Happy new year to you all, and what better way to kick of 2026 than to help support your local cinema. Last year had its ups and downs, but on the whole I thought 2025 was one of the strongest years for cinema that we have had in quite a while. While the global box office is not quite back to where it was before the global pandemic six years ago, the year ended strongly with the likes of “Zootropolis 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” drawing audiences back into theatres.
Hopefully 2026 can carry on from what was a sensational year for film, and while January is usually seen as somewhat of a graveyard for new releases, there are some notable films coming to the big screen this month, including some major Oscar players that finally have their belated UK release. Shakespearean drama “Hamnet” and Korean thriller “No Other Choice” are certain to appear amongst the Oscar nominees in a few weeks, and whilst films like “Rental Family”, “Song Sung Blue”, “Is This Thing On?”, “The History of Sound” and “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, may have fallen off from award season in recent months, they still offer a level of prestige still worth seeking out.
The first actual 2026 titles of note to land this year include apocalyptic sequel, “Greenland 2: Migration”, sci-fi thriller “Mercy”, true life drama “H is for Hawk”, and horror film “Primate”. The first major global release of 2026 is “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”, Nia DaCosta‘s sequel to the long awaited third instalment in Danny Boyle’s British, zombie franchise that only came out in the summer.
Which January release are you most excited for?
Song Sung Blue (12A)
Dir: Craig Brewer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mustafa Shakir, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi
Synopsis: Two down-on-their-luck performers form a Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
Hamnet (12A)
Dir: Chloe Zhao
Cast: Jesse Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alawyn
Synopsis: William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, celebrate the birth of their son, Hamnet. However, when tragedy strikes and Hamnet dies at a young age, it inspires Shakespeare to write his timeless masterpiece “Hamlet.”
Giant (15)
Dir: Rowan Athale
Cast: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan, Katherine Dow Blyton, Austin Haynes, Arian Nik, Ali Saleh, Ghaith Saleh
Synopsis: Inspired by the real-life story of Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed, a British-Yemeni boxer, and his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a world champion and his training under Brendan Ingle who played a crucial role in his success.
Greenland 2: Migration (15)
Dir: Ric Roman Waugh
Cast: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis
Synopsis: In the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the planet, the Garrity family must leave the safety of their Greenland bunker to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (18)
Dir: Nia DaCosta
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry
Synopsis: Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship with consequences that could change the world as he knows it, while Spike’s encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape.
Rental Family (12A)
Dir: Hikari
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, Akira Emoto
Synopsis: Struggling to find purpose, an American actor lands an unusual gig with a Japanese agency to play stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he soon rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
The Voice of Hind Rajab (15)
Dir: Kaouther Ben Hania
Cast: Saja Kilani, Motaz Malhees, Amer Hlehel, Clara Khoury
Synopsis: Volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society stay on the phone with a 6-year-old girl who gets trapped in a car in war-torn Gaza.
The Rip (TBC)
Dir: Joe Carnahan
Cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler
Synopsis: A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the seizure, making them question who to rely on.
No Other Choice (15)
Dir: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won
Synopsis: Abruptly laid off after 25 years at the same company, a desperate man goes to extreme lengths to eliminate the competition for the job he wants.
Mercy (12A)
Dir: Timur Bekmambetov
Cast: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson
Synopsis: In the near future, an advanced AI judge tells a captive detective that he’s on trial for the murder of his wife. If he fails to prove his innocence within 90 minutes, he’ll be executed on the spot.
H is for Hawk (12A)
Dir: Philippa Lowthorpe
Cast: Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, Lindsay Duncan
Synopsis: After losing her beloved father, Helen finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel.
Return to Silent Hill (15)
Dir: Christophe Gans
Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Evie Templeton
Synopsis: When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of his lost love, James finds a once-recognisable town and encounters terrifying figures both familiar and new, and begins to question his own sanity.
The History of Sound (15)
Dir: Oliver Hermanus
Cast: Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Chris Cooper
Synopsis: Two young men during World War I set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen.
Is This Thing On? (15)
Dir: Bradley Cooper
Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Der, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper
Synopsis: Facing middle age and an impending divorce, Alex finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene, while his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices she made for their family.
Primate (TBC)
Dir: Johannes Roberts
Cast: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur
Synopsis: Lucy’s tropical island homecoming turns deadly when her family’s clever chimpanzee, Ben, becomes rabid. With her father away and no help coming, paradise becomes a prison as Lucy and her friends fight for survival against a pet they once trusted.
Kangaroo (PG)
Dir: Kate Woods
Cast: Ryan Corr, Lily Whitely, Deborah Mailman, Rachel House, Rarriwuy Hick, Rick Donald, Brooke Satchwell
Synopsis: Ex-TV personality, Chris Masterman, becomes stranded in a town outside Alice Springs. There, he teams up with 12-year-old Charlie.
Dan Loves Film 
Hamnet is a stunning piece of cinema…an incredibly powerful finish.
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I enjoyed Hamnet, however I found the ending tried too hard to evoke an emotional response. Lacked the nuance of Zhao’s better worls and the use of On the Nature of Daylight was cheap
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