It’s hard to decide what the worst part about January is – the cold weather or the crappy movies – but at least with the winter chill, you can always add extra layers to help stay warm. There’s not a lot you can do to make a bad film more tolerable, and unfortunately, the turn of the year is typically brimming with cinematic duds. Though there are a few potential surprises in the cards this January from some heavy hitters, it’s best to keep your expectations low, because even the biggest stars are due a stinker every once in a while, and if there was ever a good time to release it, this would be the month to do it.

Who: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone and Nick Nolte
What: A crew of LAPD enforcers team up to take down vicious mobster Mickey Cohen.
When: January 11th
Why: After getting bumped from its September release date to accommodate reshoots following the Aurora, Colorado tragedy (particularly a scene involving machine guns in a movie theater), it’s a little sad to see Ruben Fleischer’s police drama land in the dregs of January, because it deserves better than that. Loosely based on the LAPD’s war against organized crime during the late 40s and early 50s, the film’s cast is packed with enough talent – from its major stars to supporting players like Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena and Robert Patrick – to rival any of the “Ocean’s Eleven” movies. Though I was disappointed by Fleischer’s last effort, the crime comedy “30 Minutes or Less,” it’ll be interesting to see how the “Zombieland” director handles more serious material, and whether his unique visual style clashes with the particular look of that era.

Who: Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Nick Swardson and David Koechner
What: When Malcolm and Keisha learn that a demon resides in their dream home, Malcolm turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghostbusters for help.
When: January 11th
Why: Unless you’re a fan of the “Scary Movie” franchise, which Marlon Wayans helped launch over a decade ago, it’s hard to imagine you’ll have any sort of interest in his new horror comedy, which parodies found footage films like “Paranormal Activity” and “The Devil Inside.” But if those awful spoof movies by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer taught us anything, it’s that there’s definitely a market for this brand of lowbrow idiocy, although you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone to actually admit it. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but even for a spoof movie, “A Haunted House” looks embarrassingly bad for everyone involved, including those dumb enough to waste their time and money.

Who: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker and Luis Guzman
What: The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.
When: January 18th
Why: Between the English-language debuts of Kim Ji-woon and Park Chan-wook, and Spike Lee’s upcoming remake of the cult classic “Oldboy,” the Korean invasion is in full swing, and deservedly so, because they’re making some of the best movies at the moment. Kim Ji-woon’s revenge thriller “I Saw the Devil” was one of my favorite films of 2011, so it’s not surprising that his fans have been drooling over the prospect of his Hollywood debut, and the fact that it also happens to be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first starring role in a decade will probably bring it even more attention. That could end up hurting the movie more than it helps it if expectations are set too high, but the script didn’t earn a place on the Black List for nothing, and if it’s anything like Kim’s oddball Western “The Good, the Bad, the Weird,” then U.S. audiences could be in for a fun treat.

Who: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kyle Chandler
What: A former cop hired to trail the adulterous wife of New York City’s mayor finds himself caught up in a much larger scandal.
When: January 18th
Why: It’s hard to believe that a film starring the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones is being released in January, which leads me to believe one of two things: either the studio has zero confidence in the movie, or they’re hoping to cash in against much weaker competition. Unfortunately, the trailer doesn’t really get me excited about the film, even with the talent involved, and that’s because we’ve all seen a variation of this film several times before. Though there’s always the chance that Allen Hughes’ first solo effort without brother Albert (who’s off making his own movie with Mickey Rourke) will bring something fresh to the genre, I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Who: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Megan Charpentier
What: Annabelle and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his two nieces that disappeared into the woods five years ago, but the girls might not be alone.
When: January 18th
Why: Horror movies aren’t usually my thing, but even I’m somewhat intrigued by first-time director Andres Muschietti’s “Mama,” which is based on his 2008 short film of the same name. Though having Guillermo del Toro attached to the movie as an executive producer certainly lends some credibility to the project, it’s the involvement of Jessica Chastain that really perks my interest, because the Oscar-nominated actress could do just about anything she wants at the moment, so she must have saw something really special in the script to agree to do a horror film at this stage in her career. Then again, this wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve gotten my hopes up about a movie opening in January only to get burned, so here’s hoping that Muschietti and Co. prove me wrong.

Who: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Peter Stormare and Famke Janssen
What: In this dark spin on the famous fairy tale, siblings Hansel and Gretel have grown up to become bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.
When: January 25th
Why: I’ve lost count of how many times “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” has been delayed over the last few years, but now that it’s finally coming to theaters, will anyone even care? Filmed long before Jeremy Renner became a household name, the studio is clearly hoping to exploit his recent success, but you have to feel bad for the actor, because this looks like the kind of low-rent action movie you make before becoming a big star. Much like director Tommy Wirkola’s zombie Nazi comedy “Dead Snow,” the concept sounds like a lot of fun, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s going to be too campy for its own good, especially when none of the actors appear to be in on the joke.

