The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In January 2025

Netflix is always full of surprises, and the new year certainly brought its fair share for movie lovers. A new month always means a fresh slate of films to choose from on the streaming platform, but Netflix pulled a fast one right at the end of December 2024 and unexpectedly added some surprise films to our usual bag of goodies. Combined with the treasure trove of new movies already heading to Netflix in January 2025, this month’s selection of films might have been the best ever, giving us great new releases that include: an epic Western with an all-star ensemble cast; a blockbuster that provided an origin story for one of the 21st century’s most iconic characters; and, last but not least, the biggest cinematic event of 2024—a sand-filled epic that was decades in the making. Yeah, make no mistake about it: your movie choices this month are about as exciting as it gets.

But with so many movies to choose from, where do you start? Hopefully, I can help. I’ve put together what I believe to be the ten best films new to Netflix in January 2025 (I’ll include the surprise additions added at the very end of 2024). Below, you’ll find all ten movies recommendations, along with plot descriptions, trailers and reasons you should watch them. Then at the very bottom of the article, there’s a comprehensive list of every single new movie available this month on Netflix. Happy movie watching!

The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In January 2025

Horizon: An America Saga: Chapter 1 (2024)

Kevin Costner makes his grand directorial return to the Western genre with the first chapter of Horizon: An American Saga—his epic, ten-plus hour exploration of frontier life in the 19th century. The story unfolds across 15 years, following disparate characters whose lives intersect as they navigate the unforgiving conditions of the American West. Much like the sprawling plot, the cast is quite large, and includes key performances from: Costner himself as Hayes Ellison, a surveyor whose vision for a settlement named Horizon sparks both hope and conflict; Sienna Miller as Frances Kittredge, a mother forced to rebuild her life after a devastating raid; and Owen Crow Shoe as Pionsenay, a leader of the Apache tribe who is central to the film’s exploration of Indigenous resilience and resistance. The cast also features Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Rooker and Jena Malone (and that only scratches the surface), who all play critical roles in this interrogation of the mythologized American West. Dare I say it: this may be Costner’s finest showing to date (and that’s saying something).

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Needless to say: if you haven’t seen Dune: Part One, then you should before watching Dune: Part Two. But make no mistake: the sequel is the truly better film, as it marks director Denis Villeneuve’s career-defining stamp on sci-fi cinema. The second part picks up immediately after the events of the first, following Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he dives deeper into his messianic journey. As Paul becomes one with the Fremen people, many of whom view him as the Lisan al Gaib (a prophesied savior), he must also grapple with his hate-filled thirst for revenge against those who attacked his family. Villeneuve’s mastery of scale and spectacle is on full display in Dune: Part Two–from the sprawling sand dunes of Arrakis to the awe-inspiring sandworms that inhabit its depths, the most-talked-about movie of 2024 juxtaposes its feverish, intimate moments with grand, sweeping landscapes in an awe-inspiring mythological manner. Along with Chalamet (who gives the most powerful performance of his career), you can find great showings from actors like (the greatly underrated) Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler—and many, many more. Be prepared to be swept away.

Erin Brokovich (2000)

There are some movies that, no matter how old they are or how much reverence they have, compel me to give a recommendation. And while Erin Brokovich came out way back in 2000, I can’t help but believe many people still haven’t seen this gem from Steven Soderbergh. This comedy/romance/drama follows the true story of Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts in an Oscar-winning performance), a struggling single mother who, despite knowing little about legalese, fronts a lawsuit that would become groundbreaking on the environmental front. After taking a clerical job at a small law, Erin discovers that an area gas giant knowingly poisoned a town’s water supply, causing devastating health problems hundreds of people. Roberts portrays Erin as a complex character—flawed yet determined, brash yet compassionate—and her thespian counterparts, from Albert Finney in a mentor role to Aaron Eckhart in a transformative performance, match her powerful performance. Soderbergh navigates these dark waters to show the power of human resilience, of persistent investigation, of the power for the Davids of the world to rise up against the Goliaths that believe they’re above the law.

