January is often considered a "dead zone" for the movie industry.
Typically, movies released at the first of the year aren't quite good enough for Oscar contention, nor are they exciting enough for the coveted spots in spring and summer lineups.
However, several excellent movies were released in January of 2013, driving film lovers out of the cold and into the theater.
From dark and violent horror flicks to nail-biting suspense and adventure films, several new releases stood out in the crowd, and a few December releases saw even more viewers, making January 2013 a very good month for the movie industry.
The big winner for January was Quentin Tarantino's Old-South epic, "Django Unchained.
" Starring Jamie Foxx, Christopher Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio, the movie is a straightforward revenge flick that takes the audience on a brutal journey of rescue and redemption.
Utilizing the same type of "grindhouse" style that makes Tarantino's films unique, the ultraviolent over-the-top film that trounces conventional history had taken in $148 million by the end of January.
This makes "Django Unchained" Tarantino's most commercially successful movie to date.
The film is rated R for strong graphic violence, language, and nudity.
Taking the top spot during the first week of January was "Zero Dark Thirty," a chronicle of the operation that hunted and finally took down Osama bin Laden.
Though the film was released on Dec.
21, 2012, it hung back at the sixteenth spot before getting the recognition it deserved.
Starring Jason Clarke, Reda Kaeb, and Jessica Chastain, the movie tells the story of a young and untried interrogator named Maya who must deal with the harsh realities of extreme violence and unconventional warfare while helping track down one of the most notorious terrorists in history.
The film is rated R for strong language and violence.
By the second week in January, Jessica Chastain was in the top spot again, although it was in an entirely different movie.
The surprise hit of the month, "Mama," takes viewers deep into the woods for a story of two young girls who have been abandoned in a forest cabin.
There, an entity they call "Mama" takes care of them for five years before they're rescued by their uncle.
Unfortunately, the girls aren't the only thing he brings back home with him, as the entity follows them back to the suburbs.
Full of suspense and surprises, this highly acclaimed horror film is rated PG-13 for violence and adult themes.
Released in November and still going strong in January, "Silver Linings Playbook" hung around the top five during the entire month of January.
Starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, the feel-good romance flick tells the story of a mentally ill man who conquers his demons hilariously as he falls in love with an unemployed widow who has problems of her own.
Due to its practically flawless writing and amazing performances by its stars, the film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Movie, Best Screenplay, and nods in all four acting categories.
The movie is rated for language, sexual content, and nudity.
Another standout film for January 2013 is the rip-roaring romp " Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.
" Never taking itself too seriously, the movie takes on the classic fairy tale in a style that blends black comedy with action, horror, and dark fantasy.
Starring Jeremy Renner, Famke Janssen, and Gemma Arteton, the film combines modern sensibilities and anachronistic weaponry in an old-world setting, creating a film that is extremely fun to watch and lacking in pretension.
While panned by serious critics, many reviewers in the horror genre have praised the movie for being exactly what it says on the box: outrageous and entertaining.
The movie is rated R for strong violence, profanity, sexuality, and brief nudity.
Jason Statham's much-anticipated crime-thriller "Parker" opened on Jan.
18, 2013 and gained mixed reviews.
Though it earned less money than what was anticipated, the movie debuted at the number-five slot.
While the film didn't quite live up to the hype, many viewers continue to enjoy what Jason Statham does best, that is, being Jason Statham.
Some critics despise the movie for this very reason, with the onus that the film didn't go far enough to distinguish the character of Parker from other Statham vehicles.
Still, the movie provides action-packed satisfaction that lovers of the "tough guy with a gun" genre will enjoy.
The film is rated R for strong violence, language, and brief nudity and sexual situations.
Bringing in the rear is the much-anticipated "Broken City," starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe.
While critics enjoyed the cinematography and strong performances put forward by A-list actors, they felt the script would have worked much better with a period setting.
While the nail-biting American crime drama didn't live up to expectations, debuting in the number-five slot on its week of release before dropping to number ten the next, viewers will enjoy the tight storytelling and standout performances from top-notch actors.
The film is rated R for sexual content and violence.