Going forward, I’ll be previewing notable movies to be released within the next 30 days at the beginning of each month. I’ve always found it to be a bit of a hassle to keep track of movies that I’d like to see and when they actually get released, so hopefully this will be a helpful tool for everyone. My “intrigue” rating is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a hard pass and 10 being a must-see.

Greta – March 1st

Intrigue: 6

Well, this is certainly one way to open the month. Chloe Grace Moretz (500 Days of Summer, Kick-Ass (1&2), Let Me In) stars as Frances, a young lady who finds a lost purse in the subway and returns it to its (ostensibly normal) owner named Greta. But of course, Greta (played by Isabelle Huppert, star of French films Elle and Amour) isn’t exactly who she seems and looks to hold a very disturbing secret or two. The trailer looks a little cheesy with a story we’ve probably seen before, but I think this could be pretty good with the talented leads, Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest) and Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta, Interview with the Vampire) in the supporting cast, and Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire, Byzantium) in charge.

Captain Marvel – March 8th

Intrigue: 9

What’s left to say? Brie Larson takes the screen as Marvel’s first featured female superhero (and possibly the key to defeating Thanos?), going back to a time before the present-day Avengers with a young and spry Nick Fury in tow. Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One, Ready Player one), Jude Law, and Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy) headline the rest of the roles with Ryan K. Fleck (Half Nelson) directing his first blockbuster. Can. Not. Wait.

Five Feet Apart – March 15th

Intrigue: 5

Cole Sprouse (Big Daddy) and Haley Lu Richardson (Split, Edge of Seventeen) lead this tale about two teenagers who meet in a hospital after they’re both diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. The concept sounds sweet and while I’m not sure how good some of these gentle feel-good stories are, I generally have a soft spot for them and this one likely won’t be any different.

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase – March 15th

Intrigue: 5

Produced by Ellen DeGeneres, it follows the famous young detective on a brand new adventure. Sophia Lillis (IT, Sharp Objects) takes her turn as Nancy but beyond that I really haven’t seen or heard much about this. The trailer does very little to make we want to see this (even if I’m not the targeted demographic) but there’s always the possibility it turns out better than the first impression – especially with someone like Ellen behind the scenes.

Wonder Park – March 15th

Intrigue: 5.5

I’ve watched this trailer multiple times but I’m still not entirely sure what this is about and whether it’s intended to just be a figment of the imagination. Honestly looks like some kind of Life of Pets/Zootopia/Tomorrowland mashup. Anyway, this is Brianna Denski’s first movie and hopefully she’ll have plenty of support from co-stars Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Garner, Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Ken Jeong (The Hangover), Mila Kunis, and John Oliver (Last Week Tonight) all adding to the fun. I’m bit skeptical with Paramount’s rough animation history, though maybe this one breaks the mold.

Hotel Mumbai – March 22nd

Intrigue: 7

Based on a 2009 documentary (which itself is based on the 2008 terrorist attacks in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India), it follows the guests of the hotel and their fight to survive. Trailer suggests intensity that’s off the charts and plenty of action, so that’s promising. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, Lion) and Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name, The Social Network) are the headliners, with Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) also in the mix. Definitely has the potential to be one of the best early-year thrillers.

Us – March 22nd

Intrigue: 10

Jordan Peele’s feverishly anticipated follow up to 2017’s Get Out, and easily one of the most looked forward to films of 2019. The trailer looks legitimately creepy as hell and only reinforces the notion that Peele is quickly becoming a virtuoso in the horror genre. Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther, Star Wars Ep. XII and XIII) and Winston Duke (Black Panther, Infinity War) anchor this beast with Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) also cast. I don’t want to spoil anymore here though, so just do yourselves a favor and watch that spooky preview again.

Dumbo – March 29th

Intrigue: 6.5

A modern re-telling of the Disney classic. Hard to decipher much from the trailer, but it’s visually impressive at a minimum. Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green (Casino Royale), and Alan Arkin (Argo) all star, with Tim Burton in the director’s chair. Fingers crossed, I guess?

Captive State – March 29th

Intrigue: 5.5

Appears to be a blend of Cloverfield and District 9. Follows a teenager (Ashton Sanders – Straight Outta Compton) as he is forced to destroy(?) an alien encampment at the behest of a company headed by John Goodman’s character. Vera Farmiga (Up In the Air, The Conjuring) and Machine Gun Kelly are also associated in here. Trailer is pretty underwhelming, almost reminiscent of a straight-to-video release. Not a great sign, although we’ll just have to see I guess.