January 2026’s Must-See Films: From Thrills to Laughs

With the new year rolling in, there’s a real sense of hope and excitement in the air—especially for film lovers. January’s shaping up to be a ripper, with a mix of big-budget flicks, indie gems, and a few surprises that could make this one of the strongest starts to a film year in ages. Whether you’re into post-apocalyptic chaos, sharp-witted parodies, or tense survival stories, there’s something for every punter. Last year might’ve felt a bit flat, but if you dug a little deeper, there were some real standouts like The Secret Agent, Sinners, Train Dreams, The Ballad of Wallis Island, and Weapons. Here’s hoping January 2026 keeps the good stuff coming. Grab your popcorn, maybe a limitless pass if you’re game, and settle in for a cracking month at the flicks.

Blockbusters and Big Names

First up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (out 13 Jan) brings a fresh spin to the modern zombie saga. Alex Garland, who’s penned some wild rides like Judge Dredd and Ex-Machina, has written this one, but it’s Nia DaCosta in the director’s chair. With Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes leading the charge, expect plenty of post-apocalyptic mayhem. It’s the sort of film that’ll have you spending your leftover Chrissy cash just to see what carnage unfolds.

Then there’s The Rip (16 Jan), which takes the classic buddy-cop formula and gives it a gritty Miami twist. Picture two blokes in their 50s—Matt Damon and Ben Affleck—trying to root out corruption among their own after a massive drug heist. Directed by Joe Carnahan, known for Smokin’ Aces, this Netflix number promises action, banter, and a bromance that’s always worked a treat on screen.

Tech Thrills and Pop Star Parodies

On 23 January, Mercy lands with a timely cyber-thriller vibe. Chris Pratt’s got just 90 minutes to convince a computerised judge he didn’t do in his wife, or he’s in for a world of pain. Timur Bekmambetov’s at the helm, so it could go either way—he’s given us the bullet-bending madness of Wanted and, less impressively, last year’s War of the Worlds with Ice Cube. Either way, it’s a race against the clock with plenty of tech anxiety thrown in.

For something a bit different, The Moment (30 Jan) sees Charli XCX taking the mickey out of her own pop stardom in a film that blurs the line between spoof and reality. Cameras follow her on the Brat tour, dodging press, wrangling fans, and bumping into a few famous faces—Rosanna Arquette, Alexander Skarsgård, and Rachel Sennott, who’s never far from Charli’s crew. Expect cinemas full of Gen Z locals chatting about last summer and dropping ‘literally’ every other sentence.

Survival Horror and Offbeat Dramas

Rounding out the month is Send Help (also 30 Jan), a survival horror from Sam Raimi. He’s got form for this sort of thing, from A Simple Plan to Drag Me to Hell, so expectations are high. Rachel McAdams stars as a woman stranded on an island with her shocker of a boss after a plane crash. But this isn’t just about waiting for rescue—there’s plenty of tension as they try to get past their differences and stay alive. It’s a bit off-centre, with that classic Raimi edge that keeps you guessing.

With a line-up this varied, January’s looking like a top month for anyone keen on a trip to the cinema. Whether you’re after laughs, scares, or a bit of both, there’s heaps to look forward to as 2026 kicks off.