Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to watch? Well, whatever you want, of course, but the name of this website is Literary Hub, so we sort of have an angle. To that end, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV coming to streaming services this month. Have fun.
NEW:
The Leopard
Netflix, March 5
Literary bona fides: based on The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1958)
The Italian classic, which chronicles the trials of an aristocratic Sicilian family during Italy’s reunification period, written by a minor prince of the region in the years before his death, is now a six-part mini series. It seems impossible that this version will be as iconic as the 1963 film—an Italian Gone With the Wind—but it looks promising enough.
Just One Look
Netflix, March 5
Literary bona fides: based on Just One Look by Harlan Coben (2004)
Netflix’s Harlan Coben IP deathmarch continues on with an adaptation of Just One Look, in which a woman stumbles upon a mysterious, decades-old photograph—so mysterious that it makes her husband vanish into the night, sending her on a dangerous chase. But she’s not the only one chasing…
Long Bright River
Peacock, March 13
Literary bona fides: based on Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020)
In Moore’s bestselling novel, a cop named Mickey is called out to her old neighborhood to investigate a woman, dead from an overdose—a woman who isn’t her sister Kacey, but easily could be. Kacey, a sex worker and heroin addict in a neighborhood rife with them, has been missing for a month; when Mickey begins to notice similar deaths in the neighborhood, she decides she has to investigate, no matter what her actions might bring down upon her. Amanda Seyfried, who co-executive produces with Moore, looks the part, and can certainly pull it off; early signs are good.
The Electric State
Netflix, March 14
Literary bona fides: based on The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag (2018)
From our 2025 adaptation preview: Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt star in this loose adaptation of Swedish artist Stålenhag’s graphic novel, set in an alternate 1994, in which the war with the robots is over, but one girl needs them to find her missing brother. Ke Huy Quan, Giancarlo Esposito, Martin Klebba, and Stanley Tucci also appear, and Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Alan Tudyk, Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria, Colman Domingo, Rob Gronkowski all voice robots.
Dope Thief
Apple TV+, March 14
Literary bona fides: based on Dope Thief by Dennis Tafoya (2009)
Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura star as two friends who cook up a lucrative scheme: posing as DEA agent to steal from drug dealers. All fine and good, until—as they must—they get in over their heads and find their lives on the line.
The Residence
Netflix, March 20
Literary bona fides: inspired by The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower (2015)
When someone gets killed at a state dinner at the White House, Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), “the best detective in the world” is called in to investigate. The trailer looks delightfully screwy, with more than one wink at the audience. Based on the source material—Brower’s book goes deep into the lives of the staff who maintain the White House and the First Family’s residence—I’d have to guess the butler did it, but given that it’s a Shondaland production, I bet I’ll be surprised.
A Working Man
Amazon, March 28
Literary bona fides: based on Levon’s Trade by Chuck Dixon (2014)
From our 2025 adaptation preview: Nothing about this seems the least bit revolutionary—an ex-black ops agent pulled out of retirement for One Last Job—but we do love Jason Statham, who stars along with David Harbour, Michael Peña, and Jason Flemyng. Sylvester Stallone wrote the script with director David Ayer.
The Life List
Netflix, March 28
Literary bona fides: based on The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman (2013)
A young woman sets out to check off a list of childhood goals after her mother’s death in this new rom com based on Spielman’s bestselling novel.
THROWBACK:
Stand By Me (1986)
Max, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on The Body by Stephen King (1982)
A classic ’80s movie, and one of the very best of the many many many Stephen King adaptations out there in the world—and one of King’s own favorites.
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Paramount+, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993)
Sofia Coppola’s adaptation is just as iconic as the novel; which is no mean feat. They don’t fight, but go hand-in-hand to portray a certain kind of American childhood.
A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Peacock, March 1
Literary bona fides: based (sort of) on “The Knight’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1400)
A cult classic of millennial cinema—essential viewing if you love Heath Ledger, but more importantly if you love Paul Bettany. And wordplay.
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Netflix, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
For the MacFadyen stans amongst you.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Paramount+, March 1
Literary bona fides: loosely based on Oil! by Upton Sinclair (1927)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s macabre anti-capitalism masterpiece is anchored by the deranged brilliance of Daniel Day Lewis’s Daniel Plainview.
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Paramount+, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (2004)
People said Cloud Atlas was unfilmable, and well . . . it’s still probably unfilmable. Which doesn’t mean there’s nothing to enjoy in this behemoth of a movie directed by the Wachowski sisters. A few years ago, we deemed the trailer one of our favorite literary adaptations of the decade, so do with that information what you will.
