Skip To...
January is usually a weird time for movie releases, as the box office tends to rely on December blockbusters to ring in the new year. But, fret not, the start of the year will still be home to some highly anticipated movies. January 2024 will see the release of action movies, horror movies, comedies, and even a musical. It seems like there’s something for everyone. So, let’s look at the great movies you can look forward to watching in January 2024.
Night Swim
First up for January 2024 is a horror movie written and directed by Bryce McGuire that follows a family’s haunted swimming pool. Atomic Monster (Malignant) and Blumhouse Productions (M3GAN) produced the film. It stars Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) as Ray and Eve Waller, the parents of Elliot (Gavin Warren) and Izzy Waller (Amélie Hoeferle).
The Wallers move into a new house when strange things begin to happen in their swimming pool. Whatever is haunting their pool seems to be taking people down to the depths. If you’re aquaphobic at all, you’ll probably want to skip this one. The film is based on McGuire and Rod Blackhurst’s short film of the same name. Night Swim is coming to theaters on January 5, 2024.
Mean Girls
A new musical iteration of the 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls is one of the most anticipated movies coming to theaters this January. Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., the film is based on the musical, which was based on the original film. Like the film and the musical, this version of Mean Girls was written by Tina Fey (30 Rock). It follows more or less the same story as the original film, following a girl named Cady who infiltrates the popular clique – the Plastics – in her new school.
Angourie Rice (Spider-Man: Far From Home) is playing Cady, while Reneé Rapp is playing the head of the Plastics, Regina George. Fey and Tim Meadows will be reprising their roles as Ms. Norbury and Principal Duvall, while Jenna Fischer (The Office) and Busy Philipps (Cougar Town) will be playing the mothers of Cady and Regina, respectively. Mean Girls is slated to release on January 12, 2024.
The Beekeeper
Jason Statham (The Meg) is appearing on our screens as an action hero once again with the release of The Beekeeper. David Ayer (Training Day) directed the film, and it was written by Kurt Wimmer (Salt). Statham plays Mr. Adam Clay, an ex-operative of a group called the Beekeepers. After his neighbor falls victim to a phishing scheme and consequently commits suicide Clay seeks revenge on those responsible.
In addition to Statham, the film also stars Josh Hutcherson (Five Nights at Freddy’s), Jeremy Irons (The Lion King), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Phylicia Rashad (Creed), Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy), and Bobby Naderi (Bright). The Beekeeper is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 12, 2024.
Lift
Who doesn’t love a good heist movie? Lift is a comedic heist film that stars Kevin Hart (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) as the leader of a crew of master thieves. F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) directed the film. It follows Cyrus (Hart) and his crew as they try to steal $500 million in gold as it is being transported mid-flight.
The film also stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki), Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil), Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist), Billy Magnussen (Game Night), Viveik Kalra (Blinded by the Light), Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional), and Sam Worthington (Avatar). Lift is not coming to theaters, but it is a Netflix movie that will be coming to the platform on January 12, 2024.
The Kitchen
Another anticipated movie that will be released on Netflix in January is The Kitchen. Directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), The Kitchen is a British science fiction film that follows the inhabitants of an area of a dystopian future London called “The Kitchen”. Kane Robinson (Top Boy) is playing the main character Izi.
In addition to Robinson, it also stars Jedaiah Bannerman, Hope Ikpoku Jnr (Top Boy), and Henry Lawfull (A Boy Called Christmas). The film premiered earlier in the year at the 67th BFI London Film Festival, and it is currently sitting at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. As we mentioned previously, The Kitchen will be released on Netflix, and it will be coming to the service on January 12, 2024 as well.
Self Reliance
Let’s lighten the mood with a comedy. Self Reliance is a comedic thriller written and directed by Jake Johnson (New Girl). Johnson plays a man named Tommy who is invited to participate in a reality game show that airs on the dark web. To win $1 million he’ll need to outwit everybody who is hunting him down for the prize money.
Self Reliance also stars Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect), Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), and Daryl J. Johnson (Drunk History). The film premiered earlier in the year at the SXSW Film Festival, and it is sitting on a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, Self Reliance won’t be getting a wide theatrical release, but the movie will be coming to Hulu on January 12, 2024.
The Book of Clarence
What might be the most anticipated release of January 2024 is The Book of Clarence. Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall), the film follows a man named Clarence living in Jerusalem in 29 A.D. who sees Jesus Christ and thinks he can capitalize on his success by pretending to be another Messiah of God. Clarence is played by LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta). The film is a biblical epic that Samuel describes as a “full fun-filled extravaganza.”
In addition to Stanfield The Book of Clarence also stars Omar Sy (Lupin), Anna Diop (Us), RJ Cyler (The Harder They Fall), Micheal Ward (Top Boy), Teyana Taylor (Coming 2 America), David Oyelowo (Selma), Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), and James McAvoy (Split), who is playing Pontius Pilate. It premiered at the 67th London Film Festival earlier this year and it currently has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Book of Clarence is coming to theaters on January 12, 2024.
I.S.S.
Let’s head to space for our next entry, which is a science fiction action thriller called I.S.S. The film was directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Our Friend). It follows a group of astronauts on the International Space Station who are told by their respective countries to turn on each other when a world war breaks out on Earth.
It stars Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones), Chris Messina (Air), John Gallagher Jr. (10 Cloverfield Lane), Maria Mashkova (Masha from Russia), and Costa Ronin (The Americans). The film currently has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can catch I.S.S. in theaters from January 19, 2024.
American Star
Ian McShane (John Wick) seems to be treading familiar ground in the upcoming action thriller American Star. Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego (Open Grave), McShane stars as a hitman whose target in Fuerteventura ends up being somebody he’s already come to know during his stay on the island.
In addition to McShane, the film also stars Thomas Kretschmann (Resident Evil: Apocalypse), Nora Arnezeder (Safe House), and Adam Nagaitis (The Terror). McShane as a hitman fairly isolated on an island, with the addition of what seems like a ghost ship called the American Star, seems like a fun time at the very least. American Star is slated to be released on January 26, 2024.
Miller’s Girl
Jade Halley Bartlett wrote and directed Miller’s Girl, another highly anticipated movie coming to theaters in January. The film follows a writing student and her complex – creeping well into inappropriate – relationship with her professor. After writing an inappropriate story for a special assignment, it starts to impact their personal lives.
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) play the lead characters in the film. It also stars Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick), Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession), and Gideon Adlon (Blockers). Miller’s Girl will premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival in early January before the movie arrives in theaters on January 26, 2023.
