Movies and Shows You Should Stream in January 2026

THE the new year is finally here: 2025 is gone, 2026 is here, and with it, a whole new batch of movies and shows are gracing your favorite streaming services. Yes, it’s time for the Nerd’s watch, the place to discover all the best genre titles coming to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock and more. Plus, we do the work for you. These are just the titles we think you might be interested in.

The following is a list of the best content streaming on all major streaming services. We look at all those long, boring lists and narrow them down to a few dozen titles that we think are remarkable this month. Some are new, some are oldbut either way, we’ll tell you why you should care. Or at least joke about it.

So sit back, grab your remote, and get ready for Nerd’s Watch, highlighting the best movies and shows coming to streamers this month.

Conan the Destroyer (January 1 on Netflix)

Although it is not as masterful as its predecessor, Conan the BarbarianThere are few things better than watching Arnold Schwarzenegger in this incredible role.

Ghostbusters: Answer the call (January 1 on Netflix)

Sue me, but I still think it’s new Ghostbustersyes, the one of Paul Feig with women is the best of the new crop of Ghostbusters movies. He actually understood what made the original so perfect (goofy! funny! thrilling!) and tried to do that, instead of relying on nostalgia. And no, I will not take the call regarding my opinion at this time.

Harry and the Hendersons (January 1 on Netflix)

I haven’t seen the film in probably thirty years, but when it came out in 1987, it was the height of visual effects and comedy. Bigfoot moves in with a family. What’s not to like?

hell boy (January 1 on Netflix)

We didn’t really know how well we did it when Guillermo del Toro was doing incredible comic book adaptations over two decades ago, but yeah, it was good.

22.11.63 (January 7 on Netflix)

This JJ Abrams-produced miniseries, based on a Stephen King novel, never really got the love it deserved when it was released, but it’s really, really good. James Franco (ugh, we know) plays a man who travels back in time to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

THE Indiana Jones Saga (January 1 on Disney+)

The first four films in the franchise—Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Temple of Doom, the Last Crusade and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull– go home on Disney+. But in reality, their place is in a museum.

Venom: Let there be carnage (January 22 on Disney+)

The second Venom The film, the one with Woody Harrelson as Carnage, is fun, strange and worth seeing. Plus, we’re excited to see Spidey’s symbiote enemy on Disney+.

Wonderful man (January 27 on Disney+)

Marvel Studios’ first project of 2026 is the long-awaited story of an actor who is a superhero himself looking for a superhero role in a movie. We’ve heard great things about the show dropping all of its episodes at once.

28 weeks later (January 1 on Hulu)

However 28 years later (the kickoff film for the new trilogy) dismissed this film in its first 30 seconds, we still think the second entry in the zombie franchise is worth a watch.

Idiocracy (January 1 on Hulu)

The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of this Mike Judge bomb which has since become not only cult, but has reached terrifying levels of relevance that we didn’t dare contemplate when it was first released.

The abyss (January 1 on Hulu)

Long before he raised the Titanic or created Avatarthe phrase “James Cameron doesn’t fail” was already in full force with this superb underwater adventure drama.

Body Body Body (January 1 on HBO Max)

Looking for a smart, funny, and scary horror thriller to start 2026? Look no further than Body, body, body, a 2022 film about a group of friends who play a game of murder mystery that becomes all too real.

Ex Machina (January 1 on HBO Max)

Alex Garland is still kicking ass with movies like Civil war, war, And 28 years laterbut it may never surpass this sci-fi masterpiece starring Alicia Vikander, General Hux, and Poe Dameron. Sorry, those last two names should be Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac.

Green Lantern animated films (January 1 on HBO Max)

I haven’t seen them, but I thought it was cool that three Green Lantern animated films are appearing on Max, notably with Lanterns coming later this year. There is Green Lantern: Beware of My Power, Green Lantern: Emerald KnightsAnd Green Lantern: First Flight.

John Wick (January 1 on HBO Max)

Watch Keanu Reeves kick a ton of ass to kick off the new year. More, John Wick: Chapter 2 And John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are also broadcast there.

Space balls (January 1 on HBO Max)

I just realized that while I was thinking Space balls 2 was coming out in 2026, it’s actually only 2027, and I was very sad. But at least you can catch up with the unforgettable original on HBO Max.

THE Dusk Saga (January 1 on HBO Max)

After a recent return to theaters, the five films The Twilight Saga return to streaming. It is Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and the two parts of Breaking Dawn.

The hunger games series (January 14 on Peacock)

Not to be outdone, The hunger games movies are also returning to streaming. It’s the original, Catch fire, both parts of Mockingjayand even The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents. The new film in this series, Sunrise over the harvest, will be released later this year.

Twists (January 15 on Peacock)

How has it been over a year since the world finally got a sequel to Tornadocalled Twistsand how has Universal not announced another sequel yet?

10 Cloverfield Lane (January 1 on Paramount+)

Before reinvigorating the Predator franchise, director Dan Trachtenberg attempted the same thing with Cloverfield; the movie is great, even if the revival never happened. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman star in this excellent sci-fi thriller.

Artificial Intelligence AI (January 1 on Paramount+)

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s vision of Steven Spielberg’s future and, well, things are a little different than you might imagine. Read this and check for yourself.

THE Shout Trilogy (January 1 on Paramount+)

The fourth is underrated and the seventh will hit theaters in just a few weeks. But if you want to go back to the beginning, Paramount presents the first three Shout movies on its streamer.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (January 1 on Paramount+)

Tom Holland prepares to release his fourth album Spiderman movie in 2026, so what better way to prepare for the one in July Brand new day than to report it to Return home?

The Raven (January 1 on Paramount+)

One of the first and best examples of what a comic book adaptation could be was this cult 1994 film starring Brandon Lee, who was tragically killed during filming. Paramount also adds the second and fourth Crow movies, The Raven: City of Angels And The Raven: Wicked Prayer, at the same time.

The Martian (January 1 on Paramount+)

Ridley Scott directs Matt Damon in this excellent and exciting adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel about a man stranded on Mars. And, just weeks before Weir’s second adaptation, Mail Mary Projectis coming to the big screen.

Want more io9 news? Find out when to expect the latest news Wonder, Star WarsAnd Star Trek exits, what is the next step for the DC Universe in cinema and televisionand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.