The Greatest Films To See in Theaters – New Films Out Now

February is officially behind us, with many people looking forward to March and all the fine things the month brings with it (including, hopefully, some warmer weather). As everyone heads into the new month, it’s also worth noting how many great movies are headed to theaters in the weeks ahead.

Kicking the month off with an incredibly strong start, this weekend sees the long-awaited release of the sci-fi epic, Dune: Part Two, the ambitious follow-up to 2021’s critically hailed Dune adaptation. In addition, several other movies of note will also make their theatrical debut, including A24’s absurdist comedy, Problemista, alongside the indie action Western, Outlaw Posse.

Along with those titles, you’ll also have time to catch up on some of the best releases from the previous few months, like Drive-Away Dolls, a new crime comedy directed by one half of the celebrated Coen brothers, the all-star superhero movie, Madame Web, and the musical biographical drama, Bob Marley: One Love.

Here are all the movies you can find playing at your local movie theaters starting this weekend.

Updated: February 29.

Popular New Releases

All the movies that have audiences buzzing or that fans have been eagerly awaiting for months.

Dune: Part Two

After three long years of waiting, sci-fi fans can finally rest easy knowing that the highly-anticipated sequel to Dune, Dune: Part Two, has arrived in theaters nationwide. Yet another satisfying addition to director Denis Villeneuve’s filmography, it’s also been hailed as a more than satisfactory follow-up to the earlier Dune film.

Rallying the Fremen of the desert planet of Arrakis to his cause, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) prepares for a fateful final battle between his people and the corrupt armies of House Harkonnen.

Like the initial installment in Villeneuve’s two-part series, Dune has earned universally high acclaim from critics, with audience members praising the film’s special effects, the performances of its cast, and its strict adherence to Frank Hebert’s original novel.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
IMDb score: 9.1

Bob Marley: One Love

At the height of his career, Bob Marley brought international attention to the reggae genre, entrancing listeners with his free-flowing songs and pacifistic messages of love, peace, and enjoying life’s simple moments. More recently, a biographical drama centered around Marley’s life and career has seen a release in the form of Bob Marley: One Love.

Breaking into the music industry in the early 1960s, reggae singer Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) becomes an international sensation through his music, although his career is cut tragically short upon Marley’s death in 1981 at just 36-years-old.

While the film’s performances alone are worthy of attention (especially in the case of Ben-Adir), critics have handed Bob Marley: One Love mostly mixed reviews, believing the film fell into the same familiar territory as most other biopics before it.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%
IMDb score: 6.6

Drive-Away Dolls

While the Coen brothers have traditionally worked together on each of their films, Drive-Away Dolls marks the second time the siblings have produced a solo film. As with Joel Coen’s previous work on The Tragedy of Macbeth, Drive-Away Dolls ushers in Ethan Coen’s first film as a single director.

Disappointed by their current lot in life, two best friends (Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan) decide to set off for the greener pastures of Tallahassee. Along the way, however, they end up getting involved in a major criminal conspiracy rooted around a valuable briefcase.

Bearing plenty of similarities to the Coens’ most well-known films (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Burn After Reading), critics have awarded Drive-Away Dolls mostly positive reviews, with particular praise aimed at the film’s humor and zany performances.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%
IMDb score: 6.5

Madame Web

The fourth film in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, Madame Web delivers an action-packed superhero spinoff to Venom and Morbius. Unfortunately, the finished results also bear plenty of similarities to the lesser quality of each SSU movie before it.

Learning that she has the power to predict the future, a New York paramedic (Dakota Johnson) uses her superhuman abilities to try and save three young women (Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced) from a shadowy figure (Tahar Rahim).

Though it possesses a great cast of incredible actors, Madame Web has grossed universally negative reviews thus far, with some critics going so far as to call it one of the worst superhero movies ever made.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%
IMDb score: 3.9

Ordinary Angels

Loosely inspired by a true story, Ordinary Angels illustrates the inspirational difference a community can make when they come together to support one of their own, overcoming the most tremendous odds imaginable for the sake of the greater good.

