Best films released in the UK this month: January 2026

by

January typically brings a mix of films to theaters. You’ll often find critically acclaimed movies that came out late the previous year, alongside more mainstream, genre-focused titles.

This trend continues this year. We’re seeing plenty of choices, including new releases like Hannet, No Other Choice, and Is This Thing On? If you’re looking for something to help you unwind, you might like the Chris Pratt thriller Mercy or the action film Shelter starring Jason Statham.

Beyond that, two new sports films stand out. “Giant” tells the story of boxer Prince Naseem Hamed and his trainer Brendan Ingle, played by Amir El-Masry and Pierce Brosnan respectively. “Saipan” focuses on the tense relationship between football star Roy Keane (Éanna Hardwicke) and his manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan), and the conflict that arose between them.

The biggest news this month is likely the upcoming film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It continues the story from the last movie, which came out just recently, and we’re really excited to see what happens next!

We’ve rounded up some of the best movies to watch this month to make choosing easier. You can watch our picks in the video above, or keep reading for the full list.

Best films released in the UK this month: January 2026

Hamnet

Release date: Friday 9th January in cinemas

This film, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, tells the story behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It imagines how a personal loss and the grief it caused inspired the creation of the famous play.

The movie has received widespread critical acclaim for its powerful emotional impact and is predicted to be a strong contender during awards season. Many believe Saoirse Buckley is a leading candidate to win the Best Actress Oscar.

Giant

Release date: Friday 9th January in cinemas

This movie tells the story of boxer Prince Naseem, from his rise to fame, and features Amir El-Masry as the boxer himself. Pierce Brosnan plays Brendan Ingle, his coach and mentor throughout his career.

The movie follows Naseem’s life, from his early talent as a child to becoming a world champion, focusing on his bond with Brendan. It highlights the challenges he faced and examines why he became a controversial personality.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Release date: Wednesday 14th January in cinemas

This new film, a sequel to 28 Years Later, quickly follows the events of the previous movie. Nia DaCosta directs this time around, taking over from Danny Boyle, and Alex Garland returns as the screenwriter.

The next movie continues right after the shocking ending of the last one, where Jack O’Connell played the unsettling cult leader Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. It will also briefly bring back Cillian Murphy’s character from the original film, setting the stage for the already-planned third movie in the series.

Rental Family

Release date: Friday 16th January in cinemas

Okay, so I’ve been hearing so much about Brendan Fraser’s performance in this movie, and it sounds amazing. It’s about an actor who takes a really unique job in Japan – basically, he steps in for people who can’t be there, like a body double, but it’s way more than that. Apparently, it’s a really moving story about finding beauty in simple human connections and rediscovering what really matters.

This movie is the second feature film directed by Hikari, a Japanese actress who also directed episodes of the TV series Beef and Tokyo Vice.

No Other Choice

Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas

Park Chan-wook, the acclaimed South Korean director, delivers a biting and clever commentary on modern capitalism in his newest film, featuring a performance by Lee Byung-hun of Squid Game fame.

The story follows a man who loses his job after 25 years with the company, leading him to come up with a desperate and unusual plan to get hired again.

Saipan

Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas

This movie tells the story of the famous and damaging argument between soccer players Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy. It happened at a training camp on the island of Saipan right before the 2002 World Cup, and it had a huge impact on Irish football.

Steve Coogan portrays the manager, and Éanna Hardwicke plays Roy Keane, the famous Manchester United player. The story shows how Keane’s strong work ethic and high standards clash with what he sees as his manager’s less demanding approach.

The History of Sound

Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas

I just finished watching a beautiful and moving film starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. It’s a period romance set after World War I, and it follows these two men as they journey through Maine, collecting and recording folk songs. It’s a surprisingly intimate story about their connection and the world around them.

The film, which first shown at the Cannes Film Festival last year, is directed by Oliver Hermanus (known for ‘Living’) and written by Ben Shattuck. Shattuck based the script on two of his own short stories.

H Is for Hawk

Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas

I recently watched a film based on Helen MacDonald’s incredible memoir, and it really stayed with me. Claire Foy gives a stunning performance as a woman who trains a goshawk following her father’s death, and it’s through this unexpected connection with the bird that she begins to heal. The supporting cast is fantastic too – Brendan Gleeson, Sam Spruell, and Denise Gough all deliver strong performances. It’s directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, who worked on the screenplay with Emma Donoghue, the writer of ‘Room,’ so I had high expectations going in, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

Mercy

Release date: Friday 23rd January in cinemas

I’m really excited about this new thriller! Rebecca Ferguson plays an AI judge, and she’s presiding over the trial of Chris Pratt, who’s accused of murder. It’s set in the near future and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, so it’s promising to be a cool, tech-driven story.

Chris Pratt plays an LA detective who has 90 minutes to convince everyone he didn’t kill his wife, Annabelle Wallis. If he can’t, he’ll be immediately put to death.

Is This Thing On?

Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas

Bradley Cooper’s newest film is based on the true story of comedian John Bishop. The movie stars Will Arnett as Alex Novak, a stand-up comedian in his 40s who reignites his career in New York City’s comedy world.

The film boasts a talented cast, featuring Bradley Cooper, Laura Dern, Andra Day, and Amy Seadris.

Nouvelle Vague

Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas

Richard Linklater’s latest film is a funny and heartwarming story about the creation of Breathless, a groundbreaking movie that helped launch the French New Wave. This comes just a few months after his previous film, Blue Moon.

Guillaume Marbeck, a relatively new face in French cinema, stars as Godard in the film. Zoey Deutch plays Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin portrays Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Shelter

Release date: Friday 30th January in cinemas

This action-packed thriller stars Jason Statham as a retired hitman living in seclusion. When he saves a girl from a dangerous storm on a faraway island, his peaceful life is shattered as figures from his past emerge, pulling him back into a world of danger.

The film features a fantastic supporting cast, including established actors like Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie, and Daniel Mays, as well as the talented newcomer Bodhi Rae Breathnach.

Want to see this content?

This content is blocked by Google reCAPTCHA. To see it, please sign out of your Contentpass account.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is TopMob’s Senior Film Writer, covering new movies released in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed a wide variety of films.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-01-09 14:40