3 Movies Like Maria (2024)

Staff & contributors
At the peak of his fame in the 80s, Christopher Reeve was constantly seen as his onscreen character, Superman. Like him, Reeve could fly (planes). He was full of charm and stood for what was right. But in this revealing documentary, we learn the whole truth about Reeve; his troubled childhood, his initial struggles with commitment, his physical talents, his love for family, and—as many a superhero star will sympathize with—his deep yearning for a creative career outside of the comic book character who made him famous. Of course, a significant chunk of the documentary also deals with Reeve’s unfortunate paralysis. We witness, through home movies and narrated biographies, how he coped with the tragedy. Making the film even more special is the input of his three children, who look back at the time with generous honesty and vulnerability. This film is made for fans of the actor, but it’s also a great example of the power of advocacy (Reeve became a disability rights activist after the accident), love (his wife Dana is a superhero on her own), and legacy (his children run his foundation to this day).

Genre: Documentary, Drama

Actor: Alexandra Reeve Givens, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Christopher Reeve, Dana Reeve, Gene Hackman, Glenn Close, Hillary Clinton, Jane Seymour, Jeff Daniels, John Houseman, John Kerry, Johnny Carson, Margot Kidder, Matthew Reeve, Richard Donner, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Reeve

Director: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui

Rating: PG-13

For better or for worse, every romantic relationship anyone will ever have will end. This isn’t a bitter statement single or heartbroken people declare, it’s just that we have to keep in mind that time with our loved ones is limited. Romcom drama We Live in Time is titled as such for a reason– mentioning this could be a bit of a spoiler here– but fittingly, the film plays with time, taking a non-linear narrative that jumps back and forth within the timeline Tobias and Almut share together, comparing and contrasting between these moments as if in memory. Certain moments might feel a bit derivative, but We Live in Time ultimately works with the excellent chemistry shared by Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Actor: Adam James, Amy Morgan, Andrew Garfield, Ann Ogbomo, Aoife Hinds, Douglas Hodge, Eliot Salt, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney, Grace Molony, Kerry Godliman, Lee Braithwaite, Lucy Briers, Marama Corlett, Niamh Cusack, Robert Boulter, Sam Kennard

Director: John Crowley

Rating: R

Juror #2 is the kind of film that doesn’t waste time: it’s immediately compelling as it throws questions about morality, guilt, and conscience straight to your face. There are familiar people in this stacked cast, including Chris Messina and J.K. Simmons, but it’s Nicholas Hoult as the titular second juror and Toni Collete as the ambitious prosecutor who stand out. The weight of the film’s heavy questions lies on their shoulders, and they convey every feeling—from doubt and remorse to exaltation and hope—with painful clarity. I only the film hadn’t taken the easy way out, and that the debate among the jury could have been thornier and trickier, but as it is, Juror #2 is a compelling addition to our book of excellent courtroom dramas.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Actor: Adrienne C. Moore, Amy Aquino, Bria Brimmer, Cedric Yarbrough, Chikako Fukuyama, Chris Messina, Drew Scheid, Francesca Eastwood, Gabriel Basso, Grant Roberts, Hedy Nasser, J.K. Simmons, Jason Coviello, Javier Vazquez Jr., KateLynn E. Newberry, Kellen Boyle, Kevin Saunders, Kiefer Sutherland, Kurt Yue, Leslie Bibb, Megan Mieduch, Nicholas Hoult, Phil Biedron, Rachel Walters, Rebecca Koon, Scott Alan Smith, Tom Thon, Toni Collette, Zele Avradopoulos, Zoey Deutch

Director: Clint Eastwood

Rating: PG-13