The following are movie trailers and my early thoughts for all films tentatively scheduled coming to theaters in January 2020. If you’d like to see a list of all movies released in 2020 click here (that post is updated throughout the year).
The list below does not include independent films and/or streaming original films from Netflix and Amazon. I would like to keep track of those as well, but trying to target specifically wide theater releases (or what appear to be wide releases) so most readers can see these films worldwide in a major chain theater (hopefully) near your home. New streaming films being released will be handled separately based on the service, most likely, as already doing for Shudder.
SIDENOTE: I have nothing against small, independent theaters (we have a good one called The Grand Cinema close by), but am trying to focus on the films I have the greatest likelihood to see, review and rate each month. Obviously, with release schedules that change based on location, sharing any kind of coming soon movie list is not an exact science. Any errors and/or omissions are mine.
Movie release dates are subject to change by the studios, so it’s possible within the next 45 days or so one or more of the movies profiled below will have its release date moved.
As of this posting, there are 11 movies scheduled, presented in order of scheduled opening date below. 10 of the 11 have trailers, so I’ve added my anticipation (10 = most excited as possible to see, 0 = not interested at all). Can’t promise I’ll do this every month, but am going to try and do so, probably posted sometime around the middle of each month for the next month.
This is a reference for FIRST LOOK and PREVIEW posts. I try and FIRST LOOK and/or PREVIEW films that either we’re personally most interested in seeing and/or have very popular interest by others.
January 2020 Movies
The Grudge
[FIRST LOOK]
This one looks like it might be scary. I’ve never seen any of the original Grudge movies and not sure I’ll be doing so before this comes out in a few weeks. I look more forward to seeing truly scary horror films over horror-comedy films and this looks like the former.
Anticipation for The Grudge: 6/10
Like A Boss
[FIRST LOOK]
Have seen this trailer as preview in the theater more than any other in this list of January 2020 movie releases. I’m sort of luke warm to cool on what’s happening here. I don’t find anything Tiffany Haddish has starred in as funny. Her voice is grating on me. The plot seems not very interesting to me either, what little we know from the trailer. The trailer didn’t even make me smile, although admittedly some have laughed at the goat milk spit out scene.
Anticipation for Like A Boss: 3/10
Underwater
[FIRST LOOK]
Got to wipe away Kirsten Stewart from my mind in Charlie’s Angels and any movie deep on the bottom of the ocean is off to a good start. We don’t know what is living down there and while this has been explored in several other stories, it’s an interesting and often scary place. All that pressure under miles of water. Yes, I’m interested.
Anticipation for Underwater: 6/10
The Informer
RELEASE DATE CHANGED from Jan 10, 2020 to March 13, 2020 (LIMITED)
Seems like standard fare thriller from the trailer. Nothing stands out as super creative or amazingly fresh to me. Could be how the trailer is cut. Not that excited by this trailer.
Anticipation for The Informer: 2/10
Bad Boys for Life
[FIRST LOOK]
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return as buddy cops for this third entry in the franchise. I found the first two to be funny in parts. They have good chemistry together, but aren’t as fun as say Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours. Haven’t been many buddy cop trilogies that I was clamoring to see the third one. Martin Lawrence is my favorite of the two by far in this comedy team. I just don’t find Will Smith that special. Yes, he has been in some good films.
Anticipation for Bad Boys for Life: 3/10
Dolittle
[FIRST LOOK]
The trailer barely grabs my interest, except for the fact that Robert Downey, Jr is starring. Not sure about his accent, kinda reminds me a bit of the one he used in Tropic Thunder (!). He makes just about every film he is in better. I’m worried about this being a terrible and unnecessary reboot movie about a man who talks to animals. Have seen the story told several times before and Downey Jr. isn’t a comedian, so not sure if his potentially(?) serious/ironic take on Doctor Doolittle will be exciting. Very apprehensive about this one, but, again, interested because of the main star. I heard he was paid $20 million for top bill in this one. Will see next month if it was worth it. Worried.
