A new year is finally upon us, which means tons of new and exciting Netflix movies are being released in the coming months. For now, we’re focusing on Netflix’s January 2023 offerings. Several notable Netflix movies are coming out this month, but do they all deserve a coveted spot on your watchlist?
In January 2023, Christian Bale and Gillian Anderson star in the gothic mystery The Pale Blue Eye. Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill team up for a buddy comedy, and Pamela Anderson finally tells the world her story on her terms in a new documentary. Which Netflix movies are must-watches for January, and which can you skip for now?
Best Netflix movies January 2023
Below we’re highlighting the best Netflix movies releasing in January 2023, and a few you can skip or at least not rush to watch.
The Pale Blue Eye. Christian Bale as Augustus Landor in The Pale Blue Eye. Cr. Scott Garfield/Netflix © 2022
The Pale Blue Eye, Jan. 6
Watch! Christian Bale stars in this adaptation of Louis Bayard’s novel of the same name. Bale plays world-weary detective Augustus Landor investigating the murder of a West Point cadet in 1830.
The victim’s fellow cadets are reluctant to talk to a detective, so Landor seeks assistance from one of their own, an eccentric man with a disdain for the military named Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling). This gothic thriller boasts stunning production design and features a stellar cast that includes Bale, Melling, Gillian Anderson, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, Lucy Boynton, and more.
Dog Gone. Johnny Berchtold as Fielding in Dog Gone. Cr. Bob Mahoney/Netflix © 2022.
Dog Gone, Jan. 13
Skip! Rob Lowe and Johnny Berchtold star as a father and son desperate to reunite with their lost dog Gonker when he goes missing on the Appalachian Trail. Based on the book Dog Gone: A Lost Pet’s Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home by Pauls Toutonghi, you can rest assured that the dog doesn’t die in this film.
I put “skip” for this one because I’m not a fan of animal movies, and I know other people feel the same. If you want to watch an inspiring film with a cute dog, give Dog Gone a chance.
Minions: The Rise of Gru, Jan. 23
Skip! Set in the 1970s, a young Gru (Steve Carell) tries to join a group of infamous villains known as the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). The interview goes terribly, with Gru and the Minions forced on the run from the group of evildoers.
Minions: The Rise of Gru is one of the better-reviewed films in the franchise, but by this point, many of us are suffering from Minions burnout. Unless you’ve got kids eager to check this one out, you can probably skip it when it finally hits Netflix this January.
You People. (L to R) Jonah Hill (Writer-Producer) as Ezra and Lauren London as Amira in You People. Cr. Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2023.
You People, Jan. 27
Watch! Black-ish creator Kenya Barris is back with a new buddy comedy film he co-wrote with Academy Award-nominated actor Jonah Hill, who also stars in the feature.
Per the Netflix logline, You People follows a new couple and their families “examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations, and generational differences.” You People is worth watching for the cast alone. Besides Hill, the movie stars Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Nia Long, and Lauren London.
Pamela, a love story. Cr: Netflix.
Pamela, a love story, Jan. 31
Watch! Hulu’s miniseries Pam & Tommy, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan, garnered significant acclaim and accolades. Still, the show has been overshadowed by controversy because Anderson did not give her consent. Thus it became an unauthorized retelling that many people feel used a woman’s trauma for entertainment.
The series happening without her consent feels particularly gross when the subject matter centers on how Anderson’s sex tape got stolen and circulated worldwide. It’s time for Pamela to tell her story on her terms, and Pamela, a love story is her chance to do just that. This humanizing and intimate portrait will follow the famous bombshell throughout her rise to fame, motherhood, and more.
Which Netflix movies coming in January 2023 are you most excited to watch?
