January 2026 is set to be a big month for new movies, with sequels, action films, and adaptations of popular books all hitting theaters. ScreenRant teamed up with Diesel Labs, a company that analyzes online data, to find out which films are generating the most excitement before they even come out. They’ve created a “hype score” for each movie, based on how much people are talking about them online.
These movies are ranked based on how much attention they’re getting online. We measure this by looking at things like likes, shares, comments, and views on platforms like Facebook and YouTube. This helps us see which new movies are creating the most buzz with potential viewers, even before reviews come out or they hit theaters.
January 2026 promises a diverse range of new films, from the latest installment in a popular horror series to a documentary sparking debate about the First Lady. According to data collected by Diesel Labs, the most talked-about movies include a sci-fi adventure starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, and a new action sequel featuring Gerard Butler. These films are generating the most buzz online, making for an exciting start to the year.
Top 10 Most Anticipated New Movies – January 2026
| Title | Premiere Date | Platform | Genre | Attention Scale | Attention Signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | 1/16/2026 | Sony Pictures | Horror | 100.00% | 140,357,109 |
| Mercy | 1/23/2026 | Amazon MGM Studios | Sci-Fi Thriller | 45.28% | 63,558,312 |
| Primate | 1/9/2026 | Paramount Pictures | Horror | 37.40% | 52,500,437 |
| Shelter | 1/30/2026 | Black Bear Pictures | Action Thriller | 33.95% | 47,655,962 |
| Greenland 2: Migration | 1/9/2026 | Lionsgate | Action Thriller | 31.50% | 44,208,359 |
| People We Meet on Vacation | 1/9/2026 | Netflix | Romantic Comedy | 31.38% | 44,048,247 |
| Send Help | 1/30/2026 | 20th Century Studios | Horror Thriller | 18.92% | 26,552,864 |
| The RIP | 1/16/2026 | Netflix | Action Thriller | 6.92% | 9,712,566 |
| How to Lose a Popularity Contest | 1/16/2026 | Tubi | Comedy | 1.41% | 1,980,258 |
| Melania | 1/30/2026 | Amazon MGM Studios | Documentary | 1.25% | 1,754,121 |
Data from Diesel Labs indicates that the most eagerly awaited movie in January 2026 is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the latest installment in the post-apocalyptic horror series, directed by Nia DaCosta and Alex Garland. The second most talked-about film is Mercy, a sci-fi thriller featuring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. Also generating significant online buzz are Paramount’s horror film Primate, centered around chimpanzees, and Shelter, the newest action thriller starring Jason Statham.
Several highly anticipated films are slated for release in January 2026, including the action-packed sequel Greenland 2: Migration starring Gerard Butler. Netflix will also premiere the romantic comedy People We Meet on Vacation, based on a popular book, and the suspenseful survival thriller Send Help, featuring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. Plus, Netflix is releasing The Rip, a new action thriller reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Wrapping up the month, the movies getting the most buzz online are Tubi’s comedy How to Lose a Popularity Contest and the new political documentary Melania from Amazon MGM Studios – it follows Melania Trump in the weeks before Donald Trump’s potential second inauguration. Honestly, January 2026’s releases are really capturing people’s attention before they even hit our screens, and I think it’s a mix of well-known creators and intriguing subject matter driving that conversation.
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2025-12-26 22:44