It only makes sense that the first month of the year is marked by plenty of firsts, and Netflix certainly delivers with January's new original movie [1] offerings. The next month includes Netflix's first original Nigerian film, two movie debuts from both a famous actress and her daughter, and what is almost certainly Netflix's first real-life story about a transgender teen ballerina struggling to succeed in the world of professional dance. Check out the gallery for a dozen flicks about famed assassins, hot-headed police officers, and dogged single mothers that you seriously can't miss this January.
And Breathe Normally
This Icelandic drama tells the story of a bond between a tough single mother and a political asylum seeker from Guinea Bissau who meet unexpectedly at Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula and decide to fight together for survival.
When it's available: Jan. 4 [3]
El Potro: Unstoppable
This biopic follows the life of wildly popular Cuarteto performer Rodrigo Bueno, whose charisma and good looks led to a meteoric rise to fame in the Tropical music scene — but not without personal consequences.
When it's available: Jan. 4
Lionheart
In Netflix's first original film from Nigeria, Lionheart revolves around a competent but overlooked young woman who must find a way to work alongside her difficult uncle in order to save her father's failing bus company.
When it's available: Jan. 4 [4]
Solo
This thriller tells the real-life story of surfer Álvaro Vizcaíno from Madrid who, while walking along the coast of Fuerteventura, slipped down a cliff and found himself in a 48-hour fight for survival, waiting for uncertain rescue.
When it's available: Jan. 11
The Last Laugh
Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Andie MacDowell, and Chevy Chase, this comedy tells the story of a former stand up comedian who, after retiring from the spotlight 50 years ago, decides to reunite with his former manager to perform one last comedy tour.
When it's available: Jan. 11
Revenger
This Korean action flick stars stunt master Bruce Khan as a former detective who infiltrates Sura Island (a remote island serving as a prison for death row criminals) to locate those responsible for murdering his family.
When it's available: Jan. 15
Close
In this Spanish thriller, a bodyguard and a counter-terrorism expert reluctantly take on the job of protecting a rich young heiress, which becomes far more challenging when a violent kidnapping forces them to go on the run.
When it's available: Jan. 18
Girl
This revolutionary Belgian drama tells the true story of a 15-year-old transgender student at a prestigious dance academy, whose dreams of becoming a professional ballerina are challenged by her upcoming sex reassignment surgery.
When it's available: Jan. 18 [5]
IO
Starring Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley (otherwise known as Jill Garvey from HBO's The Leftovers) and Anthony Mackie (who you may know as Falcon from the Marvel Universe), this sci-fi action film follows one of the last survivors on Earth as she attempts to make it on the final shuttle leaving for a distant colony.
When it's available: Jan. 18 [6]
Soni
This film revolves around the titular Soni, a hot-headed young policewoman, and her superintendent, Kalpana, who decide to take on the growing crisis of violent crimes against women in Delhi — a task that becomes difficult when Soni is transferred out for alleged misconduct.
When it's available: Jan. 18
Animas
In this totally trippy film, a young woman named Alex finds her world changed after her best friend Abraham's father, Daniel, is killed in a mysterious accident, which sends her on a hallucinatory descent into hell.
When it's available: Jan. 25
Polar
Based on Victor Santos' graphic novel series of the same name, this action thriller stars Mads Mikkelsen (who played Bond villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale) as the world's top assassin who is lured back from retirement when his former employer marks him as a liability, as well as Vanessa Hudgens [7] as femme fatale assassin Camille.
When it's available: Jan. 25 [8]