Indie Film Release Guide: March 8th [An ONTD Original]

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This weekend’s only big studio release comes in the form of the fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda series, a film that should be eagerly received by those who have been looking for a kid’s movie. The biggest indie release is Lionsgate’s Imaginary, which is the first horror release in a while. And other films, like A24’s Problemista, will expand into more theaters this weekend.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: March 1st, February 23rd, and February 16th.

Love Lies Bleeding

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Stars: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Anna Baryshnikov
Writer: Weronika Tofilska
Director: Rose Glass
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Plot: Gym manager Lou falls for Jackie, a bodybuilder who is passing through town en route to a competition in Las Vegas.
What you should know: Filmed in New Mexico during the summer of 2022.
Where to watch: In select theaters; expands March 15th



Imaginary

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Stars: DeWanda Wise, Taegan Burns, Pyper Braun, Betty Buckley
Writer: Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Jeff Wadlow
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Plot: A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him.
What you should know: Director Jeff Wadlow previously helmed 2018’s Truth or Dare.
Where to watch: In theaters

Glitter & Doom

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Stars: Alex Diaz, Alan Cammish, Ming-Na Wen, Missi Pyle
Writer: Cory Krueckeberg
Director: Tom Gustafson
Genre: Musical, Romance
Plot: Follows the love-at-first-sight connection between carefree circus performer Glitter and struggling musician Doom. An undeniable spark throws them into a summer of camping trips, late-night conversations, and innovative song-and-dance numbers - until the real world interferes.
What you should know: The film is set to the music of the Indigo Girls
Where to watch: In select theaters

Ricky Stanicky

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Stars: Zac Efron, John Cena, Andrew Santino, Riley Stiles
Writer: Jeffrey Bushell, Brian Jarvis, James Lee Freeman
Director: Peter Farrelly
Genre: Comedy
Plot: When three childhood best friends pull a prank that goes wrong, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble. Twenty years later, they still use the nonexistent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behavior.
What you should know: Peter Farrelly’s last film, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, also starred Zac Efron.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

First Time Female Director

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Stars: Chelsea Perretti, Andy Richter, Kate Berlant, Xosha Roquemore
Writer/Director: Chelsea Perretti
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Follows a newly minted female director in a local theater in Glendale, California, struggling to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy.
What you should know: This is indeed director, writer and star Chelsea Perretti’s directorial debut.
Where to watch: Roku

Damsel

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Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, Nick Robinson
Writer: Dan Mazeau
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Plot: A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt.
What you should know: Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo also directed 28 Weeks Later.
Where to watch: Netflix

Space: The Longest Goodbye

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Writer: Ido Mizrahy, Nir Sa'ar
Director: Ido Mizrahy
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Training for a Mars mission, daring astronauts work with a NASA psychologist to cope with space isolation.
What you should know: Premiered at Sundance 2023.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Night Shift

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Stars: Phoebe Tonkin, Patrick Fischler, Lamorne Morris, Madison Hu
Writer/Director: Benjamin China, Paul China
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Plot: While working her first night shift at a remote motel, a woman begins to suspect that the property is haunted.
What you should know: This is the directorial debut for brothers Benjamin and Paul China.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

American Dreamer

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Stars: Peter Dinklage, Danny Pudi, Shirley MacLaine, Matt Dillon
Writer: Theodore Melfi, Christopher Wehner
Director: Paul Dektor
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Phil's a dreamer. Most dreams don't come true. Phil hates that. But that's not going to stop Phil from dreaming.
What you should know: Filmed in British Columbia.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Piper

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Stars: Charlotte Hope, Julian Sands, Kate Nichols, Alexis Rodney
Writer/Director: Erlingur Thoroddsen
Genre: Horror
Plot: When a composer is tasked with finishing her late mentor's concerto, she soon discovers that playing the music summons deadly consequences, leading her to uncover the disturbing origins of the melody and an evil that has awakened.
What you should know: This is one of actor Julian Sands’ last films; he died while hiking in the Mount Baldy area of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

Kung Fu Panda 4 (Trailer) from Universal
Cabrini (Trailer)
Accidental Texan (Trailer)
High & Low: John Galliano (Trailer)

New to Streaming

To Kill a Tiger (Trailer) on Netflix
Poor Things (Trailer) on Hulu
Wonka (Trailer) on Max

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?