My 2026 January R-Rated Movies Ranked
Here's what I watched, what about you?
Here’s my latest batch of R-rated movie watches. What did you watch this month? Agree with my ratings? Share your watchlist in the comments.
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I knew there was no way I’d watch as many movies in January this year (10) as I did last year (48). Last January, I was on the first month of renewal leave and determined to watch at least one movie a day. This January, I worked every day including being out on the street peacefully demonstrating against the inhumane, illegal, and immoral tactics of ICE and then getting teargassed by my own tax dollars. So, you know, less time for movies. But all 10 movies I saw were excellent and I recommend them all, Dear Reader.
And with that, let’s get to the rankings! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
MONTH 2026 R-Rated Movies Ranked in the order I saw them:
Joy Ride (2023) 4 out of 5 Get Me on That Train Car!
FIRST WATCH | This was just a lot of fun, from start to finish. As someone who has Chinese heritage, I am sensitive to how Chinese people and Asian people overall are portrayed in film, even when an Asian is at the helm. What a fun fresh breath of air this is! The “raunchy girls’ road trip” genre has finally gone Asian and it’s hilarious! Yes, there are things I laughed at that I did not see coming! Prooobably don’t watch this one with the kids unless your version of “the talk” is the definition of frank.
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023) 5 out of 5 Kinds of Sherbet
FIRST WATCH | Albert Brooks has been a personal comedy hero of mine since I was a kid. I loved his short films on SNL, his live bits on Johnny Carson, his hilarious and thought-provoking movies. We finally broke down and got HBO for the first time ever as a little Christmas gift to my spouse, and I’ll say that when I heard this came out 3 years ago, I nearly broke down back then to see it. It was easy to make this one of my first films of the year. I was delighted by every minute of it.
The Super Bob Einstein Movie (2021) 4 out of 5 Slam-Smashing Crash-plosions
FIRST WATCH | While I enjoyed “Super Bob" Einstein as a kid, I didn’t know that he and Albert Brooks were siblings until I was a teenager. Once I heard, it made a lot of sense. Watching these two documentaries back to back - the one about Albert made in his twilight years by his friend, Rob Reiner, God rest his soul, and the other about Bob made posthumously - it made all the more sense. These two brothers who loved each other and loved the same people and who loved comedy. I loved this.
The Fallout (2021) 4 out of 5 Restroom Stall Shelters
FIRST WATCH | This movie has a famous scene that often makes the rounds on social media as a short vertical vid. When I was poking around HBO (did I mention we just got HBO?) I came across this and wanted to see the movie around that heart wrenching scene. I thought this was a powerful exploration of trauma, grief, survivor’s guilt, love, and community. Jenna Ortega does a ton of heavy lifting here and Maddie Ziegler holds her own as a relatively newcomer as a Hollywood actor. The school shooting scenes and aftermath are challenging, but it’s a worthwhile film.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024) 4 out of 5 Doping Scandals of the Century
FIRST WATCH | Wow, this was one way out there movie. I had no idea what to expect. This was yet another HBO (see, we got HBO for Christmas and—nevermind) late night pick and this turned out to be a real treat. I wasn’t very familiar with Katy O’Brian but she is fascinating every minute she’s on screen. I know Kristen Stewart takes a lot of unwarranted flack from people, and I encourage naysayers to see her in this, she’s great. Not for the faint of heart, but if you like shows such as Breaking Bad where you watch the characters continue to descend into madness, this is a good 90-minute scratch for that itch. And Ed Harris in that wig. Wow, wow, wow.
Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts (2025) 4.5 out of 5 We Love You Buff, Kumail, Keep It Ups!
FIRST WATCH | This year, I’m counting comedy stand-up specials. They’re usually at least 55-75 minutes, their time and energy investment is closer to taking in a movie than a TV episodes, and stand-up stands on its own. Kumail’s stand-up stands tall. This made me laugh to no end. I’m an easy laugh, some would say an Alpha Laugh and they wouldn’t be wrong. I found myself laughing out loud the entire special. This is a tightly-crafted piece, and I plan to watch it again with my wife soon.
