This January, Paramount+ is a little light on original content as most of the new content premiering this month are British shows making their premiere in the United States and a new Star Trek series. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Paramount+ next month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the best films coming to Paramount+ in January 2026 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.
10 Cloverfield Lane (January 1) RT Score: 91%
10 Cloverfield Lane is a sci-fi horror thriller drama film directed by Dan Trachtenberg from a screenplay by Josh Campbell, Matt Stuecken, and Damien Chazelle. The 2016 film follows a young woman who wakes up in an underground bunker after a car crash. The man who rescued her informs her that Earth has become uninhabitable, and if she wants to survive, she must not go outside, but she doesn’t believe him. 10 Cloverfield Lane stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr.
Clerks (January 1) RT Score: 90%
Clerks is an independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. The 1994 film follows store clerks Dante and Randal as they sit around and discuss films and hockey all day. Clerks stars Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonauer, Jason Mewes, and Kevin Smith.
Dead Man Walking (January 1) RT Score: 97%
Dead Man Walking is a crime drama film written and directed by Tim Robbins. Based on the 1993 nonfiction book of the same name by Helen Prejean, the 1995 film follows Sister Helen Prejean, who decides to write to a condemned killer to honour a desperate man’s wish but she develops an unexpected relationship with him. Dead Man Walking stars Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry, R. Lee Ermey, and Scott Wilson.
Election (January 1) RT Score: 92%
Election is a satirical dark comedy film directed by Alexander Payne, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jim Taylor. Based on Tom Perrotta’s 1998 novel of the same name, the 1999 film revolves around a student body election and an intense struggle between an overachieving student and the popular high school studies teacher who dislikes her. Election stars Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, and Mark Harelik.
Searching for Bobby Fischer (January 1) RT Score: 98%
Searching for Bobby Fischer is a drama film written and directed by Steven Zaillian. Based on Fred Waitzkin’s 1988 memoir, the 1993 film follows Josh Waitzkin, a young chess prodigy who struggles with his ruthless chess instructor, who wishes to turn him into chess legend Bobby Fischer. Searching for Bobby Fischer stars Joe Mantegna, Laurence Fishburne, Joan Allen, Max Pomeranc, and Ben Kingsley.
Serpico (January 1) RT Score: 93%
Serpico is a crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet from a screenplay co-written by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler. Based on Peter Maas’ 1973 nonfiction book of the same name, the 1973 film is set in New York City, and it follows an honest policeman as he investigates and reveals the corruption in his own department. Serpico stars Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Barbara Eda-Young, and Cornelia Sharpe.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (January 1) RT Score: 92%
Spider-Man: Homecoming is a superhero action film directed by Jon Watts, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers. Based on Marvel Comics characters of the same name, the 2017 film follows a teenage Peter Parker as he struggles to understand the weight of his powers while trying to lead a life as an ordinary teenager. Spider-Man: Homecoming stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr.
The Grifters (January 92) RT Score: 92%
The Grifters is a neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay by Donald E. Westlake. Based on Jim Thompson’s 1963 novel of the same name, the 1990 film follows a con artist as he reunites with his estranged mother, who doesn’t like his girlfriend and then both his mother and his girlfriend go after each other. The Grifters stars John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening.
The Martian (January 1) RT Score: 91%
The Martian is a sci-fi drama film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Drew Goddard. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the 2015 film follows astronaut botanist Dr. Mark Watney, who gets stranded on Mars and must survive by using his knowledge until NASA can bring him back home. The Martian stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Zero Dark Thirty (January 1) RT Score: 91%
Zero Dark Thirty is a political action thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow from a screenplay by Mark Boal. The 2012 film chronicles the decade-long international manhunt conducted by U.S. intelligence forces for Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks. Zero Dark Thirty stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, and Joel Edgerton.
Zodiac (January 1) RT Score: 90%
Zodiac is a mystery thriller film directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Based on Robert Graysmith’s 1986 and 2002 novels Zodiac and Zodiac: Unmasked, the 2007 film is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it follows cartoonist Robert Graysmith as he becomes obsessed with finding the real identity of the Zodiac Killer. Zodiac stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue, John Carroll Lynch, and Dermot Mulroney.