We begin a new year of TV and cinema with the release of Hamnet starring Ireland's Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal and the return of the beloved Regency era romp Bridgerton - here is what to watch throughout January.
January 8
His & Hers, Netflix
When a body is found in a sleepy Georgia town, long-buried tensions resurface. Tessa Thompson and Jack Bernthal portray an estranged reporter and detective whose race to solve the murder quickly becomes personal in this new Netflix limited series. As the investigation unfolds, their broken marriage grinds back into motion—and soon, they’re not just chasing the killer, but framing each other as the prime suspect.
January 9
Hamnet, cinemas nationwide
Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel about William Shakespeare’s son, who died aged 11 in 1596, the film sees Nomadland Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao coax career-best performances from Ireland’s Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. With Oscar buzz already building, it’s a must-see.
People We Meet On Vacation, Netflix
Based on Emily Henry’s best-selling novel, People We Meet On Vacation, this romantic comedy tells the story of free-spirited Poppy (Emily Bader) and routine-loving Alex (Tom Blythe), who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test when they begin to question what has been obvious to everyone else: could they actually be the perfect romantic match?
January 11
Industry, BBC One
Industry Season 4 propels Harper and Yasmin into a high-stakes, globe-spanning showdown with Tender, a flashy fintech startup shaking up London’s financial elite. As power plays and big money fuel a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, their already warped friendship is tested further – Harper drawn into the orbit of enigmatic executive Whitney Halberstram (Max Minghella), and Yasmin entangled with her tech-founder boyfriend, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington). As always, expect ethically treacherous territory in pursuit of fortune, influence and ambition.
The Night Manager, Prime Video
Based on characters created by John le Carré, The Night Manager returns 10 years after its first season to once again follow MI6 officer Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) as he races to uncover a conspiracy threatening to destabilise a nation. Surrounded by betrayal, Pine must decide whom he can trust and how far he’s willing to go before time runs out.
January 12
Hijack, Apple TV
In the second season of this intense thriller, Idris Elba returns as Sam Nelson, the corporate negotiator who last time talked, bluffed, and fought his way through a hijacked plane to save its passengers. This time, Sam is in Berlin, tracking the fugitive he believes orchestrated that attack, when he steps onto an underground train rigged with a bomb. As the twists pile up, suspicion quickly turns on Sam himself, with German police and British intelligence questioning whether he’s a hero or an accomplice.
January 13
Tell Me Lies, Disney+
Returning for its third season, Tell Me Lies brings viewers into the depths of a toxic relationship. In this instalment, we dive back into Lucy and Stephen’s tumultuous college years at Baird, where they try to make things different but get caught in old patterns, with Stephen manipulating Lucy by falsely confessing to Macy’s death to regain her trust. Meanwhile, past secrets and destructive behaviours among their friends lead to escalating drama and serious consequences. Gripping viewing.
January 15
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Netflix
This three-part series, adapted from The Seven Dials Mysteries, is set in 1925 and unfolds in one of crime fiction’s most enduring settings: the grand country house. When a house-party prank takes a fatal turn, Lady Eileen Brent—known as Bundle—launches her own investigation, determined to uncover the truth behind the death.
January 19
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Sky Atlantic
Set 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones – and roughly a century after House of the Dragon – this prequel offers a very different kind of Westeros story. Adapted from George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, the series follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), known as Dunk, and his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). It will explore themes of chivalry and heroism in Westeros through travel and involvement in major conflicts, like the Blackfyre Rebellion, offering a more hopeful, character-focused look at Martin’s world.
January 22
The Beauty, Disney+
Ryan Murphy returns with another headline-grabbing series, this time plunging into the ruthless world of high fashion, where a sexually transmitted virus transforms its carriers into visions of physical perfection. Naturally, the miracle comes with a lethal catch, echoing the body-horror anxieties of last year’s The Substance. Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall star as FBI agents investigating the sinister forces behind the phenomenon. Ashton Kutcher plays a tech billionaire with predictably villainous instincts, the creator of a drug called The Beauty, while Anthony Ramos appears as his enforcer, known only as The Assassin. A parade of high-profile guest stars, including Isabella Rossellini, Bella Hadid, and Ben Platt, rounds out Murphy’s latest glossy, provocative creation.
January 28
Shrinking, Apple TV
Shrinking Season 3 focuses on Jimmy’s (Jason Segel) struggle to move on as his daughter Alice heads to college, potentially finding love with Sofi (Jessica Williams) while also dealing with Paul’s (Harrison Ford) worsening Parkinson’s. This season will also introduce new characters like Jimmy’s dad, played by Jeff Daniels and Michael J. Fox as a significant figure for Paul in his Parkinson’s journey. A funny and life-affirming comedy.
Bridgerton, Netflix
Season four of Bridgerton focuses on the second son, Benedict (Luke Thompson), whose artistic, carefree life is upended when he falls for the mysterious Lady in Silver at a masked ball, unaware she’s actually a lowly maid, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). She works for the formidable Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), who has her own marriage plans. Returning cast members include Jonathan Bailey, Claudia Jessie, and Nicola Coughlan, now publicly revealed as Lady Whistledown. The season premieres in two halves, with the final episodes arriving on February 26.
January 30
Is This Thing On?, cinemas nationwide
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form. Based on the real-life story of Liverpool comedian John Bishop.
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