What To Watch On Amazon Prime Video In January

Amazon Prime Video has an exciting line-up for you this month. Here’s a list of what’s new on the platform and some older hidden gems.

Twenty years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) — the first film in the Harry Potter universe — aired, the franchise’s cast and crew reunite to swap behind-the-scenes anecdotes and memories of that time. The nostalgic special stars actors such as Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman, and directors such as Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuaron.

Based on the 2013 video game of the same name, the third instalment of the Tomb Raider series sees Alicia Vikander play intelligent, ass-kicking archaeologist Lara Croft, a role popularized by Angelina Jolie. Directed by Roar Uthaug, the action-adventure picks up from where the previous film left off, with Lara out to discover what really happened to her father.

Jennifer Hudson transforms into iconic American singer Aretha Franklin in this biopic directed by Liesel Tommy. The film captures the major milestones in Franklin’s life, from her childhood spent singing in her church choir to her later struggles with alcoholism, and even includes real-life footage of the singer performing at the Kennedy Center in 2015.

Private investigator Nick Barrister (Hugh Jackman) solves crimes by helping people relive their memories. The professional becomes personal when he falls in love with a client (Rebecca Ferguson), who abruptly goes missing. The sci-fi thriller is writer-producer Lisa Joy’s directorial debut.

The sci-fi horror film, the third in its franchise, features more genetically enhanced killer sharks intent on making meals out of marine scientists. Directed by John Pogue, the film stars Tania Raymonde, Nathaniel Buzolic, Reina Aoi and Ben Foster.

Written by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta, the slasher-thriller is a sequel to the 1992 film of the same name. It stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony McCoy, a Chicago artist who becomes fascinated by the original Candyman legend, in which the word ‘candyman’ uttered five times in front of a mirror will conjure up a spirit that kills its summoner. Anthony’s obsession turns dangerous quickly, leading to devastating consequences.

When Madison (Annabelle Wallis) begins experiencing horrific hallucinations and is stalked by a malevolent presence, she attempts to piece together her repressed childhood memories to find out what ails her. The horror film is directed by James Wan of Insidious (2010) and The Conjuring (2013) fame.

Directed by George Clooney, the coming-of-age drama revolves around a young aspiring writer (Tye Sheridan) being mentored by his uncle, a charming bartender (Ben Affleck, nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor). The film is an adaptation of JR Moehringer’s 2005 memoir of the same name.

This animated fantasy-adventure series is based on Critical Role’s first livestreamed tabletop role-playing game campaign and follows a group of misfits who embark on a quest to save the realm of Exandria from dark magical forces. It stars Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham. 

The animated musical series, voiced by Kristen Bell, Jackie Tohn, Luke Youngblood and Will Collyer, follows three birds who live on the fictional island of Beebopsgurh. Each episode is a standalone adventure and features original songs. 

When a ‘Monsterfication Ray’ turns humans into monsters and a monster into a human, they must team up and find a way to swap back, quickly. The final installment in the Hotel Transylvania series is directed by Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon and sees Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon reprise their roles. 

Emmy Award-winning writer Jason Katims is the showrunner of As We See It, an eight-episode comedy-drama series that follows three roommates on the autism spectrum as they make friends, seek employment and fall in love. It stars Rick Glassman, Albert Rutecki and Sue Ann Pien.

When lawyer Fletcher Reed (Jim Carrey) finds himself physically unable to lie for the next 24 hours, thanks to a wish his son made, he must find a way to navigate his tricky profession with honesty. Directed by Tom Shadyac, the classic comedy also stars Krista Allen and Jennifer Tilly.

One of Michael Mann’s best films, Collateral is a tense thriller that follows cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx) who unwittingly becomes embroiled in criminal activities when one of the passengers he picks up (Tom Cruise) turns out to be a hitman.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt made his directorial debut with Don John, a comedy drama in which he also played the protagonist — bartender and porn addict Jon Martello. Jon is forced to reconsider his casual attitude towards relationships when he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who doesn’t succumb to his advances easily. But how long can Jon keep his crippling addiction a secret?

Based on George V. Higgins’ novel Cogan’s Trade, writer-director Andrew Dominik’s noir follows two Mob hitmen out for revenge against the three small-time hustlers who dared steal from them. It stars Brad Pitt, Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy, Ray Liotta and James Gandolfini.

Recommendations in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video

The post What To Watch On Amazon Prime Video In January appeared first on Film Companion.