New year, new you, new Netflix queue. The streaming service has a host of new feature film offerings on tap for January 2020, but sometimes it can be either daunting deciding what to pick, or tough to find what new movies have actually been added to Netflix. No to worry, as we’ve gone through and picked out five movies that are new to Netflix in January that are pretty much guaranteed to make your night. Whether you’re into action, sci-fi, or drama, we’ve got you covered. So get to it and check out our list of the best new movies to watch on Netflix in January.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Director/Writer:Anthony Minghella
Cast:Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jack Davenport
For some insane reasonThe Talented Mr. Ripleyfeels like an underrated movie, but make no mistake: it’s one of the best films ever made. Set in the 1950s,Matt Damonplays the titular character, who is tasked with bringing Dickie (Jude Law), a young man living it up in Italy, home by Dickie’s father. The problem? Dickie’s father made a mistake in thinking Tom actually knew Dickie, when in truth they’re strangers. Tom becomes infatuated with Dickie and his lifestyle, subtly taking on Dickie’s persona as his own. Deadly twists ensue and Damon proves here that he’s one of the greatest actors of his generation. The film delves into themes of identity, lust, and morality with a brilliantly deft touch, and the cinematography is astounding. –Adam Chitwood
Director/Writer:Christopher Nolan
Cast:Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
After making one of the most critically acclaimed superhero movies in history, filmmakerChristopher Nolanset out to test whether Hollywood could still bet big on original ideas with his 2010 sci-fi actionerInception. To the tune of $828.3 million at the box office and multiple Oscar nominations, audiences and critics alike responded enthusiastically, and thus a new classic was born.Leonardo DiCaprioplays a professional thief haunted by his past who takes on one last job. The catch? His heists take placeinside people’s minds, as he’s tasked with either stealing or planting information in someone’s head.Inceptionis a visually stunning affair that also boasts one of the most exciting endings in recent memory. –Adam Chitwood
Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2
Director/Writer:Quentin Tarantino
Cast:Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivca A. Fox, Michael Masen, Sonny Chiba, and Gordon Liu
Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opusKill Billis not just a love letter to kung fu movies, it’s a tribute to every single genre that ever influenced the iconic writer/director. WhileVolume 1is certainly more focused on the individual fights andVolume 2is a more melancholic revenge story, the two-part saga allows Tarantino to dabble in genres as disparate as Spaghetti Western, horror, slapstick comedy, family drama, and of course romance. And while theKill Billmovies have turned out to be somewhat divisive in QT’s filmography as a whole, if you’re in the mood for a double dose of cinema from a filmmaker who loves movies with every fiber of his being, you really can’t go wrong withKill Bill.
Catch Me If You Can
Director:Steven Spielberg
Writer:Jeff Nathanson
Cast:Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Amy Adams
You can’t really have too muchLeonardo DiCaprio, right?Catch Me If You Canis lowkey one ofSteven Spielberg’s best films that also boasts one of DiCaprio’s best performances and one ofJohn Williams’ best scores—and all of that is saying something. Based on a true story, DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr., who became a professional con man by the age of 19, earning millions of dollars while trotting around the globe. But at heart,Catch Me If You Canis the story of a father and a son, and is actually one of Spielberg’s most personal films he’s ever made—it was directly influenced by Spielberg learning new information about his father’s divorce. But this movie is also an absolute blast. –Adam Chitwood
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Director:John Hughes
Writer:John Hughes
Cast:Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jeffrey Jones, and Jennifer Grey
There are few films that evoke the tone and feeling of their subject matter better thanFerris Bueller’s Day Off. TheJohn Hughesclassic captures the “senioritis” feeling of skipping school and hanging out with your friends perfectly, genuinely giving the viewer the feeling of going along on Ferris’ adventures. Of course that’s due in no small part toMatthew Broderick’s mix of charm, smart-aleck, and sarcasm that makes up his tremendous lead performance, and he and Hughes hit the fourth wall-breaking in the absolute perfect manner. ButFerris Buellerdoesn’t endure simply because it’s a good time—the film is actually quite melancholic, as it touches on the impending loss of youth and approaches relationships with a mature honesty that’s lacking in many 80s high school comedies.Ferris Bueller’s Day Offis simply one of the most rewatchable films ever made. –Adam Chitwood
