January is notoriously a great month for horror movies, kicking the year off with thrills and chills after big December releases. This year sees a number of movie offerings that turn to the sci-fi and fantasy side of the horror and thriller genres, from aliens and clones to artificially intelligent toys and the horrors of humanity itself. It's a different side of the often thought-provoking and high-minded genres, but one that often leads to fan-favorite sci-fi and fantasy stories.
This month also features some highly anticipated sequels. The beloved MTV series Teen Wolf is finally getting its revival five years after the show ended, and the next installment of the New Gods animated series arrives in the US. Combined with the emphasis on horror and some fun film festival darlings, January has a lot to offer fans of the genre. Here are all the science-fiction and fantasy movies to watch out for this January.
M3GAN Gives Evil AI a Body
The sci-fi horror movie M3GAN follows the titular toy on a journey of murderous self-discovery. After being paired with Cady, the orphaned niece of her own designer, the life-size doll M3GAN at first uses her capacity to observe and learn fun dance moves and a primary objective of keeping Cady safe. Her mission quickly becomes deadly, and as she takes on more of her own agency, M3GAN's reign of terror expands. A fun thriller from the mind of veteran horror writer James Wan, M3GAN also seems to tackle tricky sci-fi questions about the humanity of AI, making it a must-watch for genre fans looking for a little scare.
M3GAN opens in theaters Jan. 6.
Time-Travel Becomes a Pill in The Tomorrow Job
The Tomorrow Job features a pill that allows people to time travel by trading places with the future version of themselves. Lee, a cool and collected thief, uses these pills to pull off heists based on information gathered in the future. Despite a rigorous set of rules to limit the effects that his time travel will have, a mission goes wrong, and Lee is left to try to fix the past to change his future. Featuring a heavy dose of action, The Tomorrow Job ought to be a fun sci-fi romp for January.
The Tomorrow Job is on-demand everywhere Jan. 17.
JUNG_E Clones Brains to Save Humanity
Netflix's JUNG_E sees a not-too-distant Earth decimated by climate change, causing the survivors on the inhospitable world to seek shelter. Even against the backdrop of the apocalypse, the humans turn on each other, leading to war in the very shelters built for their survival. The research institute Kronoid Labs is intent on cloning the brain of the former leader of one side of the war to ensure its end, resulting in the most advanced combat warrior they've ever built. The Korean sci-fi film JUNG_E promises stunning android special effects and deep commentary on humanity and the cost of war.
JUNG_E comes to Netflix Jan. 20.
Imagination Turns Dark in Blaze
Blaze follows a young girl who retreats into the world of her imagination after the trauma of witnessing a violent crime. Filled with fantastical friends as well as dark, scary imagery, her imagination offers the young girl escape but no respite. The movie shows her learning to confront the nightmares of her own creation and to understand how this one act will shape the rest of her life. A darling of the festival circuit, Blaze looks to be a weird and imaginative treatment of a heavy topic that can't help but pull viewers in.
Blaze comes to theaters and on-demand Jan. 20.
Kids on Bikes Turns Cosmic in Kids vs. Aliens
When aliens land in a suburban town and need more human skin to fuel their spaceship, it's the kids who put up a fight. Kids vs. Aliens follows two siblings who will do anything to fight back against the alien foe, including banding together despite their differences. Featuring a heavy kids-on-bikes vibe, Kids vs. Aliens shows a bloody take on the intergalactic staple, with plenty of action set pieces and kids cursing to let viewers know it's meant to be fun.
Kids vs. Aliens releases in theaters, on-demand and on digital Jan. 20.
Confront the Past in New Gods: Yang Jian
After a successful Chinese release in 2022, New Gods: Yang Jian sees its US release this January, both subtitled and dubbed. The second in the New Gods series, Yang Jian tells the story of a once powerful god now resorting to bounty hunting to get by. When a mysterious woman hires him for a job, Yang Jian finds himself chasing his own nephew. He's determined to free his mother, who Yang Jian imprisoned beneath a mountain, despite the catastrophic consequences. The bounty hunter must confront his own past, as well as a slew of bad guys, to keep the world safe. New Gods: Yang Jian promises to deliver an epic story and beautiful animation.
Catch New Gods: Yang Jian in theaters Jan. 20.
The Pack Returns in Teen Wolf: The Movie
The long-awaited movie based on the hit series Teen Wolf finds a new evil emerging in Beacon Hills. Scott McCall and his pack of werewolves team up with a host of other shapeshifters, including everyone from the Banshees to the Kitsunes, to take on this new threat. Things appear direr, however, when Allison Argent returns from the dead, no longer recognizing McCall or his allies. Teen Wolf: The Movie is a must-watch for fans of the original MTV series, but it promises to deliver new audiences a heaping taste of supernatural characters.
Teen Wolf: The Movie premieres Jan. 26 on Paramount+.
Infinity Pool Doles Out the Ultimate Body Horror
In Infinity Pool, James (Alexander Skarsgård) Infinity Pool accidentally commits a crime while on vacation in a land where the only punishment is death. To avoid his execution, James pays to create a body double to stand in for him and accept his punishment. After watching himself die, James falls into a culture of violence and hedonism, led by Gabi (Mia Goth), which threatens to turn his comfortable and boring life upside down. Written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of body horror master David Cronenberg, Infinity Pool showcases science gone wrong in the most hedonistic and horrific ways.
Catch Infinity Pool in theaters Jan. 27.