Indie Film Release Guide: January 12th [An ONTD Original]
In the first big movie release weekend of 2024, Paramount is betting on their updated (musical, not that you’d know from the trailers) take on Mean Girls, while Sony backs The Book of Clarence, a new film by Jeymes Samuel. And Disney is re-releasing several films over the next few weeks, with this weekend’s pick being 2020’s Soul. But as always, there are other options out there.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: January 5th, December 22nd, and December 15th.
Self Reliance
Click to viewStars: Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Andy Samberg, Christopher Lloyd
Writer/Director: Jake Johnson
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Plot: Given the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.
What you should know: This is Jake Johnson’s feature film directorial debut.
Where to watch: Hulu
Destroy All Neighbors
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Lennon, Alex Winter, Randee Heller
Writer: Mike Benner, Jared Logan, Charles A. Pieper
Director: Josh Forbes
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Plot: Struggling prog-rock musician William Brown finds himself in a living nightmare when he accidentally kills Vlad, the neighbor from hell.
What you should know: Director Josh Forbes also directed the Carly Rae Jepsen video for “It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries”.
Where to watch: Shudder
The Beekeeper
Stars: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Director: David Ayer
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as "Beekeepers".
What you should know: This is Jason Statham’s fifth film released in the past year.
Where to watch: In theaters
Role Play
Stars: Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Bill Nighy, Connie Nielsen
Writer: Seth W. Owen
Director: Thomas Vincent
Genre: Action
Plot: Emma has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey. She also has a secret life as an assassin for hire, a secret that her husband Dave discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play.
What you should know: Writer Seth W. Morgan’s last film was 2017’s All Nighter.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Driving Madeleine
Stars: Line Renaud, Dany Boon, Alice Isaaz, Jérémie Laheurte
Writer: Cyril Gely, Christian Carion
Director: Christian Carion
Genre: Drama
Plot: Madeleine, leaves small suburban to join a nursing home, on the other side of Paris. Charles, a taxi driver, comes to pick her and in no hurry to reach, she asks him to go through places of the capital, which have counted in her life.
What you should know: Official Selection of Toronto International Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters
Inshallah a Boy
Stars: Mouna Hawa, Haitham Alomari, Yumna Marwan, Salwa Nakkara
Writer: Delphine Agut, Rula Nasser, Amjad Al Rasheed
Director: Amjad Al Rasheed
Genre: Drama
Plot: A widow pretends to be pregnant with a son in order to save her daughter and home from a relative exploiting Jordan's patriarchal inheritance laws.
What you should know: This is Jordan’s entry for the International Feature Film category at the 2024 Academy Awards. It did not make the shortlist.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Settlers
Stars: Sam Spruell, Mark Stanley, Alfredo Castro, Mariano Llinás
Writer: Antonia Girardi, Felipe Gálvez Haberle, Mariano Llinás
Director: Felipe Gálvez Haberle
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Plot: In Chile in 1901, three horseman are paid to protect a vast estate. Accompanying a British soldier and an American mercenary is a mixed-race sniper, who realizes that his true mission is to kill the indigenous population.
What you should know: This is Chile’s entry for the International Feature Film category at the 2024 Academy Awards. It did not make the shortlist.
Where to watch: In theaters
T.I.M.
Stars: Georgina Campbell, Eamon Farren, Mark Rowley, Amara Karan
Writer: Spencer Brown, Sarah Govett
Director: Spencer Brown
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Plot: Prosthetics engineer Abi moves to the countryside to work on Integrate Robotic's latest product - a humanoid artificial intelligence called T.I.M. - Technologically. Integrated. Manservant.
What you should know: Director and co-writer Spencer Brown is also an actor.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Laced
Stars: Kyle Butenhoff, Mel Fair, Hermione Lynch, Dana Mackin
Writer/Director: Kyle Butenhoff
Genre: Thriller
Plot: In an unprecedented snowstorm, a wife's plans to kill her abusive husband begin to unravel.
What you should know: This is actor, writer and director Kyle Butenhoff’s feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters
Lift
Stars: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Vincent D’Onofrio
Writer: Daniel Kunka
Director: F. Gary Gray
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Plot: Follows a master thief and her ex-boyfriend who team up to steal $100 million in gold bullion being transported on a 777 passenger flight.
What you should know: Filmed in Northern Ireland.
Where to watch: Netflix
More New Releases
Mean Girls (Trailer) from Paramount
The Book of Clarence (Trailer) from Sony
Soul (Trailer) Re-release from Disney
Bobi Wine: The People’s President (Trailer) Re-release
The Night They Came Home (Trailer)
Household Saints (Trailer) Re-release
Bye Bye Tiberias (Trailer)
A Place of Our Own (Trailer)
Last Things (Trailer)
Source 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?