Who: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis, Bobby Cannavale and Nick Nolte
What: After being double-crossed and left for dead, a thief forms an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside to hijack his crew’s latest score.
When: January 25th
Why: If you’ve seen one Jason Statham movie, you’ve pretty much seen them all, but with Taylor Hackford behind the camera, you’d expect this to at least fall on the better end of his action film oeuvre. Though I don’t know much about the series of books that it’s based on, this isn’t the first time that author Donald Westlake’s antihero has been transported to the big screen, perhaps most notably in the underrated Mel Gisbon film “Payback.” However, this is the first time that the Parker name has been allowed to be used, so you can bet that the plan is to jumpstart a franchise using a similar strategy as “Jack Reacher.” Fans of the novels probably shouldn’t get their hopes up, but even though it may not be franchise material, action movies starring The Stath are rarely dull.

Who: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Gerard Butler, Emma Stone and Elizabeth Banks
What: An outrageous ensemble comedy intertwining different tales and starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
When: January 25th
Why: The idea of enlisting some of the most famous actors in the movie business to take part in an anthology of lewd and politically incorrect vignettes directed by guys like Peter Farrelly, Brett Ratner and James Gunn sounds pretty funny on paper. Whether or not “Movie 43” manages to fulfill that comic potential, however, is a completely different story, especially when some audiences might not like the thought of seeing Hollywood darlings such as Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet sink to that level. There’s definitely a spoof movie vibe to it, which also means that there’s plenty of room for disappointment, but with this much talent packed into one film, it’s hard not to be at least a little curious.

I’ve joked in the past about January being a dumping ground for all the misfit movies that the studios deemed unworthy of a more attractive release date, but the truth of the matter is that there are 12 months in a year, and you can’t expect every month to be overflowing with quality programming. With that said, however, this year’s pickings don’t look as bad as usual, with a surprising amount of action films led by big-name stars, some of which have real sleeper hit potential. The general lack of confidence by the studios suggests otherwise, but when expectations are this low, anything is possible.

Who: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas and Ben Foster
What: To protect his brother-in-law from a drug lord, a former smuggler heads to Panama to score millions of dollars in counterfeit bills.
When: January 13th
Why: It’s pretty funny that a movie about counterfeiting should turn out to be an imitation itself (the Icelandic film on which its based featured the U.S. version’s director, Baltasar Kormákur, in the lead role), but despite the fact that its clichéd plot seems to have been ripped off from a number of generic action thrillers just like it, “Contraband” has one thing that a lot of those films didn’t – a killer ensemble cast. Mark Wahlberg has had his share of duds over the years, but he’s always entertaining to watch, and guys like Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster and J.K. Simmons are some of the best character actors in the game. It’s probably not something you should rush out to see on opening weekend, but “Contraband” at least looks like it’ll be a fun way to kick off the 2012 movie season.

Who: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, Stephen Rea and Kris Holden-Ried
What: When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, Selene leads the battle to protect both of their species.
When: January 20th
Why: For as entertaining as the first “Underworld” movie was, I’ve never understood how the series has managed to stick around for as long as it has. The second film was really bad and the third one was even worse, but for some reason, Screen Gems is intent on milking the vampire/werewolf franchise for as long as they can. And until people stop blindly handing the studio their money, they’ll keep making them. The only reason anyone should even consider seeing this fourth installment is for the leather-clad return of Kate Beckinsale as vampire heroine Selene, because the rest of the film reeks of desperation. Why else would they be releasing it in (undoubtedly subpar) 3D?

Who: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender and Antonio Banderas
What: A black ops soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed during a mission.
When: January 20th
Why: The last thing that anyone expected from director Steven Soderbergh was an action movie, but considering his diverse body of work, it’s not as strange as it sounds. Designed specifically as a starring vehicle for MMA fighter Gina Carano, “Haywire” looks like a pretty kick-ass action movie that retains Soderbergh’s indie sensibilities. Though it’s not much to go on, the trailer suggests that Carano is actually a pretty decent actor, and regardless of the film’s success, it could mark the arrival of Hollywood’s newest female action star. But for as much faith as Soderbergh has placed in the tough-as-nails newcomer, it was smart to surround her with actors like McGregor, Fassbender and Banderas, who will undoubtedly improve the film beyond the typical January fare.

