Popverse's top stories

• Wizards of the Coast has a secret rule for MTG against wizards in pointy hats
• “Acting is a contact sport”: Actor/director Bryce Dallas Howard on stunts, safety, and chasing adrenaline
• 2026 is the year of 'Avengers: Really Bad Thing' in comics AND movies as Marvel’s flagship team gets a new focus

2025 was, in this humble writer's opinion, a pretty great year for TV. Hell, I'm still thinking about the IT: Welcome to Derry finale, having finished it more than a week ago as of this writing. But 2025 is in the rear view mirror at this point, and I gotta say, what's coming down the road might just blow it out of the water. Yes, there's an absolute plethora of quality TV coming, even just in the first month of this Grand New Year. So to help you sort through it, Popverse has put together this list of What to Watch in January 2026.

From romance to thriller to science fiction to whatever Alan Cumming decides to grace us with, this is your guide to what's new and original that's coming to your streaming platform of choice. Strap in, grab yourself a blanket (it's gonna be a cold one next month), and enjoy.

What's streaming on Netflix in January 2026

Netflix is heating those winter blues away with a steamy period piece that's sure to get your fire burning - Agatha Christie's Seven Dials!

Just kidding. We're of course talking about the return of Bridgerton, the historically horny romantic drama that's back for its fourth season this January. Er - the first part of the fourth season, I should say - it'll be a while yet until the season is streaming in full on Netflix. But hey, isn't the waiting, the yearning, what bodice rippers are all about?

And murder mysteries, for that matter?

What's streaming on Amazon Prime Video in January 2026

Before he returns as Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, Tom Hiddleston is sneaking back in to a different kind of trickster story - that is, the espionage thriller The Night Manager, which returns to Prime Video this month. Amd. before you argue - yes, that does technically imply that James Bond is a trickster god. But I mean, how many faces does the dude have? Are you really surprised?

What's streaming on HBO Max in January 2026

In 2025, HBO Max put out one of the most lauded TV shows of the year, one that married classic TV and streaming TV formats. That was, of course, The Pitt, the kind-of-but-not-really sequel to The ER which saw Noah Wyle in the role of Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, a senior physician in Pittsburgh's most frantic hospital. Now, the show is back for another real-time shift, maybe with a stress-inducing health warning of its own?

Ah, no. Worth considering though, maybe.

What's streaming on Hulu in January 2026

Yeah, yeah, we know that everyone was talking about Stephen Graham in 2025 because of Netflix hit Adolescence, but the actor's capabilities stretch far beyond the modern day. Case in point, the historical crime drama A Thousand Blows, which sees Graham starring alongside Erin Doherty in the tale of real crime syndicate The Forty Elephants. And if you're comparing the two series, remember - it's the Hulu one that got a second season.

What's streaming on Paramount+ in January 2026

There are few things more genuinely thrilling to a certain corner of geekdom than the idea of a new Star Trek series, and to that corner, Paramount+ is offering their deepest wish. At long last, the hotly anticipated Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is ushering Trekkies further into the future than ever before, and they're bringing along heavy hitters like Paul Giamatti and Holly Hunter to captain this particular vessel. And if you ask me, we're currently living through a moment in history where hopeful visions of the future come in hand.

What's streaming on Disney+ in January 2026

Long before Spider-Man: Brand New Day or Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is putting out a new character study that explores what it means to be a civilian in their universe of superheroes. Well, in as far as a movie star can be considered a "civilian" - we're talking, of course, about Wonder Man, the new meta-MCU series that sees Yahya Abdul-Mateen II take on the enigmatic role of Simon Williams, would-be superhero performer.

Or maybe superhero himself? We'll have to see.

What's coming to Peacock in January 2026

OK, NOW we've arrived at the good stuff. I know, I know, you're into your Bridgertons and your Star Treks, but ave you considered how long its been since Alan Cumming put a bunch of reality stars into a gorgeous house to scare and belittle them? Obviously, I'm referring to the next season of The Traitors, the much-beloved reality series (around Popverse, anyway), that makes betrayal just so sexy. 

Sure, we're excited about the other things on this list, but how many of those things are hosted by Boris Grishenko himself?

What's coming to Apple TV+ in January 2026

And last but certainly not least in next month's streaming selection is the little psychotherapy comedy that could - Shrinking. Yes, Apple TV is bringing back the unlikely pair of Harrison Ford and Jason Segel for another crack at the counselor's couch starting January 28, and hey - if you can't afford real therapy this winter, won't watching some of your favorite fictional therapists on TV do just as well?

No, it will not. And also, please don't take medical advice from us.

That's all the major streaming movies and TV shows on our radar right now, but we'll be updating this list as more information becomes available. For those updates, and for all you need to know about the future of streaming, keep an eye on Popverse. 

Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:

• Upcoming movies
• Upcoming TV shows
• Upcoming comics
• Upcoming games
• Upcoming fiction books
• Upcoming comic conventions