Welcome to another year of moviegoing. As always, 2018 promises tons of releases worth getting excited about, but before we delve into everything that January has to offer, let's take a brief glimpse back at last month.Box office-wise, 2017 certainly saved the best for the year's final weeks. Star Wars: The Last Jedi - despite its divisive reception by fans - swiftly became the highest-grossing domestic release of 2017. That makes this the third consecutive year in which a new Star Wars film has been the top-earner in the United States, after The Force Awakens and Rogue One. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle didn't fare too badly either, pushing Sony past the $1 billion mark for the year. Other December highlights like The Disaster Artist, I, Tonya and The Shape of Water might not be raking in piles of cash as towering as their bigger-budgeted brethren, but sharp critical word of mouth certainly boosts their prospects as awards season continues on.Related: The Biggest Box Office Hits of 2017However, as Kylo Ren so astutely observed, it's time to "let the past die." So, in keeping with that sentiment, let's kick off the New Year with the 10 films we're looking forward to in January 2018.
Insidious: The Last Key (Release Date: January 5)
Insidious was breath of fresh air when it debuted back in 2010, but its 2013 sequel seemed to neatly conclude what appeared to be a pretty finite story. Yet, as all moviegoers know, you can't keep a good horror franchise down. So Insidious: Chapter 3 - despite its misleading title - took the prequel route, centering on psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and her battles with the supernatural forces of The Further.
In Insidious: The Last Key, Shaye is again front and center. Picking up where the previous film ended, The Last Key - directed by Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan) - finds Elise and her assistants Tucker (Angus Sampson) and Specs (Leigh Whannell, who also co-wrote all four films) investigating paranormal happenings in Elise's childhood home. Fans might not know how this entry will expand the unique mythology of Insidious, but we can at least count on some solid scares.
Check out the latest trailer for Insidious: The Last Key.
Molly's Game (Release Date: January 5)
Jessica Chastain has a long history of tour-de-force performances, and Molly's Game - hitting wide release this month - looks to be no exception. Based on the popular memoir, the film stars Chastain as Molly Bloom, a young woman whose underground poker games make her an FBI target. Idris Elba and Kevin Costner appear as well, lending their support as Molly's attorney and father, respectively.
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More than just Chastain's latest starring vehicle, Molly's Game is the directorial debut of Academy Award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network). Known for his crackling dialogue, Sorkin has developed a reputation for bringing some of the most engaging thrillers in recent memory to life. In Molly's Game, he may have found not only a major awards contender but an opportunity to bounce back following the lackluster box office performance of Steve Jobs.
Check out the latest trailer for Molly's Game.
The Commuter (Release Date: January 12)
When Taken opened a decade ago, no one anticipated the impact that this action-thriller would have on pop culture or - especially - on the career of star Liam Neeson. Yet, the actor's "particular set of skills" launched both a franchise for his Bryan Mills character and a new era in which he found himself as a high-octane action star.
Reteaming with Unknown and Run All Night director Jaume Collet-Serra, Neeson stars in The Commuter as a businessman who, seemingly at random, gets embroiled in a criminal conspiracy during his daily commute. Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Elizabeth McGovern also appear. If The Commuter is anything like previous Collet-Serra/Neeson collaborations, audiences are in for a great time at the movies.
Check out the latest trailer for The Commuter.
Paddington 2 (Release Date: January 12)
Whenever a decades-old children's property is dusted off for a big-screen adaptation, the results are usually more of a financial victory than a creative one (looking at you, Alvin and the Chipmunks series). So, when writer/director Paul King delivered Paddington in 2014, most fans expected its tale of a charismatic marmalade-loving, talking Peruvian bear to be more of the same. Instead, King crafted a sweet and lovely tale about family that won over audiences and critics alike.
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By all accounts, Paddington 2 is just as strong as its predecessor. Ben Whishaw, of course, returns to voice the title character, and Sally Hawkins and Hugh Bonneville are back as the people who adopted him in the first film. Esteemed actors Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson join in the fun this time around, as Paddington attempts to solve a mystery with his family's help.
Check out the latest trailer for Paddington 2.
The Post (Release Date: January 12)
At this point, Steven Spielberg and history go hand in hand. So, even before anyone saw a moment of footage, The Post was high on everyone's list of ones to watch. Throw in the fact that it stars Oscar winners Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, and you really have a recipe for Academy Awards attention. With the film finally going to a wide release this month, The Post is poised to make its long-awaited impact at last.
