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 Count of Monte Cristo
PBS Masterpiece, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846)

From our 2026 preview: Sam Claflin stars as Edmond Dantes in this 2024 TV adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic revenge novel, now coming to American audiences on PBS. Jeremy Irons, Ana Girardot, and Blake Ritson also star.

Young Sherlock
Prime Video, March 4

Literary bona fides: based on the Young Sherlock Holmes series by Andrew Lane (2010-present)

From our 2026 preview: Guy Ritchie has returned to the well with a new Holmes “origin story,” following the 19-year-old pre-detective at Oxford, where he does not, in fact, stay out of trouble. Hero Fiennes Tiffin (nephew of Ralph and Joseph) stars as Holmes, with Zine Tseng, Dónal Finn, Joseph Fiennes, and Natascha McElhone. There’s even a glimpse of man-about-town Colin Firth in this trailer.

Vladimir
Netflix, March 5

Literary bona fides: based on Vladimir by Julia May Jonas (2022)

One of the most delicious recent campus novels—in which a female English professor, whose husband is under investigation for inappropriate behavior, natch, becomes increasingly unhinged by her obsession with a new hire, a young novelist named, you guessed it—is now an eight-part limited series, created by Jonas herself (always a good sign). Also good signs: Rachel Weisz as the professor, John Slattery as the husband, and Leo Woodall as the eponymous Vladimir. Looks like fun.

Outlander (Season 8)
Starz, March 6

Literary bona fides: based on Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series (1991-2021)

Outlander fans don’t need to be told that this season, the eighth, will be the last season of the beloved, sexy time travel show. Other people may take the news as reason to start watching (or indeed reading) from the beginning…

Scarpetta
Prime Video, March 11

Literary bona fides: based on Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series (1990-present)

From our 2026 preview: Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis produce and star in this adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s long-running crime series, with Kidman as medical examiner Kay Scarpetta and Curtis as her sister Dorothy. . . solving mysteries!

Imperfect Women
Apple TV, March 18

Literary bona fides: based on Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall (2020)

From our 2026 preview: Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington star in Annie Weisman’s adaptation of Hall’s psychological thriller about three friends who find their secrets exposed after one of them is murdered.

Wicked: For Good (streaming debut)
Peacock, March 20

Literary bona fides: based on Wicked by Gregory Maguire (1995)

Seems like Wicked: For Good came and went with very little drama compared to the first installment. If you, like me, were not moved to see it in theaters, you’ll get another chance this month when it hits the small, portable screen.

The Forsytes
PBS Masterpiece, March 22

Literary bona fides: based on The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1922)

From our 2026 preview: This six-part adaptation of Galsworthy’s classic series, written by Debbie Horsfield (Poldark), premiered in the UK last year; soon it will slake that lavish period drama thirst for American viewers too.

Henry David Thoreau
PBS, March 30

Literary bona fides: a documentary about the writer

From our 2026 preview: Ken Burns produces this new documentary about Henry David Thoreau, which “traces Thoreau’s journey from his early days in Concord, Massachusetts to his deep engagement with the moral crises of his time, including industrialization, slavery, war, and environmental degradation.” George Clooney narrates, the voice of Thoreau is provided by Jeff Goldblum, and Ted Danson, Tate Donovan, and Meryl Streep also lend a hand.

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THROWBACK:

All the President’s Men (1976)
HBO Max, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (1974)

Kind of a depressing rewatch—remember when presidents were held remotely accountable for their actions?—but still a classic. Can’t go too far wrong with Hoffman and Redford, even if the movie has slowly become a kind of historical fantasy.

Dead Poets Society (1989)
Hulu, March 1

Literary bona fides: concerning POETRY

The older I get, the more I agree with the Fake Monica about Dead Poets Society (I bet from this sentence you can guess the year I was born), but even so.

Fight Club (1999)
Hulu, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (1996)

Always worth a rewatch, especially if you do, in fact, understand the point of Fight Club.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Starz, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (1998)

Just like the book, the film has its detractors. But those people don’t seem to get that it’s a satire, not a straight rom-com. Though, get you a Bridget who can do both, you know? Not for nothing, it also includes one of the top 5 author cameos ever committed to film and the #1 Mr. Darcy of all time. And it’s fun.

Marie Antoinette (2006)
Hulu, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser (2001)

Sofia Coppola’s vibes-forward take on Marie Antoinette—all post-punk and little cakes—was ahead of its time in more ways than one.

127 Hours (2010)
Hulu, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston (2004)

Otherwise known as 3 hours (90 minutes, but it feels like double that) of James Franco with his arm stuck under a rock. This was a brutal experience in theaters; I wonder if it holds up?

The Green Knight (2021)
Netflix, March 1

Literary bona fides: based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl Poet (c. 14th century)

An unsettling adaptation of a deceptively complex text, complete with gorgeous cinematography and Dev Patel; well worth your time.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Hulu, March 11

Literary bona fides: based on Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume (1970)

Famously, Judy Blume didn’t sell the rights to (arguably) her most famous book for 49 years, but as our reviewer attests, when she finally found the right people to translate her story, the wait was worth it.