Honestly, the January "dump month" trope is officially dead. If you walked into a multiplex this weekend expecting nothing but leftover holiday sequels and low-budget flops, you've probably noticed the vibe is... different. Usually, this is when studios bury their mistakes. Not this year. Right now, the lineup of what movies are playing in the theater is a chaotic, fascinating mix of massive blockbusters refusing to die and high-concept horror that actually has some teeth.
We’re seeing a strange tug-of-war. On one side, you have James Cameron still vacuuming up everyone's lunch money with Avatar: Fire and Ash. On the other, there's a surge of gritty, R-rated genre stuff that feels like a throwback to the 90s. It is a weird time to be a cinephile, but a good one.
The Heavy Hitters: What's Dominating the Box Office Right Now
It is nearly February, and yet the Na'vi are still the main event. Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently in its fifth week, and while the "Ash People" might be the villains on screen, they are heroes for theater owners. The movie is hovering around the $350 million mark domestically. People are still lining up for those 3D IMAX screenings, which tells you everything you need to know about the power of spectacle.
But if you’re over the blue aliens, the counter-programming is surprisingly strong.
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- Zootopia 2: Disney’s latest is still hanging onto the #2 or #3 spot, depending on the day. It’s got that rare 90%+ Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Families are basically using it as a default, but even the adults are into the detective-noir vibes this time around.
- The Housemaid: This Lionsgate thriller has been the sleeper hit of the winter. It’s sitting at nearly $100 million. It is tense, stylish, and honestly a bit mean—which is exactly why it's working.
- Marty Supreme: A24 is actually competing with the big boys here. Timothée Chalamet as a professional ping-pong player sounded like a meme when it was announced, but Josh Safdie directed the hell out of it. It’s sitting on a 93% critical score and has serious awards momentum.
New This Week: Horror, Zombies, and Psychological Chills
If you’re looking for something that just came out, the theater is currently a playground for the macabre.
The biggest noise is coming from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Nia DaCosta and Alex Garland finally brought this franchise back, and it’s not just a "fast zombie" movie. It stars Ralph Fiennes and Cillian Murphy—yes, Jim is back—and it’s currently the #1 movie for anyone who wants a genuine panic attack in a dark room. Critics are calling it the best entry in the series since the original.
Then there's the weird stuff. Primate is a "pet chimp goes rogue" horror flick that is basically Cujo with opposable thumbs. It’s gory, it’s giddy, and it’s surprisingly well-reviewed. If you want to see Troy Kotsur and Jessica Alexander run away from a rabid chimpanzee in Hawaii, this is your weekend.
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On a more cerebral note, Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, is finally in wide expansion. It’s a psychological drama based on Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir. It isn't a "popcorn movie" by any stretch—it’s heavy, artistic, and Imogen Poots is apparently giving a career-best performance.
Coming Soon: The Final January Push
If nothing on that list hits the spot, just wait a few days. The end of the month is stacked.
- Mercy (Jan 23): Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson in a sci-fi thriller about a detective who has 90 minutes to prove his innocence before an AI judge executes him. High concept? Definitely.
- Return to Silent Hill (Jan 23): Christophe Gans is returning to the franchise he started back in 2006. This one is based on Silent Hill 2, the video game everyone obsesses over. The trailers look foggy, rusty, and properly disturbing.
- H Is For Hawk (Jan 23): For the people who want to cry. Claire Foy plays a woman who trains a hawk to cope with her father's death. It’s a festival favorite finally hitting the mainstream.
- Send Help (Jan 30): Sam Raimi is back in the director's chair for a survival thriller starring Rachel McAdams. It’s about a plane crash on a remote island, but since it's Raimi, expect some "island horror" elements.
What to Skip (And What to Believe)
Let’s be real for a second. Greenland 2: Migration is out right now, and unless you are a die-hard Gerard Butler completionist, it’s probably a "wait for streaming" situation. It’s sitting at a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s self-serious and feels a bit like a retread of the first one but with more snow.
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Also, watch out for the hype around The Moment. It’s an A24 mockumentary starring Charli XCX as a fictionalized version of herself. It’s getting decent reviews (about 75%), but it is very "niche pop culture." If you don't know who Rachel Sennott or Alexander Skarsgård are, half the jokes are going to fly right over your head.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Trip
The landscape of what movies are playing in the theater is shifting fast, and the way you watch them matters. Here is how to navigate the current slate:
- Check for PLF screenings: If you're seeing Avatar or 28 Years Later, don't settle for a standard screen. The "Bone Temple" sequences in the latter were specifically shot for large-format screens.
- Validate the "Audience vs. Critic" gap: Films like The Housemaid have a massive gap. Critics are "meh" but audiences love it. Trust the audience on thrillers; trust the critics on the A24 dramas like Marty Supreme.
- Look for "Awards Expansions": This is the time of year when movies like Hamnet (starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) start popping up in smaller local theaters. If you see it listed, go. It’s a lock for the Oscars.
Check your local listings for specific showtimes, as many of these "mid-range" movies like Primate or The Chronology of Water are losing screens fast to the big blockbusters. Catch them while you still can on the big screen.
To make the most of your theater visit, check the Fandango or AMC app about two hours before you go—January is notorious for surprise "Early Access" screenings of February movies that aren't officially on the schedule yet.