Welcome to the most recent "Movies I Watched This Month" post, highlighting the movies I watched, profiled, and reviewed during the month. Whether it’s revisiting older classics, discovering movies for the first time, or catching up on titles I’ve long meant to see, this monthly recap highlights everything I watched over the past few weeks. In March, I watched, reviewed, and profiled 11 movies.
Below you’ll find the full list of films I watched in March, along with my ratings and brief thoughts on each one. Some were great discoveries, others were a bit more mixed, but all of them were part of this month’s movie journey.
Shipwrecked had the potential of a classic Disney adventure, it ultimately fell short of that goal. The premise, with pirates, treasure, and survival on a deserted island, sounds thrilling, but the execution of it fell flat. Though the scenery is impressive and the villain has moments of menace, the film feels smaller and less engaging than other Disney live-action adventures of its era, making it more forgettable than fun.
DMFE Rating: ★¾☆☆☆ (1.75 out of 5 stars)
Zootopia works on multiple levels. For kids, it’s a colorful buddy-cop adventure filled with humor, action, and memorable animal characters. For adults, it offers social commentary about bias and stereotypes wrapped inside an engaging mystery. It may not be the most emotionally powerful Disney film, but its world-building, humor, and strong central duo make it one of Disney’s most rewatchable modern animated features. A smart, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful Disney hit that holds up well beyond its initial release.
Raya and the Last Dragon was generally released theatrically on March 5, 2021, and simultaneously on the same day on Disney+ for customers with Premier Access. Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Inspired by traditional Southeast Asian cultures, mythology, architecture, clothing, and martial arts traditions.
DMFE Rating: ★★★★½ (4.50 out of 5 stars)
A visually stunning and action-packed Disney adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon shines with breathtaking animation and rich worldbuilding, but its emotional beats and character arcs don’t always land as powerfully as its ambitious themes of trust and unity. While the film delivers strong fight choreography and a compelling fantasy setting, its pacing and repetitive conflict keep it from reaching the very top tier of modern Disney classics, making it a solid, good-but-not-great.
The Devil and Max Devlin was generally released theatrically on March 6, 1981. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. Not based on a book or a previously published story, it is loosely inspired by the classic Faust legend, the idea of a man making a bargain with the Devil in exchange for some type of personal gain.
DMFE Rating: ★★★¼☆ (3.25 out of 5 stars)
The Devil and Max Devlin is an interesting premise that never quite lives up to its potential. The idea of a selfish landlord striking a deal with a devilish soul broker has moments of charm, but the film struggles with uneven pacing and a tone that shifts awkwardly between comedy and moral drama. While the redemption message is clear, the story often feels slow, and the characters are underdeveloped. It ends up being more of a curious footnote in Disney’s early-1980s live-action catalog than a memorable classic.
Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco was generally released theatrically on March 8, 1996. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. Based on the characters from the novel “The Incredible Journey” by Sheila Burnford. It is the sequel to the 1993 film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
DMFE Rating: ★¾☆☆☆ (1.75 out of 5 stars)
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is a solid choice for families and fans of the original Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. The film keeps the lovable trio, Shadow, Chance, and Sassy, front and center while placing them in a fun urban adventure filled with humor, danger, and heart. While it doesn’t reach the emotional highs of the first film, the sequel still offers entertaining moments, memorable voice work from Michael J. Fox and Sally Field, and a charming message about friendship, loyalty, and finding your way home.
The Shaggy Dog was generally released theatrically on March 20, 2006. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures in association with Mandeville Films, Boxing Cat Films, Tollin/Robbins Productions, and Robert Simonds Productions, and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It is a remake of Disney’s 1959 classic film The Shaggy Dog with a modern science-based twist. The original film was based on the 1923 novel “The Hound of Florence” written by German author Felix Salten (also known for writing “Bambi, a Life in the Woods”).
Mars Needs Moms premiered on March 6, 2011, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Generally released theatrically on March 11, 2011. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures in association with ImageMovers Digital and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Based on the children’s book Mars Needs Moms! by Berkeley Breathed. The film was animated using the process of performance capture, a filmmaking technology that records an actor’s full physical performance, including body movements, facial expressions, and sometimes voice, to create a digital character in an animated or visual-effects film.
