6 Movies That Feel Like January In A Beautiful And Unexplainable Way

If you are a movie, then you do not want to come out in January.

That is a fact of Hollywood so irrefutable as to be recognized even by that one cousin who has only been to the movies once in his life (to see Avatar: The Way of Water). January is a graveyard for movies, a smoking wasteland filled with the skeletons of Mortdecai and The Rhythm Section and racked by the lingering screams of Night Swim. On the other hand, January the month is much more critically acclaimed than its cinematic output. Everyone from Roger Ebert to Madi Moo can agree that January has great cinematography and themes, with wintry landscapes reminiscent of Alejandro G. Iñárritu and stories of new beginnings that invoke Nora Ephron. With that in mind, here are six movies that perfectly embody the spirit of January.

Wild (2014)

If January is a time for reinvention and fresh starts, then Wild is January. In this movie, the ironically-named Cheryl Strayed wanders from her chosen path – marriage, steady income – and sets out on a 1,100-mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail. Played by a photogenic Reese Witherspoon, she barely evades death and loneliness but ultimately confronts her demons, mining untapped strength and resetting her own life. If your New Year’s resolution is not “have perfect hair and makeup while embarking upon a life-threatening journey across America” after this movie, then congrats because you’re apparently already perfect.

The Hangover (2009)

New Year’s Day is always a mixed bag. While it’s a lovely time to look ahead and imagine a better you, it’s also a time to shake off the lingering effects of the previous year. This can be both literal and metaphorical – and in the case of your freshly acquired hangover, it’s literal. In fact, did you know that New Year’s Day is unofficially known as National Hangover Day? In this vein, The Hangover is a no-brainer for this list. 

Fargo (1996)

By far the snowiest movie on this list, Fargo looks very January-esque, even if it doesn’t embody the month. This, of course, will only make sense to people living north of the Mason-Dixon line. In any case, you will feel very cold, detached, and beset by wintry conditions as you watch Frances McDormand and William H. Macy bumble around Minnesota solving crimes in this Coen Brothers classic.

Good Boys (2019)

This hilarious 2019 coming-of-age film is literally about a new beginning: The title characters have just started middle school. And in a doubly January-esque move, they’re all so young that each of them looks like the New Year’s Baby. This works perfectly in the movie’s favor, though, as it frequently deploys gross-out humor, which is ten times as funny when seen through the eyes of babes. This movie flew under the radar when it was released, but you should make it your new New Year’s Resolution to see it. 

Selma (2014)

OK, you can ask us why this movie feels like January. It’s because it’s about Martin Luther King, Jr.! I have always associated Martin Luther King, Jr. with paid time off, and for that I still thank him. (Well, I also thank him for his kindness, generosity, leadership, activism, and legacy.) In any case, if you’re looking for a good movie about this beautiful soul, then look no further than Selma. Though it came out ten years ago, it still feels fresh today with its sweeping tale about the historic Selma to Montgomery Marches of 1965. David Oyelowo shines as Dr. King and Ava DuVernay’s direction coaxes out every emotional beat. The movie even earned John Legend and Common an Oscar for Best Original Song for their work on “Glory.”

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

OK, now you have to go back to not asking things, because I can’t fully explain why Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a January movie. Is it because it filled me with hope … that it could be good? (Until I watched it?) Is it because it’s such a weird movie with niche appeal that never had any chance of becoming a box office legend? (A.K.A. a January movie?) Or is it because it’s about Abraham Lincoln realizing that the only way to step confidently into his future is to forget his past as a person who did not hunt vampires? I think it’s definitely the last thing!