In January, viewers can expect not one, but two music biopics — about Robbie Williams and Bob Dylan, an encounter with the legendary vampire Count Orlok and the iconic werewolf Man-Wolf, the return of Cameron Diaz after a 10-year acting hiatus, and even the death of Putin, although just on screen. Additionally, the January lineup surprisingly features a significant presence of erotic passions. Read more about all the potentially interesting new releases of the month in our traditional article.
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Genre: New Year’s comedy
Premiere date: January 1st
Release: cinemas
It was a regular Ukrzaliznytsia train ride to Kyiv. The passengers were strangers, but only until this journey brought them together in just a few hours. And it’s all the more special because New Year’s Eve is just around the corner — a time for real miracles.
This New Year’s comedy by Oleg Borshchevsky gathered star performers at the filming site — Yuriy Horbunov, who also became one of the producers, Stanislav Boklan, Kateryna Kuznetsova, Artemiy Yegorov, Liliya Rebrik, Andriy Isayenko, and Mykhailo Foma, better known as DZIDZIO. The film’s showing in cinemas starts on the very first day of the new year.
Genre: gothic horror film
Premiere date: January 2nd
Release: cinemas
The story takes place in 1838 in Germany. At the center of the narrative is the story of the obsession of a young woman, Ellen Hutter, and the ancient Transylvanian vampire Count Orlok, who pursues her.
For those craving a thrill right in the first days of the new year — Robert Eggers’ remake of the legendary «Nosferatu» (1922) by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau is at your service. Reimagining the classics of German Expressionism and horror overall, considering his track record («The Witch», «The Lighthouse»), this venture seems at least intriguing.
Bill Skarsgård («It», «The Crow») takes on the role of the infernal creature once again, with company from Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who desperately needs a successful project after the disastrous «Kraven the Hunter» Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, and others. Critics hailed the new film as «one of the best films of the year», and it has already impressed the first viewers. However, if it really is a top film of the year, it might become so for Ukrainian viewers only by 2025.
Genre: erotic drama
Premiere date: January 2nd
Release: cinemas
In the best traditions of Olga Freimut, inspector Emmanuelle arrives in Hong Kong to audit a hotel managed by Margo. Tasked with finding a significant reason for her dismissal, the main character faces a tough choice. In search of lost pleasure, she experiences numerous sensual encounters and crosses paths with a mysterious hotel guest, Key, with whom she falls in love.
The latest screen adaptation of the sensational novel by French writer Emmanuelle Arsan has become the fifteenth feature film within the same erotic series and comes out half a century after the first adaptation, dated 1974. The film is directed by Audrey Diwan, with French actress Noémie Merlant playing the title role. The cast also includes Hollywood star Naomi Watts.
Genre: action movie
Premiere date: January 2nd
Release: cinemas
Airborne guide Kinney is deployed to the Philippines. When the «Delta» team’s mission goes off course, the soldiers are left without cover on enemy territory. Only a miracle in the form of USAF drone pilot Eddie Grimm, racing to provide air support for the squad, can save them.
This story about the importance of UAVs in modern armed conflicts crawls onto Ukrainian screens with such a delay that it gives the impression that the distributor is betting more on the film’s age rather than its freshness.
Since the film received a digital release a while ago, we wrote the corresponding review last winter and have almost forgotten about it. However, if you missed the movie back then, you now have a great chance to catch up, especially on the big screens. After all, our distribution is often late and always unpredictable.
Genre: animated comedy
Premiere date: January 3rd
Release: Netflix
Gromit’s fears that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions are confirmed when his «smart» gnome develops its own consciousness. It later turns out that a vengeful figure from the past might be to blame for all the troubles, so Gromit will have to fight sinister forces to save his master. Otherwise, he will never be able to tinker with inventions again.
«Vengeance Most Fowl» is the sixth film in the «Wallace and Gromit» series overall, the first since «A Matter of Loaf and Death» in 2008 and the second feature film after «The Curse of the Were-Rabbit», which hit screens in 2005.
Genre: action, crime drama
Premiere date: January 9th
Release: cinemas
Sheriff «Big Nick» O’Brien tries to track down Donnie Wilson, who has escaped to Europe and is planning a new heist.
