It’s hard to believe, but we’re already heading into the last week of January 2026, and if you’re struggling to keep up with all the latest releases on Netflix (or all the best streaming services, for that matter), then you’re not alone. Figuring out what to prioritize streaming when can be a real chore, especially as Netflix and co. are always adding new shows and movies to their platforms.
Granted, it has been a quieter week for new Netflix releases compared to the rest of January so far, which means this could be a prime opportunity to get caught up on one of the streamer’s twisting thriller shows. But, if you’re already on top of everything that’s new on Netflix this January 2026, you’re in the right place. Here are three new-to-Netflix movies that I’d recommend adding to your watchlist this weekend.
3 new-to-Netflix movies to stream this weekend
‘Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart’
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Netflix just added a new true crime documentary on Jan. 21, and viewers have already sent it straight into the top 10 spot, just behind the next entry on this list.
“Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” takes viewers inside the real story of the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, who was taken from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, back in June 2002. Blending archival footage and never-before-seen material, this feature-length doc traces the nine months of Elizabeth’s captivity at the hands of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, and tells that story in Elizabeth’s own words and through exclusive interviews with family, investigators, and those close to the case. True crime isn’t my top genre, but I know there’s a huge audience for it out there, hence its inclusion on the list.
Stream “Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” on Netflix now
‘The Rip’
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“The Rip” is Netflix’s new, gritty crime thriller starring long-time friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Inspired by true events, this Joe Carnahan thriller follows two Miami cop partners (Damon and Affleck) as they land themselves in a very sticky situation. While searching a stash house, their team stumbles upon a huge pile of cash, and trust between the crew soon starts to fray.
Complicating things further, the crew is required by law to count the money before they leave the scene. So now they have to strive to survive the night — and each other.
In her “The Rip” review, TG’s Alix Blackburn praised it as a “tension-filled crime thriller” and one that had “major No. 1 energy.” That prediction was spot on, too: I don’t think “The Rip” has moved from the No. 1 spot in Netflix’s streaming charts since it dropped at the end of last week.
Stream “The Rip” on Netflix now
‘The Big Fake’ (2026)
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If you’re on top of all the latest Netflix releases, here’s a brand new movie that’s just become available to stream. Seriously, it literally went up this morning (Jan. 23).
“The Big Fake” is a Netflix original Italian thriller that follows aspiring artist Toni as he heads to 1970s Rome to realize his dream of carving his name into history and becoming a famous painter. But Toni’s burning desire to make it big presents him with a conundrum: what is he really willing to do to get where he wants to be? His lust for life thus sees him going down another path and putting his talents to work as a master forger for criminal gangs lurking in the city’s underbelly, while also becoming a central figure in one of the country’s deepest mysteries…
Stream “The Big Fake” on Netflix now
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