The Literary Film & TV You Need to Stream in March
Spring? Spring? Spring?
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:
Spaceman
Netflix, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on Jaroslav Kalfař’s Spaceman of Bohemia (2017)
Adam Sandler is Jakub Procházka, a Czech astronaut sent on a dangerous mission, leaving his wife (Carey Mulligan) behind. Paul Dano plays the giant talking space spider, and for those who have not read the novel, that is all I will say about that. I’m always glad to see Sandler in a role like this; I have high hopes for this movie.
Wonka
Max, March 8
Literary bona fides: based, at some distant point, on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
Wonka is still in theaters, but it’s also coming to Max this month. Whatever you think about this latest star-studded IP confection, at least it (probably) won’t be bad enough to make you call the police.
Little Wing
Paramount+, March 13
Literary bona fides: based on Susan Orlean’s “Little Wing” (2006)
Susan Orlean’s New Yorker piece about a teenage girl in the world of pigeon-racing becomes a feel-good coming-of-age story in this adaptation, which stars Brian Cox, Kelly Reilly, Brooklynn Prince, and Che Tafari.
The Girls on the Bus
Max, March 14
Literary bona fides: based on Amy Chozick’s Chasing Hillary (2018)
Melissa Benoist stars in Chozick’s adaptation of her best-selling 2018 memoir about her decade of experience as a political reporter on Hillary Clinton’s campaign bus. It’s hard to know exactly how this is going to land in the year of our lord 2024—the trailer gives no particular suggestion that Clinton herself will be represented, though it does tease the end of democracy the way some trailers would tease a bank vault explosion (ha ha ha?)—but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Apples Never Fall
Peacock, March 14
Literary bona fides: based on Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall (2021)
A mystery miniseries about secrets—aren’t they all? But if you’re wondering what to expect, Liane Moriarty wrote the book that Big Little Lies was based on (also called Big Little Lies)—that should be elevated by a star-studded cast, which includes Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Alison Brie, and Jake Lacy.
Manhunt
Apple TV+, March 15
Literary bona fides: based on James L. Swanson’s Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer (2006)
Monica Beletsky’s historical thriller, based on Swanson’s bestselling and Edgar Award-winning nonfiction book, follows Edwin Stanton in the days after Lincoln’s assassination, as John Wilkes Booth leads him on a “wild, 12-day chase” across the country. Starring Tobias Menzies as Stanton and Anthony Boyle as John Wilkes Booth.
Palm Royale
Apple TV+, March 20
Literary bona fides: based on Juliet McDaniel’s Mr. & Mrs. American Pie (2018)
In 1969, striver Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) tries with all her might to make it into Palm Beach’s “high society.” Fun. The costumes already have my attention, and so does the cast: Wiig is joined by Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy, Kaia Gerber, with Laura Dern, Allison Janney and “extra special guest stars” Bruce Dern and Carol Burnett. Whew.
3 Body Problem
Netflix, March 21
Literary bona fides: based on Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem (2008)
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones) are back, bringing in Alexander Woo to adapt Chinese novelist Liu Cixin’s beloved apocalyptic science fiction epic, which even Obama loved. “The scope of it was immense,” he said. “So that was fun to read, partly because my day-to-day problems with Congress seem fairly petty—not something to worry about. Aliens are about to invade!” Hopefully this series will bring us the same level of escape as we stare down the maw of 2024.
Dennis Mong/Prime Video
American Rust: Broken Justice
Prime Video, March 28
Literary bona fides: based on American Rust by Philipp Meyer (2009)
American Rust is back, picked up by Amazon after being cancelled by Showtime after its first season in 2022. Season Two returns to the fictional town of Buell, PA, to find Del Harris (Jeff Daniels) and Grace Poe (Maura Tierney) picking up the pieces while also dealing with a bunch of murders.
We Were the Lucky Ones
Hulu, March 29
Literary bona fides: based on We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017)
Hunter’s bestselling novel is based on her own family’s story of love, loss, and perseverance as three generations of Polish Jews are torn apart by WWII; the series adaptation stars Joey Lynn King as Halina Kurc.
Ben Blackall/Paramount+ with Showtime
A Gentleman in Moscow
Paramount+ with Showtime, March 29
Literary bona fides: based on Amor Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow (2016)
Showtime’s series adaptation of Towles’s big bestseller stars Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Rostov who, after the Russian Revolution, is sentenced to house arrest in a hotel attic by a Bolshevik tribunal—but discovers a rich world within.
THROWBACK:
The Outsiders (1983)
Paramount+, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967)
A classic, beloved novel that is well-matched by a classic, beloved adaptation—directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Muppet Babies versions of Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Ralph Macchio, and C. Thomas Howell. Perfect ’80s fun.
Stand by Me (1986)
Hulu, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on “The Body” by Stephen King (1982)
Another stone cold classic of 80s cinema (and literature).
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
Netflix, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley (1990)
An underrated neo-noir gem—’90s Denzel is very good, and ’90s Don Cheadle is even better.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Hulu, March 1
Literary bona fides: centering on a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”
In which Michael Keaton plays an actor so washed up that he is reduced to starring in a Broadway adaptation of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”—when once, he was an early ’90s blockbuster movie superhero! Alas, alack, etc. etc. (What’s really literary about the movie is the literal and emotional ambiguity at its core, of course, but this is an argument for another time.)
Carol (2015)
Paramount+, March 19
Literary bona fides: based on The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (1952)
Enchanting, tender, with a sharp edge—Carol is without a doubt one of the best literary adaptations of the last decade, and always worth a rewatch, no matter the time of year.
The Green Knight (2021)
Max, March 1
Literary bona fides: based on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl Poet (c. 14th century)
David Lowery’s take on Sir Gawain’s Christmas quest is of my favorite adaptations of the last few years, and an absolute feast for the eyes. Just the thing to tide you over until the world wakes up with spring.
