March 2026’s Best Streaming Titles: Angel’s Egg, Finding Nemo, The Lego Movie, Lost in Translation, Animaniacs

I confess, I wasn’t as taken with Hail, Caesar! as I have been with other Coen Brother films. But even a lesser Coen Brother film is still more creative than most films. Set during Hollywood’s golden age, the film follows a studio exec who must find his missing leading man while managing the stresses inherent to a major motion picture production. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum, but Alden Ehrenreich steals the show as a singing cowboy actor.

I know I seemed a bit harsh on J. J. Abrams in my review of The Rise of Skywalker, but if you want an example of where his nostalgia-driven approach to filmmaking does work, then check out Super 8. An obvious love letter to classic Spielberg films — it was even produced by Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment — Super 8 is nevertheless a fun sci-fi action romp as a group of teenage filmmakers find themselves caught between an alien life form and the military trying to capture it.

In this French thriller, a group of friends go hunting one weekend, only to become the prey themselves and forced to kill to survive. Pledging to keep the events secret, they soon find themselves tracked again by a group bent on getting revenge. The series is based on Douglas Fairbairn’s novel Shoot, which was previously adapted into a 1976 movie by Harvey Hart.

Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second explores themes of loss, alienation, and unrequited longing through three inter-connected segments that follow a young man over the years (read my review). Although it’s far less fantastical than some of Shinkai’s more well-known films, like Your Name and The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters Per Second is nevertheless a beautifully animated work that ends on a very poignant note.

Mamoru Oshii is well-known for creating challenging and heavily philosophical anime, as evidenced by his Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor films. But 1985’s Angel’s Egg might be his most demanding and surreal film. A young girl traverses a ruins-filled landscape while carrying a giant egg. Along the way, she encounters a young soldier who has his own designs on the egg. Attempting to enforce a clear, obvious narrative onto the film, which is virtually dialog-free, is a fool’s errand. Best just to let yourself get caught up in its bizarre visuals, Biblical allusions, and intricate hand animation (read my review).

When three student filmmakers venture into a Maryland forest to investigate a local myth, they soon become hopelessly lost while assaulted by strange and frightening phenomena — all of which suggest that the myth is more than just a myth. Its legacy may be tarnished thanks to the countless films that have copied its “found footage” aesthetic, but when The Blair Witch Project debuted in 1999, it was unlike anything seen before. More importantly for a horror film, it was absolutely terrifying.

One of 2022’s most acclaimed films, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a riotous journey through the multiverse as a Chinese woman (played by Michelle Yeoh) tries to file her taxes. Oh, and prevent the collapse of all of existence. Riffing on everything from Wong Kar-wai films to Ratatouille, with a heady dose of martial arts and existentialism and fantastic performances from Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a truly unique cinematic experience (read my review).

Although it wasn’t his first film, 2000’s Memento was the film that made folks really take notice of Christopher Nolan, who wrote and directed the film. Leonard Shelby is determined to track down the men who raped and killed his wife. There’s just one problem: he has anterograde amnesia, meaning he can’t form new memories. Nolan takes that premise and delivers a modern noir classic featuring an unreliable narrator and a non-linear narrative that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Back when the Marvel Cinematic Universe was still just a gleam in Kevin Feige’s eye, Sam Raimi directed a trilogy of Spider-Man movies starring Tobey Maguire as the webslinger. Spider-Man 2 is widely considered one of the best superhero movies of all time. We see Peter Parker start to really wrestle with, and crack under, the constant strain and sacrifice of being a hero. That, combined with a great, complicated villain and some breathtaking action and derring-do, is what makes Spider-Man 2 so great.

One of the all-time great sci-fi action movies, The Terminator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role he was born to play: an unstoppable killing machine from the future. His mission? Killing the mother of the child who will grow up to lead humanity in the war against the machines. With its ground-breaking special effects and intense storyline, The Terminator has influenced countless films, and has even been added to the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

When it was released in 1999, Fight Club generated no small amount of controversy due to its dark, seemingly nihilistic plot about a couple of guys (Edward Norton, Brad Pitt) who start an underground fight club that eventually grows into an anarchist cell. But all of the hullabaloo over the film’s darkness and violence overlooked the fact that it also made some valid points about the hollowness of consumerism and materialism (read my review). Since then, Fight Club’s reputation has grown, with some critics calling it a defining movie of the late 20th century.

