The Watch List: The Must-See Movies Hitting Cinemas In February
Choc-top at the ready
From prestige dramas and awards-buzz indies to pulse-raising thrillers and nostalgic horror franchises, February’s cinema line-up has a little bit of everything. Whether you’re in the mood for a swoon-worthy literary romance, a high-stakes heist, or something that’ll have you hiding behind your popcorn, this month’s releases balance big names with bold storytelling. Consider your movie nights sorted.
“Wuthering Heights”
Genre: Romance Drama
Release date: 12 February
Director: Emerald Fennell
Cast: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Ewan Mitchell
Emerald Fennell brings a lush, modern intensity to Emily Brontë’s gothic classic, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed Catherine and Heathcliff. Sweeping across the windswept Yorkshire moors, this is a love story fuelled by obsession, class divides, and heartbreak. Visually sumptuous and emotionally explosive, it’s perfect for romantics who prefer their passion a little darker.
Is This Thing On?
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Release date: 5 February
Director: Bradley Cooper
Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper
Midlife crises get a surprisingly funny makeover in Bradley Cooper’s heartfelt comedy-drama about second chances. When Alex (Will Arnett) stumbles into the New York stand-up scene while navigating an impending divorce, he rediscovers purpose just as his wife Tess (Laura Dern) begins questioning the life she put on hold for their family. Wry, warm and quietly cathartic, this one blends humour with honesty — perfect for anyone who loves a reinvention story with emotional depth.
Shelter
Genre: Action Thriller
Release date: 5 February
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Cast: Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Harriet Walter, Bill Nighy
Jason Statham returns to familiar territory — and that’s very good news. In Shelter, the action heavyweight plays a former assassin living off-grid who rescues a young girl during a violent storm, only to find his past catching up fast. Equal parts explosive set pieces and unexpected heart, this rugged protector tale delivers the kind of high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat thrills that make for an easy, satisfying cinema night.
We Bury The Dead
Genre: Zombie Survival Horror Thriller
Release date: 5 February
Director: Zak Hilditch
Cast: Daisy Ridley, Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites
This isn’t your typical zombie sprint-fest. We Bury The Dead leans into atmosphere and emotion, following Ava (Daisy Ridley) as she searches for her missing husband after a catastrophic military disaster causes the dead to rise — and hunt. Less about jump scares and more about grief, loss and survival, it’s a haunting, slow-burning take on the genre that lingers long after the credits roll.
Anemone
Genre: Psychological Drama
Release date: 5 February
Director: Ronan Day-Lewis
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean, Samantha Morton
Marking Daniel Day-Lewis’ long-awaited return to the screen, Anemone is a brooding, slow-burn psychological drama set deep in the wilds of Northern England. When two estranged brothers reunite at a remote cabin, buried guilt and old wounds resurface with devastating consequences. Quietly intense and beautifully shot, this is the kind of performance-led film you settle into — and one cinephiles won’t want to miss.
The Strangers: Chapter 3
Genre: Horror
Release date: 5 February
Director: Renny Harlin
Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Richard Brake
The masked terror reaches its brutal endgame in The Strangers: Chapter 3. Picking up directly where the previous instalment left off, Maya transforms from hunted victim to hardened survivor as she prepares to face the killers one final time. Tense, relentless and packed with nerve-shredding suspense, this is a slasher built for fans who like their horror mean and merciless.
The Testament of Ann Lee
Genre: Epic Historical Musical
Release date: 26 February
Director: Mona Fastvold
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott
History meets hypnotic musical in this bold portrait of Ann Lee, the visionary founder of the Shakers. Amanda Seyfried leads a story of faith, equality and rebellion, brought to life through song, movement, and dreamlike imagery. Unconventional and visually striking, it’s a meditative, artful experience for viewers who like their period dramas with a creative twist.
Crime 101
Genre: Crime Thriller
Release date: 12 February
Director: Bart Layton
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, Halle Berry
Sun-drenched California highways set the stage for this slick cat-and-mouse thriller. Chris Hemsworth plays an elusive jewel thief planning one last big score, while Mark Ruffalo’s determined detective closes in. Smart, stylish and stacked with star power, Crime 101 delivers the kind of tense, twisty heist drama that keeps you guessing until the final frame.
Whistle
Genre: Horror
Release date: 12 February
Director: Corin Hardy
Cast: Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, Percy Hynes White, Michelle Fairley, Nick Frost
One curious blow into an ancient whistle unleashes pure nightmare fuel. When a group of teens accidentally summon their own deaths, they’re forced to unravel the artifact’s history before time runs out. Creepy, fast-paced, and packed with inventive scares, Whistle feels like the perfect pick for horror lovers craving something fresh with a supernatural twist.
Jimpa
Genre: Drama
Release date: 19 February
Director: Sophie Hyde
Cast: Olivia Colman, Aud Mason-Hyde, John Lithgow
Tender, funny, and deeply human, Jimpa explores three generations of one family trying to understand each other. When a teenager asks to stay in Amsterdam with their fiercely independent grandfather, long-held tensions surface for their mother. Anchored by a beautifully nuanced Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, this intimate drama handles identity, parenting and reconciliation with warmth and authenticity.
Fackham Hall
Genre: Period Slapstick, Comedy Parody
Release date: 19 February
Director: Jim O’Hanlon
Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Katherine Waterston, Emma Laird, Tom Goodman-Hill, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sue Johnston, Tom Felton
If Downton Abbey ever collided with The Naked Gun, you’d get Fackham Hall. This wildly silly send-up of period dramas skewers aristocrats, inheritance drama and “upstairs-downstairs” tropes with rapid-fire gags, puns, and pure chaos. Light, ridiculous, and proudly unserious, it’s ideal when you’re after a laugh-out-loud escape rather than high drama.
Scream 7
Genre: Slasher
Release date: 26 February
Director: Kevin Williamson
Cast: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Matthew Lillard, Joel McHale, Courteney Cox
Ghostface is back — and this time, it’s personal. With Sidney Prescott finally carving out a quiet life, a new killer targets her family, forcing her to confront the past once more. Balancing nostalgia with fresh scares, Scream 7 delivers meta humour, sharp twists, and plenty of classic slasher mayhem for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
February’s releases offer plenty of reasons to swap streaming for the big screen. Grab your choc-top, rally your group chat and make a night of it — because some stories are simply better shared in the cinema.
Imagery: @ritz_cinema, @wutheringheightsmovie, @thetestamentofannlee