DMFE Rating: ★★¼☆☆ (2.25 out of 5 stars)
While not as memorable as Disney’s original The Shaggy Dog, this remake is still a fun, family-friendly comedy with plenty of silly moments. Tim Allen’s energetic performance and the film’s lighthearted tone make it an easy watch, even if the predictable story and broad humor keep it from being truly standout.
DMFE Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.00 out of 5 stars)
Despite an imaginative premise and a heartfelt message about appreciating parents, Mars Needs Moms struggles with awkward motion-capture animation and a predictable story. While the adventurous journey to Mars has a few entertaining moments and a strong score by John Powell, the film never fully connects emotionally or visually. It’s a well-intentioned but ultimately forgettable entry from Walt Disney Pictures.
The Absent-Minded Professor was generally released theatrically on March 16, 1961. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc. Based on the short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor in Liberty on May 22, 1943. It was the first Disney movie to receive a sequel with the release of Son of Flubber on January 16, 1963. A remake titled Flubber starring Robin Williams was released on November 26, 1997.
The Barefoot Executive was generally released theatrically on March 17, 1971. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc. A two-hour television remake aired on ABC on November 11, 1995, directed by Susan Seidelman.
Amy was generally released theatrically on March 20, 1981. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc. Originally filmed as a television movie titled Amy on the Lips. In early 1981, Walt Disney Productions felt the film was too powerful for a television release, and they changed the name to Amy and released it in theaters. A two-hour television remake aired on ABC on November 11, 1995, directed by Susan Seidelman.
Ride a Wild Pony premiered on December 25, 1975, at the Fine Arts Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Generally released theatrically on March 26, 1976. Produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc. Based on the 1973 novel “A Sporting Proposition” by James Aldridge.
DMFE Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.00 out of 5 stars)
With its inventive premise and playful humor, The Absent-Minded Professor remains one of Disney’s more charming live-action comedies of the early 1960s. Fred MacMurray brings a warm and likable presence to the role of Professor Ned Brainard, and the imaginative concept of Flubber provides the film with plenty of memorable visual gags, from bouncing basketball players to a flying Model T. The movie captures the lighthearted, family-friendly spirit that defined many of Disney’s live-action films during this era. At the same time, the film shows its age in places, particularly in its slower pacing and fairly simple storyline. Still, the creativity behind the central idea and the film’s overall charm make it an enjoyable watch.
DMFE Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.50 out of 5 stars)
DMFE Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.50 out of 5 stars)
If you enjoy classic Disney live-action comedies from the late 1960s and early 1970s, The Barefoot Executive is an entertaining and lighthearted watch. The film’s playful premise—about a chimpanzee secretly predicting television hits—creates plenty of goofy humor, while Kurt Russell delivers a charming performance as the ambitious Steven Post. While the story is fairly simple and some of the television industry satire feels dated today, the movie remains a fun example of Disney’s family-friendly comedies from the era. Viewers interested in Disney’s live-action catalog or Kurt Russell’s early Disney career will likely find it especially enjoyable.
DMFE Rating: ★★½☆☆ (2.50 out of 5 stars)
Despite a decent performance from Jenny Agutter and a promising premise, Amy ultimately falls flat and probably should have remained a made-for-television movie. Definitely one of the weaker live-action efforts by Walt Disney Productions.
DMFE Rating: ★¼☆☆☆ (1.25 out of 5 stars)
Let’s talk a little about the good first, was there any? The movie genuinely tries to explore empathy, fairness, and compassion, especially through the conflict between Scotty and Josie. It does fit the earnest, family-friendly style of Walt Disney Productions in the 70s. The Australian setting gives it a different feel than other Disney films of its time. The movie was slow in its pacing, and at times I found myself checking the time remaining. The story was very predictable, and honestly, we didn’t learn much about the characters and how they got to where they were. It could have helped a little at the end of the day for me. Even if it didn’t work for me at all, I can appreciate its sincerity and the emotional idea at its core—it just never quite comes together. At the end, though, we see that two things can be true at the same time. The horse could have been Taff and belonged to Scotty, and the horse could have been Bo (or is it Beau?) and belonged to Josie.
DMFE Rating: ¾☆☆☆☆ (0.75 out of 5 stars)
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