When his son Nemo suddenly goes missing, the overprotective Marlin vows to bring him back — even if that means swimming across the entire ocean. During his journey, Marlin encounters all manner of interesting characters, including a fish with short-term memory loss and a surfer-minded sea turtle. Featuring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush, Finding Nemo was the first Pixar movie to win an Oscar for “Best Animated Feature” and appeared on numerous “year’s best” lists in 2003.

One of the most acclaimed comedies of 2007, Juno walks a potentially problematic line with its story of a 16-year-old high school student who suddenly discovers that she’s pregnant. But it does so with skill, grace, and of course, plenty of laughs as Juno and her family adapt to this new normal. Juno stars Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman.

In this madcap comedy from the Coen Brothers, H.I. and Edwina McDunnough are desperate to start a family. But when their efforts prove fruitless, they concoct a scheme to steal a baby — with hilarious and unpredictable results. Raising Arizona was only the Coens’ second film, but it’s considered to be one of the funniest movies of all time, thanks to a blend of surrealism, slapstick, and an ensemble cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman.

Remy loves food and dreams of traveling to Paris and being a chef like his hero, the great Auguste Gusteau. There’s just one problem: he’s a rat. But when he encounters a hapless young man named Alfredo, he begins to cook up a plan to become the greatest chef in Paris, provided no one discovers their bizarre little secret. Best not to watch Ratatouille on an empty stomach. Its amusing and clever celebration of food and cooking might just drive you crazy otherwise.

Keanu Reeves officially became an action movie star in this thriller about a SWAT officer (Reeves) trying to stop a mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) threatening the Los Angeles. When the bomber’s latest ploy is a bus that will explode if it slows down below 50 miles/hour, Reeves must find a way to stop him and save the passengers. Thanks to its strong performances, taut set pieces, and thrilling twists, Speed was one of 1994’s most successful movies, commercially and critically, and its status has only grown over time (read my review).

Director John Lasseter took a simple premise — what do toys do when their owner’s not around — and spun it into a delightfully whimsical story about two toys vying for the young Andy’s attention. Sheriff Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is Andy’s favorite toy, but his position is challenged by the arrival of the new and shiny Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen). Things get even more complicated, and hilarious, when Woody discovers that Buzz doesn’t realize he’s a toy. Released in 1995, Toy Story was the film that put Pixar on the map, and has inspired numerous sequels and spin-offs.

In this spiritual sequel to 1992’s El Mariachi, Antonio Banderas plays a lonesome mariachi with a deadly secret — and a guitar case full of guns. Completely ludicrous and over-the-top, Desperado is filled with countless action sequences that are held together entirely by Banderas’ charisma.

Hot off the success of The Lego Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt made the jump over to the Jurassic Park franchise for this quasi-reboot of the dino-centric sci-fi series. Apparently, humans still haven’t figured out that messing with dino DNA is a bad idea, so it’s up to Pratt and his team of Velociraptors to save the day. Jurassic World also stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Irrfan Khan.

I’ll admit, I had very low expectations for The Lego Movie when it was originally announced. But I need not have worried: The Lego Movie turned out to be way more delightful, inventive, and affecting than I could’ve expected. When a lowly Lego guy named Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt) finds himself in possession of a powerful relic, he’s drawn into a conflict between freedom fighters and an evil overlord that will completely change his view of the world. The Lego Movie also features the voice talents of Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Will Ferrell, and Morgan Freeman (to name a few).

Alan Ritchson has made a name for himself as the lead role in Amazon’s Reacher, but for War Machine, he ventures over to Netflix. When a group of Army Ranger candidates enter their final trials, they have to content with more than just the brutal training and wilderness. Something is stalking them, something from another world. That sure sounds like an obvious riff on Predator, but Ritchson is pretty entertaining to watch as a bad-ass, so this could be some fun popcorn entertainment. War Machine also stars Dennis Quaid, Jai Courtney, and Esai Morales.

