If you walked into a cinema this morning, you probably noticed two things: the smell of overpriced butter and a surprising amount of variety on the marquee. We’re officially in the thick of the mid-January theatrical slate. Honestly, it's a weird time for movies. The holiday blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash are still hanging on by their blue fingernails, but we've got a fresh batch of horror, prestige drama, and even some 25th-anniversary nostalgia competing for your attention.
Choosing a movie is tough. You’ve got limited time and even more limited patience for a bad seat. So, let's break down exactly what movies at theaters right now are worth the gas money and which ones you might want to wait for on digital.
The Big New Openings This Weekend
The heavy hitter for January 16 is undoubtedly 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It’s a mouthful of a title, but Nia DaCosta is taking the reins here, following up on the momentum of last year's 28 Years Later. It's gritty. It's loud. Ralph Fiennes plays Dr. Ian Kelson, and let’s just say he’s not exactly playing a hero. If you like your zombies (or "infected") with a side of existential dread and high-end cinematography, this is the one.
🔗 Read more: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Then there’s Dead Man’s Wire. This is basically the "prestige" pick of the week. Bill Skarsgård stars in this true-crime adaptation about the 1977 Tony Kiritsis kidnapping. It’s got that 70s grime and a stacked supporting cast including Al Pacino and Colman Domingo. Gus Van Sant directed it, so it’s not your typical thriller. It's slower, more focused on the psychological breakdown of a man pushed to the edge by financial ruin. You've probably seen the trailers where Skarsgård looks absolutely unhinged with a shotgun wired to a man's neck—yeah, that's the vibe.
Family Options and Genre Flips
- Charlie the Wonderdog: This is your classic "boy and his dog" animated feature. It stars Owen Wilson’s voice, so expect a lot of "Wow" energy. Great for kids, potentially a nap for parents.
- Night Patrol: If you're into horror-thrillers, this one has Justin Long and CM Punk. It’s about an LAPD officer forced into an uneasy alliance with street gangs to stop something even worse.
- Hamnet: Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. It’s a Chloé Zhao film. If you want to cry about Shakespeare’s son, this is your destination. It’s beautiful but heavy.
The Box Office Survivors: What’s Still Lingering?
You can’t talk about movies at theaters right now without mentioning Avatar: Fire and Ash. James Cameron’s latest has been the king of the mountain for over a month. It’s still pulling in decent numbers, but the "Fire Na'vi" novelty is finally starting to cool off. If you haven't seen it in IMAX yet, you're running out of time before the screens get handed over to the newer releases.
💡 You might also like: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Zootopia 2 is also still kicking around. It’s been a massive win for Disney, proving that people still want to see animated sequels if the characters are actually funny. It’s one of those rare "A" CinemaScore movies that has had incredible legs since November.
The Surprising Success of the "Old"
Fathom Events is doing something interesting this weekend. They are bringing back The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for its 25th anniversary. It’s a limited run, but the presale numbers were actually insane. In some cities, it’s out-selling the new wide releases. There is something about seeing Middle-earth on a 40-foot screen that a 4K TV just can't replicate. If you're a Tolkien nerd, check your local listings because these screenings are usually one or two nights only.
📖 Related: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
What Most People Get Wrong About January Movies
There’s this long-standing myth that January is a "dump month" where studios throw away their garbage. That's not really true anymore. While you do get the occasional dud like Primate (which, let’s be real, is just a lean creature feature), you also get the wide expansions of Oscar contenders.
Movies like A Private Life starring Jodie Foster are finally hitting more screens. It’s a French-language mystery about a psychiatrist investigating a patient's death. It’s getting rave reviews for being "Hitchcockian," which is a word critics love to throw around, but in this case, it actually fits.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Trip
Don't just walk up to the box office. That’s a rookie move.
- Check the Format: For 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, seek out a Dolby Cinema screen if you can. The sound design is half the experience with these horror sequels.
- Watch the Clock: Hamnet and Dead Man’s Wire are longer films. Don't book a late-night showing if you’re prone to nodding off during dialogue-heavy scenes.
- The "Wait for Digital" List: Honestly? Greenland 2: Migration is fine, but it’s very much a "watch at home on a Tuesday night" kind of movie. If you're paying $18 for a ticket, prioritize the visual spectacles or the high-intensity dramas.
Next Steps for Moviegoers
If you're planning to head out this weekend, start by checking the Fandango or AMC app for those Lord of the Rings re-release times—they are vanishingly rare. For the new stuff, prioritize The Bone Temple if you want thrills or Dead Man’s Wire if you want a masterclass in acting. Also, keep an eye out for Return to Silent Hill and Mercy, which are slated to drop next week. The January schedule is surprisingly packed, so mark your calendars now before the February rom-coms take over the lobby.