Anticipation for Doolittle:: 3/10
The Gentlemen
[FIRST LOOK]
Like the mystery/detective vibe, but wonder if it’s more thriller? Not feeling super compelled toward this one as a thriller, but more interested in a mystery. Can’t decide based on trailer which it is. Do like Matthew McConaughey, so that bumps up curiosity a little.
Anticipation for The Gentlemen: 3/10
The Turning
[FIRST LOOK]
January 2020 will be the first time I’ve ever paid that attention to everything being released. Already noticing that there are more horror movies being released than other types of movies. January could be an October-like month for me as I like horror movies. As for this one? Has a V.C Andrews groove to it. What’s with the children? Yeah, sign me up for this one!
Anticipation for The Turning: 5/10
Nowhere (trailer yet) to Run?
Run
RELEASE DATE CHANGED from Jan 24 to May 8, 2020
…is a thriller starring Sarah Paulson and is scheduled to open in theaters January 24, 2020 (UPDATE 1/18/2020: Release date has changed to May 8, 2020). No official trailer has been released by Lionsgate as of this writing.
The mystery around an intentional lack of marketing (see: Is @Lionsgate Run (2020) screening WIDE January 24, 2020 – if not, when?) — or inferior/incompetent marketing, whichever it is — is increasing my intrigue. Seems like a trailer is pretty important for a movie that released in like 45 days. I mean, yesterday we got the Wonder Woman 1984 trailer and that isn’t out for another six plus months!
Can’t give any anticipation based on the trailer without one.
Gretel and Hansel
[FIRST LOOK]
Oooo another spooky one! Seems odd to title it backwards (do the kids eat the adults in this one? Now that sort of reverse cannibalism would make heads turn). If it’s pure horror and not comedy horror than it gets at least a 4 from me. Fairy tales can be cool, especially the grim variety. Will pump it up one more for that. Hoping it’s not too cliched, but fearing that almost as much as the potential subject matter.
Anticipation for Gretel and Hansel: 5/10
The Rhythm Section
[FIRST LOOK]
Read the FIRST LOOK that is linked above to see my detailed comments on this one. Of all 12 films being released in January 2020, I’m most looking forward to seeing this one.
Anticipation for The Rhythm Section: 7/10
Ranking the January 2020 movies by anticipation (as of this writing)
Keep in mind that my anticipation for a film can change daily, even hourly, based on new information that I read about the film or see in a video. Therefore, the anticipation is merely a number I’m applying to my feelings today, right now, and it is very subject to change. In the next post, tweet, video or an hour from now. Only here for comparison purposes as I do this with the Opening Week posts. Those numbers are within a couple days of seeing the movies.
- The Rhythm Section – 7 / 10
- Underwater – 6 / 10
- Gretel & Hansel – 5 / 10
- The Turning – 5 / 10
- Doolittle – 3 / 10
- The Gentlemen – 3 / 10
- The Grudge – 3 / 10
- Like A Boss – 3 / 10
- Bad Boys for Life – 3 / 10
The Informer – 2 / 10(release date changed to March 13, 2020)Run – No Rating(release date changed to May 8, 2020)
What movies in January 2020 are you looking forward to seeing?
Movies, Movies, Movies 
I like the look of ‘The Rhythm Section’, but will be giving the Dr Doolittle remake a complete swerve.
Many thanks for following my blog. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Doolittle is not the complete train wreck it is being billed as, but if you don’t have an unlimited sub at the theaters, I’d wait for it to come to streaming. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
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I just about tolerated the Rex Harrison film, and didn’t even watch the Murphy remakes. 🙂
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I think it captures the spirit of the books. If you didn’t care for the books they are very Roald Dahl type stories. They are odd, unusual and a bit eccentric. Am not sure that translates to screen very well. Kind of like the first Willy Wonka movie worked, but the Burton remake didn’t as much.
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I read the books at school, Todd, and enjoyed them at the time.
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Good. So, was it the musical aspect of the Harrison film that you didn’t enjoy? I have to go back and rewatch that film because it’s been soooo long ago that I saw it. Want to say it was in the 70s that I watched it.
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