In Louisville, Kentucky, a well-meaning hairdresser (Hilary Swank) encourages the residents of her town to help the ailing daughter of a struggling widower (Alan Ritchson) after a major snowstorm sweeps across the state.

Though some critics admitted that some aspects of the movie leaned towards the melodramatic, most reviewers have handed Ordinary Angels overarchingly positive reviews, mainly owing to its feel-good themes and the performances of its cast.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%
IMDb score: 7.9

Problemista

Who says A24 can only do horror or drama? Following in the footsteps of the company’s Oscar-winning absurdist comedy, Everything Everywhere All at Once, comes the similarly-veined surrealist adventure film, Problemista.

Struggling to implement his unusual new designs in New York City, an aspiring artist from El Salvador (Julio Torres) begins working for an unusual figure from the artistic world (Tilda Swinton) who could be the key to his success.

As with most of A24’s more bizarre films, Problemista has been met with glowing reviews thus far from critics. Above all else, the movie has been praised for its light-hearted blend between fantasy, surrealism, and adventure, balanced by its more grounded narrative rooted in perseverance and self-reliance.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
IMDb score: 7.1

Other Movies of Note

Notable films that will likely continue playing for only a few more weeks.

Lisa Frankenstein

Like most well-known literary classics, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has provided the basis for endless movies, TV shows, comic books, and video games over the years. Even when held up to the vast number of other Frankenstein-related movies that came before it, though, Lisa Frankenstein appears as an entirely new translation of Shelley’s novel.

In the late 1980s, a lonely teenager (Kathryn Newton) helps a resurrected zombie from the Victorian era (Cole Sprouse) search for the missing pieces of his body, unexpectedly developing an attraction to one another over the course of their adventures.

More of a loose reimagining of Frankenstein than a straightforward adaptation, Lisa Frankenstein has drawn mostly mixed reviews from critics. While the performances and romantic chemistry between Newton and Sprouse has been positively commented on, most critics believed the movie veered too heavily towards formulaic romantic comedy tropes.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%
IMDb score: 5.9

Argylle

A loose spin-off of the popular Kingsman series, Argylle offers a humorous spin on the traditional spy story, infusing it with a meta-fictional story that’s equal parts Romancing the Stone as it is James Bond.

As she prepares to finish her latest book, a shy spy novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) is roped into a legitimate conspiracy theory when a covert agent (Sam Rockwell) reveals her books have been predicting future events.

While its massive cast list is nothing short of impressive, Argylle has been met with mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics. Like the latest installments of the Kingsman series, many critics felt the movie valued action and poor CGI over a strong story or memorable characters, accounting for it​​s lack of critical success.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%
IMDb score: 6.2

Land of Bad

Like most mainstream actors, Russell Crowe has appeared in a healthy mix of grounded dramas and more commercial genre movies. For example, Crowe’s latest movie – Land of Bad – serves as a taut action thriller that’s bound to appeal to most members of the audience.

After a disastrous ambush in Southeast Asia leaves them cut off and surrounded, a U.S. Special Forces team tries to flee from enemy territory, relying on the guidance of a drone pilot (Crowe) to navigate out of the country.

Drawing mostly mixed to positive reviews, most critics have described Land of Bad as a predictable if enjoyable action thriller, bolstered by loads of exciting action sequences and largely decent performances from the main cast.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Disney+ and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.4

Wonka

As one of the most beloved characters ever created by Roald Dahl, anticipation for Wonka was high from the get-go. Fortunately, the producers of the film managed to stick the landing, providing a fascinating backstory for Dahl’s enigmatic chocolatier.

Carrying out his lifelong ambition of becoming a candy maker, the young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) attempts to open his very own chocolate shop, only to meet with merciless competition from rival chocolatiers in his neighborhood.

