Best New Streaming This Weekend: The 10 Shows and Movies People Are Actually Talking About
If you want something brand-new to watch this weekend (Jan. 16–18, 2026), the chatter is clustering around a tight mix: big franchise TV, buzzy relationship drama, a glossy spy thriller, reality chaos, and a couple of premium rentals that are quietly turning into “worth it” picks. Here are the 10 titles showing up again and again in group chats and watchlists, plus a quick way to choose what fits your mood.
The 10 new shows and movies to stream this weekend
1) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (New series)
A smaller-scale fantasy adventure that swaps world-ending stakes for road-trip charm: a well-meaning knight and his sharp, secret-keeping squire, traveling and fighting their way through a familiar world with a fresher tone.
2) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (New series)
A future-facing sci-fi spinoff built around a new class of cadets. It leans younger, messier, and more emotional than some recent entries, while still playing with big ideas and institutional rebuilding.
3) Ponies (New series)
Cold War espionage in 1977 Moscow with two underestimated embassy secretaries pushed into the center of a dangerous conspiracy. It’s sleek, tense, and designed for “one more episode.”
4) Hijack: Season 2 (Returning series)
Real-time thriller energy again, this time shifting the crisis to public transit. If you like contained, pressure-cooker storytelling where every minute counts, this is the weekend pick.
5) Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials (Limited series)
A glossy period mystery with socialite sleuthing, secret societies, and a suspicious death that refuses to stay neat. It’s fast, stylish, and easy to finish.
6) Tell Me Lies: Season 3 (Returning series)
The messy, addictive campus relationship drama is back. Expect more emotional whiplash, toxic chemistry, and “why are they like this?” conversations afterward.
7) Love Island All Stars: Season 3 (Returning reality series)
Familiar faces, long-running villa chaos, and the kind of episode-to-episode momentum that turns into background noise… until you realize you’re fully invested.
8) The Rip (New movie)
A hard-charging crime thriller about longtime police partners whose lives detonate after a massive cash discovery. It’s built for weekend viewing: tension, paranoia, and shifting loyalties.
9) Rental Family (New premium rental movie)
A washed-up actor takes work as a stand-in relative for major life events, only to find the performances bleeding into real emotions. A gentle, human movie with humor and loneliness in the same breath.
10) Song Sung Blue (New premium rental movie)
A warm, crowd-pleasing musical story centered less on fame and more on the people who build a life around songs they love. Expect sequins, sing-alongs, and a surprisingly tender core.
What everyone’s in the mood for right now
This weekend’s conversation splits into three lanes:
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Big-world TV: Fantasy and sci-fi comfort viewing that still feels “new.”
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Bingeable adrenaline: Espionage and real-time thrillers that pull you through episodes fast.
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Talk-about-it drama and reality: Relationship chaos you can recap with friends, immediately.
If you’re stuck, pick your lane first, then choose the title that matches your attention span.
How to choose your weekend watch in 60 seconds
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Decide “movie” or “episodes.”
Movie = one-and-done. Episodes = easy to stretch across the weekend. -
Choose your energy level.
Low energy: mystery, relationship drama, reality.
High energy: thriller, espionage, action crime. -
Pick your commitment size.
Short: a limited series or a movie.
Long: a returning season you can settle into. -
Open your streaming app’s search and type the title.
(These picks are spread across major subscription services and premium rentals.)
Best picks by vibe
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“I want fantasy, but not homework”: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
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“Give me sci-fi with feelings”: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
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“Make it tense and twisty”: Ponies
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“I want real-time stress in the best way”: Hijack: Season 2
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“Cozy mystery, quick finish”: Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
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“Messy relationship drama I can’t quit”: Tell Me Lies: Season 3
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“I just want entertaining chaos”: Love Island All Stars: Season 3
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“A grown-up crime thriller”: The Rip
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“A thoughtful, quiet tearjerker”: Rental Family
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“A warm musical palate cleanser”: Song Sung Blue
Quick FAQs
Is everything here included with a subscription?
No. Most picks are on subscription services, but a couple are premium rentals that require a one-time purchase or rental fee.
What’s the easiest one-night watch?
If you want a single sitting, go with The Rip, Rental Family, or Song Sung Blue.
What’s the fastest binge?
Limited series and short seasons tend to fly by, especially Seven Dials and Ponies.
What should I watch if I don’t want anything too intense?
Try Seven Dials for light mystery, or Song Sung Blue for a warmer, uplifting mood.
What’s best for group watching?
Reality and relationship drama usually spark the most conversation: Love Island All Stars or Tell Me Lies.
How do I find these quickly on my service?
Search by the exact title, then check the “New” or “Trending” rows. Premium rentals typically appear in a separate “Store” or “Movies to Rent/Buy” section.
