January streaming highlights

Patrick Vogt

1.1.2026

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

New month, new streaming recommendations. From Netflix to Prime Video, Disney+ to Apple TV and HBO Max, these are our series and film picks on streaming services this January.

What do cows say on 1 January? Happy Moo Year! I hope you’ve had a great start to the new year and are ready for all sorts of new streaming shenanigans, because here’s our selection for January. For a change, we’re starting with a newcomer – here’s to making the streaming maze even more confusing… yay!

Five Emmys – including Best Drama Series in 2025 – an IMDb rating of 8.9, and an incredible 95 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes – the first season of hospital drama The Pitt has already caused quite a stir. And it seems to have made a big impression on you too, judging by our editorial team’s round-up of your favourite series of 2025. And HBO Max has only recently launched in Switzerland.

The Pitt depicts the intense daily routine in the emergency room of a fictional Pittsburgh hospital during a 15-hour shift. What makes it unique is that the series is told in real time – each episode corresponds to roughly one hour of the shift. This is why the first season had 15 episodes, and the second season will be the same.

The lead role’s portrayed by Noah Wyle, whose role in ER makes him an expert in hospital dramas. He brings his experience to The Pitt not only as an actor, but also as an executive producer, having written several episodes and directed one. His part in the first series has already earned him what eluded him in ER despite five nominations: an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Available from: 13 January

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (series)

Fancy another trip to Westeros? I don’t need to say much about the latest Game of Thrones spin-off. I’ll leave that to my colleague Luca, who – after seeing the first trailer – has already talked about why he’s looking forward to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Available from: 18 January

A brutal murder draws journalist Anna back to the sleepy small town where she grew up. She begins her own investigation and crosses paths with Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal) – and she shares a much deeper connection with him than initially meets the eye. The two quickly suspect each other of having something to do with the murder. Who’s right? Is anyone right? And what ghosts from the past has Anna awakened by returning to her hometown?

Six-part thriller series His & Hers is based on the novel of the same name by Alice Feeney and promises nail-biting suspense and a twist or two. I’ll definitely give it a watch, if only because it boasts a top-notch cast including Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok) and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher).

Available from: 8 January

«Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials» (miniseries)

Most people probably associate Agatha Christie with crime novels. She’s one of the most successful authors in literary history. Her books – including Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and The ABC Murders – have sold hundreds of millions of copies and been translated into umpteen languages. What’s more, her intriguing mysteries have been and continue to be frequently adapted for film, with Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials the latest example.

England, 1925: a boisterous party at a country house ends in murder. Young Lady Eileen «Bundle» Brent tries to find out who is responsible. Everyone involved is a suspect, no matter how noble or aristocratic they may be.

Chris Chibnall wrote the script for this three-part series. He’s already impressively demonstrated his talent for suspense with brilliant series Broadchurch. And if that’s not enough, alongside lead actress Mia McKenna-Bruce (How to Have Sex), the series also stars Martin Freeman (Sherlock) and Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club). So, let’s get started: who did it?!

Available from: 15 January

The Rip (film)

Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Matt Damon) of the Miami Police Department has «A. W. T. G. G.» tattooed on his hand. It stands for «Are we the good guys?», and it’s also the central theme of The Rip. In the face of a 20-million-dollar discovery, who are the good guys, even in the police? Who is and remains loyal, and who’s corruptible? Who can you still trust?

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck – Hollywood’s most endearing bromance – team up once again on screen. However, in The Rip, it remains to be seen just how close they actually are. It seems to be a gritty cop thriller rife with mistrust and corruption. Director Joe Carnahan’s no stranger to these themes, having directed Narc with Ray Liotta and Jason Patric in 2007.

Available from: 16 January

What would you do for the perfect appearance? In The Beauty, an artificially created, sexually transmitted virus transforms ordinary people into flawless beauty ideals overnight. The side effect is that the virus destroys the infected body from the inside out. Despite the fatal consequences of infection, the epidemic’s already spreading rapidly. In this era of Ozempic, Botox and the like, if that doesn’t sound like a healthy dose of social commentary – and body horror à la The Substance – what does?

Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) drew inspiration from graphic novels for his new project. The Beauty’s based on the comic book series of the same name by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, and both serve as consultants. The cast boasts names including Evan Peters (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Rebecca Hall (The Town) and Ashton Kutcher (That ’70s Show). Guest appearances by Bella Hadid, Vincent D’Onofrio and film icon Isabella Rossellini have also been announced. I’m really looking forward to it!

Available from: 22 January

Wonder Man (miniseries)

As a fan since the comics of my childhood and adolescence, I’m a bit tired of Marvel. I found most of the recent series and films half-baked, sloppy and frankly underwhelming. That’s why the trailer for Wonder Man immediately grabbed me when it says:

And that’s exactly why filmmaker Von Kovak (Zlatko Buric) announces he’s going to reinvent the genre and make a remake of Wonder Man. It’s the perfect opportunity for as yet unsuccessful actor Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) to land the lead role in his favourite film, or so he thinks. Little does he know he possesses something about him, or rather, something within him, that makes him practically the ideal Wonder Man. Could this be Marvel’s The Studio: a satire of Hollywood, the superhero genre and itself? It certainly seems that way, and it’s got me interested.

After Echo, Wonder Man’s the second Marvel Spotlight series. The label’s intended for films and series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that work independently and don’t require prior knowledge. And yet, in Wonder Man, we encounter an old acquaintance from the MCU: Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery, who made appearances in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I’ve grown quite fond of Trevor, so I’ll continue to follow his journey for now.

Available from: 27 January

Have you seen the first season of The Night Manager? The start of the second season is the perfect opportunity to catch up. It’s worth it,because this adaptation of one of John le Carré’s numerous spy novels (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) is among the best TV series I’ve ever seen. So go for it.

Ten years later, Tom Hiddleston (Loki) returns as undercover agent Jonathan Pine for a new mission. Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) is also back. The series is no longer directed by Oscar winner Susanne Bier (Hævnen). This time, it’s led by Georgi Banks-Davies, who won a BAFTA in 2021 for I Hate Suzie. What’s the second season of The Night Manager about? I couldn’t care less – I’m going to watch it anyway. Just like I’m going to watch the third season, which the BBC and Prime Video have already commissioned.

Available from: 11 January

Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) is a negotiation expert who proved his skills in the first season of Hijack on a hijacked plane. The second season tells the story of a Berlin underground train hijacking in real time. At the heart of it all – of course – is Sam Nelson, who’ll hopefully once again keep a cool head in a dangerous situation.

I love Idris Elba. The way he stomps through London in Luther – a force of nature incarnate, clad in a grey tweed coat – is glorious. So I’m all the more surprised that Hijack completely escaped my notice. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of everything with the sheer volume of new streaming content. Anyway, I’ll catch up on Hijack as soon as possible. I promise, Idris!

Available from: 14 January

Did I mention Shang-Chi earlier in Wonder Man? Well, here he is again, or at least the actor. In The Copenhagen Test, Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) works as an analyst for the secret service. Now someone’s hacked his brain, gaining access to all his senses – maybe even his thoughts. No matter what he sees, hears or does, the unknown hackers are right there with him. Not exactly an ideal situation for a protagonist in a world where keeping things top secret’s vital. But how do you get rid of someone who’s always one step ahead of you?

A hacker in your brain? Sounds to me like a series to clear your head and enjoy some light entertainment on the sofa. I’ll definitely check it out sometime. By the way, Simu Liu – who plays Shang-Chi – stars in and produces the series, as does James Wan (Saw, Insidious).

Available from: 1 January

Seventeen-year-old twin sisters Lily and Abby are living in a quiet English town when Lily’s kidnapped. Her tormentor – none other than the popular teacher at the local school – holds her captive and abuses her physically and emotionally. The real fight for survival begins, however, when Lily manages to escape after eight years. Severely traumatised and estranged from her sister and mother, she has to try to reclaim her family and her life, while coming to terms with the fact that her sadistic kidnapper’s still at large.

Girl Taken’s an adaptation of Hollie Overton’s novel Baby Doll. The six-part thriller series promises anything but light entertainment. It’s intense, and that’s a good thing. Even the short trailer makes me furious with the kidnapper, played by Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones). I absolutely have to know if and how he’ll be held accountable for his heinous crimes.

Available from: 8 January

Patrick Vogt

Editor

Patrick.Vogt@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here. more

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