Am I OK? (2024) 3.5 out of 5 Just Googlin’ Totally Random Stuffs
FIRST WATCH | This is my lowest rating of the batch, which doesn’t mean it’s not a good movie, it’s just not a great movie. I’m sure this came recommended to me in HBO (HBO!) because I watched Love Lies Bleeding, perhaps as part of a current-day trend of the lesbian thriller sub-genre (Don’t laugh! It’s a real thing right now, just ask Ethan Coen about making Drive-Away Dolls in 2024 and last fall’s Honey Don’t!). The only thing that was a little implausible in this film was Dakota Johnson’s naivety at 33, but I relaxed on that to go with the flow and ended up enjoying this one. Solid cast.
Watchmen (2009) 4 out of 5 Smiley Buttons with Human Bean Juice
I saw that HBO(!) has a two-part animated version of the comic book-turned film, and decided to first watch the 2009 live-action version. If this was the Watchmen: Ultimate Cut, my rating would be lower. It’s just too long and disjointed (I sort of feel that way about the comic book, too, don’t hate me, Dear Reader). The director’s cut (and really, the theatrical version) is still my preferred version and I still just really enjoy this movie. Even when it’s clunky and yeah, it’s clunky. But so fun, and they really do try to do justice to the comic book, from the themes to the framing to the dialogue to (most of) the casting. Great fun.
Next up: first-time viewings of the HBO Watchmen: The Series and the animated adaptation pair, Watchmen: Chapter 1 and Watchmen: Chapter 2.
Spotlight (2015) 4.5 out of 5 Stop the Presses
FIRST WATCH | I never got around to seeing this one, though I was in the first year of my new big career and we had a toddler and a newborn in the house, so don’t judge me. If you wait long enough to watch a movie, eventually it does end up on Tubi for free! This is excellent. Truly compelling drama with a breakneck speed story and a quality cast who knows exactly what they’re doing. For a while there, you kept hearing wow, Michael Keaton is still around?! Like he just stopped being magical because he had a few years of more TV than film?! Oh, please. Check it: Birdman (2014), Spotlight (2015), The Founder (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Four great movies four years in a row for you. Michael Keaton has always done well by us, even when we forgot him. I let this movie sit way too long before I finally watched it. I thought it would be a background watch. Nope. Thoroughly compelling drama.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) 4 out of 5 Terrible, Terrible Judges
FIRST WATCH | This came out around the time COVID-19 did, and I missed it. In the midst of that whirlwind, it became yet another movie in the back catalog to watch some day. Maybe it was getting teargassed by people who come off as if they’re specifically trained to escalate the situation, but a movie about seeking truth and justice in the aftermath of a demonstration turned violent, let’s just say it felt like a good time to watch something good. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I appreciated. Fun performances and a bit of colorful history, worth the run time.
2026 Total Movie Stats
10 MOVIES TOTAL | 3.2% of 311 Movies in 2025
0 Movies at the Theater | 0% (Sadness!)
9 First-Watch Movies | 90%
10 R-Rated Movies | 100%
9 First-Watch R-Rated Movies | 90%
2026 January Movie Stats
10 Movies | 20.8% of 48 Movies in January 2026
0 Movies at the Theater | 0% (Sadness!)
9 First-Watch Movies | 90%
10 R-Rated Movies | 100%
9 First-Watch R-Rated Movies | 90%
January Goal Met: Watch at least ten movies this month.
February Goal Made: Get to the movie theater at least once! January was too icy out for me to get to the movies, and I hope to get back to one of my favorite pastimes.
Your turn!
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What did you see in January? Agree with my ratings? Any reviews to share?
Glad you’re here today, Dear Reader. God’s peace and good movies to you!