When there are few options at the movie theatre, streaming services are a blessing. New films in the theatre don’t usually do well in January, but, hey, we see you, Mark Wahlberg! Meanwhile, a number of excellent services have been released this month for you to enjoy from the comfort of your couch, including Netflix, Max, Hulu, Amazon, and others. From a “Saturday Night Live” origin story to Ridley Scott’s swords-and-sandals sequel, there are theatrical releases to catch up on. Additionally, there are original shows like a Reese Witherspoon/Will Ferrell wedding comedy and a Jennifer Lopez true-life sports drama.
Here are 5 notable new movies:
Back in Action
CIA agents Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) had to leave the grid fifteen years ago after stealing a crucial high-tech item. In the action comedy, Emily’s ex (Andrew Scott) and other people are pursuing them after their cover is revealed, forcing them to re-enter the spy game. They are now married and have children.
Blink Twice
Naomi Ackie plays a cocktail waitress who meets a wealthy tech guy (Channing Tatum) by happenstance and is invited to his island paradise for a break, but the party soon devolves into a gaslighting horror show. The first film directed by Zoë Kravitz combines a contemporary story with an incredibly satisfying ending..
A Different Man
Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of a budding actor with neurofibromatosis who receives an experimental treatment to alleviate his massive facial tumours earned him a Golden Globe. In the dark comedy, which includes a remarkable supporting performance by Adam Pearson, the procedure “cures” his exterior but does nothing to alleviate his inner fears.
The Front Room
Is your mother-in-law a bad person? In the psychological thriller, a pregnant anthropology professor (Brandy Norwood) experiences her worst nightmares when her husband’s eccentric mother (Kathryn Hunter, with a sinister Southern drawl) moves in and brings God, chaos, and creepiness with her.
Gladiator II
Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to his acclaimed 2000 film, which won the Best Picture award, may not attain the same level of excellence as its predecessor; however, it compensates for its shortcomings with an abundance of audacity. In this installment, Paul Mescal portrays the enslaved warrior, while Denzel Washington, embodying a Roman power broker, delivers a performance that is as grandiose as a Colosseum filled with sharks.
