The Queue

From Netflix arrivals like “The Lego Movie” and “Misery” to Oscar nominees, here’s what to watch this month.

By Kevin Slane

March 10, 2026 | 8:36 AM

4 minutes to read

A typical edition of The Queue starts with me going in-depth on a single topic — whether it’s a viewer-focused guide to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, a celebration of one of Boston’s greatest filmmakers, or a remembrance of James Van Der Beek — before offering some quick streaming recommendations.

Once a month, however, I’ll be sending you an all-recommendations edition of the newsletter, because the struggle of deciding what to watch is eternal.

With the start of a new month heralding a slew of new movies and shows being added to streaming libraries, we’ve got plenty of recommendations to help you make the most of your time on the couch.

New movies to watch on Netflix in March

“The Lego Movie” (2014): Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“21 Jump Street”) could’ve gotten away with producing a bland, inoffensive piece of product placement with 2014’s “The Lego Movie.” Instead, the duo created an irreverent, laugh-a-minute movie that appeals to kids and adults alike. Construction worker Emmet (Chris Pratt) is the perfect everyman to take on the malevolent President Business (Will Ferrell), a satirical jab at corporate America as well as a warning to parents who prioritize rigid structure over playful imagination. (Netflix)

“Misery” (1990): The late Rob Reiner helmed this Stephen King adaptation that functions as a dark, unsparing look at celebrity and fandom gone wrong. As the “No. 1 fan” of novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), Kathy Bates won a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar as nurse turned captor Annie Wilkes. In a world where it’s become en vogue for studios to cater to fans’ every whim and powerful stan culture influences societal discourse, it’s not so hard to believe that another Annie Wilkes is somewhere out there right now, posting a fan edit in the replies of your favorite pop star. (Netflix)

“Zombieland” (2009): After impressing in her feature film debut, 2007’s “Superbad,” Emma Stone solidified her place in Hollywood with 2010’s “Easy A” and this 2009 horror-comedy, playing the no-nonsense Wichita opposite fellow zombie apocalypse survivors Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson). At a brisk 88 minutes, Ruben Fleischer’s film doesn’t overstay its welcome, providing a quick shot of adrenaline and amusement. (Netflix)

3 Oscar nominees now streaming

“The Secret Agent” (2025): Set in 1977 Brazil, “The Secret Agent” follows a researcher (Wagner Moura) who is trying to escape death by fleeing his home and reuniting with his son. The film’s description may sound glum, but director Kleber Mendonça Filho makes living under authoritarianism fun — or at least as fun as it can be. In the title role, Moura effortlessly channels movie-star suaveness while never losing sight of the constant anxiety bubbling just below the surface. (Hulu)

“It Was Just an Accident” (2025): Iranian director Jafar Panahi faces likely prison time if he ever returns to his home country after directing this film about a group of former Iranian political prisoners who believe they have found their captor and tormenter years after their confinement. Panahi has faced punishment from Iran for even the least political of his films, so it makes sense that this scathing critique of Iran’s authoritarian rule angered its leaders. (Hulu)

​​“Elio” (2025): The standard of quality at Pixar is so high that even a lower-tier effort from the studio is still worth watching. That’s the case with “Elio,” about a young boy (Yonas Kibreab) who wants to escape Earth and all of its problems. When he actually manages to get abducted, however, Elio finds out that even outer space (and his new alien pals in the Communiverse) presents issues of social isolation and belonging. (Disney+)

Play or Skip: Staff Edition

You’ve heard enough of my streaming picks already, so here’s what the rest of Boston.com’s staff is watching. 

Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.

• “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”: Boston.com assistant sports editor Hayden Bird took a break from searching every streaming service for the 2014 movie “Draft Day” (don’t ask) to try this “Game of Thrones” spinoff. “My faith (in the seven?) was rewarded, because this show was an unexpected delight. It lovingly explores a demographic of peripheral characters and settings that are largely passed over by the more expansive GOT shows. And like many of the initially skeptical people in the show, Ser Duncan the Tall won me over.” (HBO Max)

• “Nonnas” (2025): Boston.com producer Kelly Chan (who produces this newsletter!) tabbed this 2025 Netflix movie as her recent comfort watch: “On the theme of movies that are a break from the world, I watched ‘Nonnas’ the other day, and it was such a heartwarming watch. It was so funny, wholesome, and cozy — to the point that my parents and I are trying to get a reservation to the real restaurant it’s based off of in Staten Island!” (Netflix)

• “Merlin” (2008-12): Boston.com staff writer Annie Jonas has been revisiting this BBC fantasy series, which she called her “guilty pleasure watch”: “It has everything I want from an early-aughts BBC production: bad CGI (seriously, Google ‘the great dragon merlin’), high fantasy, quippy humor, and extremely likeable characters. With five seasons (13 episodes each), it’s a perfect binge watch.” (Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Prime Video)

• “Wonder Man”: Boston.com general assignment editorPeter Chianca says the latest Marvel series is much better than you’d expect for a show featuring a third-tier superhero: “Ben Kingsley (that’s Sir Ben Kingsley to you and me) is clearly having the time of his life reprising his role as itinerant actor Trevor Slattery (“Iron Man 3,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is terrifically watchable as a method performer with social anxiety and a big secret to hide. Best part is, it’s not really a superhero show (although I love superhero shows) — it’s a backstage comedy anchored by the two stars’ undeniable odd-couple chemistry.” (Disney+)

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!

— Kevin

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