Netflix, Paramount Plus, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Adding 36 New Releases This Weekend: The 3 to Watch

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!

The top streamers, including Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max and Paramount Plus, are adding 36 new TV shows, episodes and movies this weekend (January 15-18, 2026). Here are the three to watch, in my humble opinion:

Star Trek Starfleet Academy
When to Watch: Thursday, January 15 (Two episode premiere)
Where to Watch: Paramount Plus
What Kind of Show: Sci-Fi
Who’s In It: Holly Hunter, Robert Picardo, Paul Giamatti
Paramount has the rights to the Star Trek franchise and it plans to ride that horse as long as it can. Star Trek Starfleet Academy, the sixth Star Trek-themed show from Paramount in the last nine years, stars Holly Hunter (pictured above) as the captain of the USS Athena and chancellor of the Starfleet Academy where young cadets compete to be ship officers. The supporting cast includes the great Paul Giamatti as a heavily made-up part Klingon and Robert Picardo as The Doctor, reprising his role from the Star Trek: Voyager series from a time far, far away. Star Trek Starfleet Academy looks like fun and a worthy entry in the franchise.

Landman (Season 2 finale)
When to Watch: Sunday, January 18
Where to Watch: Paramount Plus
What Kind of Show: Drama/Comedy
Who’s In It: Billy Bob Thornton, Sam Elliott, Ali Larter, Andy Garcia, Demi Moore
I have written here (a few times) that Landman, which stars Billy Bob Thornton as a ruthless oil company exec, is an excellent show. The first season was pitch perfect. But I need to qualify my earlier comments. Season two has been uneven, to put it nicely. The show has been bogged down with ridiculous subplots involving secondary characters. But when Landman is good, it’s great so I have faith it will be great again in the season finale. So, yes, do watch, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if the finale is more about Ali Larter cooking than Andy Garcia getting cooked.

The Rip (2026)
When to Watch: January 16, 2026
Where to Watch: Netflix
What Kind of Movie: Police Drama
Who’s In It: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon play Miami cops whose investigative team finds $24 million in drug money stashed away in a safe house. The team soon splits over what to do with the ill gotten largesse, leading to deep divisions and much worse. Director Joe Carnahan says the film was inspired by a friend’s real-life experiences, and the two classic crime dramas, Heat and Serpico. If The Rip is half as good as those two movies, this will be ripping good fun.

Shows & Movies Coming This Weekend to Netflix, Hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Disney Plus, Amazon’s Prime Video and HBO Max

Netflix
Thursday, January 15
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
Bone Lake
Love Through a Prism
The Upshaws: Part 7
To Love, To Lose

Friday, January 16
Can This Love Be Translated?
No Tail to Tell
Southland: Seasons 1-5
The Rip

Hulu
Thursday, January 15
Accused: Did I Do It?: Complete Season 1
Court Cam: Complete Season 8A
Sitting Bull: Complete Season 1
Fear Factor: House of Fear: Series Premiere [Fox]

Friday, January 16
Animal Control: Season 4 Premiere [Fox]
Going Dutch: Season 2 Premiere
Twinless (2025)

Saturday, January 17
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Complete Season 51-52
How It’s Made: Complete Seasons 10-11

Paramount Plus
Thursday, January 15 
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy two-episode series premiere

Sunday, January 18
Landman Season 2 finale

Peacock
Thursday, January 15
Ponies – Premiere, All Episodes, 8 Episodes, 60 min (Peacock Original)*
The Traitors, Season 4 – New Episodes, 2 Episodes, 60 min (Peacock Original)*
Twisters*

Friday, January 16
Jurassic World

Sunday, January 18
NFL Divisional: Rams at Bears (6:30 p.m.)

HBO Max
Thursday, January 15
Hot Rod Garage, Season 12

Friday, January 16
House Hunters: Volume 11, Season 250 (HGTV)

Sunday, January 18
A Knight in the Making, Season 1 (HBO)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Season 1 (HBO Original)

Amazon’s Prime Video
Thursday, January 15
NBA on Prime

Friday, January 16
Smurfs (2025)

Sunday, January 18
NBA on Prime

Disney Plus
Friday, January 16
Agent P, Under C: Shorts – Premiere – All Episodes Streaming

Saturday, January 17
America’s Funniest Home Videos (New Seasons)
Phineas and Ferb (Season 5) – New Episodes

Sunday, January 18
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh: Shorts (Season 3) – Premiere

Have a Question? Ask The TV Answer Man!
Have a question about a cable/satellite service, streaming service, TV product, or favorite show? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com.