There are plenty of new arrivals across the best streaming services this week, with Netflix, Hulu and Paramount+ offering subscribers new movies to enjoy. Between action-thrillers and comedy-dramas, there’s a little something for everybody streaming in the days ahead.
This week sees the debut of Netflix’s first flagship thriller original of 2026, “The Rip,” starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Meanwhile, Hulu has a critically acclaimed comedy with Dylan O’Brien on double duty, playing the role of twins. Plus, Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” sprints onto Paramount+, and this Stephen King adaptation sees Glen Powell in full-blown movie star mode.
These are the most noteworthy new movies across all the most popular streaming platforms this week. And if you’re more in the mood for some compelling television, here’s our guide to the top new TV shows this week.
‘Rental Family’ (PVOD)
Sweet comedy-drama “Rental Family” is available for rental (or purchase) this week, and it’s a real crowd-pleaser. It also marks another acclaimed movie in Brendan Fraser’s ongoing, and much-deserved, career resurgence. While its awards campaign has faltered in recent weeks, “Rental Family” is a real fan favorite, scoring an impressive 96% score from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re looking to laugh and cry this week, it should be your first choice.
Fraser plays Phillip, an American actor living in Japan, struggling for work after having some minor success in a popular toothpaste commercial. With limited options, he takes a rather strange gig: Acting as a stand-in for family member and/or friend for strangers. Torn between his need for this well-paying job and the moral complexities of the work, he starts to form genuine bonds with the people who hire him to pretend to be a loved one.
Watch on Amazon (buy/rent) from January 13
‘The Running Man’ (Paramount+)
Edgar Wright’s spin on Stephen King’s “The Running Man” struggled to pick up much momentum in theaters, but perhaps it’ll find a more receptive audience now that it’s heading to Paramount+. This sci-fi action flick plays out at a breakneck speed, until its weaker exposition-heavy third act pumps the brakes in a way that might give you whiplash. Still, even when the underfoot terrain gets rocky, Glen Powell’s star quality is enough to go the distance.
A far cry from the Arnold Schwarzenegger adaptation released in the ‘80s, this more faithful spin on King’s novel sees a desperate man, Ben Richards (Powell), left with little choice but to enter the world’s most dangerous game show, The Running Man. Tasked with surviving 30 days while being hunted by elite mercenaries, Richards has to literally run for his life, and along the way, he becomes an unlikely symbol in the fight against an oppressive state.
Watch on Paramount+ from January 13
‘Song Sung Blue’ (PVOD)
![SONG SUNG BLUE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters This Christmas - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZqU7iiHFCzw/maxresdefault.jpg)
Inspired by the touching true story of two wide-eyed dreamers, “Song Sung Blue” shouldn’t be dismissed as yet another Hollywood musical biopic. While it features the songs of Neil Diamond, it doesn’t see a younger actor playing Diamond in his heyday. Instead, it focuses on a tribute act called Lightning and Thunder, whose real names are Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson). It’s an underdog story with a big heart and toe-tapping musical tunes to boot.
Mike and Claire meet while performing in an impersonator showcase at the Wisconsin State Fair, and are instantly smitten. As their joint tribute act grows, so does their family, but this comedy-drama isn’t all big hair and bigger choruses. Mike and Claire face testing times, including a devastating car accident and Mike’s alcoholism. Its narrative framework is familiar, but strong work from Jackman and Hudson keeps this movie enjoyable till the end.
Watch on Amazon (buy/rent) from January 13
‘Bone Lake’ (Netflix)
“Bone Lake” arrives on Netflix this week, and this dark thriller, with erotic overtones, is very much a movie of two halves. The first is genuinely absorbing, teasing out something chilling hiding just below the surface, but once its hand is played, and the dark secrets within are spilled, “Bone Lake” becomes decidedly less compelling. However, if you’re looking for a twisting thriller this week, then it’s a great pick, and it only runs a trim 90 minutes in length.
Sage (Maddie Hasson) and Diego (Marco Pigossi) arrive at a plush, secluded lakeside house for a romantic getaway. However, the mood is somewhat spoiled when another couple, Will (Alex Roe) and Cin (Andra Nechita), arrive on the property claiming to have also booked the swanky manor for the weekend. With little choice but to spend the weekend together, what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway soon becomes a twisted game.
Watch on Netflix from January 15
‘Black Phone 2’ (Peacock)
“Black Phone 2” is a surprisingly strong sequel that takes some big swings and packs another spooky turn from Ethan Hawke as the villainous Grabber. As my colleague Alix Blackburn notes, this follow-up to the 2021 original takes clear inspiration from the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series with some terrifying dream sequences that ratchet up the fear factor. It’s a solid little spooker, and its snowy winter resort setting feels very timely for the season.
Set four years after the first “The Black Phone,” Finn (Mason Thames) is struggling to adjust to normal life after his encounter with the sinister Grabber (Hawke). When his sister begins having nightmarish dreams that all revolve around the mysterious Alpine Lake, the duo sets off to the winter camp in the hope of putting an end to the torment. Discovering a link between a string of murders that occur at the lake and their own family history, the siblings are forced to confront a sinister evil all over again.
Watch on Peacock from January 16
‘The Rip’ (Netflix)
Netflix is reuniting frequent collaborators Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in “The Rip.” An action-thriller flick that looks a near certainty to score a No. 1 over the weekend. After all, Netflix subscribers seem to love thrillers, and the combination of Damon and Affleck co-leading a movie together is likely to be more than enough to get plenty of attention on the streaming service.
Based on its core premise, I’m worried “The Rip” might be a little uninspired; however, the Damon/Affleck double-billing is certainly enough to have me interested in giving it a shot. The Netflix original thriller sees a tight-knit group of Miami cops discover a large money stash in a derelict house. This leads to loyalties being questioned when outsiders learn of its discovery and look to claim the millions for themselves. Expect plenty of twists and turns here.
Watch on Netflix from January 16
‘Twinless’ (Hulu)
I love it when an actor plays dual roles in a movie, think Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners,” and in the case of “Twinless,” this tricky task is placed on the shoulders of “Maze Runner” star Dylan O’Brien. He plays twin brothers, and by most accounts, appears to have knocked both roles out of the park. “Twinless” scores 97% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewers aren’t disagreeing, rating it a similarly high 94%. I’ve definitely got my eye on this one now.
While O’Brien takes top billing, he’s paired alongside James Sweeney, who also wrote and directed the movie. “Twinless” is a touching comedy that explores grief and family ties. Roman (O’Brien) and Dennis (Sweeney) meet in a twin support group and develop a quick friendship. However, their newly formed bond is threatened when uncomfortable secrets threaten to spill out. Also starring Aisling Franciosi, “Twinless” could be a sleeper hit on Hulu.
Watch on Hulu from January 16
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