Between Film classics and throwback comedies, Richard Tobin tells us what we should put to the front of our watchlists before they leave Netflix this March
Time is running out! All of these titles will be leaving Netflix soon. From hidden gems to blockbuster favourites, they’re all worth watching before they disappear. watch before it's too late!
Annihilation Leaving Netflix on Tues 11th March
In Annihilation, biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) joins an all-female expedition into "The Shimmer," a mysterious, rapidly expanding zone where the laws of nature break down. Inside, the team encounters bizarre mutations, eerie landscapes, and a growing sense of dread as reality warps around them. As Lena searches for answers about her missing husband (Oscar Isaac), she faces terrifying creatures and a mind-bending truth that challenges her understanding of identity, transformation, and self-destruction.
Alex Garland’s film is understated and moves forward at a slower pace than other sci-fi movies. The film is less about the otherworldly elements of “The Shimmer” environment and more about the inner turmoil the characters are facing. While the film is relatively slow, there are still some scenes of horror, stress, and action to keep the more common sci-fi fan engaged. Garland’s direction is great, the cinematography in particular, and for fans of his other work like 2024’s Civil War, I think they’ll really enjoy this.
Elizabethtown - Leaving Netflix on Fri 14th March
In Cameron Crowe’s 2005 film Elizabethtown, Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom), a failed shoe designer, faces personal and professional ruin when his latest project flops. As he's about to give up, his father's sudden death sends him to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to handle funeral arrangements. Along the way, he meets Claire (Kirsten Dunst), an eccentric and free-spirited flight attendant who helps him rediscover joy, purpose, and love. Through grief, quirky family encounters, and a soul-searching road trip, Drew begins a journey of redemption.
Elizabethtown is often forgotten when considering Crowe’s filmography, with him instead being better known for Jerry Maguire and one of my favourite films, Almost Famous. Still, Elizabethtown carries all the hallmarks of his other movies and while it isn’t as strong, it is still enjoyable. The film feels a bit strange- it has a somewhat realistic feel, even introducing a subplot about Drew’s failure at shoe company Mercury, a stand in for Nike. If you accept this going in, then the film is a breezy rom-com that makes for a fun watch.
Pulp Fiction - Leaving Netflix on Fri 21st March
This film almost needs no introduction. In Pulp Fiction (1994), interwoven stories of crime, redemption, and chaos unfold in LA. Hitmen Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) navigate violent encounters, a boxer (Bruce Willis) defies a deadly deal, and a gangster’s wife (Uma Thurman) tempts fate. Their lives intertwine through chance, betrayal, and redemption as the film unfolds in a non-linear narrative.
Pulp Fiction is seen as a groundbreaking masterpiece for a reason. Reservoir Dogs helped its director Quentin Tarantino break onto the scene but Pulp Fiction is the film that cemented him as one of the greats. Premiering at Cannes and taking the coveted Palme d’Or, his film has been a cornerstone of film and pop culture since and is still talked about as much as it was on its release 30 years ago. I don’t say this lightly but the cast is genuinely perfect- their chemistry together and Tarantino’s sharp, slice of life dialogue is a match made in heaven. The film ebbs and flows and while it loses a slight bit of momentum in the middle, the good scenes are so incredible that it really doesn’t matter. Everything about this film from its soundtrack to cinematography is iconic.
Grown Ups - Leaving Netflix on Mon 24th March
A movie I’m sure nearly all of us watched when we were 10, but a fun one to revisit. In Grown Ups, five childhood friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider) reunite after their basketball coach’s passing. Spending a holiday weekend with their families at a lake house, they relive old memories, face adulthood’s challenges, and embrace their inner kids. Through pranks, life lessons, and heartfelt moments, they reconnect, learning that growing older doesn’t mean losing their sense of fun, friendship, and the importance of family bonds.
Grown Ups isn’t a very complicated movie and sometimes it’s great to chill out and just have a fun time. Watching the film, it’s really clear Sandler and director Dennis Duggan made exactly the film they wanted to. The film is an Adam Sandler comedy on steroids, with the whole structure and plot basically revolving around the fun Sandler and co. have with each other. I loved this movie as a kid and while it doesn't completely hold up, it still maintains a cheery nature. The cast are all really great- the 5 main characters stand out but their kids and wives Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph and Maria Bello are equally good and funny. A trip to the waterpark makes great use of slo-mo while I really enjoyed the climactic basketball match set to 'Everybody’s A Winner'.