With all those Christmas movies behind us, January's a great time to get back to the movie theater.
Here's a bit of trivia: Past Oscar-winning movies that were released in January include 1943's beloved classic "Casablanca," starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Here's more on four early 2024 movie offerings:
- "MEMORY": Jessica Chastain plays a social worker and recovering alcoholic. Following her high school reunion, former classmate Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) follows her home. Their initial talks reveal a past Jessica can't forget and Saul, with early onset dementia, can't remember. Sylvia eventually becomes one of Saul's caretakers and secrets of the past continue to emerge. Opening Friday, the film also stars Brooke Timber, Blake Baumgartner, Ross Brodar and Josh Charles. Rated R.
- "MEAN GIRLS": The good news is that Tina Fey also wrote the screenplay for this third twist on the teen comedy, which is based on the Broadway musical adaptation of the original 2004 film. Fey, John Hamm and Angourie Rice star. Catch up with "The Plastics" — the popular girls clique of Regina, Gretchen, Karen and Cady (temporarily) — starting Jan. 12. Rated PG-13.
- "THE BEEKEEPER": The action-thriller stars Jason Statham as Adam Clay, a former operative for a secret organization called Beekeepers. He's out for revenge after a friend and neighbor falls for a phishing scheme, and then commits suicide. Also starring Minnie Driver, Josh Hutcherson, Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Irons, the film also opens Jan. 12. Rated R.
- "AMERICAN STAR": In this thriller, Ian McShane portrays an assassin who travels to Fuerteventura to kill a stranger. When the man's arrival is delayed, the assassin immerses himself in the island, its people and a ghostly shipwreck. What will happen when his target returns? Also starring Thomas Kretschmann, Nora Arnezeder and Adam Nagaitis. Rated R. Opening Jan. 26.