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Every once in a while, a largely forgotten genre film will discover newfound success on Netflix. Earlier this week, In the Heart of the Sea was one such film, as it enjoyed a four-day run in the #1 position on Netflix’s Top 10 list. This true story of a disastrous 1820 whale expedition that went on to inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick follows Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), an ambitious first mate eager to captain his own ship, and George Pollard (Benjamin Walker), an inexperienced captain from a privileged family. Their plan to harvest whale oil, their role in fueling the industrial revolution, unfortunately turns into a perilous, life-threatening as they venture journey deep into the Pacific. Little do they know that a colossal sperm whale awaits to destroy their ship, forcing unimaginable hardships—including starvation, exposure, and moral crises—upon the few survivors. Framed through a conversation between a survivor of the tragedy, Thomas (Brendan Gleeson), and a young Melville (Ben Whishaw), the film intertwines historical drama with the mythos of one of literature’s greatest works for a fascinating, meta discussion about storytelling and how we remember important, defining stories.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Mad Max: Fury Road unexpectedly hit Netflix at the end of January, but that isn’t the Mad Max movie that should catch your attention. Instead, I’d encourage you to watch what I believe to be the best blockbuster of 2024: Furiosa. This prequel to Fury Road takes us back into the origins of Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road but inhabited by Anya Taylor-Joy here. Captured as a child and separated from her family, Furiosa becomes embroiled in a battle between two warlords: the brutal rebellion of Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and the rising power of Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). Furiosa’s arc across the two films is nothing short of mythological. In Fury Road, she is already a hardened survivor, a symbol of defiance and redemption. But Furiosa takes it to a whole new lever, laying the seeds of that transformation as Taylor-Joy brings a raw vulnerability to the role, capturing Furiosa’s early struggles and her eventual embrace of power. Meanwhile, Hemsworth gives a performance of a lifetime through Dementus with a self-aware arrogance, embodying a villain whose insecurities are masked by bluster. During its closing moments, this film left me in absolute awe. I can’t recommend it enough.

Melancholia (2011)

Lars von Trier seems to all at once despise his characters, the people watching his movie and himself—a combination that, on the surface, is certainly off-putting to many. But, through that aesthetic, I would argue what he achieves is something deeper, more hopeful, more revealing about the human condition; he takes his characters to places no other filmmakers are willing to go. Melancholia is a great example. The film is split into halves to follow two sisters, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), as the world seemingly comes to an end. One, Justine, deals with crippling depression (truly, it’s a condition called melancholia) and is unable to enjoy life even on her wedding night, while the other, Claire, is an emotional mess who puts on a confident front yet is frantically trying to control every moving piece in her life. We watch these two personalities clash as a planet-destroying meteor jets towards Earth, ready to end everything. The clash of cosmic indifference and existentialism stirs up the scariest aspects of this grand journey we call life, resulting in a deeply introspective film that feels like no other.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2025)

There are many movies that own a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I’m not sure there are any with as many reviews—110 reviews, to be exact, at this very moment—as Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, this wonderful little animated film brings our favorite claymation heroes back to the screen, thrusting Wallace and Gromit into another farcical adventure that’s as touching as it is hilarious. The story is driven by a familiar motif of the franchise: Wallace’s (voiced by Ben Whitehead) obsession with inventions. His latest money-draining invention, Norbot, a hyper-efficient “smart gnome,” is designed to streamline gardening tasks. But at no point does he expect Feathers McGraw, the scheming penguin from The Wrong Trousers, to hack into the robot’s programming and transform the cheerful gnome into a malevolent force. Once Feathers infiltrates their lives, Wallace and his faithful canine companion—along with some friends, like Chief Inspector Mackintosh (Peter Kay)—must then rally to thwart menacing villain’s plans. Whether you’re revisiting old friends or meeting them for the first time, Vengeance Most Fowl is a reminder of why Wallace and Gromit remain beloved figures in animated cinema.

