7 January Movies That Prove It’s Not a Total Dumpster Fire for Film

January is often considered a slow month for movie releases. After the busy holiday season, and with studios still recouping earnings from late-year films, they tend to avoid releasing major, highly anticipated movies that might compete with their own recent successes. This leads to a pattern of releases including comedies known for being silly and low-budget, like those from Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (such as Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans), cheaply made horror films (The Devil Inside, Darkness Falls), or expensive projects the studio doesn’t have high hopes for, knowing they won’t perform well against summer blockbusters – examples include Hard Rain (1998) and Dolittle (2020). January also frequently hosts films that had troubled productions, like Gangster Squad (2013), which required significant reshoots after a real-life event.

There were a bunch of other films that did okay, like Deep Rising, Orange County, Assault on Precinct 13, Smokin’ Aces, Varsity Blues, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Body Snatchers, M3GAN, and Bad Boys for Life – but they didn’t quite make the cut. Also, a movie showing in just a few cinemas in December, then going wide in January, wasn’t considered a January release for my purposes. So, as a total cinema fan, I started wondering: which films are genuinely good and also prove January can be a great month for movies? Let’s dive in and find out!

7) Cloverfield

The success of Cloverfield really came down to brilliant marketing. The trailers and posters were incredibly effective at keeping the movie’s central mystery a secret. It created a sense of urgency – if you were curious, you had to go see it – and that’s exactly what a lot of people did.

Made on a budget of just $25 million, the film earned an impressive $172 million worldwide, proving to be a major success. Its appeal stemmed from both its intriguing premise and its unique blend of large-scale monster action with a personal story about saving someone you care about. The film created a genuine sense of danger, immersing the audience in the characters’ experiences. While 10 Cloverfield Lane is arguably slightly stronger, the original film remains a prime example of how innovative, low-budget ideas can flourish in the January movie season.

Stream Cloverfield on MGM+.

6) Taken

Before its release in late January 2009, Taken wasn’t expected to be a huge success. While it opened with a solid $24.7 million, its real triumph wasn’t the initial box office numbers. Instead, the film became popular through positive word-of-mouth. Ultimately, it’s a fairly typical revenge action movie, but the memorable phone call scene and the intense suspense it created really resonated with audiences.

Let me tell you, this movie really held strong at the box office. After a great opening, it only dropped a tiny amount in its second weekend, bringing in another $20.5 million – seriously impressive for an action flick! It kept losing viewers at a remarkably slow rate, ultimately earning $145 million domestically and $81.8 million internationally. What’s even more interesting? It wasn’t even an American movie; it was French! Thinking about films that almost reached this level, I’d have to mention The Grey – another fantastic Liam Neeson performance. It just didn’t quite have the same impact on his career, or the same financial success, to secure its place here.

Stream Taken on Hulu.

5) Split

M. Night Shyamalan went through a difficult period with some of his films. The Happening was considered a low point in his horror work (though it wasn’t meant to be typical horror), and The Last Airbender and After Earth were also unsuccessful attempts at big-budget movies.

M. Night Shyamalan began to regain audience trust with The Visit in 2015. This success built enough goodwill that when Split came out the following year, viewers were willing to take a chance on his work. Strong marketing for Split emphasized its suspenseful nature and James McAvoy’s powerful performance, further easing any concerns. The film proved significant, serving as a breakout role for Anya Taylor-Joy, much like The Witch had the year before. Plus, the post-credits scene connecting Split to Unbreakable was a thrilling surprise. It’s a shame, then, that Glass, released three years later, didn’t live up to expectations despite featuring a stellar cast including Taylor-Joy, McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sarah Paulson.

Stream Split on HBO Max.

4) Final Destination 2

Fans debate which Final Destination movie is the best – some prefer the original, others Bloodlines, but many argue that Final Destination 2 is top-tier. It definitely boasts the most impressive and memorable disaster premonition sequence.

This was the only film in the series released in January. While the first and last movies came out near the start of the year, they weren’t January releases. The other films—the fourth, fifth, and sixth—all premiered in the summer. However, releasing the sequel in January proved successful, earning more than three and a half times its production cost and receiving slightly more positive reviews than the original.

Stream Final Destination 2 on YouTube TV.

3) From Dusk till Dawn

Even though Quentin Tarantino had recently directed the popular films Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, From Dusk till Dawn, directed by his frequent partner Robert Rodriguez, was released in January. It’s easy to understand why the film struggled to get financing and ended up premiering early in the year.

This film begins like a classic Tarantino crime story, but surprisingly transforms into a vampire movie for its middle section. Expect plenty of strong language, graphic violence, and genuinely unsettling scenes, especially involving the character Richard Gecko. It wasn’t designed for a big summer release, but it performed well in January, earning three times its production cost, receiving generally positive reviews, and quickly gaining a dedicated cult following.

Stream From Dusk till Dawn on Paramount+.

2) Companion

Surprisingly, one of the best films of 2025 came out in January: Companion. It’s a smart and moving take on the increasingly popular topic of artificial intelligence, and it stands out because it delivers both genuine emotion and unexpected plot twists. This film also marks an incredibly strong first feature from director Drew Hancock.

Although Jack Quaid plays a believable villain – similar to another role he’s known for – Companion truly showcases Sophie Thatcher’s talent. She confidently carries the film with a nuanced and captivating performance, proving she has the potential to lead major studio movies. This role also suggests she could excel as an action star, in addition to being a compelling romantic lead. It will be exciting to see what the filmmakers behind this movie create next.

Stream Companion on HBO Max.

1) Scream (2022)

When Scream 4 underperformed in 2011, it appeared audiences had lost interest in the Scream franchise and the Ghostface character. Eleven years had passed since the third film, and there wasn’t much anticipation for a new installment. In fact, Scream 4‘s total earnings in the US were only slightly more than what Scream 3 made during its opening weekend ten years earlier.

I was starting to think the Scream franchise was losing its edge, but then Radio Silence came along and proved there was still life in it! Scream 4 wasn’t terrible, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The 2022 Scream though? That one was perfect. It really captured the spirit of what I loved about the originals while feeling fresh and fun. Okay, Scream VI wasn’t their best work, but honestly, Radio Silence’s first Scream movie is the best one since the original two, in my opinion.

Stream Scream (2022) on Paramount+.

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2026-01-07 23:43