Set in the 1970s, the film follows The New York Times and The Washington Post reporters who uncovered and published the Pentagon Papers that divulged the United States' role in the Vietnam War. After Spotlight similarly focused on the vital role of journalism, The Post feels like a natural extension of that theme, harkening back to an earlier era in cinema history and commenting on current events at the same time.
Check out the latest trailer for The Post.
Proud Mary (Release Date: January 12)
Taraji P. Henson has been impressing moviegoers at least as far back as Hustle & Flow in 2005, but her lead role in Hidden Figures may have cemented her as a big-screen leading lady. Proud Mary will put that to the test, giving Henson the chance to play a hitwoman who experiences an attack of conscience after a job goes horribly awry.
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Director Babak Najafi only has one Hollywood credit to his name (2016 sequel London Has Fallen), but the undeniable charisma of Henson - and a supporting cast that includes Danny Glover, Neal McDonough and Billy Brown - alone might be enough to elevate this action-thriller into one of January's biggest sleeper hits.
Check out the latest trailer for Proud Mary.
12 Strong (Release Date: January 19)
In May, we'll all get the chance to see Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Avengers: Infinity War. But before the Asgardian ruler rejoins his fellow heroes, Hemsworth leads an ensemble cast - featuring the likes of Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Trevante Rhodes, William Fichtner and Rob Riggle - in this war drama based on Doug Stanton's non-fiction book Horse Soldiers.
Directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, 12 Strong follows U.S. military officers who head into Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. With tensions running high, the group sets out on an impossible mission. Military dramas tend to have a built-in audience, and the fact that Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs) and Peter Craig (The Town) wrote the script only makes 12 Strong more promising.
Check out the latest trailer for 12 Strong.
Den of Thieves (Release Date: January 19)
Fresh from Geostorm, Gerard Butler is back in action with this crime thriller. Christian Gudegast - the writer behind London Has Fallen and Vin Diesel vehicle A Man Apart - directs Den of Thieves, in which Butler plays a corrupt cop hell-bent on taking down a gang of thugs planning an impossible heist at the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Los Angeles.
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If Butler alone isn't enough to make you curious, the film also features an extensive supporting cast, including Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Pablo Schreiber, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Evan Jones. January does appear quite the month for those thirst for a good crime thriller, and in that case, Den of Thieves should definitely be on to seek out.
Check out the latest trailer for Den of Thieves.
Hostiles (Release Date: January 19)
Director Scott Cooper has already worked with Christian Bale, in 2013 thriller Out of the Furnace. Now the duo are back at it again with their new project, a Western war film titled Hostiles. Bale stars as Captain Joseph J. Block, a U.S. Cavalry soldier tasked with escorting a Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family to Montana in 1892.
Cooper has a pretty solid track record for these intimate, character-centered dramas, having earned Jeff Bridges an Oscar for Crazy Heart and directing Johnny Depp to one of his best performances in years in Black Mass. We expect Hostiles to only continue this trend, especially with actors like Bale, Studi, Rosamund Pike, Ben Foster, Adam Beach and Timothée Chalamet on board.
Check out the latest trailer for Hostiles.
Maze Runner: The Death Cure (Release Date: January 26)
A lot of sci-fi and fantasy young adult book series have made the jump from page to screen in recent years, thanks to the runaway success of series like Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games. Of the film franchises to emerge from this trend, The Maze Runner is certainly the most consistent. Even though the series isn't as popular or hasn't grossed as much as some of its contemporaries, director Wes Ball has guided both the 2014 original film and its 2015 sequel into satisfying thrill rides.
Now, with Maze Runner: The Death Cure, he aims to complete the trilogy. Originally set for release next year before star Dylan O'Brien sustained injuries during filming, the film follows Thomas (O'Brien) and the other escaped Gladers as they attempt to break into the infamous Last City. With any luck, longtime Maze Runner fans will finally get the epic conclusion they've been hoping for.
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Check out the latest trailer for Maze Runner: The Death Cure.
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While the box office competition will only intensify in the months ahead, January offers enough highlights to keep us busy for a while. The latest instalments in the Insidious, Paddington and Maze Runner franchises could propel all three to even greater success, with that last one in particular aiming to wrap up its trilogy in spectacular fashion. Moreover, Oscar hopefuls like Molly's Game and The Post will vie for audiences attention, and Liam Neeson will once again prove why age is nothing but a number in the world of action cinema.
Once again, here are the 10 films to check out in January:
January 5: Insidious: The Last Key, Molly's Game
January 12: The Commuter, Paddington 2, The Post, Proud Mary
January 19: 12 Strong, Den of Thieves, Hostiles
January 26: Maze Runner: The Death Cure