A brand new year is here, which means there are a whole host of new movies and TV shows to look forward to. To kick off 2026, the world’s best streaming services are offering a mix of new releases that should help you hang on to that holiday bubble a little longer.
From the epic conclusion of one of the most-watched TV shows of all time to the streaming debut of two recent 2025 films, there’s plenty to sift through in the list below, all of which are almost guaranteed to keep you entertained over the weekend. Now, prepare your first watch list of the year! – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor
Stranger Things Season 5 Finale (Netflix)
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One of the greatest 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 Rightide Up,” during its limited theatrical release in the United States 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 rolled the dice on their ’80s monster fever dream one last time, ending a 10-year emotional journey for one of Netflix’s most watched and talked about shows. There’s also a lot to wrap up in the finale. Whether it’s stopping Vecna or confronting the Mind Flayer once and for all, Hawkins’ heroes have what they need for the final fight. – AS
Running Away (Netflix)
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We are only a few days away from 2026 and The Fugue by Harlan Coben unleashed a storyline so lopsided it could become a record for Netflix crime dramas. Simon (James Nesbitt) desperately searches for his runaway daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) after she leaves home for her violent, drug-addicted boyfriend, Aaron (Thomas Flynn).
When Aaron is found dead, Simon is the number one suspect. As he battles the police, his family, and his better conscience to find Paige, he discovers more than he ever imagined. You will have to suspend any confidence you have in your body, but it will be worth it.
I felt dizzy throughout the entire viewing, and it’s safe to say that I’ve never enjoyed following a grisly murder so much. Ruth Jones needs to star in more serious dramas, but the star of the show is the end of the series, which I may never forget. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter
Barron’s Cove (Paramount+)
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Breakup fans, do you need more Tramell Tillman in your life? Of course yes, that’s why you should watch Barron’s Cove this weekend. He joins a superb cast in this thriller, alongside Garrett Hedlund, Hamish Linklater and Brittany Snow.
The Paramount+ thriller follows a man who kidnaps a young boy after his son’s death is ruled a suicide and no justice is served. The boy, a classmate of her late son, is taken to a remote lakeside house, where the man questions him about his son’s disappearance.
It’s definitely dark, edge-of-your-seat and while reviews are divided, the premise is intriguing, meaning you might enjoy this nail-biting thriller. – Lucy Buglas, senior entertainment editor
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 frightening 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 stick together.
There are some truly cringe-inducing moments here and I mean that in the best way possible. While the film isn’t as gory as it could have been, it does contain many excellent special effects and some very uncomfortable moments to experience.
Together is widely considered one of the best horror films of 2025, with a glowing 90% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. It’s well worth your time this weekend. – kg
Cult of the Real Housewife (HBO Max)
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TLC’s new investigative documentary series investigates The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her Pentecostal church Faith Temple. With allegations 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 to offer insight into mind control cults, and it looks like it’s going to be binge-worthy this weekend.
I’ve been fascinated by TLC shows for years and I’m sure this one will be no exception. – kg
Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory (Disney+/Hulu)
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Clearly, Cheetahs up close with Bertie Gregory is a documentary I have to watch on Disney+, because I took one look at the trailer thumbnail above and proudly told my colleagues it was 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 into the Serengeti, resulting in the breathtaking survival of the fittest as the special continues. Don’t worry, it’s not all violent…baby bears are incredibly cute. – Joint venture
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix)
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Brilliantly, Netflix attempts to top Hulu’s true crime documentary game. In 2025, The Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke hit Disney+ with international acclaim, and now we’re revisiting the gruesome story again, but focusing on Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt.
In 2023, his arrest for child abuse alongside parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke shocked the world and, according to Netflix, “revealed a twisted tale of manipulation.” It’s the story we seemingly can’t get enough of, and we’re about to revisit it from an entirely new perspective.
If anything, this documentary could prove even more shocking than anything that was already common knowledge. Hildebrandt is the biggest enigma and the one we know the least about… well, until now. – Joint venture
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