There are 36 new Netflix movies coming in January – catch these 3 blockbusters with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes first

Happy Netflix New Year

Features By Rowan Davies published 31 December 2025

(Image credit: Fox Searchlight / Chiabella James / Warner Bros) Jump To:

• Everything new on Netflix in January 2026

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Now that Christmas is over, it's time to forget about festive movies for another year and look forward to the first wave of new Netflix movies coming in January – I know I'm ready for it. It's very 'bah humbug' of me, but once you see the stack of new movies this month, you'll know what I mean.

As for Netflix originals, we're of course beyond excited for the return of one of its best shows – Bridgerton season 4 – which lands January 29. Saying that, the Italian crime drama The Big Fake looks just as exciting and thrilling, and you know I love a good drama.

In addition to its usual slew of original movies and shows, Netflix is bulking its schedule out with a handful of gripping dramas and action-packed blockbusters, most of which you'll be able to stream as of January 1. One of the new Netflix movies that's topped my list is Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (2013) which, despite being an upsetting watch, is still one of my favorite dramas to revisit.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

12 YEARS A SLAVE - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube

Watch On

RT score: 95%
Director: Steve McQueen
Runtime: 134 minutes
Age rating: R
Arriving on: January 1

If you're looking for a hard-hitting drama packed with raw emotion to kick-start your 2026, look no further than Steve McQueen's multi Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave – which is based on the inspiring true story of abolitionist Solomon Northup, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Set in 1841, Solomon Northup lives as a free African-American man in New York with his wife and two kids. Things take a turn for the worse when he's kidnapped and sold into slavery, landing himself on a cotton plantation in the deep south. Over the course of 12 years, he faces barbaric treatment and is forced to work tirelessly under the watchful eyes of the plantation owners, but remains optimistic that the opportunity to escape will come, so he can return to the life he once lived.

Dune: Part One (2021)

Dune Official Trailer - YouTube

Watch On

RT score: 90% (audience rating)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Runtime: 140 minutes
Age rating: R
Arriving on: January 1

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