80 for Brady (2023)

Don’t think for one second that I will apologize for loving a movie like 80 for Brady. There’s a special free-flowing quality to these sorts of ensemble comedies with elderly casts (movies like Book Club and Last Vegas) that feels carefree and digestible without ever sacrificing authenticity. Usually filled with fantastic, Oscar-winning actors—as is the case here with Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno—films like 80 for Brady unflinchingly embrace the lightness of life and the humor of the everyday, achieving an aesthetic that is as entertaining as it is revealing. Directed by Kyle Marvin, this football-loving comedy was inspired by four real-life friends who share an unwavering love for the pigskin legend Tom Brady. Determined to see their favorite quarterback play in the Super Bowl, Lou, Trish, Betty and Maura embark upon a wild cross-country adventure, along the way encountering hilarious obstacles and unexpected opportunities that display there’s no age where you have to stop embracing life. The film champions the idea that age is no barrier to new adventures, showcasing how passion and friendship can reignite a sense of purpose.

The Watchers (2024)

M. Night Shyamalan has been very active as of late, with movies like Old and Knock at the Cabin. He even released in Trap in 2024—but he wasn’t the only Shyamalan active last year. His daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, made her directorial debut with The Watchers, a critically maligned film that, nonetheless, offers great material to offer in the suspense arena, and in many ways displayed aspects of some of her father’s best work. Dakota Fanning takes the lead as Mina, who becomes stranded in an Irish forest where the supernatural and psychological collide. While trapped in the mess of foreboding trees, she stumbles into a bunker ominously called “The Coop,” where she meets three other captives: Clara (Georgina Campbell), Daniel (Oliver Finnegan) and Madeline (Olwen Fouéré), who are all trapped by mysterious entities known as the Watchers. The movie’s eerie cinematography and unnerving sound design, especially the bone-chilling roars of the Watchers, immerse you in a setting that permeates the sort of danger found in folk horror classics, blending modern supernatural sensibilities with the archetypal fight for survival.

Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan certainly needs no introduction. At this point, he feels like the most beloved director in both the audience and critical arena, recently cemented by his long overdue win for Best Director at the Academy Awards for Oppenheimer (the movie won Best Picture as well). But I can’t help but feel that Interstellar, despite being beloved by many for its visual grandeur, for its uncompromising realism, for its sheer embracement of humanity, has never quite achieved the same immortalized status as films like The Dark Knight or Inception. Maybe it’s because its story and aspirations shoot too high: Interstellar follows Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former NASA pilot turned farmer recruited for a daring mission to find a new habitable planet. Earth is on the brink of collapse due to environmental degradation, and a mysterious wormhole near Saturn offers humanity a chance to escape. Cooper and his team (a cast that includes Anne Hathaway and Wes Bentley) explore the intergalactic phenomenon while his children (played, as time passes, interchangeably by Mackenzie Foy, Jessica Chastain, Timothée Chalamet and Casey Affleck) stay behind, and their collective journeys amalgamate to become a meditation on humanity’s capacity for survival.

Every New Movie on Netflix in January 2025

• January 1: 13 Going on 30 (2004); 3 Ninjas: Kick Back (1994); A Little White Lie (2023); Apollo 13 (1995); Blended (2014); Bruce Almighty (2003); Colombiana (2011); Dallas Buyers Club (2013); Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012); Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat (2003); Dr. Stone (New Episodes); Erin Brockovich (2000); Hotel Transylvania (2012); Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015); I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997); Inception (2010); Interstellar (2014); In the Heart of the Sea (2015); Love Actually (2003); Meet the Parents (2000); Meet the Fockers (2004); Little Fockers (2010); Melancholia (2011); Missing You (Limited Series); Notting Hill (1999); Number 24 (2025); Out of Africa (1985); Rush Hour (1998); Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rush Hour 3 (2007); Schindler’s List (1993); Scooby-Doo (2002); Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004); Spider-Man (2002); Spider-Man 2 (2004); Spider-Man 3 (2007); The Net (1995); The Flintstones (1994); The Love Scam (2025); The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)
• January 2: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024); Cunk on Life (2025); Kaka Boss (2024); RRR Behind & Beyond (2024)
• January 3: Umjolo: My Beginning, My End! (2024); Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2025)
• January 4: 80 for Brady (2023)
• January 9: American Primeval (Limited Series); Lion (2016)
• January 15: Hereditary (2018)
• January 16: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
• January 17: Back in Action (2025); The Roshans (2025)
• January 21: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (2022); You Gotta Believe (2024)
• January 24: The Sand Castle (2024)
• January 26: You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
• January 28: Liza Treyger: Night Owl (2024)
• January 31: Lucca’s World (2024)