Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
With Saint Patrick's Day weekend upon us (at the time of writing, anyway), what better way to celebrate March 17 than with a Lindsay Lohan-led rom-com that takes place in the famous, evergreen Guinness-producing nation? If you hadn't guessed, Lohan's new flick Irish Wish is the latest entry on our new Netflix movies list. We've also removed Players as it's no longer considered to be new.
New Netflix movies seem to debut on a weekly basis – and this week's release is the perfect way to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.
That's right, with the famous Irish holiday almost upon us (if you're reading this before March 17, anyway), it's time to pour yourself a Guinness and enjoy a good old Ireland-set movie. There's a new Lindsay Lohan-starring flick that's the perfect accompaniment to your pint of dry Irish stout, too – indeed, Irish Wish, a generic rom-com has made its way onto Netflix to revel in the festivities.
Irish Wish is just one of many new movies that have landed on the service recently, though – so, if it doesn't seem like your idea of a good time, there are plenty of other options listed below. If you want more recommendations, our best Netflix movies guide is packed with even more streaming entertainment fare. But we digress. Here are all of the new Netflix movies to catch this weekend on the world's best streaming service.
New Netflix movies: March
Irish Wish
Release date: March 15
Runtime: 93 minutes
Age rating: TV-G (US), 12 (UK)
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speelers, Ayesha Curry, and Alexander Vlahos
Director: Janeen Damian
Another schlocky take on the 'careful what you wish for' line of thinking, Irish Wish looks like one of the most derivative romantic comedies we've seen from Netflix.
Lohan plays Maddie, a bridesmaid who is in love with her best friend's soon-to-be-husband. Days before the duo are set to marry, however, Maddie makes a spontaneous wish for true love – and winds up replacing her friend as the bride-to-be. With her dream scenario coming true, though, Maddie soon realizes that the man she thinks she's in love with isn't her soulmate – indeed, a mysterious Irishman (Speelers' Thomas) proves to be instead. Uh oh.
We couldn't find many reviews for this one, so we can't say whether critics were fond of it or not. Based on its trailer (watch it above), though, we suggest you give this one a miss.
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Watch Irish Wish on Netflix now.
Damsel
Release date: March 8
Runtime: 107 minutes
Age rating: PG-13 (US) / 12 (UK)
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright, and Angela Bassett
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Before she marks her final bow as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5, and with her new Netflix movie no longer in distress as of December 2023, Millie Bobby Brown stars in her third Netflix original movie – Damsel – that might scratch your fantasy film itch.
Brown plays Princess Elodie, a dutiful damsel who agrees to marry a handsome prince from a similarly high-ranking family. Unbeknownst to Elodie, though, she's only been selected by her newfound in-laws to be the latest human sacrifice to repay an ancient debt to a terrifying dragon. Forced to rely on her wits to survive, Elodie faces a fiery showdown with said winged beast that stands between her, her quest for revenge, and her eventual freedom.
Critics and fans alike haven't been too kind to Damsel. Based on its 56% critical and 69% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems to be another Netflix Original that flatters to deceive. One to skip unless you're a huge Brown and/or fantasy genre fan.
Spaceman
Release date: March 1
Runtime: 108 minutes
Age rating: R (US) / 15 (UK)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayyar, and Isabella Rossellini
Director: Johan Renck
Adam Sandler's Spaceman – a pensive sci-fi psychodrama – tells the tale of Jakub (Sandler), a Czech astronaut nearing the end of a six-month journey to a cloud of ancient space dust that might hold secrets about life's many mysteries. With his marriage to Lenka (Mulligan) falling apart back on Earth, Jakub is visited by Hanuš (Dano), a giant, extraterrestial spider stowaway who surprisingly offers to help Jakub repair his faltering relationship.
We weren't fans of Sandler's latest Netflix film. Indeed, we labeled it a "spiritless Netflix sci-fi movie that drifts aimlessly among the stars" – and, based on its 51% critical and 65% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems many reviewers agree with us. One of 2024's new Netflix movies to give a wide berth to, we say.
Watch Spaceman on Netflix now.
