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This January 16, 2026, weekend watchlist from TechRadar spans a making-of documentary, crime thrillers, espionage, fantasy and relationship drama across Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Hulu, Disney+ and Peacock. It is a dated roundup, not a current release calendar; streaming availability varies by region and can change. One timing detail stands out: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was scheduled to premiere on January 18, two days after the roundup appeared.
At a glance: the seven January 2026 picks
| Title | Format and genre | Service listed by TechRadar | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | Fantasy series | HBO Max | A new story in the Game of Thrones universe, set about a century before the original series. |
| One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things season 5 | Behind-the-scenes documentary | Netflix | A two-hour look at the making of the final season. |
| The RIP | Action crime thriller film | Netflix | Ben Affleck and Matt Damon play officers confronting the discovery of a fortune in hidden cash. |
| Hijack season 2 | Thriller series | Apple TV | Sam Nelson faces a hijacked subway train in a story set in snowy Berlin. |
| Tell Me Lies season 3 | Relationship drama series | Hulu in the US; Disney+ internationally | The fallout among Stephen, Lucy, Evan and Bree continues. |
| Ponies | Espionage series | Peacock | Two American embassy secretaries are drawn into CIA work in 1977 Moscow. |
| The Running Man | Action film | Paramount+ | Edgar Wright adapts Stephen King’s story of a man forced into a deadly televised contest. |
The services and descriptions above reflect the January 16 roundup, not a check of what is available today. For release timing, Boston.com’s January 2026 streaming calendar lists A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for HBO Max on January 18 and The RIP for Netflix on January 16.
What to watch, by title
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
This prequel expands the Game of Thrones world through Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall and his companion, “Egg.” TechRadar describes it as an adaptation of The Hedge Knight, the first novella in George R. R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg trilogy, with the story taking place about 100 years before Game of Thrones. Boston.com lists its HBO Max premiere as January 18, 2026—after the Friday, January 16 roundup was published. Readers who want the source story can look for Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight.
One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things season 5 (Netflix)
TechRadar describes this two-hour documentary as a behind-the-scenes account of the making of the fifth season. The roundup mentions online fan speculation about a secret extra episode and says the documentary dispels that expectation. It also recounts online discussion of the season’s creative choices, including speculation about ChatGPT; that is reported fan talk, not evidence that an AI system wrote the scripts.
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The RIP (Netflix)
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon star in and executive-produce this action crime thriller. Inspired by true events, its premise follows police officers who discover a hidden stash worth millions, setting up questions of loyalty. Tom Power, TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, wrote: “The arrival of The RIP, a new action crime thriller that the duo front and have executively produced for Netflix, then, should be worth celebrating.” That is his positive assessment, not an objective measure of the film’s quality. Boston.com also lists January 16, 2026, as its Netflix release date.
Hijack season 2 (Apple TV)
After the airplane crisis of season one, Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson is caught up in a hijacked subway train. TechRadar places the new story in snowy Berlin and its reviewer responds favorably to the change of setting. The recommendation is for viewers who want a thriller that shifts its peril from the air to an urban transit system.
Rank #2
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Tell Me Lies season 3 (Hulu and Disney+)
The season continues the relationship fallout involving Stephen, Lucy, Evan and Bree. TechRadar associates the show with Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally. The two sources differ on the premiere episode count: TechRadar says three episodes launched at the season premiere, while Boston.com’s calendar lists a two-episode Hulu premiere on January 13, 2026. The count should therefore be treated as disputed rather than definitive.
Ponies (Peacock)
Set in Moscow in 1977, this espionage series follows Bea and Twila, American embassy secretaries whose husbands die in mysterious circumstances and who are pulled into CIA work. TechRadar reported that all eight episodes were available when it published its January 16 roundup. It also cited a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score at that time; ratings can change, so that figure is a publication-date snapshot rather than a current score or permanent verdict.
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The Running Man (Paramount+)
Edgar Wright’s 2025 film adapts Stephen King’s novel, with Glen Powell as a blacklisted laborer who enters a deadly televised contest. TechRadar reported a 62% Rotten Tomatoes score on January 16, 2026; it may have changed since. The roundup’s preference for Wright’s version over the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film is the reviewer’s opinion, not an established fact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use this as a watchlist
For a documentary-focused choice, start with One Last Adventure; for a feature film, choose between the crime premise of The RIP and the lethal game-show setup of The Running Man. If you prefer series, the list ranges from fantasy in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to espionage in Ponies, a transit thriller in Hijack, and relationship drama in Tell Me Lies. The roundup described Ponies as having its full season available at the time, while the other series entries were tied to premieres or ongoing releases. Check the relevant service in your region for present availability and episode status.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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