Honestly, the January movie slump is a total myth this year. Usually, this is the month where studios dump the projects they don't know what to do with, but the crop of movie trailers that are out now suggests 2026 is starting with a massive, chaotic bang. We aren't just looking at the usual suspects. From Ralph Fiennes returning to a world of viral rage to Sam Raimi finally getting back to his "cabin in the woods" horror roots, the sheer variety is kind of overwhelming.
It's a lot to keep track of. You’ve got Netflix dropping teasers for heist thrillers like The Rip, while theaters are gearing up for high-concept sci-fi like Mercy. If you feel like you're missing out because your social media feed is a mess of "fan-made" concept trailers and actual official footage, I get it. It's annoying.
The Heavy Hitters: Horror and Survival Take the Lead
If you’ve watched the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, you know things are getting weird. Ralph Fiennes playing Dr. Ian Kelson in a Shakespearean take on the zombie apocalypse? Yes, please. This isn't just a sequel; it was filmed back-to-back with the first installment of this new trilogy. The trailer hints at a cult led by Jack O’Connell’s character, Jimmy, which feels like a pivot from the "run for your life" energy of the original 2002 film into something way more psychological and grounded.
Then there’s Greenland: Migration. Gerard Butler is doing what he does best: looking stressed while the world ends. The trailer, which hit recently, shows the Garrity family leaving the safety of their bunker to trek across a frozen, post-apocalyptic Europe. It looks bleak. It looks cold. It looks exactly like the kind of mid-budget survival thriller that people actually show up for.
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- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: Directed by Nia DaCosta. Expect a January 16 theatrical release.
- Greenland: Migration: Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin are back. It's in theaters now, but the trailer is still the best way to see if you can handle the "frozen wasteland" vibes.
- Send Help: This is the one I’m most hyped for. Sam Raimi directing Rachel McAdams in a "deserted island" survival horror? The trailer gives off major Evil Dead meets Cast Away energy, and I am here for it.
Why Everyone Is Talking About "Mercy"
You’ve probably seen Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson’s faces plastered over the Mercy trailer recently. This one is weird. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov—the guy who did Wanted and Night Watch—it's set in a future where capital crimes are handled by an AI judge.
The trailer sets a ticking clock: Pratt's character has 90 minutes to prove his innocence. It’s got that frenetic, "screen-life" visual style Bekmambetov loves, which might be polarizing. Some people love the high-energy editing; others find it a bit much. But honestly, seeing Ferguson in a dystopian detective role is a win no matter how you slice it.
The Weird, The Indie, and The Animated
Not everything is a massive explosion. Some of the movie trailers that are out now are surprisingly quiet. Take Hamnet, for example. Chloe Zhao (who did Nomadland) is tackling the story of William Shakespeare’s wife, played by Jessie Buckley. The trailer is gorgeous. It’s all natural light and Paul Mescal looking brooding. It’s a complete 180 from the blockbuster noise, focusing on the grief that supposedly inspired Hamlet.
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On the flip side, we have Primate. This isn't your childhood monkey movie. The trailer shows an adopted chimpanzee that goes rabid after a bite from a wild animal. It’s being marketed as the most "bananas" horror flick in years. If you like your movies with a side of "nature gone wrong," this is the one you’ll be texting your friends about.
Netflix's Big January Push
Netflix isn't playing around. They just dropped the full trailer for The Rip, which stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They play Miami cops who find a massive stash of cash in a derelict house. You know the drill: trust starts to fray, people start lying, and everything goes south.
- The Rip: Premieres January 16 on Netflix.
- People We Meet On Vacation: Based on the Emily Henry novel. The trailer dropped recently, and it’s basically catnip for anyone who loves the "friends-to-lovers" trope.
- A Big Bold Beautiful Journey: Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. This one looks like a surrealist rom-com where they relive memories at a wedding. It’s quirky, and the trailer suggests it’s got a lot more heart than your average streaming original.
What’s Coming Soon (The Teaser Phase)
We are starting to see the first glimpses of the summer heavy hitters. While we don't have full trailers for Avengers: Doomsday yet (calm down, Marvel fans), the "first look" buzz is starting to build around things like The Mandalorian and Grogu.
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There’s also the Wuthering Heights trailer with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. Directed by Emerald Fennell, it looks... divisive. It’s got a very modern, "Saltburn-esque" aesthetic applied to a 19th-century novel. Some purists are going to hate it. Me? I think it looks fascinating. Elordi as Heathcliff is an inspired, if slightly obvious, choice for a 2026 audience.
Actionable Insights for Movie Fans
If you're trying to stay on top of all these releases, here is how to actually navigate the noise:
- Check the Source: Before you get excited about a Spider-Man or James Bond trailer, check the channel. YouTube is currently flooded with "Concept Trailers" that look real but are just AI-generated nonsense or clever edits. If it's not on the official studio channel (Sony, Warner Bros, A24, etc.), it's probably fake.
- Watch the "Red Band" Versions: For movies like Primate or 28 Years Later, the "Red Band" trailers often give a much better sense of the film's actual tone. The PG versions usually cut the best (and scariest) parts.
- Follow the Composers: Sometimes the music in a trailer is better than the movie. For the Return to Silent Hill trailer, keep an ear out for the Akira Yamaoka-inspired themes. It’s a huge indicator that they’re sticking to the game's atmospheric roots.
- Bookmark Release Dates: Trailers are great, but with the way release dates shift (like Mortal Kombat II moving to May), use a dedicated tracker.
There's a lot to dig into right now. Whether you're into high-brow period dramas or monkeys gone wild, the current slate of trailers is actually pretty promising. Stop scrolling through the fakes and go find the official spots for The Rip and Send Help. They’re worth the two minutes.