Movies

The Best TV Shows And Movies Coming To Prime Video In January 2023

Jennifer Lopez in Shotgun Wedding Prime Video
By Sandy Schaefer/

2023 is upon us, and you know what that means. The year of "Morbius" is no more. Now is the year of "M3GAN," and may her reign be a glorious and unholy one. Movies about dancing killer robot dolls aside, though, the box office looks to grind to a halt come January, as is its annual custom. That makes this the perfect time to either get caught up on or revisit some of the most popular franchises in Hollywood ahead of their return to the big screen in 2023.

Luckily, both Prime Video and its free (with ads) sister channel, FreeVee, have got you covered. All four "Indiana Jones" movies and four of the six "Mission: Impossible" films will be hitting the streamers in the lead-up to their latest sequels arriving next summer. New seasons of "The Legend of Vox Machina" and "The Test" will also premiere in January, along with the second and final season of David Weil's Nazi-hunting series "Hunters." (Between that and the "Indiana Jones" flicks, it's gonna be a great month for punching Nazis.) And let's not forget Jennifer Lopez's "Shotgun Wedding," a movie that, if nothing else, adds one hell of a wild twist to the rom-com formula.

You can check out the full list of everything that's coming to Prime Video and FreeVee in January below, along with five hand-picked suggestions from yours truly.

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Bill, Ted, and their daughters in Bill & Ted Face the Music United Artists Releasing

For every dozen or so belated comedy sequels that leave a bad taste in your mouth, there's a rare gem like "Bill & Ted Face the Music." Released almost 30 years after the second movie in the cult comedy series, "Bogus Journey," the threequel picks up with the lovable, guitar-playing buffoons Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) and William S. "Bill" Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) as middle-aged dads. Still struggling to fulfill their destiny by writing the perfect song and ushering in world harmony, the pair are thrust into last-minute panic mode upon learning they have 78 minutes left to do so before reality collapses in on itself. Sounds like another trip in the time-traveling phone booth is in order!

"Face the Music" (read /Film's review) retains the light-hearted feel and surreal comedy of the first two "Bill & Ted" movies, yet also manages to work in some welcome depth. On top of being a story about Gen X-ers wrestling with the reality of how their hopes and dreams for the future panned out, it's also a celebration of music's rich, diverse history that illustrates the ways culture has always built upon itself. And as delightful as it is to catch up with BFFs for life Bill and Ted, in many ways it's their daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) — both of whom are a chip off the ol' block in the best way — who end up stealing the film.

Freaky

Kathryn Newton in Freaky Universal Pictures

"M3GAN" isn't the only gonzo horror film deserving of your attention in January. "Happy Death Day" director Christopher Landon's "Freaky" puts both a wonderfully bloody and tenderly queer slasher spin on the "Freaky Friday" body-swap premise, delivering big laughs, gory kills, and poignant drama in almost equal portions. Kathryn Newton stars as Millie Kessler, an ungainly high schooler whose family is going through a rough time thanks to the death of her father one year prior. With Homecoming just around the corner and Millie's emotionally-vulnerable mother Coral (Katie Finneran) not wanting her to leave for college, could life get any worse for our young heroine?

Well, yes, it could. When a legendary serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) makes his way to Millie's hometown, he, of course, winds up targeting Millie while she's alone one night. Except, when he stabs her with what turns out to be an enchanted ancient dagger, it causes the pair of them to switch bodies. But for all the (often gleefully bloody) hijinks that ensue, "Freaky" is a touching story about familial love and young romance at its core. And as splendid as Newton is pretending to be a mass murderer in the body of a small blonde teenager, it's Vaughn who gives what might be the performance of his career here.

Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Director Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner's fruitful working relationship began with "Munich," but it was "Lincoln" that perhaps crystallized them as an artistic power couple. The 2012 drama forgoes biopic clichés in order to focus on the final four months in its namesake's life, including his efforts to abolish slavery with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and end the American Civil War all in one go. As /Film's own Witney Seibold has noted in the past, the film has "more on its mind than a mere historical document." Indeed, it's arguably as much a commentary on the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in the 2010s as it is a warts-and-all look at the political battle to outlaw slavery.