Make yourself a White Russian and get ready to spend some time with the Dude… I’ll admit, the first time I watched The Big Lebowski, I kind of hated it. It seemed so directionless and pointless. But then I realized that it’s more about the characters and their interactions then any standard plot (though one does exist). The movie boasts a number of classic scenes, from the discussion about the importance of rugs to a discussion about nihilism. Oh, and the trippiest bowling dream sequence in cinema history.

When a man discovers that his ex-girlfriend paid a company to erase her memories of their relationship, he sets out to do the same, sending him on a mind-bending journey through his own memories. What follows is an utterly unique film filled with ingenious visuals and a trippy storyline — as one might expect from a movie made by Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman, and starring Jim Carrey — that’s filled with unexpected poignancy as it explores themes of memory, love, grace, and forgiveness. (Read my review.)

Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed 2003 film stars Bill Murray as a washed up actor who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young college graduate played by Scarlett Johansson while they’re both in Tokyo. In addition to its gorgeous cinematography and beautiful Japanese locales, the film has an incredible soundtrack that includes music from Air, Squarepusher, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields.

Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz star as a pair of bounty hunters who travel through the pre-Civil War South to track down outlaws and find Foxx’s wife. Which inevitably brings them into conflict with Calvin J. Candie, a vicious and vile slaveowner. Django Unchained has the usual blend of clever dialog and ultra-violence one expects from a Quentin Tarantino movie, but with the added bonus of watching Foxx and Waltz take out plantations and slaveowners. The movie also stars Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, and Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie.

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut is a stylish and bloody film about a group of thieves trying to find the mole in their midst after a heist goes wrong. Reservoir Dogs features all of the usual Tarantino-isms — whip-smart (and profane) dialog, pop culture references, non-linear storylines — and has been called the “greatest independent film of all time” by some.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star in this romantic comedy about a man who falls for a woman with amnesia, and strives to win her heart despite her memory issues. 50 First Dates also stars Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Maya Rudolph, and Sean Astin in a hilarious turn as a steroid-abusing bodybuilder. The film was a commercial success in 2004 and spawned remakes in India, Japan, Iran, and Mexico.

When three woman — played by Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton — get fed up with their sexist boss (Dabney Coleman), they fantasize about getting their revenge. But when their boss apparently turns up dead the next day, a comedy of errors ensues as they try to figure out their next steps. Despite being released back in 1980, 9 to 5’s tale of women in the workplace remains hilarious and surprisingly — or sadly, if you like — relevant (read my review).

Debuting in 1993, Animaniacs was an absolute riot as it captured the zany antics of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. But the series featured many more colorful characters, including Pinky and the Brain (a pair of lab mice determined to take over the world), a group of Goodfellas-inspired pigeons, and a poor pooch named Buttons who risks life and limb to protect his careless young owner. Boasting a sense of subversive humor that belies its status as a kids cartoon, Animaniacs is still widely celebrated by fans and critics alike as an animated classic.

When it comes to Bat-animation, Batman: The Animated Series is widely lauded as the best cartoon version of the Caped Crusader, and rightfully so. But for my money, Batman: The Brave and the Bold comes in second. Debuting in 2008 with a much lighter tone, The Brave and the Bold featured the Dark Knight (voiced by Diedrich Bader) teaming up with various members of the DC universe to fight crime and solve mysteries. Though it targeted a younger audience, The Brave and the Bold was no less humorous or creative, thanks in large part to Bader’s performance and a willingness to embrace the sillier aspects of the DC universe.

On its surface, RoboCop seems like a pretty straightforward action/sci-fi movie: dedicated cop gets gunned down by vicious thugs and is reborn as an unstoppable cybernetic enforcer. But this being a Paul Verhoeven movie, it’s no surprise that RoboCop also packs a darkly satirical edge that skewers corporate greed.

Following the smash success of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, writer/director Guy Ritchie’s sophomore film found him returning with a similarly convoluted criminal comedy with an ensemble cast that emphasizes style way over substance. Snatch begins with a diamond heist that eventually turns into a comedy of errors, but through twists and turns, involves ex-KGB agents, bare-knuckle boxing matches, and Brad Pitt sporting a very distinctive accent.