Drawing a mostly positive reception in early screenings, Wonka has been deemed a suitably flavorful addition to Dahl’s list of adaptations, with many praising the film for its originality, creativity, and numerous musical numbers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
IMDb score: 7.5

Anatomy of a Fall

After making its premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, the French mystery thriller, Anatomy of a Fall, finally makes its way across seas to American theaters. An impeccable whodunit with aspects of a psychological legal thriller, Anatomy of a Fall has been a leading contender at most prestigious awards ceremonies (the Golden Globes, the Oscars, etc.)

After her husband (Samuel Theis) is killed from a seemingly ordinary fall outside their home, the local police attempt to determine whether the man’s wife (Sandra Hüller) was somehow involved in the incident.

Having already taken home the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Anatomy of a Fall seems a legitimate contender for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. On top of the film’s Oscar nominations–including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director–Anatomy of a Fall has earned extraordinarily rave reviews from critics.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 7.8

Fighter

A strange but entertaining new development in the entertainment industry involves the sudden rise in popularity of aviation-themed movies. Following in the wake of earlier action films like Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion comes the latest entry in this incredibly niche genre with the Hindi-language Fighter.

Banding together into an experimental new military unit known as the Air Dragons, a group of Indian Air Force pilots bond over their intense, often perilous missions.

The first in a planned franchise, Fighter has met with a mostly mixed response from early critics, many of whom commended the film for its leading cast members and their respective performances. However, those same critics felt the movie lacked a strong story to gauge viewers’ interests.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%
IMDb score: 7.3

Poor Things

Like most notable directors, Yorgos Lanthimos always receives respectable fanfare whenever he releases a new film, thanks in large part to the filmmaker’s skillful penchant for crafting hilarious absurdist films. Following in the footsteps of The Lobster and The Favourite, Lanthimos once again serves up a fascinating surrealist epic with his most recent film, Poor Things.

Having been resurrected by a kindly doctor (Willem Dafoe), a naïve young woman (Emma Stone) runs away with an immoral lawyer (Mark Ruffalo), experiencing the wonders of the world through a wholly new perspective.

Having won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival upon its premiere earlier this year, Poor Things has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. In addition to Stone’s powerhouse performance, critics celebrated the film for its luminous set design and quirky script.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
IMDb score: 8.5

Anyone But You

A romantic comedy showcasing two young stars of tomorrow, Anyone But You casts Euphoria alum Sydney Sweeney opposite burgeoning leading man Glen Powell. A contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, it’s a humorous film that coasts on the abilities of its lead cast members.

Attending her sister’s wedding in Australia, a young woman (Sweeney) reluctantly poses as the girlfriend of a former lover she personally despises (Powell). Over time, however, the two set aside their mutual animosity, reigniting the dormant feelings they previously held for each other.

Thus far, Anyone But You has met with mixed to positive reviews, with ample praise dished out to Sweeney and Powell’s performances and chemistry. On the flip side, the film has been criticized for its predictable plot line and more mean-spirited humor.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
IMDb score: N/A

Mean Girls

In 2004, SNL alumnus Tina Fey took the world by storm with her riotous teen comedy, Mean Girls. Two decades later, the iconic film series returns with an ambitious remake, combining the underlying story of Fey’s original film with its subsequent Broadway adaptation.

Moving to the suburbs of Chicago, a young transfer student (Angourie Rice) tries her best to fit into her new high school setting, leading her into an eventful relationship with the school’s most popular students.

While not as singularly great as the initial Mean Girls, critics have complimented 2024’s Mean Girls for its close adherence to its source material. In addition, those same critics also praised the movie for its astounding musical dance numbers, all of which are taken faithfully from the original Broadway production.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.5

The Book of Clarence

Taking a page from the larger-than-life playbook of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, The Book of Clarence offers a clever satirization of Biblical legend, using an intelligent script and talented cast to carry out its main message.

In 33 A.D., a young man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) uses lies and deceit to build a new life for himself, posing as the next Messiah in the wake of Jesus Christ’s (Nicholas Pinnock) arrival.

