January 2026 has shattered any lingering notions of a slow start to the entertainment year, with streaming platforms and television networks unleashing a deluge of new premieres, returning favorites, and cinematic comfort food. According to Military.com and TV Guide, the month is packed with a diverse lineup of movies and shows across Netflix, Max, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and several niche streamers, making it arguably the busiest and most eclectic January in recent memory.
On the film front, streaming services have doubled down on both prestige and nostalgia. Max leads the charge with the highly anticipated premiere of The Smashing Machine on January 23, a gritty biopic starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie, the film has already sparked awards buzz, with Johnson stepping far outside his blockbuster comfort zone. Just a week later, Max will debut If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (January 30), Mary Bronstein’s intense drama featuring Rose Byrne in a performance that critics have called one of the year’s most celebrated. As Military.com notes, these films are part of a deliberate strategy to keep subscribers engaged well past the holidays.
Disney+ is also making waves with Tron: Ares (January 7), a long-delayed sequel that found new life on streaming after a mixed theatrical run last fall. The film’s AI-driven narrative seems tailor-made for the platform’s sci-fi-hungry audience. Meanwhile, Peacock offers up Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos’ English-language remake of the cult Korean film Save the Green Planet!, providing offbeat fare for those seeking something outside the mainstream.
Franchise marathons are everywhere this month. Netflix is dropping a large portion of the James Bond collection on January 15, while Max brings back John Wick Chapters 1–3 right at the start of the month. Disney+ delivers the full Indiana Jones saga, and Prime Video completes the Mission: Impossible package. Peacock, not to be left out, returns the entire Hunger Games series on January 14. For action and adventure fans, January is a goldmine.
Comedy classics and cult favorites are also getting their due. Max opens the month with Mel Brooks’ beloved trio: Blazing Saddles, History of the World: Part 1, and Spaceballs. The platform doubles down on comedy nostalgia with the documentaries Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! (January 22) and I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (January 31), offering both laughs and behind-the-scenes insights into two of comedy’s enduring icons.
Sci-fi, survival, and action thrillers dominate winter streaming, with Hulu resurfacing James Cameron’s The Abyss and the relentless 28 Weeks Later on January 1. Paramount+ adds 10 Cloverfield Lane to its lineup, while Peacock debuts the disaster sequel Twisters on January 15. Disney+ keeps the adrenaline high with Venom: Let There Be Carnage (January 22), a superhero romp that’s easy to binge.
Netflix’s approach this month is a blend of new originals and crowd-pleasers. People We Meet on Vacation (January 9) adapts Emily Henry’s hit novel, offering a romantic escape for viewers. The Rip (January 16), a crime thriller directed by Joe Carnahan and produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (who also star), promises gritty intrigue. Stone Cold Fox (January 9) brings mid-budget action with Krysten Ritter and Kiefer Sutherland, while Licorice Pizza (January 16) returns for those craving prestige fare.
Horror fans aren’t left out, either. Shudder revives the brutal Western Bone Tomahawk, Screambox leans into cult nostalgia with The Toxic Avenger, and Netflix rounds out the month with Hellboy. As Military.com observes, these genre releases ensure every taste is catered to in the January rush.
On the TV side, January 2026 is equally relentless. TV Guide highlights a slate brimming with new and returning series. Netflix’s His & Hers stars Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson as a detective and news anchor whose lives intertwine during a murder investigation—a psychological thriller set in Georgia that’s already generating buzz. The streamer also launches the fourth season of Bridgerton, focusing on Benedict Bridgerton’s romance with the mysterious Sophie Baek, and brings the best friends-to-lovers romance People We Meet on Vacation to the small screen.
HBO Max (now simply Max) kicks off the year with the return of The Pitt for its second season, following Dr. Robby and the staff at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center through another high-stakes July 4th shift. Industry returns with its finance drama and new cast additions, while the Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrives mid-month with a six-episode run, each about half an hour.
Other notable premieres include Ryan Murphy’s horror series The Beauty on FX/Hulu, the young adult Star Trek: Starfleet Academy set in the 32nd century on Paramount+ (January 15), and the surprise third season of Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated Primal on Adult Swim. Prime Video brings back The Night Manager for a second season nearly a decade after its first, with Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine drawn into a new international conspiracy.
Reality and competition shows also make a splash. Peacock’s The Traitors returns for a fourth season with a star-studded cast, while Prime Video’s Beast Games (January 7) continues its Squid Game-inspired competition, hosted by MrBeast. Apple TV+ surprises with a second season of Hijack, this time with Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson trapped on a hijacked Berlin train.
Even the awards circuit gets its due, with the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards streaming live on Paramount+ on January 11, honoring the best of last year’s television and film.
What’s behind this January flood? Military.com suggests it’s no accident—streamers now treat January as a vital retention month, loading their calendars with familiar franchises, prestige debuts, and easy-to-binge comfort viewing. The result is a landscape where, whether you’re seeking high-stakes drama, nostalgic rewatches, or the next big watercooler hit, there’s something for everyone.
For viewers, it’s never been easier—or harder—to choose what to watch next. In a month once known for its entertainment lull, January 2026 proves that the new year now begins with a bang, not a whimper.
