Stop scrolling. Seriously. We've all been there, staring at the Netflix dashboard or the local cinema's showtimes until the popcorn gets cold and the "previews" are long over. You're looking for an answer to the simple question: what movie is good right now?
Honestly, 2026 is starting off weirdly strong. We aren't just getting the usual January "dump month" leftovers. Between Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest chaotic masterpiece and some gritty sequels that actually have a soul, there’s a lot to dig into. Whether you want to sit in a dark theater or stay on your couch in your oldest sweatpants, here is the breakdown of what is actually worth your time.
The Big Screen Heavyweights: One Battle After Another
If you haven’t heard the buzz about One Battle After Another, you might be living under a literal rock. Or maybe you just muted Paul Thomas Anderson fans on Twitter. This film just absolutely cleaned up at the 2026 Golden Globes, bagging nine nominations and winning Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary named Bob. He’s living off-grid, paranoid, and trying to raise his daughter, Willa (played by a fantastic newcomer, Chase Infiniti). Then Sean Penn shows up as his nemesis, and the whole thing turns into a "gonzo action-thriller." It’s messy. It’s loud. Teyana Taylor is in it, and she just won Best Supporting Actress for a reason—she’s the emotional glue of the whole frantic mess.
Is it "good"? Yeah, but it’s a lot. If you like PTA's more experimental stuff like Inherent Vice, you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a straightforward popcorn flick, this might give you a headache.
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Why Hamnet is the Cry-Your-Eyes-Out Choice
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Hamnet. Directed by Chloé Zhao, it’s a historical drama about Agnes (Shakespeare's wife, played by Jessie Buckley) dealing with the death of her son. It won Best Drama at the Globes.
Buckley’s performance is visceral. Her screams will stay with you for days. It’s not a "fun" watch, but it is a "good" movie in the sense that it reminds you why people still make art about grief.
Streaming Now: The Rip and More
Maybe you don't want to pay $18 for a ticket. I get it. Netflix just dropped The Rip on January 16, and it’s the big Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunion everyone was waiting for. Directed by Joe Carnahan, it’s a gritty Miami cop thriller.
The premise is simple: a tactical narcotics team finds $20 million in a stash house attic. Chaos ensues. Greed happens. People yell at each other with Boston-adjacent intensity (even though they're in Miami). It also stars Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor (she is everywhere right now).
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- The Rip: Best for fans of The Departed or The Town.
- People We Meet on Vacation: If you’re a romance reader, this Emily Henry adaptation starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader is basically mandatory viewing. It’s sweet, low-stakes, and perfect for a rainy Sunday.
- One Last Adventure: For the Stranger Things addicts, this behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Season 5 dropped on January 12. It’s nostalgic and a bit of a tear-jerker if you've grown up with those kids.
The Genre Picks: Horror and Sci-Fi
Horror fans have a couple of solid options this month. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hit theaters on January 16. It’s a direct continuation of the story, following Spike (Alfie Williams) and Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) through a fractured England. It’s bleak. It’s scary. It’s everything you want from Danny Boyle’s universe.
Then there’s Send Help, directed by Sam Raimi. It’s a survival horror flick that feels like a return to form for him. It's basically Raimi doing what he does best—unapologetic, slightly campy, but genuinely unsettling scares.
Sci-Fi Sleepers
Keep an eye out for A Useful Ghost. It’s a Thai film about a man whose deceased wife returns to possess... a vacuum cleaner. I know how that sounds. It sounds ridiculous. But with a Metascore of 85, critics are calling it one of the most poignant explorations of mourning in years. It’s weird, it’s original, and it’s actually "good."
What Most People Get Wrong About "Good" Movies
People often think "good" means "perfectly polished." In 2026, the trend is moving away from that. The movies ranking highest right now, like Marty Supreme (starring Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong pro), are the ones that take risks. Chalamet just won a Globe for this, and while a "ping-pong biopic" sounds like a joke, the commitment he brings to the role is insane.
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Sometimes a movie is "good" because it’s a technical marvel, like Seeds, the documentary about Black generational farmers that’s sitting at a 91 on Metacritic. Other times, it's "good" because it’s a total crowd-pleaser, like Anaganaga Oka Raju, the Telugu comedy that’s been lighting up social media for its "one-man show" performance by Naveen Polishetty.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Movie Night
Don't just pick something because it's #1 on the "Trending" list. That’s how you end up watching something mediocre.
- Check the Metascore over the Rotten Tomatoes percentage. If you want depth, a high Metascore (80+) usually indicates a film with real staying power.
- Follow the actors, not just the trailers. If Jessie Buckley or Steven Yeun is in it, the script was probably worth their time, which means it's likely worth yours.
- Go International. Some of the best stuff right now isn't coming out of Hollywood. No Other Choice (South Korea) and The Secret Agent (Brazil) are both award-season darlings for a reason.
If you’re still asking what movie is good, start with The Rip for thrills or One Battle After Another if you want to see what the Oscar front-runner looks like. Both are available right now and represent the best of what the current landscape has to offer. Just make sure you have enough snacks; these runtimes are getting longer every year.
Next Steps for You:
Check your local listings for One Battle After Another if you're up for a theater trip, or log into Netflix to see if The Rip lives up to the Affleck-Damon hype. If you want something lighter, People We Meet on Vacation is your best bet for a cozy night in.