Want to know what’s coming to a cinema near you this March? Look no further…

FRIDAY 1 MARCH

Alien (Ridley Scott)

A fortieth-anniversary re-release sees Scott’s classic sci-fi horror return to screens. This was the film that turned Sigourney Weaver into an icon and terrified audiences the world over, whilst launching a beloved franchise. Read our review here.

Anandi Gopal (Sameer Vidwans)

Billed as more love story than biopic, Vidwans’ film dramatises the inspirational journey that led Anandi Gopal Joshi to become one of India’s earliest female physicians in the late nineteenth century.

Burning Men (Jeremy Wooding)

Newcomers Edward Hayter and Aki Omoshaybi star as struggling young musicians Ray and Don in this independent British drama. Told entirely in POV shots, Burning Men promises a dark, bold and decidedly offbeat experience.

Foxtrot (Samuel Maoz)

Israeli drama about a troubled family who must face the facts when something goes terribly wrong at their son’s desolate military post. Cruel, wrenching satire.

Hannah (Andrea Pallaoro)

Ahead of her role in Denis Villeneuve’s impossibly starry Dune reboot, Charlotte Rampling leads here, playing Hannah, a women forced into a cycle of denial when her husband (André Wilms) is sent to prison.

Kobiety Mafii 2 (Patryk Vega)

Translated to English, the title of this Polish crime drama becomes Women of Mafia 2. The first film – released only last year – told the story of a police officer infiltrating the mafia. Expect more of the same in the sequel.

Luka Chuppi (Laxman Utekar)

Indian rom-com from the cinematographer behind 102 Not Out. Kartik Aaryan stars as Mathura, a young television reporter who falls in love with Kriti Sanon’s ‘headstrong woman’.

Miss Bala (Catherine Hardwicke)

Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke adapts Gerardo Naranjo’s 2011 Mexican crime drama of the same name with the aid of that film’s producer Pablo Cruz. Gina Rodriguez leads as Gloria, who seeks to track down the drug cartel that kidnapped her friend.

Of Love & Law (Hikaru Toda)

Intriguing documentary about two men who run the first and only law firm in Japan to be set up by an openly gay couple.

Ring (Hideo Nakata)

Just over twenty years after its original release, Hideo Nakata’s iconic Japanese horror hits cinemas once again. Read our review here.

Sauvage (Camille Vidal-Naquet)

Leo is a gay sex worker looking for love in this feature debut from short filmmaker Vidal-Naquet. Most recently seen in 120 BPM, Félix Maritaud leads.

Serenity (Steven Knight)

From the creator of Peaky Blinders comes this strange beast of a sci-fi mystery drama. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway play divorced couple Baker and Karen who reunite when Karen’s abusive new husband needs dispatching. A Sky Cinema co-release is never a good sign.

Sonchiriya (Abhishek Chaubey)

Set in the 1970s, Chaubey’s action drama tells the story of a legion of dreaded, warring dacoits who once terrorised the Indian heartlands.

The Aftermath (James Kent)

Fresh from her dazzling turn in Colette, Keira Knightley once again delves into the past for the role of Rachael Morgan. When Rachel is reunited with her husband (Jason Clarke) in the post-war ruins of Hamburg, she is shocked to learn that she will be living in the company of a German widower (Alexander Skarsgård) and his troubled daughter.

The Hole in the Ground (Lee Cronin)

In the wake of a terrifying encounter with her mysterious neighbour, Sarah O’Neill (Seána Kerslake) finds herself thrown into a spiralling nightmare. Fans of spooky little boys will be in heaven.

What They Had (Elizabeth Chomko)

The script for What They Had won Chomko the Nicholl Fellowship back in 2015. Four years later, Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon and Robert Forster help bring it to life. Blythe Danner co-stars as an Alzheimer suffering woman whose daughter seeks to have her put in a nursing home.

THURSDAY 7 MARCH

H is for Harry (Ed Owles and Jaimie Taylor)

What does it take to change a child’s life? That’s the question posed by this class divided documentary about a charismatic but illiterate eleven year old who builds himself a bright new future with the help of his fastidious teacher Sophie.

FRIDAY 8 MARCH

Border (Ali Abbasi)

Swedish fantasy film based on a short story by John Ajvide Lindqvist. An Oscar nominee for its Hair and Make-up, Border tells the story of a customs officer who has a very remarkable skill and is on the verge of a very remarkable adventure.

Captain Marvel (Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck)

Marvel’s first female-led superhero film has been a long time coming. Find out everything you need to know about the result here.

Cleft Lip (Erik Knudsen)

Knudsen directs, produces, writes, edits and scores Cleft Lip, an Oedipal tragedy about the fracturing of a familial unit. The film is set in a world where fertility rates are low and eggs and sperm are freely traded.

Everybody Knows (Asghar Farhadi)

Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz head up this psychological thriller from The Salesman director Asghar Farhadi.

