice pretends that Chauncey talks to her soon descends into something much more unsettling.

As with all Blumhouse films, Jeff Wadlow’s supernatural horror isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you like your horror films with a side of psychological thriller, this might be right up your street.

Kung Fu Panda 4 (March 28)

Looking for something more family-friendly to watch in March? Then look no further than the fourth chapter in the ever-enjoyable Kung-Fu Panda series.

Eight years on from Kung-Fu Panda 3, the latest animated adventure involving Po and his friends arrives on March 28 and sees the return of Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman and Ian McShane, among others. This time Po ‘s mission is to find a new Dragon Warrior to take his place as he prepares to ascend to the role of Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. There’ll be laughs, there’ll be tears, and there’ll be lots and lots of fighting…

TV Shows

3 Body Problem (Netflix, March 21)

Continuing in the science fiction vein, this long-awaited adaptation is based on a trilogy by Chinese author Liu Cixin known collectively as Remembrance of Earth’s Past, comprising three novels named The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest and Death’s End.

Drawing from the first of these, this new series co-created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo tells the story of an astrophysicist named Ye Wenjiie, who witnesses the brutal murder of her father in the midst of the Maoist ‘Cultural Revolution’. Sent to work on a remote radar base, she soon makes a discovery that will ultimately change the course of humanity’s future.

Featuring a cast that includes Benedict Wong, Jonathan Pryce, Rosalind Chao and Jovan Adepo, 3 Body Problem arrives on March 21 and looks certain to be a gripping watch.

Palm Royale (Apple TV+, March 20)

If sci-fi isn’t your thing, then the other headline show coming this month is surely Palm Royale, a period comedy with an excellent cast led by Kristen Wiig and including the likes of Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Carol Burnett, Leslie Bibb and Ricky Martin. Wiig stars as Maxine Simmons, a Florida resident determined to attain a place in Palm Beach high society through any means necessary.

The key to this goal, it seems to Maxine, is to become a member of the highly exclusive Palm Royale club, whose clientele includes all of Palm Beach’s most high-rolling, wealthy inhabitants. But how far will she go to achieve her aims? And is the life she dreams of really all it’s cracked up to be? You can start finding out when the new show arrives on Apple TV on March 20.

Manhunt (Apple TV+, March 15)

Not to be confused with the ITV drama of the same name starring Martin Clunes, this new series instead explores the events leading up to – and resulting from – the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth.

Hamish Linklater and Anthony Boyle star as the former President and his killer in this new miniseries created by Monica Beletsky, which follows the 12-day hunt for Booth after his escape from the Ford theatre in the wake of Lincoln’s death. Also starring Tobias Menzies, Lovie Simone, Patton Oswalt and Matt Walsh, this gripping conspiracy thriller is set to arrive on Apple TV on March 15.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple TV+, March 1)

Formerly of The Mighty Boosh and more recently a mainstay of beloved foodie show The Great British Bake-Off, Noel Fielding returns to screens in a new guise this March with a starring role based around the adventures – or misadventures – of the famed dandy highwayman Dick Turpin.

Due to premiere on Apple TV on March 1, the new comedy series also stars Hugh Bonneville, Asim Chaudhry, Tamsin Greig, Mark Heap and Joe Wilkinson, with Ben Palmer and George Kane directing. If you like your history with a little silliness and lot of wild inaccuracy, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this one.

The Gentlemen (Netflix, March 7)

Our final pick for March sees Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy Ritchie spin his 2020 film into a companion TV series, delving deeper into the grimy world of drug lord Mickey Pearson and, this time, his successor Eddie. Theo James in the starring role leads an impressive cast list that includes Kaya Scodelario, Vinnie Jones, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, and Giancarlo Esposito.

If you enjoy Ritchie’s brand of London underworld action then this new series could be well worth your time when it lands on Netflix on March 7.