Whichever way you choose to interpret "Lincoln," it's a superbly acted period piece with terrific turns by the likes of Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Lee Pace, and, oh yeah, Daniel Day-Lewis in an Oscar-winning role as Abraham Lincoln. Janusz Kamiński's visuals only further transport you back in time, creating a mournful, war-battered historical setting of inky interiors, sharp silhouettes, and faded yet striking shades of color. It's like looking at a worn-out photograph of a world long gone, but one you can still make out in vivid detail.

Out of Sight

Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in Out of Sight Universal Pictures

Steven Soderbergh's stylish, sexy Elmore Leonard adaptation "Out of Sight" will turn 25 in 2023, so what better time to finally watch or revisit his slick crime dramedy? George Clooney stars as Jack Foley, an incarcerated bank robber who is forced to take U.S. Marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) captive during a prison break that nearly goes off the rails. Despite the awkwardness of their meet-cute (if that's the word we're using for it), the pair immediately hit it off and find themselves not-so-secretly yearning to cross paths again. Too bad Karen has to arrest Jack, should that ever actually happen.

"Out of Sight" might not be the best cinematic interpretation of Leonard's writing (hello, "Jackie Brown"), but it is as confident and exquisitely polished an adaptation of this particular Leonard story as one might ask for. Boasting razor-sharp dialogue, exceptional acting, and masterful editing by the late Anne V. Coates, Soderbergh's film is as shiny as any other caper he's made yet retains the melancholy soul of its source material beneath the glossy surface. Those looking to warm themselves during the coldest months of winter would do well to check out this classic tale of maybe-love in the time of law-breaking.

Power Rangers

The Rangers in Power Rangers (2017) Lionsgate

I admit: Part of me is still sad the 2017 "Power Rangers" movie reboot crashed and burned at the box office the way it did. Director Dean Israelite's film plays out a bit like a less problematic and more inclusive remake of "The Breakfast Club," albeit one that — say it with me — morphs into a superhero adventure. More specifically, an unapologetically dorky superhero romp that features giant piloted robots, quirky montages where the leads bond while dueling to eat the last piece of cake and punching rock monsters, and a scenery-chewing Elizabeth Banks as a genuinely creepy green-and-gold color-coded sorceress with a marvelously silly name to match (Rita Repulsa).

At times, "Power Rangers" feels like it was cobbled out of disparate parts, no doubt thanks to a story and script credited to no less than five different writers. However, it also has a whole lot more personality than your average middling tentpole, and the five lead actors playing the Rangers (Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G, and Ludi Lin) have a natural chemistry that makes it easy to root for their ramshackle band of up-and-coming do-gooders. This specific reboot might be a one-and-done, but if you find yourself in the mood for a cheesy blast of action, humor, and even a little pathos, well, it might just be time for some morphin'.

TV shows and movies coming to Prime Video and FreeVee in January 2023

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark Lucasfilm

Available January 1, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Dharma & Greg S1-5 (1997)
  • Invader Zim (2002)
  • Nella the Princess Knight (2017)
  • Shimmer and Shine (2015)
  • 12 O'Clock High S1-3 (1964)
  • Welcome to Flatch (2022)
  • 50/50 (2011)
  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
  • After Earth (2013)
  • Akeelah And The Bee (2006)
  • Ali (2001)
  • Antwone Fisher (2003)
  • Are We There Yet? (2005)
  • Baby Boy (2001)
  • Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)
  • Beauty Shop (2005)
  • Black Dynamite (1980)
  • Blankman (1994)
  • Blue Chips (1994)
  • Breakdown (1997)
  • Breakin' All The Rules (2004)
  • Broken City (2013)
  • Brown Sugar (2002)
  • Clue (2011)
  • Despicable Me (2010)
  • Despicable Me 2 (2013)
  • Downsizing (2017)
  • El Dorado (1967)
  • El Mariachi (1993)
  • Election (1999)
  • Employee Of The Month (2006)
  • Europa Report (2013)
  • Failure to Launch (2006)
  • Forces Of Nature (1999)
  • Frankie & Alice (2014)
  • Friday the 13th (1980)
  • Gamer (2009)
  • God's Not Dead (2014)
  • Guess Who (2005)
  • Harold and Maude (1971)
  • Higher Learning (1995)
  • Home for the Holidays (1995)
  • I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
  • If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
  • In My Country (2005)
  • In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  • Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
  • Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2007)
  • Juliet, Naked (2018)
  • Just Wright (2010)
  • Love the Coopers (2017)
  • Mad Love (2002)
  • Mean Creek (2004)
  • Mission: Impossible (1996)
  • Mission: Impossible II (2000)
  • Mission: Impossible III (2006)
  • Mission: Impossible IV – Ghost Protocol (2011)
  • Mississippi Burning (1988)
  • Mo' Money (1992)
  • Money Train (1995)
  • Mr. 3000 (2004)
  • Muscle Shoals (2013)
  • O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2001)
  • Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
  • Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
  • Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
  • Paycheck (2003)
  • Poetic Justice (1993)
  • Private Parts (1997)
  • Rec (2007)
  • Rec 2 (2009)
  • Rec 3: Genesis (2012)
  • Red Dawn (1984)
  • Rejoice and Shout (2011)
  • Rosemary's Baby (1968)
  • School Daze (1988)
  • Serpico (1973)
  • She Hate Me (2004)
  • Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
  • Sorry To Bother You (2018)
  • Tangerine (2015)
  • The Amityville Horror (1979)
  • The Big Wedding (2013)
  • The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
  • The Butler (2013)
  • The Devil's Backbone (2001)
  • The Duchess (2008)
  • The Foot Fist Way (2008)
  • The Gospel According To Andre (2018)
  • The Love Guru (2008)
  • The Peacemaker (1997)
  • The Running Man (1987)
  • The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
  • The Two Jakes (1990)
  • Three Can Play That Game (2007)
  • To Sir, With Love (1967)
  • True Grit (1969)
  • Walking Tall (2004)
  • Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)
  • Witness (1985)
  • You Got Served (2004)

