Nate at the Movies: March 2026 Roundup 🍿

Hey, Reader! Welcome back another month of movies. Let's find you something worth watching.

🌟 This Month's Must-See Movies

Project Hail Mary (2026)

Loyal readers know I've been hyping up this movie for at least a year, and it delivered on all fronts. I saw this twice this month, because it's the best sci-fi movie to come out since Interstellar, in my opinion. If you want a movie with stellar humor, heart, and visuals, Project Hail Mary won't disappoint.

"One of this movie’s earliest announcements that had me believing in it was the casting of Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, and once I read the book, I knew he was going to be perfect. Gosling delivered one of his best performances, in my opinion, bringing aspects of a lot of his previous films to this role".

Read the full review

Hoppers (2026)

Pixar has been in a rut since Soul—no bad movies or anything, but less than what we've come to expect. Hoppers was a wild turn and a raucous good time, filled with some of the best humor of the year and a touching story that has just enough new ideas to separate itself from Avatar.

Read the full review

Forbidden Fruits (2026)

I took a chance on Forbidden Fruits because of its surprisingly well-known cast, and it was that cast that brought this weird and infectious story to life. I didn't know that I wanted a witchy Mean Girls set in a DFW mall until I saw it.

Read the full review

💎 My Favorite First-Time Watches This Month

This was an 11th hour add to this section because I watched it the night of the 31st, but Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) was glorious. It did everything that the best superhero movies do—challenge the hero's morals, feature explosive action, and explore the public consequences of being a superhero—while also being a tasteful and effective cameo-fest. One of the best superhero movies I've ever seen.

I had been wanting to watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) anyway, but the reference to it in Project Hail Mary was as good a motivator as any to check it out before by PHM rewatch. I wasn't expecting to be bewitched like I was by this patient, eerie, and beautiful story, but that's Spielberg for you.

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) was one of many Best Picture-winning movies that my local Regal was showing during March, and I loved it. Young Dustin Hoffman was something I didn't know I was missing, and the courtroom drama that dominated the second half of this movie was tense and tender. Great child acting, too!

🎯 Works In Progress

Adaptation Appreciation (3/12): I read Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary this month, and since you've already read my thoughts about the movie, let me tell you about the book. If you like complex but accessible science and ethical dilemmas, this is the book for you. As much as I loved the movie (it now sits at #10 in my Top 25 Films of All Time), the book is better. You probably didn't hear it here first—the book is massively popular.

MCU (27/37): This month, I watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The first two films were just fine—what I've come to expect from the post-Endgame MCU—but No Way Home knocked me on my back. Easily one of the best superhero movies I've ever seen and very impressive, considering how much the story had to balance.

Star Wars (13.2/17): March was Mandalorian month, and I started and finished the first two seasons! I think I'm in the majority when I say Season 2 was better than Season 1, but I really appreciated how Season 2 connected the story to the larger Star Wars universe. I also watched the first two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett, and it's fine so far. It's no Andor, but I can see its purpose.

Oscars Death Race (50/50): Of course we got it done! I would have completed this sooner, but my ticket to the live action and animated short film nominees was on the day before the Oscars. This race has been so fun the last two years that I've done it, so I'm certain this section will reappear on the newsletter next January. Hopefully I can check a bunch off the list before the nominations even come out!

🎶 While I Wasn't At The Movies

Entering the second year of the Nate at the Movies Newsletter, I figured I should give my adoring fans a look at how else I spend my time. Each month, I'd love to give a book, TV, or music recommendation (or something else—who knows?), just in case you don't have time for all these movies.

I got put onto a new artist named Chloe Qisha this month by my friend Hanah, and she rocks. Hanah promises me she's gonna blow up soon, so now's your chance to get ahead of the curve. If you like Chappell Roan or Sabrina Carpenter-style raunchy pop, Chloe Qisha will be right up your alley. "YDH" and "I Lied, I'm Sorry" are my personal faves right now.

🚨 Next Month's Movie Radar

Morgan and I already have our tickets for two April releases: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) and The Drama (2026). I'm excited for both, and I have a feeling that I'll like the Mario movie more, while Morgan will lean towards The Drama. Should be a fun way to kick off Easter weekend!

Later in the month, I've got my eye on Mother Mary (2026)—Anne Hathaway's first of many movies coming out this year—and Michael (2026), which would be my guess for the second Best Picture nominee coming out this year, after Project Hail Mary. Jaafar Jackson looks like he's got something special cooking in that movie.