8 Best Films To Get Excited For This Spring Now That The Oscars Are Over

The Academy Awards had a big night on March 2, with multiple Oscars records broken and Anora taking home the grand prize for Best Picture, along with a few other awards, including a Best Actress win for Mikey Madison. Now that the Oscars are over, however, the spring season of movies is upon us. There’s nothing that signals that more than the films debuting at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. The festival, which takes place in Austin and is set to begin on March 7, boasts several indie and studio film selections, with Paul Rudd’s Friendship among them.

The ScreenRant team is headed to SXSW this year and we’re excited for a plethora of films that will have their premieres at the festival before debuting in theaters or on streaming shortly thereafter. Last year, SXSW had a lineup that included the Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt film The Fall Guy and Prime Video’s Road House remake. And the lineup for 2025 is shaping up to be just as good, if not better, than 2024, with movies featuring big stars like Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, and more.

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Holland

Nicole Kidman's Nancy looking curiously at something in Holland

Nicole Kidman has been taking on intriguing roles lately, with the erotic thriller Babygirl really making headlines and giving her a meaty role to dive into, and The Perfect Couple being the perfect balance between unhinged and reserved. Holland is yet another thriller Kidman can add to her filmography.

Nicole Kidman as Nancy looking scared over her shoulder and car seat in Holland

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Directed by Mimi Cave from a screenplay by Alex Somers, Holland follows Kidman’s character, Nancy Vandergroot, a homemaker whose seemingly perfect life is turned upside down after she discovers a secret. Though the film is premiering at SXSW, you won’t have to wait too long before you’re able to stream it on Prime Video. Holland will be released on the streaming service a few weeks after its SXSW debut on March 27, and we’re all in for a wild ride.

7

The Accountant 2

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The Accountant 2

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Action

Crime

Drama

Release Date

April 25, 2025

Director

Gavin O’Connor

Writers

Bill Dubuque

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A sequel to The Accountant wasn’t on my bingo card, but here we are. The 2016 Ben Affleck film followed the titular character, Christian Wolff, an accountant for criminal organizations who must solve a discrepancy on the books of a robotics company. With 285 reviews, The Accountant’s Rotten Tomatoes score wasn’t exactly the best, but it did much better with audiences. With the latter in mind, a sequel makes sense.

JK Simmons and Ben Affleck in The Accountant

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The Accountant 2 raises the stakes and sees Christian having to solve a murder involving the Treasury chief with his illegal methods and skills. Alongside Affleck, Jon Bernthal returns as Christian’s brother, as does Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Marybeth Medina. Following the film’s premiere at SXSW, The Accountant 2 will be in theaters a month and a half later on April 25.

6

Another Simple Favor

Blake Lively may be in the middle of a legal battle, but that hasn’t hindered any excitement for Another Simple Favor, the sequel to Paul Feig’s 2018 movie A Simple Favor. Returning star Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers is off to Capri, Italy for Emily’s wedding. But of course, with anything involving Lively’s Emily, things take a twisted and murderous turn. Feig’s stylish film is still as glamorous-looking as ever and Kendrick and Lively continue to play off of each well based on Another Simple Favor’s trailer.

Another Simple Favor will premiere at SXSW on March 7 and will be followed by its streaming release on Prime Video on May 1st. As was the case with the first film, Another Simple Favor is sure to be the talk of what will hopefully be a memorable spring movie season.

5

Ash

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Ash

R

Horror

Science Fiction

Thriller

Release Date

March 21, 2025

Director

Flying Lotus

Writers

Jonni Remmler

On the mysterious planet Ash, Riya awakens to find her crew slaughtered. When Brion arrives to rescue her, they face an ordeal of psychological and physical terror, grappling with trust and survival.

Cast

Eiza Gonzalez, Aaron Paul, Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale, Flying Lotus

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There can be nothing more terrifying than a horror thriller set in space. So when Eiza González’s Riya wakes up on another planet with her whole space station crew dead, things only get more chilling after that. Ash’s premise alone makes it one of the most intriguing and exciting films to debut at SXSW this year. Luckily, it won’t be long before you can also enjoy this sci-fi thriller, which will play in limited theaters beginning on March 21. The film also stars Aaron Paul and Hawaii Five-0 star Beulah Koale.

4

Clown In A Cornfield

Frendo holding his hand over a teenager's mouth in Clown in a Cornfield

Horror is one of the best genres and it’s always a treat when a horror film gets the festival treatment. Clown in a Cornfield follows Quinn and her father after they move to the small town of Kettle Springs. The people have fallen on hard times but things take a deadly turn when Frendo the clown, linked to the town’s better days, starts killing members of the community.

Clown in a Cornfield will have its premiere at SXSW on March 10 before being released in theaters by Shudder and RLJE films on May 9. This one looks to be genuinely fun and terrifying so it’s a good thing the wait time for its general release is not too long.

3

Death Of A Unicorn

Death of a Unicorn Cast in a group shot from below, looking down at the unicorn

Based on Death of a Unicorn’s trailer, we’re in for a fun fantasy comedy this spring. Starring Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant among others, Death of a Unicorn follows a father and daughter who accidentally hit a unicorn on their way to a wilderness retreat full of wealthy attendees.

Death of a Unicorn also stars Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, and Jessica Hynes.

The premise sounds delightfully weird and, like with Everything Everywhere All At Once, Death of a Unicorn could be this year’s A24 hit. It has a buzzy cast and a wild conceit, among other good qualities that could lend to its success. Following its premiere at SXSW, Death of a Unicorn will have its theatrical release on March 28.

2

Drop

If a first date sounds daunting and a bit horrific, then Drop is the perfect film to watch this spring. Starring The White Lotus alum Meghann Fahy and 1923 star Brandon Sklenar, Drop follows Fahy’s Violet, a widowed mother, on her first date in a long time. It’s a nice restaurant where she meets Sklenar’s Henry and he seems charming, but Violet’s put off by a series of threatening texts she suspects Henry is somehow sending.

Drop looks intense, thrilling, and brewing with mystery. And while the SXSW audience gets the first look at the film, its theatrical release will come a month later on April 11. The suspense won’t last for long in the lead-up to its release, but I can’t say the same for Violet’s awful night.

1

The Surfer

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The Surfer

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

May 17, 2024

Runtime

99 Minutes

Director

Lorcan Finnegan

A compelling drama that tells the story of a former professional surfer who returns to his hometown after years of battling personal demons and estrangement from his family and friends. As he attempts to reintegrate into the community and reconnect with his past, he faces the challenges of rebuilding broken relationships and confronting old rivalries. Drawn back to the ocean, he finds solace and purpose in the waves, leading to a journey of self-discovery and redemption.

Cast

Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Rahel Romahn

Writers

Thomas Martin

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It seems like it’s the spring of thrillers. Nicolas Cage is back with The Surfer from director Lorcan Finnegan. If you’re looking for something intense and sports-related, The Surfer has everything you need. Cage plays the titular character, who returns to his hometown to surf with his son, only to be humiliated by a local group. This sets the stage for tensions to rise between them, with Cage’s character growing more and more agitated the more the group pushes him.

It’s always a delight to watch Cage onscreen and The Surfer should be no different, especially as his character is primed to do something after being pushed to his breaking point. The film originally debuted at 2024’s Cannes Film Festival before heading to SXSW. The Surfer will be released in theaters on May 2nd by Roadside Attractions.