A new year has arrived, which means there are a ton of new movies and TV shows to look forward to. To kick off the year 2026, the world’s best streaming services are rolling out a mix of new releases that should help you hold on to that Christmas bubble for a little while longer.
From the epic conclusion to one of the most-watched TV shows of all time to the streaming debut of two recent 2025 movies, there’s a lot to read in the list below that’s sure to keep you entertained throughout the weekend. Now, prepare your first watchlist of the year! – Amelia Schwanke, Higher Entertainment Education
Finale of the fifth season of Stranger Things (Netflix)
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One of the biggest showdowns on television is finally here! The eighth and final episode of stranger things Season 5 landed on Netflix in late 2025. If you didn’t catch the two-hour finale, titled ‘The Rightside Up,’ during its limited theatrical run in the US and Canada this week, there’s no better time to stream it, especially now that Netflix’s servers are a little less overloaded.
The Duffer Brothers have rolled the dice on their ’80s monster fever dream one last time, capping an emotional 10-year journey for one of Netflix’s most-watched and talked-about shows. There’s also a lot to wrap up in the finale. From stopping Vecna to confronting the Mind Flayer once and for all, Hawkins’ heroes have it all on the line in the final fight. – AS
Run away (Netflix)
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We are just a few days away from 2026 and Harlan Coben’s Escape has unleashed a story so deranged that it could be a milestone for Netflix crime dramas. Simon (James Nesbitt) is desperately searching for his runaway daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) after she leaves the house to go to her abusive, drug-addicted boyfriend, Aaron (Thomas Flynn).
When Aaron turns up dead, Simon is suspect number one. Going against the police, his family, and his better conscience to find Paige, he discovers much more than he bargained for. You will have to suspend any ounce of belief you have in your body, but it will be worth it.
I was giddy the entire time I watched it, and it’s safe to say I’ve never had more fun following a gruesome murder. Ruth Jones needs to be cast in more serious dramas, but the star of the show is the series finale, which she may never forget. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter
Barron’s Creek (Paramount+)
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Rupture Fans, do you need more Tramell Tillman in your life? Of course it does, that’s why you should watch it. Barrón Cove this weekend. He joins a great cast in this thriller, alongside Garrett Hedlund, Hamish Linklater and Brittany Snow.
The Paramount+ thriller follows a man who kidnaps a child after his son’s death is ruled a suicide and justice is not served. The boy, a classmate of his late son, is taken to a remote house on a lake, where the man interrogates him about his son’s disappearance.
It’s truly bleak, edge-of-your-seat, and although critics are divided, the premise is intriguing, meaning you might enjoy this thrilling thriller. – Lucy Buglass, Senior Entertainment Writer
Together (Hulu)
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Real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco lead the cast of this must-see body horror film, which explores codependency in a truly chilling way. They play Tim and Millie, a couple who move to the countryside where they begin to experience disturbing events as their bodies begin to get stuck together.
There are some very cringe-inducing moments here, and I mean that in the best way possible. While it’s not as gory as it could be, there are a lot of great special effects and moments that are very uncomfortable to watch.
Together is widely considered one of the best horror movies of 2025, with a brilliant 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s worth spending time this weekend. – pound
The Cult of the Real Housewife (HBO Max)
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TLC’s new investigative docuseries investigates The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. With accusations of spiritual and financial misconduct surrounding both Cosby and the church itself, there’s a lot to uncover in this three-part series now streaming on HBO Max.
Throughout the episodes, the series documents the history of the church thanks to investigative journalists and bloggers who have followed the story from the beginning. It also features a leading cult expert offering insight into mind control cults, and it looks like it’s going to be binge-worthy this weekend.
TLC shows have captivated me for years and I’m sure this one will be no exception. – pound
Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory (Disney+/Hulu)
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Clearly, Cheetahs up close with Bertie Gregory is a documentary I need to watch on Disney+, as I took a look at the trailer thumbnail above and proudly told my colleagues that it’s about a leopard. Filmmaker Bertie Gregory’s new documentary special “captures the extreme challenges facing the world’s fastest land animal,” according to National Geographic.
Gregory follows the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti firsthand, resulting in the impressive showdown of the fittest survival as the special continues. Don’t worry, it’s not all violent… the puppies are incredibly cute. – joint venture
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix)
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Rather brilliantly, Netflix is trying to top Hulu’s true crime documentary game. In 2025, The Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke It arrived on Disney+ with international success, and now we revisit the horrible story, but focusing on Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt.
In 2023, her arrest for child abuse alongside YouTuber mom Ruby Franke shocked the world and, according to Netflix, “exposed a twisted tale of manipulation.” It’s the story we seemingly can’t get enough of and we’re about to revisit it from a whole new angle.
If anything, this documentary could be even more shocking than anything that was already public knowledge. Hildebrandt is the biggest enigma and the one we know the least about… well, until now. – joint venture
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