Heat and Dust (James Ivory)

A re-release for Ivory’s romantic colonial affair, which was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala as an adaptation of her own book in 1983. With British screen legend Julie Christie.

Maiden (Alex Holmes)

It’s a clever title this. A neat play on words. The Whitbread Round the World Race was a male only endeavour until Tracy Edwards and her all-female sailing crew set out – on their maiden voyage – to prove the sexists wrong. Sundance documentary.

Ray & Liz (Richard Billingham)

Photographer Richard Billigham’s directorial debut is something of a bleak offering. Based on Billingham’s own childhood, the film explores the lives of a couple on the margins of society and outskirts of Birmingham.

Rosie (Paddy Breathnach)

A family are forced onto the streets when their landlord sells their home in this Irish slice of social realism.

Scotch – The Golden Dram (Andrew Peat)

Oddly, this intimate documentary about the golden history of Scotland’s ‘water of life’ comes from a Taiwanese production company, American director and Indian cinematographer. Such is the global reach of whisky.

The Kindergarten Teacher (Sara Colangelo)

An English-language remake – yep, another one – of Nadav Lapid’s French drama about a woman who discovers a child in her school has a prodigious gift for poetry. Read our review here.

Tigers (Danis Tanovic)

Having debuted five years ago at Toronto, Tigers finally makes release. Based on an inspiring true story, the film follows a Pakistani doctor who discovers his company’s baby formula has killed hundreds of children.

THURSDAY 14 MARCH

Children of the Snow Land (Zara Balfour and Marcus Stephenson)

Scary, funny, moving and humbling. All words that have been used to describe this documentary about a group of Himalayan children who return home from a Buddhist education ten years after last seeing their parents, whose isolation has held them away from modern technology. And then the earthquake strikes.

FRIDAY 15 MARCH

Ben is Back (Peter Hedges)

Lucas Hedges is increasingly becoming independent cinema’s most omnipresent stars. Following last month’s Boy Erased and ahead of next month’s Mid90s, Hedges plays a young addict here who returns home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve. Julia Roberts plays his mother, Holly, and yes, that’s Hedges’ own father writing and directing.

Benjamin (Simon Amstell)

A directorial feature debut for Amstell, Benjamin is billed as a comedy about being weird. It’s gentle stuff and sees Colin Morgan lead as the title character, a filmmaker struggling to make his mark. With Anna Chancellor and Joel Fry. Watch out too for a Mark Kermode cameo.

Fisherman’s Friends (Chris Foggin)

Rather than a celebration of throat lozenges, Fisherman’s Friends tells the story of the all-male Cornish choir who signed a record deal with Universal in 2010. All members of the group cameo in the film, which comes from the makers of Finding Your Feet. Expect to be similarly uplifted. 

Girl (Lukas Dhont)

Belgian drama about a transgender girl and her dream of a career in ballet. Girl won the Caméra d’Or award – for best debut feature – at last Summer’s Cannes Film Festival but rides a wave of controversy in the LGBTQ+ community. Whilst praise has been lavished on leading star Victor Polster, many have critiqued the film as exploitative and gruesome.

Harvie and the Magic Museum (Martin Kotik and Inna Evlannikova)

Czech animated family comedy. Harvie is a smart but excessively lively boy. His one ambitions in life are to complete his computer game and make his father proud. Finishing the game, however, starts an adventure for Harvie like he’s never been on before.

The Fight (Jessica Hynes)

Jessica Hynes holds a prestigious status on the British comedy scene but it is her ear for humanity that blooms here. As well as writing and directing the film, Hynes stars here as Tina, a harassed mother of three whose complicated life hits the pits with the reappearance of an old school rival. Tina then hits the boxing ring to learn how to fight for herself. Literally.

The Prodigy (Nicholas McCarthy)

Sarah and John Blume are thrilled when their young son Miles starts to show signs of rapid development and extreme intelligence. This is because they have never seen a horror movie before in their sheltered lives. With Orange is the New Black star Taylor Schilling.

Under the Silver Lake (David Robert Mitchell)

David Robert Mitchell’s latest film is a strikingly directed affair. Andrew Garfield leads as conspiracy theorist Sam, who launches a personal investigation when his neighbour suddenly disappears. Having premiered at Cannes, the film polarised critics. Expect a head scratcher. 

What Men Want (Adam Shankman)

Gender switching Nancy Meyers’ What Women Want, What Men Want sees Taraji P. Henson play Ali Davis, a sports coach fighting for success in a sexist world. When Ali gains the ability to hear the thoughts of the men around her, a brighter future beckons. Naturally, there are some unfortunate consequences she must face along the way.

TUESDAY 19 MARCH

90 Minutes (Simon Baker)

English footballing legend Rio Ferdinand is among the producers of this Sunday League character drama. He’s among the ensemble too, as one in a group whose secrets, lies and lives will soon collide for an explosive climax.

