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As the new year dawns, Netflix is set to captivate audiences with an array of exceptional films and specials slated for January 2026. The streaming giant promises a diverse lineup that ranges from gripping dramas to lighthearted comedies, ensuring there’s something for every viewer’s taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a laugh, some heart-stopping action, or an insightful narrative, Netflix is prepared to deliver.
Kicking off the month, Netflix is poised to make waves with two original films that are sure to capture attention. Fans of romance will delight in the adaptation of Emily Henry’s beloved novel, People We Meet on Vacation, starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth. Meanwhile, adrenaline junkies can look forward to The Rip, a thrilling action film featuring an all-star cast including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Teyana Taylor. Both films are strong contenders for the coveted spots in Netflix’s Top 10.
Mid-January will see the streaming service expanding its global reach with a selection of international titles. Among these are the enchanting Japanese animated musical, Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, which promises to be a visual and auditory feast. From Italy, The Big Fake offers a deep dive into historical crime drama, while the Taiwan-produced Skyscraper Live presents a real-time suspenseful event that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
For those who prefer revisiting beloved cinematic classics, Netflix has curated a collection of popular films from recent years. Highlights include the epic 2021 space opera Dune, the catchy tunes of 2012’s Pitch Perfect, and the charming antics of 2010’s animated hit Despicable Me. These selections offer a comforting mix of nostalgia and entertainment.
Eager to discover the full slate of engaging films arriving on Netflix next month? Continue reading to explore our comprehensive list of must-watch movies coming to the platform in January.
Released January 9
CAST: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Lukas Gage, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, Alan Ruck, Molly Shannon, Miles Heizer, Alice Lee, Tommy Do
RATING: PG-13
DESCRIPTION: Based on Emily Henry’s 2021 novel of the same name, People We Meet on Vacation is a Netflix Original rom-com that follows longtime unlikely best friends, extraverted bohemian Poppy Wright (Emily Bader) and introverted planner Alex Nilsen (Tom Blyth) through years of their shared summer vacations. Despite their opposing natures and different home cities, they come together each year to create a memorable trip, and eventually perhaps something even more lasting.
Stream People We Meet on Vacation on netflix
Released January 16
CAST: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Kyle Chandler, Néstor Carbonell, Lina Esco
RATING: R
DESCRIPTION: This Netflix Original action thriller film centers on a squad of Miami cops whose trust and bonds begin unraveling after discovering millions of dollars hidden in a rundown stash house. As outsider forces learn about the massive sum of cash and its seizure, the team is forced to question everything around them, including each other. Find out where loyalties truly lie in this star-studded title streaming exclusively on Netflix.
STREAM The Rip ON NETFLIX
Released January 22
CAST: Yūko Natsuyoshi, Anna Nagase, Saori Hayami, Rie Kugimiya
RATING: TV-PG
DESCRIPTION: Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a Japanese animated musical fantasy film that reimagines the nation’s oldest folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The Netflix Original anime follows hardworking 17-year-old high school student Iroha (Anna Nagase) as her life is turned upside down by the arrival of Kaguya (Yuko Natsuyoshi), a mysterious runaway from the Moon. When Kaguya moves in and tries to convince Iroha to perform music with her in the virtual world of Tsukuyomi, their lives intertwine in a way that leaves them both forever changed.
STREAM Cosmic Princess Kaguya! ON NETFLIX
Released January 21
CAST: Elizabeth Smart
RATING: TV-MA
DESCRIPTION: This gripping Netflix Original documentary delves into the harrowing national news story that saw 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart abducted from her Salt Lake City home in the summer of 2002. Told through exclusive interviews with investigators, Smart’s loved ones, and even Smart herself, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart gives a moving and honest look at the months Smart spent in captivity, the toll that it took on both Smart and the people closest to her, and the inspiring story of survival and healing at the heart of it all.
STREAM Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart ON NETFLIX
Released January 23
CAST: Andrea Arcangeli, Mauro Aversano, Pietro Castellitto, Pierluigi Gigante, Aurora Giovinazzo, Francesco La Mantia, Giulia Michelini, Edoardo Pesce, Claudio Santamaria, Michael Schermi, Carlo Tozzi
RATING: TV-MA
DESCRIPTION: Inspired by true events, The Big Fake is a Netflix Original historical crime drama film out of Italy that’s set in 1970s Rome. There, aspiring artist Toni (Pietro Castellitto) falls down a slippery slope that leads him to become a master forger working for various gangs in the city’s dangerous criminal underbelly.
STREAM The Big Fake ON NETFLIX
Released January 23
CAST: Alex Honnold
RATING: TV-14
DESCRIPTION: World-famous American rock climber Alex Honnold takes on his greatest challenge yet in this special event that will be streamed live this month exclusively on Netflix. Skyscraper Live sees Honnold attempt to scale one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, the 1,667-foot-tall Taipei 101 in Taiwan, all without the assistance of ropes. Witness this except free climb as it happens in real-time this January 23rd on Netflix.
STREAM Skyscraper Live ON NETFLIX
Released January 7
CAST: Marcello Hernández
RATING: TV-14
DESCRIPTION: Saturday Night Live‘s Marcello Hernández takes to Netflix for his first-ever special on the platform. This incredible hour of comedy sees Marcello share his humorous ruminations on everything from wild family dance battles to his own Latino roots to important life lessons from his mother. Enjoy it all by catching this stand-up special as soon as it drops on Netflix in January.
STREAM Marcello Hernández: American Boy ON NETFLIX
Released January 27
CAST: Mike Epps
RATING: TV-MA
DESCRIPTION: Seasoned stand-up comedian and actor Mike Epps returns to Netflix for a fifth stand-up special, sharing fresh quips, tales, and insights that are sure to put a smile on your face in the New Year. Mike Epps: Delusional sees a new hour from Epps revolving around the power and inherent comedy of delusion and hustle, and how these things led to his success today.
STREAM Mike Epps: Delusional ON NETFLIX
Released January 1
CAST: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem
RATING: PG-13
DESCRIPTION: Start the New Year with a journey to another world by watching Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 epic space opera film Dune. Based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, Dune takes place in a distant future and follows the gifted young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he voyages to a perilous planet to protect his people and fulfill a great, tragic destiny.
STREAM Dune ON NETFLIX
Released January 1
CAST: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Hana Mae Lee, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Wanetah Walmsley, Ben Platt, Utkarsh Ambudkar, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks
RATING: PG-13
DESCRIPTION: Bring some nostalgic entertainment and tunes to your New Year with the 2012 musical comedy movie Pitch Perfect. At her father’s (John Benjamin Hickey) insistence, Beca Mitchell (Anna Kendrick) reluctantly gives college a try before pursuing her dreams of producing music. But after enrolling in Barden University, Beca finds her opinions of school and friendship changing as she unexpectedly falls in with the all-female a cappella group, leading her down a path of competition, growth, and love that hits all the right notes.
STREAM Pitch Perfect ON NETFLIX
Released January 1
CAST: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer, Julie Andrews, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher
RATING: PG
DESCRIPTION: Brighten up these cold wintry months with this warm-hearted animated comedy movie, first released in 2010. Despicable Me revolves around supervillain Felonious Gru (Steve Carell) as his latest nefarious plot to steal the moon soon becomes complicated by three orphaned girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Elsie Fisher) who unexpectedly infiltrate his life, schemes, and heart. Guarantee Minion-fueled fun for the whole family with Despicable Me on Netflix in January.
STREAM Despicable Me ON NETFLIX
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.
