When it comes to new titles, January movies can be the dregs, as studios — and moviegoers — cling to holiday holdovers.

But this week, some movies that sneaked into New York and Los Angeles in December to qualify for awards consideration are going into wider release. Some actually opened in Honolulu and are back again.

Here are six quality films that should not be missed:

The film: "Babel"

What it's about: Intertwining tales bring contemporary social issues into harsh light. The central story line is the odyssey of an American couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) traveling in Morocco, and the journey taken by their kids, being cared for a continent away by a nanny (Adriana Barraza) facing weighty choices. Another thread follows the emotional upheaval of a deaf teen (Rinko Kikuchi) coping with the death of her mom and grief of her dad.

Why it's worth seeing: The Golden Globe winner for best dramatic film is suspenseful, profoundly moving and intellectually compelling.

The film: "Children of Men"

What it's about: The year is 2027, and despair has taken over the population. Though the human race has become infertile, a woman is found to be miraculously pregnant.

Why it's worth seeing: While it offers an alarming vision of the future, the fast-paced, gripping story is enhanced by amazing single-take scenes and telling details.

The film: "Letters From Iwo Jima"

What it's about: The pivotal World War II battle that took place on the desolate island of Iwo Jima is chronicled from the perspective of Japanese soldiers of all ranks.

Why it's worth seeing: "Letters" is visually resonant and deeply moving. Much of the film focuses on the Japanese troops waiting for the inevitable siege and preparing fatalistically for certain injury and possible death. "Letters" won a Golden Globe for best foreign-language film.

The film: "The Painted Veil"

What it's about: A visually lush period romance set mostly in China, based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel about the contentious and complex marriage of an ill-suited couple. Ed Norton plays a taciturn doctor, and Naomi Watts is the more lighthearted woman he marries.

Why it's worth seeing: The film traces the trajectory of a relationship against the backdrop of compelling historical events and an exotic location: China in the 1920s. Unlike much of the fare Hollywood offers, the story is engrossing, the relationship is believable, and the characters are multidimensional.

The film: "Pan's Labyrinth"

What it's about: Loss of innocence is explored in a tale that blends nightmarish fantasy with scenes of realistic brutality in the authoritarian post-civil war Spanish regime.

Why it's worth seeing: This dazzling fusion of fairy tale and wartime drama fascinates with its imaginative power. Though the graphic violence is unsettling, the spectacularly vivid fantasy and the stark drama are equally captivating.

The film: "The Queen"

What it's about: A behind-the scenes examination of the reactions of Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family to the death of Princess Diana.

Why it's worth seeing: The film boasts two of the best performances of the decade, Golden Globe winner Helen Mirren as the queen, Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair. And it has one of the wittiest and sharpest-written scripts (also a Golden Globe winner for Peter Morgan) of any film in recent memory.