March 6
Chappie
What it is: When a robot nicknamed "Chappie" develops consciousness, its designers are forced to protect it from those who would rather see it destroyed.
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Why you should care: Director Neill Blomkamp's last movie, Elysium, was a disappointment. But he's still one of the most unique and intriguing directors working in science fiction, and Chappie is an intriguing return to the tighter, more socially conscious, and more human-sized concepts on which he built his career. Chappie is loosely based on Blomkamp's 2004 short "Tetra Vaal," and the visual effects used to bring his robotic protagonist to life are top-notch — as is the film's supporting cast, which includes Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver, and Hugh Jackman.
What else is coming out: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a sequel to 2012 surprise hit comedy, reuniting the original cast and adding Richard Gere to the mix; Unfinished Business, a raunchy comedy about a trio of businessmen going wild in Europe.
March 13
It Follows
What it is: After having sex with a new boyfriend for the first time, a teenage girl finds herself the unwitting recipient of a sexually transmitted haunting — a curse that can only be escaped by passing it on to another sexual partner.
Why you should care: The first months of the year tend to be a particularly dismal time for horror fans, as studios dump garbage like The Woman in Black 2 or The Lazarus Effect into theaters. Fortunately, It Follows is poised to buck the trend, offering a clever concept that combines the wicked social commentary of Teeth with a horrifying, inescapable curse like the one in The Ring. With almost universally positive reviews, It Follows is poised to be the breakout film for both writer/director David Robert Mitchell (The Myth of the American Sleepover) and Maika Monroe, who proved she could anchor a high-concept thriller with last year's The Guest.
What else is coming out: Cinderella, a live-action adaptation of the beloved Disney animated musical starring Lily James and Game of Thrones' Richard Madden; Run All Night, yet another action movie about Liam Neeson getting revenge on some dude who was dumb enough to threaten his family.
March 20
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
What it is: In the second entry in the Divergent franchise, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) attempt to survive in a futuristic dystopia by building an army to take on the sinister Jeanine (Kate Winslet).
Why you should care: Can this wannabe Hunger Games actually prove itself a worthy successor to Katniss' throne? That's the key question driving Insurgent, the series best positioned to fill the gap The Hunger Games will leave behind when its final installment premieres later this year. The first Divergent movie was underwhelming — but so was the first Hunger Games movie, and that series has grown deeper and more compelling with every installment. And there's no question that Insurgent's young stars, including Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars) and Miles Teller (Whiplash), are capable of terrific performances. Let's just hope the material is worthy of their talents.
What else is coming out: The Gunman, a thinly veiled Taken knockoff with Sean Penn in the Liam Neeson role; Do You Believe?, a Crash-esque ensemble drama following 12 modern Christians who are struggling with their faith.
March 27
While We're Young
What it is: A middle-aged couple (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) befriends a young couple (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried), sparking an existential crisis for the former.
Why you should care: At a time when people are quick to complain that Hollywood doesn't make movies for adults anymore, director Noah Baumbach's witty, chatty films are a breath of fresh air. Following the success of his 2012 quarter-life crisis hit Frances Ha with the story of a couple in a midlife crisis feels like the logical cinematic evolution of Baumbach's favorite themes. Stars Ben Stiller (Greenberg) and Adam Driver (Frances Ha) have turned in strong performances in Baumbach's previous films, and Naomi Watts — fresh off buzzy performances in St. Vincent and Birdman — is a welcome addition to any cast.
What else is coming out: Home, an animated family comedy about the unlikely friendship that develops between a goofy alien (the voice of Jim Parsons) and an earthling (the voice of Rihanna); Serena, a self-serious period drama reuniting Silver Linings Playbook stars Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper as a pair of North Carolina newlyweds; Get Hard, a comedy about a convicted corporate fraudster (Will Ferrell) who hires a man (Kevin Hart) to train him for surviving life in prison.
