The Best Movies on Starz Right Now (March 2023)

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Spider-Man No Way Home (2021)

Director: 2 hrs 28 min | Genre: Action Science Fiction Fantasy Comedy | Run Time: Jon Watts

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon

Picking up directly after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home follows the publically unmasked Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he inadvertently causes a rift between realities when he enlists Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to erase the memory of his secret from his world. This hilarious and action-packed follow-up film delightfully pulls together previous incarnations of the web-slinger as well as their individual foes. Utilizing the multiverse, as well as beloved Spider-man canon, Spider-Man: No Way Home is a wonderful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a respectful conclusion for the previous trilogies. – Yael Tygiel

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Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Director: Chris Columbus | Genre: Comedy Drama | Run Time: 2 hr 6 min

Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Mara Wilson, Harvey Fierstein

Look no further than Mrs. Doubtfire for proof of Robin Williams’ range as a performer. This 1993 family film lets Williams showcase his tremendous impressions and knack for character creation, while also allowing him to show a softer dramatic side. Williams plays a voice actor going through a divorce who, in an effort to spend more time with his children, poses as the perfect nanny to watch them while their mother is at work. Jealous and chaos ensue, but this one holds up well. – Adam Chitwood

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Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019)

Run Time: 2 hr 40 min | Genre: Comedy Drama | Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is at once unlike anything else Quentin Tarantino has ever made, and yet right in lockstep with the rest of his filmography. It’s packed with a curated soundtrack, a love for cinema and movies, and plenty of shots of bare feet, but it’s also less verbose and more visually driven than most of Tarantino’s movies. This is a pure hangout movie, as we follow the lives of actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), stunt man Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), and rising star Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) over the course of three days. There’s no “plot” to speak of, and instead we get to sit back and soak up the world these characters live in, the joy (and anxieties) they’re feeling, and the real-time twists and turns that throw them for a loop. It’s a movie made to be seen in the theater, undistracted by your cell phone or the outside world, so make sure you make time to see this one in the cinema while it’s out. – Adam Chitwood

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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Run Time: 1 hr 48 min | Genre: Biographical Drama | Director: Marielle Heller

Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is not a Fred Rogers biopic (for that full story, check out the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?). Instead, it’s a wonderful meditation on the values of Fred Rogers (played by Tom Hanks), using him as a supporting character in the story of a cynical journalist (Matthew Rhys) who learns about the importance of kindness. While that may seem facile and cheesy, Marielle Heller’s movie perfectly conveys that practicing kindness is incredibly difficult, and that cynicism is what’s easy. Crafted like a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episode for adults, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a warm, thoughtful movie featuring yet another Oscar-worthy performance from Hanks. – Matt Goldberg

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Alien (1979)

Run Time: 1 hr 57 min | Genre: Sci-Fi Horror | Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright

Ridley Scott’s seminal 1979 film set the standard for sci-fi horror, and decades later, it holds up as one of the scariest, most stunningly crafted films – not just in the genre, but of all time. Before the franchise evolved toward a more action-oriented approach, Scott originated it as a haunted house in space. Except it’s not a spooky ghost coming after you, it’s H.R. Giger’s inimitable alien design; an ever-evolving nightmare, from the egg-laying face-huggers to the viscerally horrific chest-bursters, right up to the giant, armored, acid-spewing Xenomorph. It’s full-stop stunning to see how well the production value here remains timeless, and Scott’s dream-logic approach proves fertile ground for all manner of horror – whether it’s headier themes like corporate inhumanity and the arrogance of mankind, or the downright visceral stuff, from bodily violation to killer robots to a giant fucking alien that bleeds acid. Whatever it is that scares you,Alien probably has it. It’s a stone-cold classic and always a perfect movie when you need a scare. – Haleigh Foutch

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Horton Hears A Who! (2008)

Director: Jimmy Hayward, Steve Martino | Genre: Family Adventure | Run Time: 1 hr 26 min

Cast: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen

Blue Sky Studios’ Dr. Seuss adaptations have generally been hit-or-miss, but Horton Hears A Who! is definitely a cut above The Grinch or The Lorax. Let’s face it: none of these stories are exactly ripe with material. Horton Hears A Who! does a good job at fleshing out the story without feeling like it’s being stretched to 90 minutes but doesn’t detract from Seuss’ original message. There’s more attention paid to the Mayor of Whoville (Jim Carrey), who forms a surprising connection with both the titular elephant (Steve Carrell) and his 97 children. Is it a classic? Hardly. But kids are likely to be entertained by the poppy visuals and wacky humor. –Liam Gaughan

