The first weekend of the new year is here, that brief, hopeful pause when resolutions are fresh, calendars are mostly empty and settling in with new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services feels like the right kind of reset.
On the TV side, the “Stranger Things” series finale brings one of streaming’s defining sagas to its long-awaited close. It could be the perfect weekend to start a complete series rewatch. If you’re craving something twisty but less supernatural, Harlan Coben’s “Run Away” delivers the kind of binge-friendly mystery that pairs well with zero weekend plans.
Over on the movie front, Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s horror film “Together” offers a darker way to kick off the year. Here’s our guide on what to watch this weekend.
New TV shows
‘Stranger Things’ series finale (Netflix)
Watch On
The countdown is over. “Stranger Things” season 5, volume 3 marks the final descent into Hawkins’ weirdest corners, bringing a decade-long saga of bikes, Demogorgons and government secrets to its last stand. This is an endgame where unanswered questions get their answers, lines are crossed, and the cost of survival finally comes due. Not everyone gets a happy ending.
With the finale now streaming, it feels like the perfect excuse to circle back to the beginning and rewatch the entire series, from flickering Christmas lights to the moment everything started to unravel.
Episode 8 is streaming now on Netflix
‘Run Away’ (Netflix)
Watch On
If it’s the beginning of a new year, that means a new Harlan Coben thriller has dropped. Netflix has another Coben adaptation that gleefully dismantles a seemingly perfect life. James Nesbitt leads as Simon, a devoted father whose reality fractures when his daughter Paige disappears, then resurfaces in circumstances that only make things worse.
What begins as a desperate attempt to bring her home spirals into something far more dangerous, dragging Simon into a maze of secrets, compromises and escalating violence. With strong support from Minnie Driver and Ruth Jones, “Run Away” delivers exactly what fans expect: tangled family drama, ethically messy choices and cliffhangers designed to destroy your self-control right before bedtime.
All 8 episodes are streaming now on Netflix
‘31st Annual Critics Choice Awards’ (E!/USA)
Watch On
Awards season officially hits its stride as the critics take center stage, handing out honors live from Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar. Chelsea Handler returns as host for the fourth time, overseeing a ceremony with fresh categories (yes, stunt design finally gets its moment) and the promise of a few sharp, unscripted acceptance speeches.
On the film side, Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster “Sinners” leads the pack with a massive 17 nominations, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” keeps the race tight. Television brings its own heat, with Netflix favorites “Adolescence” and rom-com breakout “Nobody Wants This” pulling in major attention — the kind that can set the tone for the rest of awards season.
Special premieres Sunday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. ET on E! and USA (via Sling, Fubo or YouTube TV)
New movies
‘Together’ (Hulu)
Watch On
For city folk, there’s nothing scarier than moving to the countryside … or isn’t there? In Michael Shanks’s directorial debut, it’s what happens after. Real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie star as Tim and Millie, a city pair hoping a fresh start will fix their fraying relationship.
Instead, they stumble into something nightmarish: an otherworldly force that worms its way into their bodies, their bond and their sense of self. “Together” takes the idea of codependency and pushes it to grotesque, gooey extremes. This is horror that knows love can be just as terrifying as whatever’s hiding in the dark.
Streaming now on Hulu
‘Americana’ (Starz)
Watch On
“Americana” took the scenic route to streaming, and that delay makes it an oddly good weekend watch. Written and directed by Tony Tost, this modern western is a scrappy, old-school caper built around a rare Native American artifact and the chaos it attracts.
Sydney Sweeney plays a shy, stuttering waitress who teams up with a lovesick veteran played by Paul Walter Hauser, putting them in the path of a ruthless enforcer (Eric Dane), an antiquities dealer (Simon Rex), and an indigenous leader (Zahn McClarnon). It’s a bit messy, but meant to be fun.
Streaming now on Starz
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