Earning mostly positive reviews, critics have been quick to underline The Book of Clarence’s stellar performances and entertaining script as the movie’s strongest characteristics. Though its religious undertones may not always be as poignant or thought-provoking as it could be, The Book of Clarence has enough originality to sustain a majority of viewers.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%
IMDb score: 6.0

Night Swim

Next to A24 or Neon, Blumhouse Production currently ranks as one of the main film studios cranking out palpable horror films on a regular basis. Following in the footsteps of their recent releases in M3GAN and Five Nights At Freddy’s comes the company’s latest effort, the mysterious supernatural horror movie, Night Swim.

Moving into a new home in the suburbs, an ordinary family begins to suspect that their seemingly average backyard swimming pool is haunted by a paranormal entity.

Like most of Blumhouse’s recent outpouring of films, Night Swim has earned mostly mixed reviews from critics. Though many were quick to praise the movie’s originality, many also felt the film spent far too much time on exposition and not enough on building towards actual scares.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: 5.5

The Beekeeper

Like most action stars, Jason Statham tends to appear in either very good movies–or incredibly bad ones. Fresh off the disappointing sequel that was The Expendables 4, Statham returns in the far better action movie, The Beekeeper.

When his elderly best friend (Phylicia Rashad) takes her own life as a result of a phishing scheme, a retired secret agent now working as a beekeeper (Statham) sets out to destroy the company that ruined her life.

While a bit overly reliant on earlier action movies (such as John Wick), critics have singled out The Beekeeper as one of Statham’s best outings in some time. With sharp action and an A-list cast, it’s a film that continues to demonstrate why Statham has maintained his favored status among diehard action fans.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.8

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

The latest installment in the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also bids a soft farewell to the pre-established continuity of the DC universe as fans know it. With James Gunn planning to reboot the series with his upcoming films, Aqua and the Lost Kingdom marks the end of an era for DC, with Jason Momoa in his final outing as the famous nautical hero.

After his arch-nemesis Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) secures the all-powerful Black Trident, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) reluctantly enlists the help of his disgraced brother (Patrick Wilson) for help.

As joyous as it is to see Momoa return as the famous DC hero, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has grossed mostly negative reviews, with critics calling it a bland and disappointing sendoff to the original version of the DCEU.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
IMDb score: 6.0

Migration

While Illumination has yet to achieve the same grand-standing reputation as their competitors at Disney or DreamWorks, the studio has done a fantastic job releasing their own unique family-friendly movies, as seen from their latest release, Migration.

Hoping to expand her family’s horizons, a female mallard (Elizabeth Banks) convinces her neurotic husband (Kumail Nanjiani) and their children to migrate from New England to Jamaica, passing through New York City along their route.

Earning mixed to positive reviews from critics, Migration has been applauded for its humor and overarching theme of broadening one’s perspective–a thematic issue most younger audiences will likely find endearing.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
IMDb score: 7.1

The Zone of Interest

One of the most sobering films of the past year, The Zone of Interest has already been acclaimed as one of the best movies of 2023. A harrowing historical drama based on one of the most infamous members of the Nazi Regime, it’s been acclaimed for its writing, direction, performances, and timely themes.

Near the beginning of World War II, German officer Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) accepts a position as commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, with both he and his wife trying to build the perfect life for themselves in spite of their horrific war crimes.

Delving deeply into Höss and his wife’s complacency in Nazi war crimes, The Zone of Interest also probes deeply into the disconnect between one’s inhuman actions and their own idyllic desires for the future (a beautiful home, a healthy garden, a stable family life, etc.). Having been named one of the best international films of the year by the National Board of Review, it’s also been submitted for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
IMDb score: 8.0

The Boy and the Heron

It’s been 10 years since Hayao Miyazaki last directed a movie, the filmmaker having won widespread renown for his 2013 anime biopic, The Wind Rises. A decade later, the founding father of Studio Ghibli returns with his most recent masterpiece, the brilliant The Boy and the Heron.

As World War II wages around him, a young boy whose mother recently passed away follows a mysterious gray heron into a magical world populated by fantastical creatures and benevolent spirits.

