January is always a strange hybrid of award seasons releases and barely-promoted studio films, and this month is no exception. On one hand, there are releases of Brazil’s Oscar submission I’m Still Here, and re-releases of Sing Sing and September 5. On the other hand, there is Universal’s Wolf Man, which has received mixed reviews, and Sony’s One of Them Days, which has received fairly good reviews overall.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: January 10th, January 3rd, and December 25th.
I’m Still Here
Stars: Fernanda Torres, Fernanda Montenegro, Selton Mello, Valentina Herszage
Writer: Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega, Marcelo Rubens Paiva
Director: Walter Salles
Genre: Drama, Historical
Plot: A mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family's life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence during the tightening grip of a military dictatorship in Brazil, 1971.
What you should know: Brazil’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Where to watch: In select theaters
Wish You Were Here
Stars: Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Gabby Kono-Abdy, Jennifer Grey
Writer: Julia Stiles, Renée Carlino
Director: Julia Stiles
Genre: Romance, Drama
Plot: A woman searching for a spark finds a whirlwind night of romance with a man only to discover he is terminally ill and commits to helping him spend his last days living life to the fullest.
What you should know: This is the directorial debut of actor, writer, and director Julia Stiles.
Where to watch: In theaters
Grand Theft Hamlet
Stars: Sam Crane, Mark Oosterveen, Pinny Grylls, Jen Cohn
Writer/Director: Sam Crane, Pinny Grylls
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Struggling actors Sam and Mark find solace from lockdown isolation by staging Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto Online (2022), battling griefers as they connect through William Shakespeare.
What you should know: Won awards at SXSW 2024 and the British Independent Film Awards.
Where to watch: In theaters
Back in Action
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson
Writer: Seth Gordon
Director: Seth Gordon
Genre: Action, Comedy
Plot: Former CIA spies Emily and Matt are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
What you should know: This is Cameron Diaz’s first film since 2014’s Annie.
Where to watch: Netflix
Unstoppable
Stars: Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle
Writer: Eric Champnella, Alex Harris, John Hindman,
Director: William Goldenberg
Genre: Drama, Sport
Plot: Centers around the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg and won a national championship in 2011 while competing at Arizona State University.
What you should know: Based on the book by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Night Call
Stars: Jonathan Feltre, Jonas Bloquet, Romain Duris, Thomas Mustin
Writer: Michiel Blanchart, Giles Marchand, Laurent Brandenbourger
Director: Michiel Blanchart
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: This night is like all the others for Mady, student by day, locksmith by night. But Claire, the enigmatic young girl he helps out that night, is not who she claims to be. Mady has only one night to prove his innocence in a city in turmoil.
What you should know: This is writer and director Michel Blanchart’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD January 24th
Autumn and the Black Jaguar
Stars: Emily Bett Rickards, Lumi Pollack, Paul Greene, Wayne Charles Baker
Writer: Prune de Maistre
Director: Gilles de Maistre
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Plot: After years in New York City, 14-year-old Autumn returns to the Amazon rainforest to save her childhood village and beloved jaguar friend.
What you should know: This is a “spiritual remake” of Mia and the White Lion (2018), a previous Gilles de Maistre movie.
Where to watch: In theaters
Both Eyes Open
Stars: Gail Bean, Taye Diggs, Tristan Mack Wilds, Christie Leverette
Writer/Director: Ariel Julia Hairston
Genre: Thriller
Plot: Ally escapes an abusive relationship but hallucinates about her abuser. She receives cryptic messages suggesting he's nearby. As the messages intensify and her reality unravels, Ally realizes the truth may be closer than she thought.
What you should know: Taye Diggs starred in a previous effort from writer and director Ariel Julia Hairston, The Comeback (2023).
Where to watch: In theaters
Re-Releases/Expansions
Sing Sing
Stars: Colman Domingo, Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, Sean San Jose, Paul Raci
Writer: John H. Richardson, Brent Buell, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, John Divine G Whitfield
Director: Greg Kwedar
Genre: Drama
Plot: Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
What you should know: Nominated for three BAFTA awards.
Where to watch: In theaters
September 5
Stars: Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch
Writer: Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
Director: Tim Fehlbaum
Genre: Drama, History
Plot: During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, an American sports broadcasting team must adapt to live coverage the Israeli athletes being held hostage by a terrorist group.
What you should know: The crew are seen drinking from beer cans with retained ring pulls. This type of opening mechanism wasn't widely in use until the original patents expired in 1975, three years after the events depicted in the movie.
Where to watch: In theaters
More New Releases
Wolf Man (Trailer) from Universal
One of Them Days (Trailer) from Sony
New to Streaming
A Real Pain (Trailer) on Hulu
A Different Man (Trailer) on HBO Max
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?