It’s the first full week of 2026, and the best streaming services are coming out of holiday hibernation with new movies arriving over the next few days.
Netflix is preparing to debut its first major original movie of the year in the form of sun-soaked rom-com “People We Meet on Vacation.” It’s based on a best-selling book, and I’m expecting it to be particularly popular with viewers looking to chase away the seasonal blues. Meanwhile, in the premium streaming space, sci-fi “Predator: Badlands arrives, alongside one of the best dark thrillers I've seen in years.
While not all the biggest streaming services are active this week, there’s still a healthy handful of noteworthy new movies that you’ll want to consider adding to your watchlist. And don’t forget to check out our guide to the top new TV shows this week for some bingeable picks.
‘Hallow Road’ (PVOD)
I’ve been waiting a long time to sing the praises of “Hallow Road.” It hit theaters in the U.K. last May, and finally, after months of wondering when it would arrive on streaming for folks in the U.S., this week sees one of my favorite movies of 2025 make its at-home debut. This psychological thriller is deeply chilling and achieves a lot with relatively modest components. It’s proof that the most effective movies don’t have to rely on a huge budget or effects, just tense atmosphere and a great story.
Starring Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys, “Hallow Road” is eerie and unsettling. It centers on a husband and wife driving along dark country roads to find their daughter after she’s involved in a car accident. Set almost entirely within the confines of a claustrophobic car, the twisting narrative is one of pure terror, as sinister forces come into play, and the tension is cranked up to anxiety-inducing levels. It’s a movie that will leave you feeling haunted, and sleeping with the lights on afterwards.
Watch on Amazon (buy/rent) from January 6
‘Predator: Badlands’ (PVOD)
In 2024, “Alien” fans were treated to a well-regarded big-screen franchise return in the form of “Alien: Romulus”, and recently it was the turn of “Predator” to get the same theatrical treatment. After 2022’s phenomenal direct-to-streaming “Prey,” the series was already back on track, but “Predator: Badlands” ramps up the scale and cinematic spectacle. Kudos to current franchise shepherd Dan Trachtenberg for delivering the most entertaining “Predator” movie since the 1987 original.
Wisely dropping the human cast, the focus in “Predator: Badlands” is very much on the eponymous extraterrestrial hunter. Set on an alien world, a young Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) attempts to prove he’s worthy of his clan by hunting an apex predator on a hostile planet. Along the way, he finds an unlikely ally in a damaged android (Elle Fanning), and the duo set off to find the ultimate prey. “Badlands” proved to be a real fan-favorite in theaters, scoring a mighty impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. It deserves all its acclaim.
Watch on Amazon (buy/rent) from January 6
‘Tron: Ares' (Disney+)
Disney will surely be hoping its latest attempt at reviving the “Tron” franchise will enjoy more success on its streaming service than it managed in theaters. Much like 2010’s “Tron Legacy,” this third installment in the sci-fi series offers fantastic neon-infused visuals and a cluttered narrative with thinly-sketched characters. The blockbuster, which reportedly cost the House of Mouse around $200 million to produce, is also lacking in star power with Jared Leto making for an unconvincing lead, and a miscast Greta Lee offering subpar support.
Positioned more as a standalone sequel, with only a few callbacks to the original to keep longtime fans happy, “Tron: Ares” sees the eponymous Ares, a sophisticated A.I. program, break free from its directive to enter the real world on a dangerous, potentially world-saving, mission. Evan Peters plays the mustache-twirling villain of the piece, while original franchise star Jeff Bridges also pops up in a cameo role that adds little beyond unnecessary fan service. At least the music by Nine Inch Nails scores some enjoyable action beats between the wooden story.
Watch on Disney Plus from January 7
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ (Netflix)
Netflix is giving subscribers the perfect remedy to wipe away the January blues this week with “People We Meet on Vacation,” a slice of summer movie escapism delivered just when the weather outside is dark and cold. It’s based on the best-selling novel by Emily Henry, and pairs relative newcomer Emily Bader with Tom Blyth, who you might recognize from the most recent “Hunger Games” movie. The trailer promises plenty of sun-soaked shots of picturesque destinations around the world, along with a big scoop of “will-they-won’t-they” melodrama.
Poppy (Bader) and Alex (Blyth) are very different; one is care-free, the other uptight, but despite this, they have been best friends for years. They have a standing agreement to go on vacation together every summer, and throughout these trips to various exotic locations, they start to wonder: Could they actually be the perfect match? This one looks unlikely to reinvent the rom-com formula, but its popular source material should make for a solid foundation for a bright and breezy crowd-pleaser.
Watch on Netflix from January 9
‘Chain Reactions’ (Shudder)
Shudder is the home of horror streaming, and this week it’s premiering a new documentary that celebrates one of the genre’s most influential works, 1974’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” The grungy slasher has been shocking audiences for more than 50 years, and while there have been countless sequels, remakes and reboots since, none have ever measured up to the bar set by the iconic original. This documentary aims to celebrate its legacy in a refreshingly novel way.
Rather than taking the standard “making-of” approach, “Chain Reactions” is split into five chapters, each focused on a different artist. It explores how “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” impacted these creatives, and each offers their unique perspectives on the classic movie. The featured artists include Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, and the King of Horror himself, Stephen King. It’s a documentary that looks to explain why “Texas Chain Saw” has become such an enduring horror favorite.
Watch on Shudder from January 9
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