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Director: Jason Reitman | Genre: Comedy Fantasy | Run Time: 2 hrs 4 min

Cast: Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a moving and beautiful sequel to the original Ghostbusters films, continuing the legacy created by Dan Aykroyd. Directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking), Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows a single mom and her children as she relocates to her deceased father’s reclusive dwelling, only to discover his previous life as a Ghostbuster. Mckenna Grace (Captain Marvel) perseveres as the driving force for the film, uncovering the mysteries and fighting the ghosts. Overflowing with references to the original films, Ghostbusters: Afterlife includes everything fans could hope for. – Yael Tygiel

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Escape Room (2019)

Director: Adam Robitel | Genre: Horror | Run Time: 1 hr 40 min

Cast: Taylor Russell, Deborah Ann Woll, Tyler Labine

A little Saw, a little Cube, a lot more Final Destination, and a whole lot of fun, Escape Roomis one of those high-concept horror crowd-pleasers that could have gone either way, but thanks to a charming ensemble, some incredible production design, and strong direction from Adam Robitel (Insidious: The Last Key), it’s an absolute hoot. The premise is as simple as it gets — what if escape rooms, but they tried to kill you?As that list of titles at the top demonstrates, there’s a lot of love for death traps in the horror genre, but Escape Room has a gentle touch that keeps the film from ever getting too grim or gory, and while that may not be a win for all horror fans, it’s a thrilling fusion of thriller, horror, and action elements that comes alive when the rooms start unfolding their devious designs. — Haleigh Foutch

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Venom (2018)

Director: Ruben Fleischer | Genre: Superhero | Run Time: 2 hr 20 min

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate

While investigating the scientist Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), reporter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) unwillingly bonds with an alien species in his lab. This symbiotic creature, Venom, is part of a species that seeks to take over Earth by inhabiting hosts. However, as Venom and Eddie grow closer and realize that they are both outcasts in their respective lives, Venom decides that maybe life on Earth with Eddie wouldn’t be so bad. That is, as long as he gets to eat the occasional bad guy. With the super strength and agility that Venom gives Eddie, the pair work together to take down bad guys, including Drake and the other symbiotes. Venom is full of action, humor, and heart. It is somuch more than just another Sony Marvel origin story – it’s the tale of two loners finding each other in a vast galaxy. I’m not necessarily saying that Venom is a rom-com disguised as a Marvel movie, but Eddie and Venom’s enemies-to-partners relationship arc is absolutely a highlight of the film. — Brynna Arens

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The Father (2020)

Director: Florian Zeller | Genre: Drama | Run Time: 1 hr 37 min

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams

Adapted from the French play of the same name that Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton co-wrote together, The Father follows Anne (Academy Award Winner Olivia Colman), who tries her best to aid her stubborn ailing father, Anthony (Academy Award Winner Anthony Hopkins). Movies are supposed to show instead of tell, and The Father is one the best example in recent years. Alzheimer’s can be hard to show on screen, but Florian Zeller’s expert hand in his directorial debut creates an environment that showcases how Anthony’s mind deteriorates as the movie progresses. Mind-bending, with some of the best production design you will witness, The Father utilizes every single trick that it has in its arsenal and crafts a film that, once the screen goes to black, just sits with you for days after. — Arianne Binette

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Director: Jake Kasdan | Genre: Adventure Comedy | Run Time: 1 hr 59 min

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan

When four teenagers (Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, and Alex Wolff) are pulled into a video game, their only way to survive and get out is to play the game with their avatar (Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan) and finish the game. A sequel to the original Jumanji didn’t seem to be something that would work, especially when placed in it a modern world where board games just did not have the same impact as before. But Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle figured out a way to modernize the original film’s concept – and novel – while also making it its own.Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle doesn’t completely reinvent the original concept but reskins it perfectly to fit what it is trying to say and do, blending action and humor perfectly and ending with a pretty excellent end product. – Arianne Binette

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