Like every Miyazaki film before it, The Boy and the Heron has earned incredibly warm reviews from critics, nearly all of whom have praised the film for its poignant themes, vivid animation, and wondrous depiction of grief, trauma, and healing.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
IMDb score: 7.6

The Holdovers

Throughout his career, director Alexander Payne has consistently churned out some of the best movies of the century so far, including dark comedies like Nebraska, Sideways, About Schmidt, and The Descendants. With The Holdovers, Payne returns to the layered films of his early career, balancing laugh-out-loud humor with some poignant studies of hopelessly flawed characters.

At the prestigious Barton Academy in the early 1970s, an authoritative history teacher (Paul Giamatti) is tasked with chaperoning four students unable to return home for the holiday.

With critics hailing the movie as a return to form for Payne, The Holdovers has been met with universal acclaim from viewers. Along with the praise heaped upon the principal cast (Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph), reviewers have also commended The Holdovers for its blend of comedy and drama–a standout feature found in most of Payne’s earliest films.

Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD & Peacock
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 8.3

Action

For movie fans who like a rush.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training

Like its original manga counterpart, Demon Slayer has garnered a dedicated following of fans over the years since its release, as evidenced by the popularity of its anime adaptation and respective film continuations (such as the latest Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training).

As Tanjiro Kamado subjects himself to a grueling training regimen with the Stone Hashira, the reigning demon king, Muzan Kibutsuji, searches for Nezuko and the remaining members of the Ubuyashiki family.

The third film in the multimedia Demon Slayer franchise, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training has earned an assortment of positive reviews. While critics voiced skepticism over whether the movie will entice casual anime fans, they contested that longtime viewers of the series will be more than satisfied with this Demon Slayer film.

Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
IMDb score: 8.0

Outlaw Posse

Don’t let Outlaw Posse’s relatively meager budget fool you: the finished film boasts an impressive lineup of well-known character actors, including Cedric the Entertainer, Edward James Olmos, John Carroll Lynch, and Whoopi Goldberg, among many others.

In 1908, an aged outlaw (Mario Van Peebles) ends his lengthy exile in Mexico to return to the U.S., searching for a hidden trove of buried treasure before an unscrupulous gunslinger (William Mapother) beats him to it.

While Outlaw Posse’s low production value might prove a bit distracting, the finished film boasts enough originality to justify a watch, with many critics specifically pointing to the film’s large cast as its strongest feature.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: N/A

Comedy

For movie fans who love to laugh.

American Fiction

If The Zone of Interest is an attack on the dehumanizing effects of fascism, American Fiction can be seen as an attack on the gradual dumbing-down of today’s mass culture (albeit drawing on a more humorous and satirical tone than The Zone of Interest).

Frustrated by his lack of popularity among mainstream readers, an intelligent novelist (Jeffrey Wright) writes the worst book he can think of as a joke, only for the novel to become a massive best-seller.

Earning rave reviews from critics, American Fiction has been universally well-received for its humor and satirical subject matter. With particular praise heaped on Wright for his career-defining performance here, American Fiction has already garnered numerous accolades, in addition to its several nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
IMDb score: 7.8

Popular Re-Releases

Iconic movies that are headed for the big screen for a limited time.

Labyrinth

What do you get when you mix a young Jennifer Connelly with the special effects of Jim Henson, a screenplay by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, and the musical performances of David Bowie? You get the predictably odd yet imminently lovable 1986 fantasy musical, Labyrinth.

Making a wish that she instantly regrets, a teenage girl with a vivid imagination (Connelly) must journey to the center of a magical labyrinth to save her baby brother from the alluring Goblin King (David Bowie).

Returning to theaters for a limited time at the start of March, Labyrinth has achieved a strong cult following in the decades since its release, thanks in large part to Bowie’s charismatic performance as the Goblin King, Jareth, and Henson’s characteristically great practical effects.

Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%
IMDb score: 7.3

Those are the movies out now.

Grab your tickets ahead of time and skip the lines at the theater.