It’s official. March is here! Unless, of course, you’re reading this in the future…or the past. Perhaps you view this month as a sign that winter is on its last leg, or that basketball betting is back in full swing. Maybe some of you are excited for Pi Day, sharing that anticipation with a certain unnamed author of this article. But one thing in March is for sure – there are plenty of new movies. And, with that, a plethora of opportunities to support your local cinemas.

Creed III has taken the honor of opening March’s film season. The third installment in the Rocky sequel franchise features adept actor Michael B. Jordan reprising his role as the titular Adonis Creed, going up against a new threat in the ring – and the stakes are personal this time. Rising star Jonathan Majors plays Creed’s newest boxing adversary, who shares a complicated past with our protagonist. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad also return in their respective roles, but Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, will be sitting this round out. While this is the first film in the franchise not to feature the Oscar nominee, Creed III will mark Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut. Acting and directing? That’s a tough job, but his onscreen mentor Sly has done it before – even if the Italian Stallion’s performances aren’t necessarily a testament to the double duty. Catch this in theaters on March 3.

Also coming up in March is 65, an intense psychological thriller/action-adventure/sci-fi/horror/drama film – but that’s generalizing it. From the creatives behind A Quiet Place, 65 stars Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt as two survivalists desperately trying to escape a mysterious planet inhabited by dinosaurs…which they soon realize is prehistoric earth. So, basically Interstellar meets Jurassic Park. This film premieres in theaters on March 10 and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The trailer alone left me tossing and turning for weeks!

For all you superhero junkies, DC has a new movie releasingon March 17: Shazam! Fury of the Gods. A sequel to the 2019 film (one of my personal favorites), this chapter continues the story of young Billy Batson who, long story short, met a weird wizard who granted him powers that allow him to turn into an adult superhero after saying the word “Shazam.” Maybe think twice before granting Superman-like abilities to a 14-year-old? Just a thought. Eventually, Billy’s foster family also adopted the superpowers, and now they must band together to face off against the daunting Daughters of Atlas. (Daunting Daughters = good band name!) These forceful foes are portrayed by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler in their superhero film debuts. Their presence means that Billy and friends must embark on a harrowing adventure that will push them to the limit. This is a must-see on the big screen and my most anticipated movie for this month!

Near the end of March, Keanu Reeves will return in John Wick: Chapter 4, which is, well…chapter four of the John Wick series. Didn’t see that twist coming, didya? After the events of Chapter 3 – Parabellum, high-profile assassin John Wick inches closer to fulfilling his crusade against the High Table, a lethal underground crime government that holds substantial power over other syndicates. The film is sure to be an action-packed display of the “neo-noir” genre (yes, that’s a thing now), so if you’re a fan of Keanu Reeves or action movies, add this to your watchlist.

And finally, with the 95th Academy Awards nearly upon us, several movie theaters have re-released a few buzzy Best Picture® nominees, such as The Fabelmans, Elvis and The Banshees of Inisherin, in addition to keeping Avatar’s theatrical run going. While I’m not ready yet to proclaim any bold theories on who mighttake home the biggest trophy at the end of the night, you can check out my website www.planetwhizkid.com before the ceremony to see my final Oscar predictions in all 23 categories. I’m striving for 100% this year!

There are certainly some exciting titles making their big-screen launch this month – these are just a few of the anticipated features coming your way for March  –and they’re all blockbusters! It’s a great time to be a cinephile.