Honestly, the "January dumping ground" thing is officially dead. It used to be where studios sent their weird, broken projects to die while everyone was distracted by the Oscars. But look at the marquee today, Saturday, January 17, 2026. We’ve got Nia DaCosta taking the reins of a legendary horror franchise, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reuniting for a gritty heist, and even a massive Tolkien revival in theaters.
If you’re heading to the cinema or just hunkering down on the couch today, the options are surprisingly heavy-hitting.
The Bone Temple is more than just a zombie sequel
The big story this morning is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It officially hit wide release yesterday, and the word of mouth is already spreading like, well, the Rage Virus.
Nia DaCosta is directing this one, following up on the groundwork Danny Boyle laid last year. What’s wild about this entry is the shift in tone. It isn't just "people running from fast zombies" anymore. The story picks up with Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, and it leans heavily into the idea that the "infected" might not be the scariest thing left in England. The focus has shifted to the "inhumanity of the survivors," which sounds bleak because it is.
The "Bone Temple" itself—a terrifying structure mentioned in the trailers—serves as the centerpiece for a nightmare Spike (Alfie Williams) can't escape. It’s sitting with a solid critical response because it doesn't feel like a cash grab. It feels like a genuine evolution of the world Alex Garland built decades ago.
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Why The Rip is dominating your Netflix feed
If you’re staying home, you've probably already seen the giant banner for The Rip. This is Netflix’s first true "event" movie of 2026. Directed by Joe Carnahan—who did The Grey and Smokin' Aces—it brings Matt Damon and Ben Affleck back together on screen, which is always a draw.
The plot is basically a pressure cooker. A group of Miami cops find a massive stash of cash in a house that should have been empty. Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) and Sergeant JD Byrne (Affleck) have to decide: do they report it, or do they keep it? Once they decide, the trust within the team starts to shred. It’s greasy, sun-drenched, and very violent.
The Fathom events and the "The Two Towers" return
There is also something very specific happening in theaters today that hasn't happened in a long time. Fathom Events is running a special 25th-anniversary-adjacent screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Specifically today, January 17, theaters are showing the 4K restoration. If you missed The Fellowship of the Ring yesterday, you can still catch the Battle of Helm’s Deep on the big screen today and The Return of the King tomorrow. It’s a massive nostalgia play, but seeing the Rohirrim charge on a 40-foot screen is still better than 90% of the CGI we get nowadays.
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What else is playing?
It’s a crowded weekend, and there are a few smaller titles you might miss if you aren't looking for them:
- Night Patrol: This is for the horror junkies. It’s an IFC Films release about an LAPD officer who finds out a local task force is hiding something supernatural in the housing projects. It stars Justin Long and CM Punk. It’s weird, low-budget, and reportedly very intense.
- Charlie the Wonderdog: If you have kids, this is the wide-release choice. It's an animated flick about a dog kidnapped by aliens who comes back with superpowers. Owen Wilson voices the dog, so you know exactly what vibe to expect.
- Twinless: On Hulu, this James Sweeney dark comedy is getting a lot of love. It’s about two guys who meet at a support group for "lone twins" (twins who lost their sibling). It sounds depressing, but it's actually 97% on Rotten Tomatoes for being incredibly funny and human.
The box office reality
Even with all these new releases, Avatar: Fire and Ash is still looming over everything. It’s in its fourth or fifth week now and still doing ridiculous numbers, alongside Zootopia 2. But 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is expected to take a huge bite out of the adult demographic this weekend.
People are showing up for "mid-budget" movies again. The Bone Temple and Dead Man's Wire (the Al Pacino/Bill Skarsgård crime drama also in theaters now) prove that audiences are a little tired of the $300 million superhero fatigue. We want stories where the stakes feel personal.
How to spend your movie night
If you're trying to figure out your schedule today, here is the move. If you want the big-screen experience, go see The Bone Temple for the visuals—Nia DaCosta used some incredible 28mm lens work that makes the zombies feel way too close for comfort.
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If you're exhausted and want to stay in, The Rip on Netflix is the easiest choice for a Saturday night popcorn flick. It’s basically Training Day meets A Simple Plan.
Just don't sleep on the Lord of the Rings re-release if you have a local IMAX or high-end theater participating. These screenings are limited to this weekend only, and The Two Towers is arguably the best of the three for a theater environment.
Check your local listings for the 7:00 PM showtimes, as most of the Bone Temple screenings are selling out in city centers. If you're going the streaming route, The Rip is already live as of yesterday morning.
Next Steps for You:
Check the Fathom Events website to see if a theater near you is hosting the The Two Towers 4K screening today, as these usually have one or two specific showtimes. If you're staying home, add The Rip to your Netflix "My List" now so the algorithm doesn't bury it under older titles.