When you think of January film releases, you might expect smaller-scale dramas or light post-holiday fare. But on January 9, 2026, Paramount Pictures is flipping that expectation upside down with the intense new survival thriller, Primate. Distributed by Paramount and produced with a sharp eye for suspense, this movie combines family drama, a dangerous twist of nature, and a powerful cast led by some exciting names.
The story centers on Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah, Dexter: New Blood), who returns home to Hawaii for summer break. Waiting for her are her sister Erin, their father Adam (played by Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur, CODA), and their beloved pet chimpanzee, Ben. What starts as a carefree reunion quickly turns into a nightmare after Ben is bitten by a rabid animal. Once gentle and loving, the chimp transforms into a terrifying threat.
Things spiral even further when Lucy and her friends Kate, Hannah (Jessica Alexander, The Little Mermaid), and Kate’s brother Nick decide to throw a pool party while Adam is away for work. Trapped and cut off from help, the teens are forced to barricade themselves in the pool, using every ounce of resourcefulness to outwit Ben and survive long enough to see daylight.
Beyond the pulse-pounding premise, Primate is also drawing attention thanks to the casting of Troy Kotsur, who broke barriers as the first Deaf male actor to win an Academy Award for his role in CODA. In Primate, Kotsur takes on the role of Adam, a father balancing love for his children with the impossible dangers that unfold. His inclusion in the film not only elevates the emotional weight of the story but also continues the important representation of Deaf talent in mainstream cinema.
Between the tropical Hawaiian setting, the mix of family bonds under pressure, and a premise that promises plenty of nail-biting tension, Primate looks ready to make audiences grip their armrests. With Paramount Pictures behind its release and the January 9 date locked in, this could be the survival thriller that kicks off 2026 with a roar—or perhaps more accurately, a scream.