As we herald in a new year, the big screen follows suit with the release of several cinematic thrill rides. 2024 is off to a strong start with a diverse lineup of things to watch in January. The action genre seems to be the gift that keeps on giving, with the release of several science-fiction thrillers and historical dramas that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
This month is special for fans of book-to-film adaptations. Take psychological thriller Foe, a postmodern take on mankind’s existence in an apocalyptic world, starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal and based on Ian Reid’s eponymous novel. Meanwhile, author David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon is brought to life by Martin Scorsese, tracking a series of murders in the Osage community in the 1920s. Apple TV+’s latest venture is a 21st century take on history with Masters of the Air—a tale of World War II soldiers defeating Hitler’s regime scintillatingly told by biographer Donald L. Miller and recreated by Steven Spielberg.
K-drama enthusiasts may rejoice as well, with Netflix premiering Badland Hunters and The Bequeathed this month. The former is a treat for fans of dystopian fiction, as the bustling metropolitan of Seoul is vanquished and all that’s left is an apocalyptic wasteland. Meanwhile, The Bequeathed follows the sole heir to a burial ground as her life gets entangled in dangerous secrets and unexplainable murders.
Below, see the full list of what to watch this month, all available on popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
1 / 9
Badland Hunters
In this universe, an earthquake strikes and destroys the city of Seoul. Everything has collapsed and chaos ensues, as law and order cease to exist and sheer greed and power rule. As the world comes to an end, there sits Don Lee as Nam San, a fearless huntsman bent on saving souls. A sequel to Concrete Utopia, Badland Hunters promises gripping action and dark humour as Nam San and his team fight against forces of nature and humankind alike.
Watch Badland Hunters on Netflix from 26 January.
2 / 9
Masters of the Air
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks join hands once again to present Masters of the Air. The pair seem to favour the theme of World War II legacies, following the success of Saving Private Ryan, The Pacific and Band of Brothers. Masters in the Air is no different. This new series stars Austin Butler, Callum Turner and Barry Keoghan as members of the 100th Bomb Group as they execute bomb raids across Nazi Germany in the face of perilous combat 25,000 feet in the air. Based on the novel by Donald L. Miller, the troop plays a part in the downfall of Hitler’s Third Reich, but at the cost of emotional and psychological horror that haunts them for time to come.
Watch Masters of the Air on Apple TV+ from 26 January.
3 / 9
The Brothers Sun
When an unknown assassin targets his family, Charles ‘Chairleg’ Sun, a relentless Taipei triad member, heads to Los Angeles in an effort to protect his headstrong mother and naive younger brother. Soon, Taipei’s most lethal secret societies clash head-to-head for dominance as Charles, Mama Sun and his younger brother Bruce are confronted with the ghosts of the past they’ve tried so hard to erase. The Suns soon learn the true meaning of family as they race to protect themselves and their triad.
Watch The Brothers Sun on Netflix now.
4 / 9
Doctor Slump
Those with an affinity towards the classic ‘enemies-to-lovers’ character trope will look forward to Doctor Slump. An old academic rivalry is revived as two burnt-out doctors unexpectedly cross paths at the lowest points of their lives. Park Hyung Sik plays Yeo Jung Woo, a renowned plastic surgeon whose thriving career is thwarted in the blink of an eye. His arch-nemesis is Nam Ha Neul, played by Park Shin Hye, an anaesthesiologist whose life is hanging by a thread. As both reluctantly navigate life’s highs and lows together, an on-screen romance blooms and heart-fluttering moments ensue.
Watch Doctor Slump on Netflix from 27 January.
5 / 9
Griselda
It’s the 1980s, and the streets of Miami are ruled by one woman: Griselda Blanco. A force to be reckoned with, Griselda illustrates the tale of a savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswoman who raises one of the most successful cartels in history. Inspired by the real-life figure, Sofia Vergara plays the lead role as she brings Griselda’s charm, stealth and notoriety to life on the silver screen, channelling the ultimate antihero as she navigates business and family amidst the chaos of Miami’s underworld.
Watch Griselda on Netflix from 25 January.
6 / 9
The Bequeathed
Tragedy surrounds Yeo Soon Ha in The Bequeathed. Played by Kim Hyun Joo, Soon Ha is left as the sole heir to her family’s burial ground following the sudden death of an estranged uncle. Soon after, she finds herself at the heart of a string of murders as ominous secrets unravel. Mysterious and unpredictable, this thrilling series is written and directed by Yoon Sang Ho, of Hellbound and Train to Busan success.
Watch The Bequeathed on Netflix from 19 January.
7 / 9
Echo
We first see Alaqua Cox as the unforgiving Maya Lopez in Marvel’s Hawkeye, leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, hellbent on seeking vengeance from Clint Barton. Echo begins where Hawkeye ends, following the return of Maya in Oklahoma, where she must confront her past and return to her Native American roots, to rediscover the meaning of family and legacy.
Watch Echo on Disney+ from 10 January.
8 / 9
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese’s crime epic comes to Apple TV+ this month. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon tracks a series of murders in the Osage community, following their new-found wealth as they discover an oil empire in their grounds. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, a World War I veteran who is positioned to marry Mollie Kyle, the heir to the Osage oil headrights. The marriage proves to be a curse, as bloodshed trails across Mollie’s family. Lily Gladstone, who plays Mollie, took home an award for the ‘Best Actress in Motion Picture Drama’ for her performance in this Western drama.
Watch Killers of the Flower Moon on Apple TV+ from 12 January
9 / 9
Foe
This science fiction psychological thriller stars Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal as Hen and Junior, who have created a peaceful life for themselves on a family farm. That all changes when a stranger arrives on their doorstep with an unsettling proposal. Accepting the terms, the couple risk it all for a chance at survival in a new world. Based on the bestselling novel by Iain Reid, Foe probes into the artificial nature of humanity as it unravels the threads that make up Hen and Junior’s marriage.
Watch Foe on Prime Video now.