New Netflix movies: February 2024
Code 8: Part II
Release date: February 28
Runtime: 100 minutes
Age rating: R (US) / 15 (UK)
Cast: Robbie Amell, Steve Amell, Alex Mallari Jr, and Kean Yoon
Director: Jeff Chan
The creatively titled sequel to 2019 sci-fi action flick Code 8 – we know, how original – Code 8: Part II picks up five years after the first movie's events. In it, the Amell brothers return as Connor and Garrett, two individuals embroiled in a drug trade that sees superpowered members of society sell their spinal fluid to create the drug known as psyke, which imbues ordinary people with abilities.
Surprisingly, Code 8: Part II is one of the more warmly received new Netflix movies of the year so far. Indeed, its 69% critical and 60% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes suggest it might be worth seeing, especially if you're looking for an easy-to-watch superhero-style film that tackles the oft-explored police state genre in a new light.
Watch Code 8: Part II on Netflix now.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Release date: February 23
Runtime: 132 minutes
Age rating: R (US)
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu
Directors: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Thanks largely to Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, multiverse films have exploded in popularity (among studios, not necessarily audiences) in recent years. This absurdist multi-genre flick, which garnered universal acclaim and a seemingly infinite number of trophies on the 2023 awards circuit, though, is one of the best we've ever seen.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (EEAAO) stars Yeoh (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Brothers Sun) as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who learns that she must connect with alternate reality versions of herself in order to stop a supremely powerful being from destroying the multiverse. Quan (Loki season 2, The Goonies) plays Evelyn's husband Waymond and Hsu (Joy Ride) is Evelyn's daughter Joy.
An epic assault on the senses with tons of heart, spectacular visuals, and an mind-boggling appreciation for philosophical themes like existentialism, nihilism, generational trauma, and racial identity, EEAAO is a masterpiece that deserves every gong in its stuffed awards cabinet. Expect to see one of February's new Netflix movies on our best Netflix movies list shortly.
Watch EEAAO on Netflix now. (NB: EEAAO is only available to rent or buy in the UK.)
Mea Culpa
Release date: February 23
Runtime: 120 minutes
Age rating: R (US) / 18 (UK)
Cast: Kelly Rowland, Trevante Rhodes, Nick Sagar, and Shannon Thornton
Director: Tyler Perry
Billed as a courtroom thriller, Mea Culpa stars Rowland as Mea Harper, a criminal defense attorney who takes on the case of murder suspect Zyair Malloy (Rhodes). As night follows day, there's more to this case than meets the eye – indeed, as Harper struggles to wrestle the requisite information from her mysterious and seductive client to help prove his innocence, things don't work out as intended for everyone involved.
Those who have seen it – critics and general audiences alike – really haven't enjoyed what's on offer. Indeed, its 23% critical and 37% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes confirm as much. An erotica devoid of the necessary thrills and spills to entertain is one to avoid, in our view.
Watch Mea Culpa on Netflix now.
New Netflix movies: what's coming in 2024?
There are plenty of new Netflix movies set to debut on the streamer between now and the end of 2024. Here's a list of the ones we know about:
- Shirley (March 22)
- The Casagrandes Movie (March 22)
- Heart of the Hunter (March 29)
- The Beautiful Game (March 29)
- The Wages of Fear (March 29)
- Zero to Hero (April 3)
- The Tearsmith (April 4)
- Scoop (April 5)
- Stolen (April 12)
- Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp (April 12)
- Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scargiver (April 19)
- City Hunter (April 25)
- Beautiful Rebel (May 2)
- Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story (May 3)
- Mother of the Bride (May 9)
- Thelma the Unicorn (May 17)
- Atlas (May 24)
- Hit Man (June 7)
- Ultraman: Rising (June 14)
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3)
- The Union (August 16)
- Carry-On (Q4 2024)
- Trigger Warning (Q2 2024)
- The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep (Q4 2024)
For more Netflix-based coverage, read our best Netflix shows and best Netflix documentaries guides. Alternatively, find out how to sign up to Netflix or get the lowdown on whether it's worth cancelling your Netflix subscription.
As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
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