A new month means Paramount Plus is loaded with new movies, and the popular streaming service is opening a strong year in January 2024 with a large collection of well-received films.

Dozens of new releases will be added to the Paramount Plus catalog this month, some of which will undoubtedly appear in Paramount Plus' Best Movies collection. But scrolling through all the new additions takes a lot of time, and that time can be spent watching movies.

That's why we've done the hard work for you and found five new Paramount Plus movies you need to see first. All of the films on this list have received scores of 90% or higher on the comprehensive review site Rotten Tomatoes, which is a true testament to their quality.

Daniel Day-Lewis won his first Oscar for his role as Christy Brown in My Left Foot. This biographical comedy-drama chronicles Brown's remarkable life: born into a poor Irish family in Dublin in the 1930s, Brown suffered from cerebral palsy and could only move her left leg. Abandoned by most of society, including his father (Ray McAnally), Brown is driven by a strong determination to make something of himself.

This empowering film is a perfect example of the strength of the human spirit, and as you would expect, Day-Lewis plays a tremendous lead role. If you're looking for high-octane action and dramatic twists and turns, you won't find them in My Left Foot. But if you want to see an engaging film filled with characters you want to root for, look no further.

Genre Drama Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98 Streaming on Paramount Plus

The benchmark by which all mafia films are measured, The Godfather is a crime epic and one of the most influential and best films ever made. Francis Ford Coppola's chronicle of the Corleone Mafia family, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, is a cinematic achievement in every respect.

The first film in the trilogy, "The Godfather" centers on the power struggle that erupts when Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) decides to hand over his Mafia empire to his reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino). However, as tensions rise throughout the New York crime syndicate, Michael's succession could lead to the collapse of the Corleone dynasty. The Godfather is truly a must-see film, with two powerful performances by Brando and Pacino at its core.

Genre Crime Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97 Streaming on Paramount Plus

The second film adapted from the 1968 novel by Charles Portis (the original starred John Wayne). It was also the film that brought Hailee Steinfeld to prominence and earned her an Academy Award nomination.

True Grit follows a spirited 14-year-old girl named Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) who hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an alcoholic lawyer, to bring her father's killer to justice. Accompanying her is LaBeouf (Matt Damon), a Texas Ranger in pursuit of this outlaw. This unlikely trio begins at odds, but as their abilities are tested, they must band together to prove their mettle.

Genre Western Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95 Streaming on Paramount Plus

"Gone Baby Gone" is a twisted thriller full of family love. Casey Affleck stars and Ben Affleck makes his directorial debut. The film opens with the disappearance of a four-year-old girl from her home. The police investigation is slow and hopeless, and the mother (Amy Ryan) consults two private detectives, Patrick Kenzie (Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan).

Untouchable from the start, the two men have an advantage that the cops don't. But as they follow the evidence, they begin to question their personal and professional motives and face a moral dilemma that could destroy multiple lives. Also starring Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, and Titus Welliver, "Gone Baby Gone" offers a gripping mystery and an ending that will stay with you for days after the credits roll.

Genre Thriller Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94 Streaming on Paramount Plus

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage swap faces in this masterful action thriller. Nothing else is needed. If you're still not convinced, the film features two legendary actors playing two roles in one: an FBI agent uses plastic surgery to swap faces with a criminal to go undercover and find out where a bomb is planted somewhere in Los Angeles.

Directed by John Woo, "Face/Off" is, as one might imagine from its high-concept premise, rather ridiculous. Woo delivers his trademark adrenaline-fueled action in full force, and both Travolta and Cage give serious performances. The gleeful approach to brutal violence may be off-putting to some viewers, but if you're looking for a bold, thrilling action film, "Face/Off" sets the bar pretty high.

Genre Action Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93 Streaming on Paramount Plus