The start of a new month means a whole slate of fresh content landing on Netflix U.K. and this month that includes a trio of critically-acclaimed movies.
The collection of new Netflix movies in January 2024 is headlined by a gripping survival thriller based on the true story of the Andes Flight disaster. Plus, subscribers can also enjoy a shocking documentary about a mysterious businessman who hoodwinked Hollywood and a dark comedy about a washed-up adult film star returning to his Texas hometown, even if the locals rather wish he'd stayed away.
All the movies on this list scored 90% or higher on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, and while that is not a firm guarantee that you’ll enjoy them, it’s a good indication of their overall quality. So, let's dive into the list of new Netflix movies.
Society of the Snow (2023)
A new survival drama from J. A. Bayona, director of 2012’s The Impossible, Society of the Snow is a Spanish thriller that recounts the true story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which crashed in the frozen Andes mountain range in 1972. The surviving passengers find themselves stranded in one of the most brutal environments on the planet, and with no rescue imminent they are forced to resort to extreme measures to stay alive.
As food runs out and the bitter cold begins to bite, the survivors must consider the unthinkable to survive. Society of the Snow had a limited theatrical run last month, but its release on Netflix in January 2024 will open it to a wider audience. That’s a very good thing as it’s received plenty of praise from critics and is the Spanish entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.
Genre: Thriller
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stream it on Netflix
Man on the Run (2023)
Man on the Run chronicles the unbelievable true story of the 1MDB scandal which saw a mysterious businessman named Jho Low worm his way into some particular powerful circle, eventually rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers and high-profile politicians. Exploiting a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund with the help of at-the-time Prime Minister Najib Razak, the conman fueled his high-flying lifestyle with stolen funds and even helped finance the Scorsese movie, The Wolf of Wall Street.
Carefully constructed by director Cassius Michael Kim, this slickly edited documentary includes shocking tails of excessive debauchery and lavish spending, but it also explores the very human impact of all this financial swindling. It also looks at how far Jho Low was able to grow his connections before the whole ruse came crashing down.
Genre: Documentary
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stream it on Netflix
Red Rocket (2021)
A comedy-drama from director Sean Baker, the filmmaker behind critical darlings Tangerine and The Florida Project, Red Rocket centers on Mikey “Saber” Davis, a middle-aged former adult film star and wannabe con man who returns to his rural hometown in Texas after being away in Los Angeles for almost 20 years.
As he’s settling back into the groove of small-town life, Mikey meets a 17-year-old who goes by the name Strawberry (Bree Elrod) at a donut shop. The pair soon start up a romantic relationship, and very quickly things get pretty chaotic (and rather inappropriate). Praised for its unflinching portrayal of modern America, Red Rocket is pretty outrageous, but it’s darkly comedic and features a handful of fantastic performances.
Genre: Drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stream it on Netflix from Jan. 13
