Welcome to the Weekend POURcast, your boozy guide to the box office.
Every Friday on the Weekend POURcast, Every Friday, we break down what’s new in theaters and on streaming (movies only or series directly tied to past theatrical franchises), reflect on what happened last weekend, and give a snapshot of what to expect at the box office this weekend. Whether you’re headed out for the big screen or staying in with a cocktail and remote, we’ve got you covered. Let’s pour it up! 🍸🍸🍸
Last Weekend in Review
Last weekend (Jan 9–11) was a very healthy start to 2026: audiences showed up for franchise, family, and genre fare alike.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its seemingly unstoppable run at number one with a solid hold, reinforcing that James Cameron’s Pandora epic remains the destination movie even deep into January.
Greenland 2: Migration opened to mixed reviews but found a respectable audience for a mid-January disaster sequel, while Zootopia 2 continued its strong family-friendly legs from the holidays. Creature feature horror film Primate vaulted into the top five with solid horror-enthusiast turnout.
Smaller titles like I Was a StrangerandDead Man’s Wire provided grown-up fare and continue creeping along in limited release. The early January slate showed that when compelling genre titles and familiar brands line up, moviegoing doesn’t slip just because the calendar flips.
New in THEATERS – Wide Releases (Jan 16 – 18)
Here are the wide theatrical releases opening this weekend in the U.S., per box office calendars:
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
The newest entry in the 28 Days/28 Weeks Later franchise, directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell. This highly anticipated horror sequel expands the post-apocalyptic lore with new psychological and survival elements – exactly the sort of midnight thrill ride January audiences savor.
Dead Man’s Wire
A wider opening for this historical crime drama directed by Gus Van Sant, featuring a cast including Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino, and Dacre Montgomery. The true-crime angle and prestige casting give this one adult audience appeal outside the genre crowd.
Charlie the Wonderdog
This animated family adventure about a lovable mutt who gains unexpected powers shows up in wide release this weekend. Perfect for younger audiences and parents seeking a cozy out-of-the-house pick.
Night Patrol
The second 1,000-theater small wide, and one of the more interesting wild cards of the weekend. Night Patrol leans into genre thrills with recognizable names in the cast and a pulpy hook that could surprise if word of mouth hits. This is exactly the kind of January release that can quietly overperform if audiences latch onto it.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (rerelease with one movie a day Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Not a new release, but very much worth noting: The Lord of the Rings returns to theaters in a limited re-release this weekend. Expect strong turnout in premium formats and packed shows from fans eager to revisit Middle-earth on the big screen. These kinds of re-releases don’t top the charts, but they absolutely boost overall attendance and concession sales.
New on STREAMING – Movies (Including Franchise Entries)
Here’s what’s new to streaming this weekend that fits our “movies only/movie-franchise series” criteria:
The Rip (Netflix Jan 16)
A star-studded crime thriller with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Teyana Taylor about Miami cops whose loyalties fracture after they uncover millions in illicit cash. A high-octane Netflix original worth your couch time.
People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix: also still new this month)
The romantic adaptation starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth – light, breezy, and perfect for easy weekend listening/viewing.
Box Office POURcast (Jan 16–18, 2026)
Taking the expanded slate into account, here’s the revised top-five outlook:
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – $28M–$34M
Horror franchise + January corridor = clear favorite for the top spot. -
Avatar: Fire and Ash – $10M–$13M
Still holding remarkably well and likely to stay in the top five despite new competition. -
Hamnet – $8M–$11M
The wider expansion should pay off, especially in urban and prestige-leaning markets. -
Dead Man’s Wire – $6M–$9M
Small-wide release with strong cast appeal and solid adult turnout. -
Zootopia 2 – $6M–$8M
Families continue to show up, even as screens begin to shrink.
Just outside the top five: Night Patrol, which could easily swap places with Zootopia 2 or Dead Man’s Wire if genre buzz kicks in, and LOTR, which will quietly rack up impressive per-screen averages without chasing the leaderboard.
This is one of those sleeper-important January weekends. You’ve got a genuine franchise opener, a prestige expansion, two adult-skewing small wides with name talent, and a nostalgia-powered re-release pulling people back into theaters. That’s a healthy ecosystem, not just one movie doing all the work.
Final Thoughts
This weekend feels like a real milestone for January moviegoing: horror franchise fans get major new world building with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, grown-ups can dig into Dead Man’s Wire, and families have Charlie the Wonderdog sitting next to Zootopia 2 on screens. Meanwhile, streaming has momentum with The Rip and easygoing romances.
Whether you’re headed to the theater for scares and storytelling or curling up on the couch with a flick and something cozy to sip, this weekend has genuine variety. Let’s see where the numbers land – and we’ll be back next Friday with more picks, forecasts, and reasons to make movie night something special.
Cheers to the next weekend, our friends. 🍸🎬