Who: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Michael B. Jordon and Bryan Cranston
What: A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program is finally called into duty after spending most of World War II on the ground.
When: January 20th
Why: George Lucas can thank “Star Wars” fans for the eventual release of his WWII passion project, which he’s been trying to get off the ground for decades before finally deciding to finance it himself using his Scrooge McDuck-sized fortune. Though Lucas is credited for the story, he thankfully didn’t write the script, instead handing those duties over to TV writer John Ridley. But while the finicky Lucas has entrusted “Red Tails” to Ridley and first-time director Anthony Hemingway, his fingerprints are unmistakably all over the movie. You can expect plenty of clichéd dialogue as a result, but between its cast and the promise of some exciting dogfights, this might not be as bad as it looks.

Who: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, and Vanessa Redgrave
What: A banished hero of Rome allies with his sworn enemy to take revenge on the city.
When: January 20th
Why: Don’t let the trailer for Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, “Coriolanus,” fool you into thinking it’s an action movie, because it’s far from it. A political drama that re-imagines William Shakespeare’s historical tragedy by replacing ancient Rome with modern-day Serbia, the movie has its moments (particularly early on), but there’s a good reason why it’s one of the Bard’s lesser known works. Fiennes plays the title character with a rabid intensity that’s required of the role, and Vanessa Redgrave delivers an excellent performance as his controlling mother that has even garnered Oscar buzz, but your own mileage will vary depending on how you feel about the modern setting. And, of course, whether you can handle badasses like Fiennes and Gerard Butler talking so “funny.”

Who: Liam Neeson, Dermont Mulroney, James Badge Dale and Joe Anderson
What: In Alaska, an oil drilling team struggle to survive after a plane crash strands them in the wild with a pack of hungry wolves.
When: January 27th
Why: Director Joe Carnahan may not have the kind of career that a lot of people were expecting from him after his sophomore effort, “Narc,” but lately, he seems to be fighting to win back the respect of moviegoers and his peers. “Smokin’ Aces” didn’t quite live up to its potential, but “The A-Team” was a lot more fun than it deserved to be, and “The Grey” looks like it could be yet another surprise hit for star Liam Neeson along the lines of “Taken.” The actor’s involvement is certainly one of the things to be most excited about, as he tends to make just about every movie he’s in better, but the real draw will undoubtedly be the Neeson vs. wolves face-off that the film’s trailer heavily showcases. I’m sure that there’s more to “The Grey” than that, but really, what could be any better?

Who: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata and John Leguizamo
What: Unemployed and newly-divorced Stephanie Plum lands a job at her cousin’s bail-bond business, where her first assignment puts her on the trail of her ex-boyfriend.
When: January 27th
Why: Based on the popular series of novels by Janet Evanovich, Lionsgate pushed “One for the Money” from its original release date to the much more forgiving January slot because, well, have you seen the trailer? If it weren’t for the fact that the studio is trying to jumpstart another franchise, they probably could have dumped it directly to DVD, with Katherine Heigl already taking heat from Evanovich’s loyal fanbase about her supposed miscasting as amateur bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. This is the kind of source material that would have fared much better as a TV series on a channel like the USA Network, because from the look of things, it’s highly unlikely that the studio will get the chance to adapt the entire Plum series, let alone the follow-up “Two for the Dough.”

Who: Woody Harrelson, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Ned Beatty and Ben Foster
What: Set in 1999 Los Angeles, renegade police officer Dave Brown works to take care of his family and struggles for his own survival.
When: January 27th
Why: Oren Moverman stormed onto the film scene in 2009 with his excellent debut, “The Messenger,” and has been a director to watch ever since. His latest effort reunites him with actors Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster for this gritty police drama co-written by popular crime novelist James Elroy. But for those hoping for a movie about the Rampart scandal that also served as inspiration for the FX cop drama “The Shield,” you might want to dial back your expectations, because its title is somewhat misleading. Moverman’s film is about a completely different (and fictional) scandal that takes place around the same time, and although it’s worth watching for Harrelson’s mesmerizing performance, it would have been a lot better if it focused on the actual Rampart case.

Who: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Edward Burns
What: As a police psychologist talks down an ex-con threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist in history is being committed.
When: January 27th
Why: It’s probably too much to hope that this will be any good, because although the concept is pretty ingenious for a heist film, I just don’t have very much faith in star Sam Worthington, who’s still yet to deliver a single performance that actually warrants his sudden rise to stardom. Not to mention, director Asger Leth is largely untested as a filmmaker (he only has one previous, and pretty obscure, directing credit to his name), while writer Pablo F. Fenjves has built a career penning low-rent TV movies, most of which were made in the 90s. Though it’s entirely possible that the film’s cast could turn this around, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this in and out of theaters by mid February.