The Watch List: January’s Must-See Movies In Cinemas
SCREEN SEASON
By Grace De Luna | 19th January 2026If December is about spectacle, January is about substance. This month’s cinema releases lean into strong performances, bold storytelling, and films that reward a slower, more thoughtful viewing experience. From prestige dramas and international standouts to genre films that thrive on mood and tension, January’s lineup is perfect for moviegoers looking to start the year with stories that hold a spot in your heart long after the credits roll.
Here are the films to keep on your radar for your next trip to the cinema.
1. Song Sung Blue
Genre: Biographical Musical Drama Release date: 1 January Director: Craig Brewer Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mustafa Shakir, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi
Proof that reinvention has no expiry date, Song Sung Blue follows two down-on-their-luck musicians (Jackman & Hudson) who strike unexpected gold by forming a Neil Diamond tribute band. This feel-good biographical drama is as much about second chances and love as it is about music. Equal parts joyous and heartfelt, it’s the kind of crowd-pleaser that will have you humming all the way home – and believing it’s never too late to chase a dream.
2. The Choral
Genre: Historical Drama Release date: 1 January Director: Nicholas Hytner Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, Simon Russell Beale
Set against the backdrop of World War I, The Choral finds solace and solidarity in song. When Dr. Henry Guthrie (Fiennes) takes charge of a British choral society depleted by war, the remaining community discovers that music can be a powerful act of resistance. This moving historical drama is a tender reminder that art and connection endure even in the darkest of times.
3. Christy
Genre: Biographical Sports Drama Release date: 8 January Director: David Michôd Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, Katy O’Brian
Raw, gritty and unflinchingly honest, Christy charts the rise of boxing trailblazer Christy Martin (Sweeney), from small-town beginnings to global fame. Sydney Sweeney delivers a ferocious performance as a woman fighting not just opponents in the ring, but deeply personal battles outside of it. It’s an electrifying sports biopic that packs an emotional punch and refuses to shy away from the cost of ambition.
4. Nouvelle Vague
Genre: Comedy Drama Release date: 8 January Director: Richard Linklater Cast: Zoey Deutch, Guillaume Marbeck, Aubry Dullin
5. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Horror Release date: 15 January Director: Nia DaCosta Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi-Lewis Parry
The Rage Virus returns – and it’s more terrifying than ever. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple plunges audiences back into a fractured Britain where survival means embracing brutality. As Spike (Williams) is drawn into a deadly gang of acrobatic killers led by Sir Jimmy Crystal (O’Connell). Dr. Kelson (Fiennes) faces consequences that could alter humanity’s future. Nia DaCosta delivers a bleak, nerve-shredding sequel that expands the franchise in bold and unsettling ways.
6. Hamnet
Genre: Historical Drama Release date: 15 January Director: Chloé Zhao Cast: Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Tender and devastating, Hamnet reimagines the personal tragedy behind one of literature’s greatest works. Chloé Zhao crafts a deeply intimate portrait of love, loss and grief as William Shakespeare (Mescal) and his wife Agnes (Buckley) navigate the death of their son. Jessie Buckley’s award-winning performance anchors the film with quiet intensity, making this a hauntingly beautiful exploration of how art can emerge from unimaginable sorrow.
7. No Other Choice
Genre: Historical Drama Release date: 15 January Director: Chloé Zhao Cast: Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Leave it to Park Chan-wook to turn job insecurity into something deliciously sinister. No Other Choice follows a man pushed to moral extremes after losing his job and deciding that murder might be the most efficient career move. Darkly funny, razor-sharp and deeply unsettling, this award-nominated thriller skewers capitalism and desperation with trademark style and shocking precision.
8. Marty Supreme
Genre: Sports Comedy-Drama Release date: 22 January Director: Josh Safdie Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher
Fast-talking, chaotic and wildly entertaining, Marty Supreme sees Timothée Chalamet transform into an ambitious 1950s hustler chasing table tennis glory. Under Josh Safdie’s kinetic direction, the film blends sport, scandal and screwball energy as Marty’s life spirals through schemes, affairs and unexpected consequences. Chalamet’s award-winning performance makes this a frenetic, offbeat crowd-pleaser with serious star power.
9. Mercy
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller Release date: 22 January Director: Timur Bekmambetov Cast: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson
Justice goes digital in Mercy, a high-concept sci-fi thriller where an AI judge controls life or death. When a detective is accused of murdering his wife, he has just 90 minutes to prove his innocence or face execution. Tense, time- bound and unnervingly plausible, this near-future thriller taps into modern anxieties around surveillance, technology and power.
10. Primate
Genre: Horror Release date: 22 January Director: Johannes Roberts Cast: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur
What begins as a tropical reunion quickly turns into a nightmare in Primate. When a once-beloved chimpanzee becomes violently rabid, paradise transforms into a deadly trap. Lean, brutal and deeply unsettling, this natural horror film plays on our fear of what happens when nature turns against us and proves that the scariest monsters were once familiar.
11. Return to Silent Hill
Genre: Supernatural Psychological Horror Release date: 22 January Director: Christophe Gans Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson
12. The Secret Agent
Genre: Neo-noir Historical Political Thriller Release date: 22 January Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho Cast: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Hermila Guedes, Isabél Zuaa, Udo Kier
13. Addition
Genre: Romantic Comedy Release date: 29 January Director: Marcelle Lunam Cast: Teresa Palmer, Eamon Farren, Joe Dempsie
Quirky, tender and refreshingly different, Addition centres on a mathematician whose world is governed by numbers – until love disrupts her carefully controlled existence. Teresa Palmer shines in this offbeat rom-com that balances humour with emotional depth, exploring how connection can challenge even our most rigid coping mechanisms.
14. Blue Moon
Genre: Biographical Comedy-Drama Release date: 29 January Director: Richard Linklater Cast: Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott
Another brilliant work from Linklater, Blue Moon captures a single, pivotal night in the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart as his professional world shifts without him. Ethan Hawke brings aching vulnerability to the role, while Andrew Scott’s award-winning performance elevates the film into something quietly extraordinary. Witty, melancholic and deeply human, it’s a sophisticated portrait of creativity and regret.
15. Send Help
Genre: Horror Thriller Release date: 29 January Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien
Survival gets personal in Send Help, Sam Raimi’s darkly comedic horror thriller about two coworkers stranded on a deserted island – and forced to confront more than just the elements. With razor-sharp tension and twisted humour, the film pits power dynamics against primal instincts, delivering a survival story that’s as psychological as it is brutal.
We’re calling it: watching movies in the cinema is in, in 2026. Popcorn and drink ready? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the film!
Release dates may be subject to change due to distributor scheduling decisions, cinema programming adjustments, or promotional timing. For the latest updates, check your local cinema’s session listings.
Imagery: @flamingcinema, @tchalamet, @sweeneysgallery