«Panther» is the sequel to the 2018 action movie «Thieves», with Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Meadow Williams returning to their roles. In an interview with Screen Rant, the film’s director Christian Gudegast revealed that the local plot is based on the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed «the heist of the century». Thieves stole various types of jewelry worth over 100 million dollars.
Genre: musical biographical drama
Premiere date: January 9th
Release: cinemas
The film tells the life story of British music performer Robbie Williams, however, he is depicted in an unexpected image, as the singer himself expressed, he always felt «less developed» than other people.
The latest music biopic offers an eccentricity cooler than a made-up Tom Hanks as a villain in «Elvis»: Williams here appears as a CGI chimpanzee, performed using motion capture technology. The movement, by the way, was captured by English actor Jonno Davies, while Williams limited himself to just the voice part.
Australian visual effects specialist Michael Gracey, who made his directorial debut with «The Greatest Showman» (2017), is in charge of the production here. The greatest Monkey Man can be seen in cinemas starting January 9.
Genre: crime thriller, action, detective
Premiere Date: January 10
Release: Netflix
After surviving an assassination attempt, Frank Lazareff must find his wife Leo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed mercenaries. As his sinister past catches up with him, he dives into a case of national significance. But is he up to it? Catch the new crime action on streaming with French star Guillaume Canet in the lead role.
Genre: biographical sports drama
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: Prime Video
Anthony Robles, born with only one leg, didn’t let that stop him from chasing his dream. He’s ready to tackle numerous challenges to secure a spot on Arizona’s wrestling team and ultimately become a NCAA champion.
Inspired by a true story, the plot is based on the 2012 book by Robles himself, co-authored with Austin Murphy. The film marks the directorial debut of editor William Goldenberg, with main roles played by Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, and Don Cheadle. One of the producers is Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband, Ben Affleck.
Genre: biographical political thriller
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: cinemas
The film narrates the life of Vladimir Putin from the age of ten and covers the next 60 years, depicting real key events and a fictional death of the Russian president. He was recreated using Deep Fake technology, marking the first time in cinema history it was used for a main character. The pitiful dictator starts dying on January 16.
Genre: drama
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: cinemas
After landing at JFK International Airport, a young woman named Gerli takes a taxi to her Manhattan apartment. During the ride, she and the driver Clark unexpectedly engage in a candid conversation about life, including their past and present relationships, sex, power, losses, and so on.
Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson will candidly discuss pressing issues on screen. Besides the conversation, the film reportedly contains visual content of a sexual nature, which led to a mishap on a «Qantas» airline flight. Whether there’s any explicit content on screen, as they say, remains to be seen starting January 16.
Genre: erotic thriller
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: cinemas
Powerful CEO Romi Matis realizes her sexual life with her husband has hit a dead end. She enters into a sexual relationship with the charming intern Samuel, who is much younger than her. But these games will come at a cost for the heroine.
The trend of narratives about passions between older women and younger men continues. Remember Anne Hathaway in «The Idea of You» flirting with Nicholas Galitzine, Emma Thompson in «Good Luck to You, Leo Grande» secluded in a hotel room with Daryl McCormack, or even Nicole Kidman in Netflix’s «A Family Affair» getting cozy with Zac Efron.
By the way, the actress received the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for her role in «Babygirl», and the film itself made it into the top-10 movies of 2024 according to the National Board of Review.
Genre: horror film
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: cinemas
Family man Blake moves from San Francisco to Oregon with his wife Charlotte and daughter Ginger, inheriting his childhood home which has stood empty after the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of his father. On a full moon night, the family is attacked by a werewolf, which scratches Blake’s hand. The heroes hide inside the house, but soon Blake begins transforming into something terrifying, threatening the safety of his loved ones.
«Wolf Man» is a remake of the 1941 horror «The Wolf Man» by one of the creators of the iconic «Saw», Leigh Whannell. After successfully reviving The Invisible Man in 2020, studio bosses are hopeful that the director can pull off the same trick with another classic Universal monster. We’ll have a chance to find out on January 16.