Available January 1, 2023 (FreeVee):

  • Nova Vita S1 (2021)
  • Wagon Train S1-5 (1957)
  • Battleship (2012)
  • Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
  • Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
  • Booksmart (2019)
  • City of God (2002)
  • Click (2006)
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
  • Contraband (2012)
  • Four Kids and It (2020)
  • Freaky (2020)
  • Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
  • Get Him to the Greek (2010)
  • Grown Ups 2 (2013)
  • How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
  • Identity Thief (2013)
  • Jumanji (1995)
  • Let Him Go (2020)
  • Lincoln (2012)
  • Little Fockers (2010)
  • Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
  • Man of the House (2005)
  • Me Your Madness (2021)
  • Meet the Fockers (2004)
  • Meet the Parents (2000)
  • Monte Carlo (2011)
  • Morgan (2016)
  • Morning Glory (2010)
  • Nerve (2016)
  • Office Space (1999)
  • Out of Sight (1998)
  • Passengers (2016)
  • Peeples (2013)
  • Planet 51 (2009)
  • Red Sparrow (2018)
  • Shark Tale (2004)
  • Source Code (2011)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
  • The American (2010)
  • The Call (2013)
  • The Croods (2013)
  • The Darkest Minds (2018)
  • The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
  • The Family That Preys (2008)
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
  • The Hot Chick (2002)
  • The Night Before (1988)
  • The Purge (2013)
  • The Smurfs (2011)
  • The Smurfs 2 (2013)
  • Think Like a Man (2012)
  • This Is the End (2013)
  • Tombstone (1993)
  • Unstoppable (2010)
  • Widows (2018)
  • Zombieland (2009)

Available January 3, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Endeavour S8 (2022)
  • Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul. (2022)

Available January 6, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Cosmic Love France (2023)
  • The Rig (2023)
  • Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Available January 6, 2023 (FreeVee):

  • Black and Blue (2019)
  • Power Rangers (2017)

Available January 8, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • The Winter Palace (2022)

Available January 10, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Snitch (2013)

Available January 13, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Hunters S2 (2023)
  • The Test S2 (2023)

Available January 15, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • The Steve Harvey Show S1-6 (1996)
  • An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
  • Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
  • Road Trip (2000)

Available January 17, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Vengeance (2022)

Available January 20, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • The Legend of Vox Machina S2 (2023)

Available January 21, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Hercules (2014)

Available January 23, 2023 (FreeVee):

  • Judy Justice S2 (2022) – Winter Premiere

Available January 27, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • The King's Speech (2010)
  • Shotgun Wedding (2023)

Available January 31, 2023 (Prime Video):

  • Nate Bargatze: Hello World (2023)
  • Orphan: First Kill (2022)

Available January 31, 2023 (FreeVee):

  • Killing Them Softly (2012)

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