As the holidays wind down, January tends to be a relatively slow month for new releases in theaters, as people prefer to spend time with their latest gadgets from Christmas and enjoy the quiet of their own space. Indeed, January's offering at the theaters is on the lighter side, but that does not mean there aren't some new releases you will want to keep an eye on, and for many, the theater is a year-round experience.
Horror seems to reign supreme this January, with a highly anticipated sequel, a chaotic creature feature, and the first anticipated video-game adaptation of 2026, setting the year off on a high note. Yet theatergoers will find they have a wide variety to choose from. Here is everything coming to theaters in January. Below is a complete list of all movies and their release dates, including limited releases and anniversary screenings.
'Greenland 2: Migration'
In Theaters January 9
Taking place five years after the events of the previous film, which saw a comet strike, destroying much of Earth, Greenland 2: Migration follows John Garrity (Gerard Butler) as he faces a new challenge in a devastated landscape. Here, John and his family, Allison Garrity (Morena Baccarin), and Nathan Garrity (Roman Griffin Davis) finally leave their bunker, after they can no longer sustain their needs. They search for the rumored "Safe Haven," but must navigate a harsh landscape filled with desperate survivors.
The first Greenland releases coincided with the Pandemic, giving them a poignant message. Yet the second still touches on many of the growing environmental concerns that many around the world feel. Moreover, the franchise offers a unique approach not often seen in the genre, giving us a film before and one after an apocalyptic event. Greenland looks to be an emotional and terrifying romp through a post-apocalyptic America that fans won't want to miss. Greenland 2: Migration is in theaters on January 9, 2026.
'Primate'
In Theaters January 9
A vacation between a group of friends turns into a fight for survival when one of the travelers' beloved pets, a monkey named Ben, gets bitten by a rabid animal and turns violent in Primate. The new horror movie is directed by Johannes Roberts, who is no stranger to crafting outstanding creature features, having previously helmed 47 Meters Down.
Primate, already making the festival rounds, arrives in theaters with plenty of hype and a current 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Notably, many early reviews have been hyping the use of practical effects to craft its story of one bad monkey wreaking havoc on a group of friends. As the first theatrical horror movie of 2026, Primate may be a sleeper hit at the box office. Primate is in theaters on January 9, 2026.
'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple'
In Theaters January 16
The second entry in the planned trilogy, it is unlikely anyone will be walking in blind to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, as it takes place directly after 2025's 28 Years Later. The sequel may see Nia DaCosta step into the director's seat, but Danny Boyle remains producer, with Alex Garland returning as writer. Moreover, Ralph Fiennes returns, and Cillian Murphy is set to reprise his role from 28 Days Later. It will be exciting to see how the sequel stacks up against the first film, which grossed $151 million worldwide, as it has plenty of room to dominate theaters when 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple releases on January 16, 2026.
'Mercy'
In Theaters January 23
Set in the near future, the Chris Pratt-led sci-fi thriller follows Detective Chris Raven, who, once an advocate for an AI-powered justice system, finds himself up against it after he is wrongfully accused of murdering his wife. Chris has only 90 minutes to prove his innocence before the judgment is passed, sending him on a fast-paced, dangerous mission to uncover the truth.
The plot of Mercy may seem somewhat familiar; Minority Report is an easy comparison to make here, yet the movie offers a sleek action thriller that tackles the ever-prevalent idea of AI out of control. A large-scale sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt, the movie is bound to appeal to action fans who love seeing pulse-pounding stunts and special effects on screen. Mercy arrives in theaters on January 23, 2026.
'Return to Silent Hill'
In Theaters January 23
Is there any game franchise more beloved, while also being equally maligned in spurts, than Silent Hill? Both in video games and movies, the franchise has seen a lot of ups and downs, including the 2006 movie adaptation flopping despite being a trailblazer in its own right. Still, being based on (arguably) the most beloved entry in the video game franchise, Silent Hill 2, and the return of director Christophe Gans will give fans plenty of hope that Return to Silent Hill will perfectly capture the unnerving atmosphere and existential dread that Silent Hill is known for.
For those not in the know, the blend of psychological horror and oppressive atmosphere as one man, James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine), navigates a town full of ghastly monsters to find his partner should be enough to lure them in. Return to Silent Hill is in theaters on January 23, 2026.
'H Is for Hawk'
In Theaters January 30
A biographical drama, H is for Hawk follows Helen Macdonald (Claire Foy) as she deals with the loss of her father. Struggling with daily life as she goes through grief, Helen decides to try to focus her thoughts elsewhere, adopting a wild goshawk named Mabel to train. The grueling process of building trust with the bird of prey opens up Helen to a world of self-discovery and healing.
Based on Helen Macdonald’s internationally acclaimed 2014 memoir, H is for Hawk offers up a highly emotional and poetic exploration of grief and healing through nature. Early festival screenings have lauded the film, particularly Claire Foy's performance, which skillfully navigates the emotional journey of her character's rebirth through her bond with Mabel. Prestige drama at its most profound and polished, fans can check out H Is for Hawk in theaters on January 30, 2026.
'Send Help'
In Theaters January 30
A new horror film directed by Sam Raimi is all that many horror fans will need to know to make their way to theaters for Send Help. Bringing the director's signature blend of over-the-top horror and dark comedy, Send Help sees Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) face off against her hostile boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), after the two are stranded on a remote island after a plane crash. The movie presents itself as a genre mash-up, starting as an office drama and building into a brutal survival story. Send Help is in the theater on January 30, 2026.
'The Moment'
In Theaters January 30
For those who want "Brat Summer" to last forever, The Moment is a mockumentary-style comedy-drama starring Charli XCX as a fictionalized version of herself. Exploring the pressures of stardom and packed with music from the beloved songstress, The Moment is a perfect way to celebrate pop music. The movie is also set to capture the energy and excitement of music, with director Aidan Zamiri making their feature film debut after working on music videos for some of the hottest musicians. The Moment is in theaters on January 30, 2026.
Read below to see every movie coming to theaters in January 2026. Movies marked with * are limited releases. Check local listings to see if it is streaming at a theater near you:
January 2, 2026
- We Bury the Dead *
- The Mother and the Bear *
- The Dutchman *
- KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie *
- The Plague *
January 8, 2026
- Labyrinth 40th Anniversary *
January 9, 2026
- Greenland 2: Migration
- Primate
- Soulm8te
- Sleepwalker *
- Starbright *
- Dead Man's Wire *
- I Was a Stranger *
- Young Mothers *
- All That’s Left Of You *
- OBEX *
- Magellan *
- Is This Thing On? *
- Rosemead *
January 16, 2026
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Sound of Falling *
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring *
- Charlie the Wonderdog *
- A Private Life *
- Night Patrol *
- Leave *
- Signing Tony Raymond *
- Dead Man's Wire *
- The RIP *
January 17, 2026
- The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition *
January 18, 2026
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *
January 23, 2026
- Mercy
- Return to Silent Hill
- H Is For Hawk
- In Cold Light *
- The Testament of Ann Lee *
January 30, 2026
- Send Help
- The Moment
- Melania
- Shelter *
- Moses The Black *
- Islands *
