Some people spend their days arguing over the merits of Netflix, but the rest of us are too busy enjoying new movies, engaging series, and fun specials. It’s just one more way to re-watch the movies we already love and find new ones to cherish, and this month sees some of both hitting the service.
The complete list of movies and shows hitting (and leaving) Netflix this month — January 2020 — is below, but first I’m going to highlight a few that stand apart from the bunch.
Netflix Pick of the Month
I’m a sucker for religious thrillers/horror that play around with beliefs and behaviors regardless of whether or not they end up confirming or denying their heavenly characters. Mobs of believers are scary enough even if the thing they believe in is nonexistent. Messiah is a new Netflix Original series starring Michelle Monaghan — always a plus — as a CIA agent tasked with investigating a mysterious young man causing turmoil in the Middle East. Is he a crackpot, the return of Christ, or something else? I’m only a couple episodes in so far, but I’m digging it so far.
When Remakes Go Wrong
Tim Burton is several years removed from his last great film, 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, and while the eleven movies he’s made since then range from the good to the abysmal, few are as distressing as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Casting Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka is a bad enough start, but every other decision works to rob the story of wonder and wit. Watch it if you must, but only after checking out the original which is also new this month. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) remains a terrifically entertaining and disturbing film for all ages.
Who’s Up For Some International Originals?
Netflix is a global streaming service meaning they’ve spent the last few years stepping up their game when it comes to producing original content beyond the US. This month sees several new shows and films making their debut, and a couple of them have me intrigued. Ghost Stories is a horror anthology from India featuring four stories from four directors, and seeing as it’s from the same team that previously delivered Lust Stories (2018) it at least shows consistency. While that’s available now, another international original of interest doesn’t drop until January 31st — Ragnarok is a new series from Denmark/Norway that follows a small town’s awakening to the possibility that climate change and natural disasters are signaling the approach of a new Ragnarok. Sure, it’s also a YA adventure, but it could be fun!
The Oldest New Arrival
It’s no shocker to hear that Netflix is home to more recent films than older ones, but while most of their monthly additions are from this century they usually toss in some titles from the 90s and 80s too. On rare occasions, they go even older, and this month’s ancient film is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). It’s a kids’ film and a musical about a flying car, a menacing kingdom, and Dick Van Dyke getting some road action, but I’ll always remember it for the utterly terrifying sequence involving a professionally creepy child catcher stalking and capturing a pair of siblings. The scene still haunts my dreams. Watch it with the whole family!
The Complete List
January 1st
21 (2008)
American Beauty (1999)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Chasing Amy (1997)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Chloe (2009)
A Cinderella Story (2004)
The Circle [Netflix Original]
City of God (2002)
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
Dragonheart (1996)
Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer’s Curse (2015)
Dragonheart: A New Beginning (2000)
Drugs, Inc.: Season 6
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Free Willy (1993)
Ghost Rider (2007)
Ghost Stories [Netflix Film]
Good Girls – Season 2
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Hitch (2005)
Inception (2010)
Instructions Not Included (2013)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Kingpin (1996)
Kiss the Girls (1997)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Messiah [Netflix Original]
Monster-in-Law (2005)
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991)
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
New York Minute (2004)
Nisman: Death of a Prosecutor [Netflix Documentary]
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Patriot Games (1992)
The Ring (2002)
Saint Seiya: Season 4-5
Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden (2012)
Shrek Forever After (2010)
Spinning Out [Netflix Original]
Strictly Ballroom (1992)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (1990)
Tremors (1990)
True Grit (1969)
Up in the Air (2009)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Wild Wild West (1999)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Wyatt Earp (1994)
Yes Man (2008)
January 2nd
Sex, Explained [Netflix Documentary]
Thieves of the Wood [Netflix Original]
January 3rd
All the Freckles in the World [Netflix Film]
Anne with an E – The Final Season [Netflix Original]
January 4th
Go! Go! Cory Carson [Netflix Family]
January 8th
Cheer [Netflix Documentary]
January 10th
AJ and the Queen [Netflix Original]
The Evil Dead (1981)
Girl/Haji [Netflix Original]
Harvey Girls Forever! – Season 4 [Netflix Family]
The Inbestigators – Season 2 [Netflix Family]
Medical Police [Netflix Original]
Scissor Seven [Netflix Anime]
Until Dawn [Netflix Original]
Zumbo’s Just Desserts – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
January 12th
Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018)
January 13th
The Healing Powers of Dude [Netflix Family]
January 14th
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts [Netflix Family]
The Master (2012)
January 15th
Big Fat Liar (2002)
Quien a hierro mata [Netflix Film]
Grace and Frankie – Season 6 [Netflix Original]
January 16th
NiNoKuni [Netflix Anime]
Steve Jobs (2015)
January 17th
Ares [Netflix Original]
Hip-Hop Evolution – Season 4 [Netflix Original]
Sex Education – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
Tiny House Nation – Volume 2
Tyler Perry’s A Fall from Grace [Netflix Film]
Vivir dos veces [Netflix Film]
Wer kann, der kann! [Netflix Original]
January 18th
The Bling Ring (2013)
January 20th
Family Reunion – Season 2 [Netflix Family]
January 21st
Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty [Netflix Original]
Word Party – Season 4 [Netflix Family]
January 22nd
Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak [Netflix Documentary]
Playing with Fire – Season 1
January 23rd
The Ghost Bride [Netflix Original]
October Faction [Netflix Original]
The Queen (2006)
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Season 1, Part 2 [Netflix Anime]
January 24th
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – Part 3 [Netflix Original]
The Ranch – The Final Season [Netflix Original]
Rise of Empires: Ottoman [Netflix Original]
A Sun [Netflix Film]
January 26th
Vir Das: For India [Netflix Original]
January 27th
Country Strong (2010)
We Are Your Friends (2015)
January 28th
Alex Fernandez: El mejor comediante del mundo [Netflix Original]
January 29th
Freres Ennemis [Netflix Film]
Next in Fasion [Netflix Original]
Night on Earth [Netflix Documentary]
Omniscient [Netflix Original]
January 30th
Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey [Netflix Original]
Nighthawks (2019)
Raising Cain (1992)
The Stranger [Netflix Original]
January 31st
37 Seconds [Netflix Film]
American Assassin (2017)
BoJack Horseman – Season 6, Part B [Netflix Original]
Diablero – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
I am a Killer – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
Luna Nera [Netflix Original]
Ragnarok [Netflix Original]
What’s Leaving?
Leaving 1/11
Becoming Jane
Leaving 1/12
The Fighter
Maron: Season 1-4
Leaving 1/15
Forks Over Knives
The Rezort
Leaving 1/17
Short Term 12
Leaving 1/31
Æon Flux
American Psycho
Good Luck Chuck
Grease
La Reina del Sur: Season 1
Panic Room
Revolutionary Road
Something’s Gotta Give
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Vengeance
Spartacus: War of the Damned
Zombieland