This article will be updated throughout the month as more movies are available to rent on demand.
With so many blockbusters pushing their way into holiday breaks (including Wicked and Gladiator 2), January 2025 felt a bit dry in the premium video-on-demand department. Still, if you want to watch a movie that’s still in the theaters, there are a few good choices out there, and we’ll add more as they’re announced, often just hours before they become available. All of these films are available on services like Apple TV, Amazon, and Fandango at Home, usually available for rent around $19.99. (All release dates subject to change.)
J.C. Chandor, 127 minutes
Sony keeps fumbling Marvel projects that don’t feature Peter Parker, but fans of the source material or comic-movie completists may want to see the flick that challenged Madame Web for silliest movie of 2024. Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars in the title role, a popular character from the Spider-Man universe in a movie that doesn’t feature Spider-Man. He’s joined in this chaos by Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, and Russell Crowe — an incredible cast that might make this failed blockbuster at least a solid bit of escapism at a time when it feels like a lot of us could use it.
Luca Guadagnino, 137 minutes
The director of Call Me by Your Name and Challengers released a second film in 2024 that was a passion project for the award winner, a long-gestating adaptation of the novella of the same name by William S. Burroughs. Semi-autobiographical, Queer is the story of a writer (played with raw vulnerability by Daniel Craig) who begins a torrid affair with a younger man (Drew Starkey), leading to a drama that unpacks human need in a way that’s not always practical, focusing on addiction, passion, and even telepathy. Craig is just phenomenal in a movie that doesn’t feel like it made the impact it should have in theaters. Maybe at home.
Robert Eggers, 132 minutes
One of the biggest horror films of 2024 is already available for premium-rental prices, and the release includes an extended cut of the film not seen in theaters! The director of The Witch and The Northman brought his striking visual artistry to the mythical tale inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe star in this 19th-century tale of a woman with a supernatural tie to a creature of the night. Visually striking in a way that’s sure to garner a few Oscar nominations, this feels like one of the more essential films of 2024.
Paul Schrader, 91 minutes
The writer-director of First Reformed turns to a novel by legendary Canadian author Russell Banks about a filmmaker considering the path he took to reach this stage in his life. Played by Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi (in flashbacks), Leo Fife has become a progressive leader in his career, but he made choices in his youth that arguably defy that achieved status. He’s ready to confess his sins in this sharp drama that also stars Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli, Victoria Hill, and Kristine Froseth.
Jeff Fowler, 110 minutes
Widely considered the best of the three films based on the speedy blue guy from video-game history, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was another hit for Paramount, headed on its way to over half a billion dollars worldwide. The plot reportedly includes elements from a 2001 and 2005 game, and features the great Keanu Reeves as the legendary Shadow, along with a fun dual performance from Jim Carrey. These movies are licenses to print money. They’re already working on a fourth for a reason.
