Screen time – January 2025 –

It’s a new year and that means it’s time to return to the cinemas. After the usually busy December period now over, 2025 kicks off with a slew of really promising and exciting new films and television shows, both in theaters and on streaming platforms. With plenty to get through, let’s dive into a new installment of Screen Time.

But before we get started, a quick disclaimer. We based our choices on a UK release calendar, so be sure to check locally for accurate information and offers.

Nosferatu – January 1

What better way to start the new year than with a blockbuster by Robert Eggers? Nosferatu tells the story of the infamous vampire, itself based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula. With Bill Skarsgård playing the titular character and causing all kinds of hell and havoc for Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen Hutter and husband Nicholas Hoult’s Thomas Hutter, this horror story also sees director Eggers teaming up with Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson, from The Lighthouse and The Witch, respectively, and even The Northman.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl [Netflix] – January 3

Aardman returns to its most popular and iconic series in this all-new adventure in which notorious master criminal Feathers McGraw returns to the spotlight and seeks revenge on inventor Wallace and his faithful canine companion Gromit. This stop-motion animated delight brings some extra flair in the form of the handy garden gnome Norbot, as well as a colorful cast of northerners living in their own charming worlds.

American ancient [Netflix] – Jan. 9

This Netflix series takes us back to the early days of the American West to tell the story of a family struggling to survive against nature and violent others. American Primeval asks Taylor Kitsch’s Isaac to fend off cults and manipulative land barons and even native warriors, while protecting Betty Gilpin’s Sara Rowell along the way. If you’re looking for a more grounded and darker take on a western, you don’t want to miss this show.

Babygirl – Jan. 10

Nicole Kidman is the headliner of this erotic thriller in which she shines as a powerful CEO who puts her career and family at risk when she begins to fall for and have an affair with her young intern. Babygirl sees Harris Dickerson appear opposite Kidman in this project that also features Antonio Banderas and Sophie Wilde, all as Halina Reijn is credited as writer and director.

Castlevania: Nocturne – Season 2 [Netflix] – January 16

Although Netflix has saturated itself a bit with its nearly endless array of anime video game adaptations, one of the streamer’s best options remains the Castlevania series and its spin-off Nocturne. Following the action-packed first season, the second round of episodes arrives in January and asks Richter, Annette, Edouard and Tera to defy unimaginable odds in an attempt to save the world from an endless night. Fortunately, they have some help this time in the form of half-vampire and son of Dracula, Castlevania alumni and icon Alucard.

A Complete Unknown – Jan. 17

In late 2023, Timothee Chalamet proved to the world that musicals are part of his strong suit during his performance as Willy Wonka in the delightful Wonka. Now, to add to that, the Dune -star himself makes an attempt to portray Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown, a film that chronicles how a young 19-year-old Dylan arrived in New York City alone and without much to his name and quickly climbed through the ranks to become a global musical superstar.

Back in action [Netflix] – Jan. 17

It has been more than a decade since Cameron Diaz decided to step out of the spotlight and leave behind her high-profile career as an A-list actress, but now she returns in the aptly named Netflix film, Back in Action. Alongside Any Given Sunday and Annie co-star Jamie Foxx, Back in Action sees the duo portray former CIA spies who are drawn back to their past lives when their secret identities are revealed.

Here – January 17

When it comes to combinations of director and actor, perhaps only a few are as synonymous and enduring as Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks. Between Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Polar Express, and even most recently in Pinocchio, the two have worked together countless times, something that will only expand this month when Here makes its debut. This film is a generational story that follows several families and tells a story that all comes to the exact same place. From the dinosaurs to the modern living room, this story is one that truly aims to survive the test of time.

Wolf Man – January 17

Gothic horror seems to be the theme for 2025 so far, as following Nosferatu and anticipating Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein later in the year, we now also have a new Wolf Man film to get excited about. This film, from director and writer Leigh Whannell, is a slightly new take on the iconic story, as it revolves around a family trapped on a remote farm after they are attacked by an invisible animal, an attack that soon sees the father transformed into something gruesome and bestial.

Severance – Season 2 [Apple TV+] – January 17

Perhaps the most acclaimed show debuting on the often fantastic and curated Apple TV+ streaming platform, the Ben Stiller-produced and Adam Scott-headlined Severance will return to kick off the new year, with an all-new planned season in which Mark will further unravel and try to make sense of his life and how it is unusually divided between work and home.

The Night Agent – Season 2 [Netflix] – January 23

When it debuted in early 2023, it didn’t take long for The Night Agent to become one of Netflix’s biggest shows of all time, something that undoubtedly led to the series quickly getting the green light for a return and also a third season. The second batch of episodes will debut this year, with Gabriel Basso reprising his role as a low-level FBI agent charged with solving a conspiracy and protecting those who cannot protect themselves from well-trained and dangerous forces.

The Brutalist – Jan. 24

An early contender for many award ceremonies in 2025, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is a drama film revolving around Adrien Brody’s architect Laszlo Toth describing his life as he flees post-war Europe and tries to rebuild his life and legacy in the United States. This is helped by a mysterious and wealthy client who appeals to Toth for a job like he could never have imagined.

Flight Risk – Jan. 24

Mel Gibson returns to the director’s chair for this next effort starring Mark Wahlberg and alongside Michelle Dockery. This film, known as Flight Risk, is all about an air marshal who, while accompanying a fugitive to a trial through the Alaskan wilderness, is faced with enormous challenges when the rest of the crew reveals that they are not all who they claim to be.

Presence – Jan. 24

Steven Soderbergh’s next directorial debut revolves around a family haunted by a mysterious, supernatural entity. This film, known as Presence, features Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Chris Sullivan and more, and sees how their idyllic life in the suburbs quickly turns to terror when they realize they share their home with something far more sinister and strange.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man [Disney+] – January 29

The next effort from Marvel Studios’ Marvel Animation division gives us a glimpse of a new version of the web-slinger Spider-Man. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man is an animated series that looks at Peter Parker’s college years and how he quickly transformed from a simple student into a superhero known all over New York City. With a striking animation technique that resembles comic books, this is Disney+’s big offering for January.

Mythic Quest: Season 4 [Apple TV+] – January 29

Things are as chaotic as ever in season 4 of Mythic Quest. Ian becomes jealous of Dana’s renewed fame and even turns to an AI version of himself for advice. Poppy gets a boyfriend and David and Rachel are dragged before Congress to testify about the state of video games. Not to mention the unexpected use of the PlayPen by children for inappropriate content…. It’s business as usual, with clashing egos and new challenges as the team tries to balance their work as game developers with their personal lives. And for those who don’t know, the anthology spin-off Side Quest premieres March 26, right after the end of Mythic Quest: Season 4, which kicks off in January with two episodes and then adds one more every Wednesday.

You are cordially invited [Prime Video] – January 30

Prime Video’s big release for January comes in the form of a comedy film known as You’re Cordially Invited. In this film, Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell play the sister of a bride-to-be and the father of another groom-to-be as they discover that their perfectly planned destination weddings are in fact double-booked. Needless to say, chaos ensues.

Saturday Night – January 31

You’re probably very familiar with the sketch comedy show that always begins with the signature phrasing “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Whether you’re a fan of the long-running comedy series or not, this film will attempt to delve into its iconic history by chronicling the turbulent and chaotic first show that took place in the mid-1970s. With a star-studded cast making up the crew, this is a film not to be missed if you thrive on comedy and historical stories.

And it does. January 2025 is in the books. Be sure to check back in a few weeks when we turn our attention and see what February 2025 has in store for movie and TV fans in cinemas and on streaming platforms.