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Top streaming picks for January 2026
See what new movies are streaming now, plus trending shows that everyone's watching.
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A typical edition of The Queue starts with me going in-depth on a single topic — whether it’s the best ways to save money on streaming, the most egregious Golden Globes snubs, or previewing the best movie of 2025 — before offering some quick streaming recommendations.
Once a month, however, I’ll be sending you an all-recommendations edition of the newsletter, because the struggle of deciding what to watch is eternal.
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With the start of a new month heralding a slew of new movies and shows being added to streaming libraries, we’ve got plenty of recommendations to help you make the most of your time on the couch.
New movies to watch on Netflix in January
“Dune” (2021): First released in September 2021, “Dune” was a near-religious theatrical experience for moviegoers who had been stuck at home during the pandemic. But even on your couch at home, Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster truly feels epic in scale and ambition, and owes a debt of gratitude to the likes of “Lawrence of Arabia” as much as space-based sagas like “Star Wars: A New Hope,” which was inspired in part by Frank Herbert’s novel. (Netflix)
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“Erin Brockovich” (2000): The movie that netted Julia Roberts her first Oscar. Playing a single mother who forces her way into a temp job at Ed Masry’s (Albert Finney) law firm, her indefatigability helps bring a class action suit against a utility company that is contaminating the groundwater of a small California town. (Netflix)
“Green Room” (2015): Director Jeremy Saulnier (“Rebel Ridge”) first broke into the mainstream with this harrowing 2015 drama about a punk band who end up trapped in the green room of a rural Oregon bar after witnessing a neo-Nazi murder. The late Anton Yelchin (“Star Trek”) is strong in one of his final performances, but the real surprise is a chilling turn from fellow Star Trek alum Patrick Stewart as the skinheads’ coldly calculating leader. (Netflix)
Coming to Netflix in 2026
On Jan. 7, Netflix announced more than 100 original movies and shows coming to the platform in 2026. Here are three movies coming in the first half of 2026 to put on the calendar.
“The Rip” (January 16): Starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami cops who discover millions of dollars in a stash house, “trust begins to fray” as more people learn about the seizure.
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“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” (March 20): Set in 1940 Birmingham, the film followup to the successful series features Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returning from “a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet.”
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” (May 8): Based on the best-selling book of the same name, Tova (Sally Field) plays an aquarium employee who forms “an unlikely friendship” with Marcellus, the giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium.
Play or Skip: Staff Edition
You’ve heard enough of my streaming picks already, so here’s what the rest of Boston.com’s staff is watching.
Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.
“Heated Rivalry”: Boston.com staff writer Abby Patkin was one of several staffers watching this HBO show that brings a steamy romance novel about two ice hockey players to the big screen: “I was skeptical at first and only watched the first episode or two to humor some friends who had gotten obsessed, but it’s funny, refreshing, and has a lot of heart to it — even over a measly six-episode run.” (HBO Max)
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“Chad Powers”: Boston.com producer Kelly Chan (who produces this newsletter!) tabbed this Glen Powell comedy as her pick for an easy watch over the holidays: “It’s like ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ meets the plot of any washed-up-football-player TV show. Was it a quality show that I’d recommend? Debatable. But it was entertaining nonetheless.” (Hulu)
“One Battle After Another” (2025): Boston.com senior producer Heather Alterisio paid a steep price to watch my favorite movie of 2025, but she still says it was worth it: “‘One Battle After Another’ broke my TV – literally. I’d like to believe that the cinematography was so good that my TV stopped being able to show any lesser films after I finished it.” (HBO Max)
“The Comeback”: Boston.com food writer Katelyn Umholtz is preparing for the return of Lisa Kudrow’s long-dormant showbiz satire in March after a 12-year layoff: “I binged two seasons of ‘The Comeback’ in preparation for the new season. Not for folks who don’t do cringe comedy, but Lisa Kudrow is equal parts ridiculous and charming.” (HBO Max)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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