As the awards season peaks and the holiday season fades, January often turns into a cinematic graveyard filled with forgotten sequels, failed franchises, and films that studios have already given up on.

However, there are exceptions. Films like Paddington 2, Cloverfield, and certain Oscar contenders expanding into wider releases demonstrate that January can produce quality cinema. Still, the month is largely known as Hollywood's infamous 'Dump Month.'

Why do studios choose January to release their weakest films? How did it become the prime dumping ground for risky projects, troubled productions, and box-office flops?