January 2020 Movies to See

New Year’s Eve is a day – and night – where people flock to the movies. We encourage you to check out the list of movies to see in December to get an idea for what’s at the theater. Looking forward into 2020 (not going to lie, I’m going to use every opportunity to use 20/20 vision as a play on words when the calendar flips), there are a lot of awesome movies coming. Let’s start by talking about the variety of comedies, dramas and action films that are slated to hit the marque in January. 

Check out the trailers and movie details for a sampling of what 2020 has to offer! This list includes feature films from Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Aviron Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, STX Entertainment, Orion Pictures, and more!

The Grudge

Release date: January 3, 2020
Genre: Horror
Cast: Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Betty Gilpin with Lin Shaye and Jacki Weaver
Studio: Sony Pictures
Official Website: The Grudge movie
Follow on social: #TheGrudge

It will never let you go. THE GRUDGE is based on the film “Ju-On: The Grudge” written & directed by Takashi Shimizu. It’s a twisted new take of the horror classic.

Just Mercy

Release date: January 10, 2020
Genre: Biographical Drama
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Official Website: Just Mercy film
Follow on social: #JustMercy

“Just Mercy” is based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the main testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings, as well as overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds—and the system—stacked against them.

Underwater

Release date: January 10, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher, Jr., Mamoudou Athie, Gunner Wright, and T. J. Miller
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Official Website: Underwater movie
Follow on social: #Underwater

UNDERWATER is a film that follows a crew of underwater researchers who must scramble to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory.

The Informer

Release date: January 10, 2020
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Clive Owen, Common, Ana de Armas
Studio: Aviron Pictures
Official Website: The Informer movie
Follow on social: #TheInformerFilm

Honorably discharged Special Ops soldier Pete Koslow’s (Joel Kinnaman) world is turned upside-down when heis jailed after a fight to protect his wife (Ana de Armas). He’s given a chance for early release by becoming an informant for the FBI (Academy Award nominees Rosamund Pike and Clive Owen) and using his covert skills in an operation to take down The General, the most powerful crime boss in New York. But when the FBI sting meant to finally earn Koslow his freedom results in the death of an undercover NYPD cop, Koslow finds himself caught in the crossfire between the mob and the FBI. The General insists Koslow takes the heat and sends him back to prison to spearhead a drug operation from inside, and the FBI affirms that going back to jail to do The General’s bidding is the only way for Koslow to keep his deal with them alive. Caught in a world of impossible choices, Koslow must return to prison, where he formulates a plan to escape the clutches of three of New York City’s most powerful organizations –the mob, the NYPD and the FBI –in order to save himself and his family.

Like a Boss

Release date: January 10, 2020
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne, Salma Hayek, Billy Porter, Jennifer Coolidge, Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair and Karan Soni
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Official Website: Like a Boss movie
Follow on social: #LikeABoss

Best friends Mia and Mel (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) are living their best lives running their own cosmetics company they’ve built from the ground up. Unfortunately, they’re in over their heads financially, and the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the cosmetics industry Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) proves too tempting to pass up, putting Mel and Mia’s lifelong friendship in jeopardy. The beauty business is about to get ugly.

Dolittle

Release date: January 17, 2020
Genre: Family, Comedy
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Octavia Spencer, Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, Jessie Buckley, John Cena, Harry Collett, Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland, Carmel Laniado, Rami Malek, Kumail Nanjiani, Craig Robinson, and Emma Thompson
Studio: Universal Pictures
Official Website: Dolittle movie
Follow on social: #DolittleMovie

After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle (Downey), famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company. But when the young queen (Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose) falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures.

Bad Boys for Life

Release date: January 17, 2020
Genre: Action, Comedy, sequel
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo, Nicky Jam, and Joe Pantoliano
Studio: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures
Official Website: Bad Boys for Life movie
Follow on social: #BadBoysForLife

The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.

The Last Full Measure

Release date: January 24, 2020
Genre: War
Cast: Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt With Ed Harris And Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Fonda,Lisagay Hamilton, Jeremy Irvine, Diane Ladd, Amy Madigan , Linus Roache, John Savage, Alison Sudol, Bradley Whitford
Studio: Roadside Attractions
Official Website: The Last Full Measure film
Follow on social: #TheLastFullMeasure

HE LAST FULL MEASURE tells the true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (also known as a PJ) medic who personally saved over sixty men. During a rescue mission on April 11, 1966, he was offered the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavily under fire, but he stayed behind to save and defend the lives of his fellow soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, before making the ultimate sacrifice in the bloodiest battle of the war. Thirty-two years later, respected Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman on a career fast-track is tasked with investigating a Congressional Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger made by his best friend and PJ mission partner and his parents. Huffman seeks out the testimony of Army veterans who witnessed Pitsenbarger’s extraordinary valor, including Takoda, Burr and Mott. But as Huffman learns more about Pitsenbarger’s courageous acts, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting him to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.

The Gentlemen

Release date: January 24, 2020
Genre: Comedy, Action
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant
Studio: STX Entertainment
Official Website: The Gentlemen movie
Follow on social: #TheGentlemenMovie

THE GENTLEMEN follows American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

The Turning

Release date: January 24, 2020
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince and Joely Richardson
Studio: Universal Pictures
Official Website: The Turning Movie
Follow on social: #TheTurningMovie

For more than 100 years, a deeply haunting tale has been passed down to terrify audiences. Next January, DreamWorks Pictures’ The Turning takes us to a mysterious estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, Flora and Miles. Quickly though, she discovers that both the children and the house are harboring dark secrets and things may not be as they appear.

The Assistant

Release date: January 31, 2020
Genre: Drama
Cast: Julia Garner and Matthew Macfadyen
Studio: Bleeker Street
Official Website: The Assistant film
Follow on social: #TheAssistant

A searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. But as Jane follows her daily routine, she, and we, grow increasingly aware of the abuse that insidiously colors every aspect of her workday, an accumulation of degradations against which Jane decides to take a stand, only to discover the true depth of the system into which she has entered.

The Rhythm Section

Release date: January 31, 2020
Genre: Action, Mystery
Cast: Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Follow on social: #TheRhythmSection

Blake Lively stars as Stephanie Patrick, an ordinary woman on a path of self-destruction after her family is tragically killed in a plane crash. When Stephanie discovers that the crash was not an accident, she enters a dark, complex world to seek revenge on those responsible and find her own redemption.

Gretel and Hansel

Release date: January 31, 2020
Genre: Drama
Cast: Sophia Lillis, Alice Krige and Samuel Leakey
Studio: Orion Pictures
Official Website: Gretel and Hansel movie
Follow on social: #FollowTheCrumbs #GretelAndHansel

A long time ago in a distant fairy-tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.

There is an excellent mix of movies to see in January and I’m having a tough time deciding which I’m most excited about. I’m in awe of the casting for The Last Full Measure and Just Mercy. I also think The Assistant looks like it’s flying under the radar as I haven’t heard much buzz about it, but it looks like it’s going to be great. So many choices. Bring on the popcorn!

Which movie will you see to kick off 2020?