FRIDAY 22 MARCH

A Trip to the Moon (Joaquin Cambre)

Tomas is an outcast young teenager whose family constantly press him and force him to take antipsychotic drugs. In his need to escape, Tomas plans an intriguing trip to the moon. In this particular journey where reality and fiction mingles, he will disentangle an old family secret.

Cradle of Champions (Battle Bull)

Three young people battle to change their lives through a three-month odyssey of the New York Daily News Golden Gloves-the biggest and oldest amateur boxing tournament in the world.

Minding the Gap (Bing Liu)

Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at this year’s Oscars – along with eventual winner Free Solo – Minding the Gap concerns the lives of three young Illinois skateboarders. Liu tackles gender, race and class concerns in the film, which former US President Barack Obama named as one of his favourites of the last year.

Sharkwater Extinction

Sharks have a bad rap in films. Jaws, The Shallows, Sharknado, The Meg…sharks are always to be feared. As Rob Stewart’s documentary demonstrates, however, in the real world, the opposite should be true. With illegal fishing industry booming still, shark populations across the globe are under threat.

Sorry Angel (Christophe Honore)

The romance of an Parisian writer and his younger lover is threatened by prejudice and sickness in Christophe Honoré’s devastating drama. Read our review here.

The Journey (Mohamed Al-Daradji)

Two years after it’s original release, The Journey finally reaches the UK. As Sara stands on the cusp of committing an unthinkable act, an unforeseen and awkward encounter gives her the opportunity to witness the potential consequences of her destructive action.

The White Crow (Ralph Fiennes)

Ralph Fiennes directs his first film since 2013’s The Invisible Woman, working from a script by David Hare. The film tells the story of Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev – played by Oleg Ivenko – often named the greatest male dancer of his generation.

Us (Jordan Peele)

How do you follow an Oscar winning, pop culture sensation like Get Out? Jordan Peele hopes to answer that question with Us, a devilish new horror tackling duel identity. Teasing trailers have thoroughly whet appetites but only time will tell if Peele has another classic on his hands. We certainly hope he does. With Lupita Nyong’o.

FRIDAY 29 MARCH

3 Faces (Jafar Panahi)

Winner of Best Screenplay at Cannes, 3 Faces tells a tale of liberation in Iran. Iranian actor Behnaz Jafari plays herself in the film, alongside director Jafar Panahi himself. Together, the pair track down a young girl after seeing a video of her asking for help to leave her conservative family.

At Eternity’s Gate (Julian Schnabel)

The film that earned Willem Dafoe his latest Oscar nomination. Dafoe plays Vincent van Gogh in the final years of his life, with Rupert Friend, Mads Mickkelsen and Oscar Isaac co-starring as Theo van Gogh, the local Priest and Gauguin respectively. This take on the truth posits that Van Gogh didn’t kill himself but instead died by misadventure. It’s a controversial theory.

Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story

Five years after Frank mirrored the Chris Sievey story, Steve Sullivan’s documentary explores the eccentric true story. It was only after ‘Frank’s’ death that the truth came out but the story is sensational.

Captive State (Rupert Wyatt)

John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker and Vera Farmiga lead Rupert Wyatt’s new sci-fi crime thriller. Written by Wyatt and Erica Beeney, the film tells the story of a Chicago neighbourhood divided by conflicts stirred when an extraterrestrial force enslaves humanity.

Dumbo (Tim Burton)

Disney’s latest live action remake is actually more of a reboot. Refocusing the story from taking animals to the humans around them, this looks set to be a very different experience. That said, Aurora’s Baby Mine cover over the trailer had us in very familiar floods. Here’s everything you need to know.

Eaten by Lions (Jason Wingard)

Six years after he was named runner-up in the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent, comedian Jack Carroll stars in this feature-length adaptation of Wingard’s own award-winning short about half-brothers. Johnny Vegas and Vicki Pepperdine feature, whilst Antonio Aakeel co-leads as Carroll’s brother. 

Lord of Chaos (Jonas Akerlund)

Based on the semi-fictional book by Michael Moynihan, Lords of Chaos sets itself in the Norwegian black metal scene of the early nineties. Not what you’d call a ‘light’ watch. Things turn very nasty.

Out of Blue (Carol Morley)

When Detective Mike Hoolihan is called to investigate the shooting of leading astrophysicist and black hole expert, Jennifer Rockwell, she is affected in ways she struggles to comprehend. Crime drama from the director of The Falling.

Winterlong (David Jackson)

When his estranged teenage son is left unexpectedly on the doorstep of his caravan, Francis, a lawless, feral man who lives on the margins of society, is forced into an impossible relationship with the boy.

Yuli – The Carlos Acosta Story (Iciar Bollain)

Another ballet life story for March, albeit this one a documentary. Carlos Acosta broke boundaries at the turn of the century by becoming the first black Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet. The film is based on Acosta’s own autobiography and charts his life from Cuba to London and beyond.

What are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!