LIST: Must-watch shows and films this January 2024
2024 is off to a good start!
Have you seen your chosen entries at the now-extended Metro Manila Film Festival this year? If you're on the hunt for something you can watch next, you'd be happy to know there are a lot of movies and series you can look forward to in the local and international scene this January.
From K-drama shows to Pinoy and Hollywood offerings, here's a roundup of releases you can add to your watchlist this month.
Marry My Husband
Status: Streaming on Prime Video on Jan. 1
Starring: Park Min-young, Lee Yi-kyung, and Na In-woo
Start the year with a bang! Park Min-young is widely known as one of the top romance-comedy queens of South Korea, but for her comeback series this 2024, we are rooting for her as Kang Ji-won, a fragile office worker who is married to her officemate named Min-hwan (Lee Yi-kyung). She later gets killed by her husband after discovering his affair with her best friend. Upon waking up and finding herself living somewhere ten years ago, she seeks revenge against her unfaithful partner. Her co-worker Yoo Ji-hyeok (Na In-woo) starts to develop romantic feelings towards her without her knowledge along the way. Could he be the right one for her?
My Zombabe
Status: Showing in cinemas starting Jan. 10
Starring: Empoy and Kim Molina
Loved this year's MMFF entries? Here's another local movie you can watch. In My Zombabe, comedy stars Empoy (Kita-Kita) and Kim Molina (Jowable) team up to make you laugh and make your heart flutter at the same time. In the middle of a zombie apocalypse, lonely and isolated Pong (played by Empoy) yearns for a romantic companionship. His outlook in life changes when a lady with a beautiful voice named Yasmin (portrayed by Kim Molina) shows up. The catch? She's in the process of turning into a zombie. Directed by Bobby Bonifacio (Numbalikdiwa, Hospicio, and Hellcome Home), this film will surely make you entertained not just by its story but also the comedic antics of its lead stars.
Role Play
Status: Streaming on Prime Video on Jan. 12
Starring: Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo with Connie Nielsen and Bill Nighy
In Role Play, Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo portray a happily married couple with two children, living an ideal life as a family in New Jersey. Things take a turn when he discovers that his wife is a secret assassin. We know that having secret spy spouses is no longer a fresh concept, but who cares?! The trailer looks good and interesting!
Love. Die. Repeat
Status: Starts airing on GMA Network on Jan. 15
Starring: Jennylyn Mercado and Xian Lim with Mike Tan, Valerie Concepcion, Ina Feleo, and Valeen Montenegro
Fans of Jennylyn Mercado and Xian Lim will finally be able to watch their much-awaited fantasy series titled Love. Die. Repeat starting Jan. 15. The show was initially set to be Xian's first primetime series when he moved to GMA Network in 2021, but production had to be postponed as Jennylyn discovered she was pregnant during their first cycle of lock-in taping. While Jennylyn focused on her pregnancy and her first year of motherhood with Baby Dylan, Xian went on to star in two primetime shows: False Positive with Glaiza De Castro and Hearts on Ice with Ashley Ortega. Based on the trailer alone, it seems like Jennylyn’s character Angela has to go through a lot of challenges in order to prevent the death of her husband Bernard (played by Xian).
A Shop for Killers
Status: Starts streaming on Disney+ on Jan. 17
Starring: Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun
In A Shop for Killers, Jung Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook) runs a mysterious shopping center that specializes in trading weapons. He takes in Jung Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), his niece whose parents got murdered. Is Jung Ji-an open to the idea of continuing the family business?
The Bequeathed
Status: Starts streaming on Netflix on Jan. 19
Starring: Kim Hyun-joo and Park Hee-son
In the mood for a horror-thriller series? Train to Busan and Hellbound director Yeon Sang-ho is back on Netflix as the writer and creator of upcoming series The Bequeathed. Here, Yoon Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo) inherits a rural cemetery after her uncle's demise. When dark and mysterious events start happening, detective Choi Sung-soon (Park Hee-soon) decides to work with her to investigate the possible reasons behind them.
Long Time No Sex (LTNS)
Status: Starts streaming on Viu on Jan. 20
Starring: Esom and Ahn Jae-hong
Black comedy series Long Time No Sex is here to make the start of 2024 more exciting. LTNS revolves around married but sexless couple whose problems aren't only limited to intimacy—they have financial troubles to deal with, too. How are they planning to solve them? By catching unfaithful couples and blackmailing them! Sounds interesting, right?
Griselda
Status: Starts streaming on Netflix on Jan. 25
Starring: Sofia Vergara
For the longest time, we’ve known Sofia Vergara as the hot momma in Modern Family and loved her for her comedic timing. Well, it's time to take her seriously in the limited series Griselda on Netflix. Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of the ambitious and sassy Colombian businesswoman Griselda Blanco who made waves in the 1980’s as "The Godmother" of the underworld.
Flex X Cop
Status: Starts streaming on Disney+ on Jan. 26
Starring: Ahn Bo-hyun and Park Ji-hyun
How about an action-packed show with a cutie chaebol lead? We got you! Ahn Bo-hyun is back as a chaebol cop in the upcoming series Flex X Cop. Here, he plays Jin Yi-soo—a successor in a Korean chaebol, who, for some reason, becomes a detective and gets assigned in the violent crimes unit. Using his wealth and connections, he teams up with veteran detective Lee Gang-hyun (Park Ji-hyun) and together, they catch destructive criminals in the city.
Expats
Status: Starts streaming on Prime Video on Jan. 26
Starring: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman leads the cast of Expats. Based on the 2016 novel written by Janice Y.K. Lee, the series tackles the lives of expatriates living in Hong Kong. Apart from its interesting story, you should also catch the performance of the Philippines' very own Ruby Ruiz in the movie!
Doctor Slump
Status: Starts streaming on Netflix on Jan. 27
Starring: Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik
Nostalgic romance comedy, anyone? Yeo Jung-woo (Park Hyung-sik), a successful plastic surgeon who got involved in an incident that could ruin his medical career forever, crosses paths with his college friend Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye), an anaesthesiologist whose social life is limited to her work and home life. Will sparks finally fly between them?