Awards season kicked off this week with the Golden Globes (if you missed it, we cooked up a recap here.) Most of our favorite shows and stars went home with a trophy, and a lot of the winners made appearances on previous installments of What to Watch so we may be onto something here. Anyway, this week sees three films hitting theaters, and while none might make too much noise at the box office, they do seem like they are worth buying a ticket for.
A Man Called Otto, House Party, and Plane could not be more different than the other, but that means there is something for everyone to watch. This weekend’s big TV event, HBO’s The Last of Us, sees the start of one of the year’s most anticipated new TV shows. The Godfather of Harlem and Servant also return this week with new seasons, so there’s plenty to watch.
Looking ahead, we have also rounded up a list of the most anticipated films of 2023, and so far this is shaping up to be a big year for entertainment. Check out our choices for the best of this week’s new releases and check back in next week for more.
'The Last of Us'
View this video on YouTube
When: Jan. 15
Where: HBO
If there’s one show people are excited about this year it’s The Last of Us. The TV series is based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name already has a loyal fanbase and even those who haven’t played it are still looking forward to its premiere this weekend on HBO and HBO Max. The series takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed by a deadly fungus. Joel, a survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What seems to be a simple task for him soon becomes a brutal journey across post-outbreak America, and they begin to depend on each other for survival. Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) will star as Joel and Ellie. The series will also guest star Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, and Nick Offerman and Storm Reid as Riley. Read our review of Season 1 here and check out this show’s big premiere episode arriving this weekend. —Karla Rodriguez
'A Man Called Otto'
View this video on YouTube
When: Friday, Jan. 13
Where: In theaters
We’re now at the point where Tom Hanks can start taking on crotchety old man roles, and A Man Called Otto shows us what could be in store. Hanks plays Otto who, after losing his wife and job, decides to kill himself. His neighbors, however, keep interrupting his attempts, and through them, he finds a new purpose in his life and reconnects with his humanity. The man behind films like Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland, and World War Z Marc Forster is directing the film. —Kevin Wong
'House Party'
View this video on YouTube
When: Friday, Jan. 13
Where: In theaters
There is no replacing the classic 1990 House Party, let’s make that clear, but this year’s rendition of it it’s not trying to—it is aiming to be in its own lane. The new story follows two aspiring club promoters and best friends Damon (Tosin Cole) and Kevin (Jacob Latimore) who are struggling to make ends meet. By chance, their job as house cleaners lends them the opportunity of a lifetime that could potentially fix all of their problems by giving them access to one of Lebron James’ mansions, where they concoct a plan to throw a massive party. The new House Party was written by Atlanta’s Jamal Olori and Stephen Glover and features a cast filled with up-and-comers in comedy like D.C. Young Fly, as well as countless celebrity appearances from Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne. This is the kind of movie that is better experienced alongside a big group of friends, similar to how people watched You Got Served or Stomp the Yard back in the day. There’s no way to match the kind of influence and impact Kid N’ Play made with the original, but it’s only fair to allow a new generation to try. —Karla Rodriguez
'Plane'
View this video on YouTube
When: Friday, Jan. 13
Where: In theaters
As someone who likes to travel every now and then, I personally tend to stay away from movies or shows revolving around any type of plane crash. (I watched all of Lost and instantly regretted it and have yet to watch 2006’s Snakes on a Plane—sorry, Samuel L. Jackson!) But Plane is so much more than that—it’s also a story about survival and second chances. After a skilled pilot named Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island, he quickly realizes that surviving the landing was just the beginning of this nightmare.
Most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels in the jungle where they landed, and the only person Torrance can rely on for help is Louis Gaspare (Luke Cage’s Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported on his flight by the FBI. In order to rescue the passengers, Torrance will need Gaspare’s help, and Gaspare will prove that there is more to him than meets the eye. If you are into feeling this sort of adrenaline rush while at the movies, be my guest. But I must say, it is not for the faint of heart. —Karla Rodriguez