Genre: adventure comedy
Premiere Date: January 16
Release: cinemas
Along with the Browns, Paddington Bear heads to his homeland, Peru, where he plans to reunite with his beloved Aunt Lucy. However, upon arrival, the heroes learn that she is on a mysterious quest in the Amazon. Paddington is determined to find Lucy, leading him and the Browns on an exciting and potentially dangerous journey through the Amazon.
«Paddington in Peru» is already the third feature film about the restless bear and the first for Ukrainian audiences, where the title character will not be voiced by Volodymyr Zelensky, for obvious reasons.
Genre: action comedy
Premiere Date: January 17
Release: Netflix
Former CIA spies Emily and Matt find themselves pulled back into the world of espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
«Back in Action» marks the return to cinema for Cameron Diaz after a 10-year hiatus, and even the film’s title hints at this context. It somewhat mirrors Arnold Schwarzenegger’s big comeback, who also returned to a leading role in an action film with «The Last Stand» ten years after «Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines» (2003). The film’s local distributors then creatively adapted the title to «Return of the Hero». Cameron will be joined on screen by Jamie Foxx, and they are set to light up Netflix starting January 17.
Genre: musical biographical drama
Premiere Date: January 23
Release: theaters
Another January musical biopic chronicles the life and career of musician Bob Dylan. The narrative spans from January 1961 when Dylan moved from Minnesota to New York, up to his 1965 concert at the Newport Folk Festival where he sparked controversy by going electric.
The film, directed by James Mangold who in 2005 delivered a flick about American country singer Johnny Cash («Walk the Line»), is based on the book «Dylan Goes Electric!» (2015) by Elijah Wald. The lead role is performed by the incredibly popular and in-demand Timothée Chalamet. The original title «A Complete Unknown» is taken from the chorus of Dylan’s 1965 single «Like a Rolling Stone».
Genre: historical drama
Premiere Date: January 23
Release: theaters
The movie tells the story of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack from the perspective of the ABC Sports filming crew and their coverage of the tragic events on television.
Genre: thriller, action
Premiere Date: January 23
Release: theaters
A U.S. Marshal escorts a government witness to court. During the flight, she discovers that the pilot flying them is actually a hitman sent to kill the informant. Later, it turns out there are other mercenaries trying to eliminate them. Thus, the flight promises to be extremely tense.
Directed by Mel Gibson, who has recently been mostly starring in outright nonsense, his previous directorial work was the superb military drama «Hacksaw Ridge» (2016), giving us a slim hope that crazy Mel «isn’t too old for this shit». The main roles here are performed by Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace, and Michelle Dockery.
Genre: science fiction
Premiere date: January 24
Release: Paramount+
Empress Philippa Georgiou joins Section 31, a secret Starfleet unit tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, and must face the sins of her past.
«Section 31» is a spinoff of the «Star Trek: Discovery» series, where Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role as Philippa Georgiou. In total, this is the fourteenth feature film and the first television movie within the Star Trek franchise, including its extended universe. The premiere is scheduled for January 24 exclusively on Paramount+.
Genre: psychological thriller
Premiere Date: January 30
Release: theaters
The official synopsis of «Companion» reads: «New Line Cinema, the company that brought you «The Notebook», along with the creative minds behind «Barbarian», invite you to witness a love story of a different kind».
Based on this scant info, try to guess what the story is about. What we do know for sure is that the main roles are played by the star of the show «The Boys» Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher, who recently portrayed a victim of the crazed Hugh Grant in «The Heretic».
Genre: historical drama, war action
Premiere Date: January 30
Release: theaters
1942. A naval convoy of 35 civilian ships transports crucial supplies from Iceland to the Soviet Union. Despite being escorted by Allied naval forces, this journey leads to catastrophic outcomes. The plot of this Norwegian war action is based on the events of World War II related to the Arctic convoy PQ-17, known for its extraordinarily high losses.
Genre: comedy
Premiere Date: January 30
Release: Prime Video
A bride and her father find that their dream wedding venue is already booked for another bride, whose sister is the wedding planner. Predicting how this conflict-laden and absolutely nonsensical situation will end is downright impossible.
Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are set to entertain the crowd at the end of January, their involvement alone makes this unpretentious plot reminiscent of early 2000s comedies, especially «Bride Wars» (2009) starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.
