We've all done it: we load our Netflix streaming queues with movies we've been meaning to watch again, or for the first time, after seeing them available. And yet, month after month, when it comes time to refresh the line-up, one thought recurs just as frequently: what am I going to miss? Well, if you're worried about what you'll be missing out on during the month of April, you're in luck! We've got a list of titles that you probably have in your queue and should be revisit as soon as possible. Otherwise, April's showers will wash away your last chance to enjoy these films without the aid of discs or other streaming methods.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
While it's been threatened for some time now, movement on the proposed reboot of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective has just started to find its feet. After re-watching Jim Carrey's breakout film role, it's easy to see just why it might have taken so much time to get this one off the ground, as the original is pretty damned iconic. If you haven't heard a friend yell "Laces out" during at least one football game, or seen a friend walk out of the bathroom thinking "Do not go in there!" is the right joke for the occasion, you just might need to sit everyone down and give them a reason to question why anyone would try to lay a finger on this modern classic.
American Pie
How's this for scary: if you were watching American Pie back in high school when the film was released, you might be old enough to have kids who you can introduce the film to on your own terms. Which would be an interesting exercise, considering how raunchy the film was considered back in the day. To think, we were all once Jims and Michelles, only to grow and become Jim's dad, or one of the various parental equivalents in the film's universe. So sit your kids down, prepare them for the majesty that is adolescent humor and a Blink 182 cameo, and pass the torch to your youngsters, should it be the right time.
Apollo 13
While Ron Howard may have a new film in this year's Solo: A Star Wars Story, it's not exactly the sort of project you'd think he'd sign on for. The reason being that the man has made a name for himself mostly in prestigious biopics and films based around moments in history, with Apollo 13 serving as a particularly effective example of the latter. It's a film that not only wows movie fans, but probably gets a high school science/social studies class pretty pumped as well, considering the film's an exciting, but stoic, look at the mission that almost went to the moon. If you're in the mood for some history with your suspense, look no further.
Batman
Back in the day of Tim Burton's Batman, the film was received with a response similar to that of Batman Begins. With the franchise originating its film and TV arm through Adam West's campy and colorful adventures, nobody expected Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Bassinger to usher in an era of a darker, more stylistic version of the Caped Crusader and his adventures. These days, the Burton/Schumacher era is relatively tame compared to what Christopher Nolan would do with his version of the character. But back then, it was another seismic shift in Gotham City's history.
Caddyshack
Some movies never age, despite being a product of the era they were produced in. While Caddyshack is definitely the epitome of an '80s comedy, it doesn't totally root its laughs in the decade. It's more of an '80s film in execution and approach, but not totally in the humor it weaves. Of course, one has to experience Caddyshack to truly get its brilliance, and if you're one of the folks that hasn't had the pleasure just yet, you should get on that. The gopher won't wait forever.
Never Let Me Go
Have you ever seen a movie where the leads were just coming into their own as performers? You definitely have if you're a fan of Mark Romanek's adaptation of Never Let Me Go, as both Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield starred in this flick around the time their stars had just started to rise. Though if you dig deeper into this bittersweet sci-fi drama, you'll find even more familiar faces in co-stars Domnhall Gleeson, Andrea Riseborough and Sally Hawkins. Don't let this all-star cast fool you though, as there's a lot going on underneath the surface of this heart-wrenching film.
Small Soldiers
Everyone remembers Joe Dante for Gremlins, and maybe Gremlins 2. But if you delve deeper into the man's body of work, you'll see similarly offbeat and quirky films that are worthy of your enjoyment, including Small Soldiers. One of Dreamworks' earliest major motion pictures, the film suffered from being released in the summer of 1998 by a relatively young studio still trying to find their feet. Which is a damned shame, as this story of killer toys waging war across suburbia is pretty funny, while also managing to find some sweeter moments between a boy and his toys.
The Shawshank Redemption
If there's a movie that defines whata perfect film is, and always should be, The Shawshank Redemption is one of the prime examples of such a movie. No matter how many times you watch it, no matter what point it's at when you flip onto it during a channel surfing session, you're almost always bound to watch the film through to the end. It's a timeless production that doesn't age itself and always hits the same perfect notes it hit when it first played its tune. If you have the time, you should revisit Andy and Red one last time in April.
The Whole Nine Yards
Out of all of the friends from Friends to embark on a film career, Matthew Perry could be argued as one of the most successful, thanks to a string of comedic cult classics that includes the next film on our list, The Whole Nine Yards. Pitting Perry's neurotic brand of laughs against Bruce Willis' killer cool demeanor worked like a charm with this sleeper hit from the turn of the century, and it's certainly worth a watch. However, don't let this tempt you into watching The Whole Ten Yards, no matter how convenient the prospect may be. This film truly was lightning in a bottle, and its subpar sequel only proved it.
The Prestige
There's two ways to watch The Prestige: one way is to watch it as a casual fan, enjoying Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman's increasingly deadly game of one uppmanship all the way to its shocking conclusion. The other is to revisit the film with its secrets laid bare, truly taking in its message of how a magician, or in this case director Christopher Nolan, works their magic through all of the phases of a trick. Either way, once the act is over, you'll probably be sitting on your couch, stunned and shocked at what just happened before your eyes.
Kung Fu Panda 3
As consistently as the Kung Fu Panda franchise has delivered, it still feels like Kung Fu Panda 3 is the forgotten entry in the series. With Jack Black's Po finally reuniting with his father, played by Bryan Cranston, the series only further expanded on its mythos by fleshing out Po's backstory with even more colorful detail. On top of the higher emotional stakes is an even greater threat, courtesy of J.K. Simmons' Kai - a villain bent on becoming the most powerful master in the kung fu world. A blend of action and emotion that only this franchise could deliver, Kung Fu Panda 3 is a fitting volume in Po's story.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Street artist Banksy has always been an enigma wrapped in a riddle with a killer sense of humor. His art is provocative, as well as bitingly funny, and if anyone ever knew who he really was, he'd probably draw equal rounds of praise and damnation. Much like the man himself, Exit Through The Gift Shop is a film that is either an authentic documentary or a mockumentary that only helps perpetuate the mysterious aura of Banksy and his art. We'll leave it up to you to decide, but it's a decision that'll be fun to make once you've seen the film in question.
If you're curious about what you missed throughout March's Netflix purge, head over to the list of awesome movies that left the platform throughout this month. You still might have time to enjoy a couple of them before April 1!
