March Movie Ranking

I watched five 2024 movies that came out or became available on streaming during the month of March. Here are my thoughts on each film.

By Alex Richard

As a movie nerd and film minor, I am constantly watching as many movies as I possibly can. At the end of each month, a list of the 2024 movies at I watched that month will come out. It is just my opinion at the end of the day, but I hope you take the lists as a way that can help save time when looking for a film to watch.

1. Dune: Part 2

Dune: Part 2 is my front runner for quite literally every Oscar category. This movie is a technical masterpiece. The sound design, the score, the visuals, everything in this movie hits.

There's a reason this movie has a 4.5 rating on Letterboxd. It's so good that some are comparing the first two films of the Dune trilogy to Star Wars, although my buddy Ethan would disagree.

That's not even mentioning the all-star cast that Denis Villeneuve put together for this much anticipated sequel. Timothée Chalamet is a movie star. We are so lucky to see an actor and be able to watch his entire career, because honestly its' on pace to be an all timer. Austin Butler continues to show that he's just really good at this acting thing, and Rebecca Ferguson character growth from the first film is awesome to watch.

Dune: Part 2 is still currently playing in theaters as of writing. It is reportedly expected to be on Max after its theatrical run, although I highly recommend you see this in theaters while you still can. This is one of those films that deserves to be seen on a big screen and I promise, you will not regret it.

2. Ricky Stanicky

The Rated-R comedy is back!!

Ricky Stanicky feels like one of those movies that during 2000s would have gotten a theater release and it honestly should have. Last year films like No Hard Feelings and Bottoms both got cinematic releases, and both did very well in the box office. Is this movie as good as the previous two films? Definitely not, but if you're looking for a pretty funny comedy, I would check this out.

It's nice to see Zack Effron have a good time in a movie, because man the Iron Claw destroyed me. And John Cena has become one of the funniest actors in Hollywood, he is so unhinged and wild in this film. Ricky Stanicky is a Prime exclusive if you want to check it out.

3. Road House

Admittedly, if you were a big fan of 1989 original, this may not be the movie for you. But as someone who thinks the original is incredibly mid, I had a pretty good time watching this.

Jake Gyllenhaal is great as always, but Conor McGregor's performance is must see. He plays just a completely out of control maniac and steals every scene that he's in. The movie doesn't have a strong script or plot that you can sink your teeth into, but if you enjoy being able to turn your brain off to watch some awesome action/fight scenes, Road House is also a Prime exclusive.

4. Drive Away Dolls

A movie directed by a Coen brother staring Margaret Qualley and star-studded cast? I was pumped to watch this movie, but sadly I was severely disappointed.

Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan have excellent chemistry, but they're not given much to work with. The movie can be funny, but it does feel at times that there are jokes just to have jokes. The rapid pace and editing feel distracting at times, despite the short run time.

Also no spoilers, but there is a side plot that is so boring and pointless I don't understand why it's in the film. The cast and performance overall are great, with Coleman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, and Matt Damon all appearing for minor-ish roles.

Honestly, I think now that I know the vibe and tone of the film, I would probably enjoy it more on a second viewing with my expectations drastically lower. Drive Away Dolls is currently available to purchase & watch on digital.

5. Argyle

"The twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn" should have kept this in his mind.

Another movie that I was really excited about when the trailer came out. I mean, with a cast like this, how on Earth could this be a bad movie. Hate to break it to you, but Argyle somehow did it.

To give the movie some credit, the visuals are great. A majority of the comedic jokes land and Sam Rockwell is having a hell of a time and its quite enjoyable to watch. I definitely enjoyed it more than it sounds like Ana V did.

Now to the negatives, the plot is dreadful. Nothing really makes sense and the twist, and the aftermath is extremely poorly executed. Not to mention that "the twist" was spoiled in the original announcement of the movie!! That literally the only thing the movie has going for it and if someone was just trying to learn about the film it could be spoiled for them.

I don't know if this movie is still in theaters or where it is/will be streaming, and neither should you. Save some time and rewatch Dune 2.

Follow me on Letterboxd and my other social media accounts to see my immediate thoughts after I watch a film and let me know some of the new movies that you have watched and if you agree or disagree with my rankings.