Netflix is kicking off 2026 with a significant refresh of its UK catalogue, blending acclaimed cinema with fresh series while saying a painful goodbye to some of its most-watched titles. The streaming giant's January roster is a mix of Oscar-winning drama, cult classics, and hotly anticipated new seasons, but to make room, a swathe of beloved films and iconic TV shows will vanish from the platform.
Major New Additions to Your Watchlist
Subscribers have a wealth of new content to explore from the very first day of the month. The headline cinematic addition is Steve McQueen's harrowing Best Picture winner, '12 Years a Slave', joining the service on January 1st. It's accompanied by other critically adored films like the sci-fi allegory District 9 and Denis Villeneuve's modern epic Dune.
Fans of comedy and animation are also well catered for. The film that launched the global Minions phenomenon, Despicable Me, arrives alongside the surreal final outing from the Monty Python team, The Meaning of Life. The month also sees the addition of Sofia Coppola's critically praised Priscilla and the classic odd-couple comedy Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
However, the most significant new arrival for many will be the return of the period drama juggernaut. Bridgerton Season 4 premieres on January 29th, shifting its romantic focus to Benedict Bridgerton's quest for love, supported by new cast members and evolving side stories.
Notable Departures: A Streaming Exodus
January's influx comes at a cost, with a startling number of fan favourites scheduled for removal. The most impactful exits involve two of television's most successful sitcoms. All seasons of both The Big Bang Theory and Friends will leave Netflix after nearly a decade of availability on the platform.
In a major blow for fantasy fans, the entire Wizarding World is disapparating. All eight films in the original Harry Potter saga, along with the complete Fantastic Beasts trilogy, will become unavailable from January 1st. The loss of such a defining franchise marks a substantial shift in Netflix's family and fantasy offering.
The list of departing cinematic greats is extensive. Steven Spielberg's era-defining blockbusters Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial are both leaving, as is the beloved 1996 adaptation of Matilda. In a surprise move, recent Best Picture winner Oppenheimer is departing on January 12th, alongside Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Full Schedule of Arrivals and Removals
The turnover is structured throughout the month, with the bulk of activity concentrated on New Year's Day. Below is a condensed overview of key dates and titles for UK subscribers to note.
Selected Arrivals:
- January 1: 12 Years a Slave, Dawn of the Dead, Despicable Me, District 9, Dune, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, Pitch Perfect, Priscilla, Twins.
- January 29: Bridgerton (Season 4).
Selected Departures:
- January 1: All seasons of The Big Bang Theory and Friends, the complete Harry Potter film series, the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, Matilda.
- January 2: Jaws.
- January 4: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- January 7: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
- January 12: Oppenheimer.
- January 16: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
This substantial reshuffle underscores the transient nature of digital streaming libraries. For UK viewers, January presents a final opportunity to revisit timeless classics on Netflix before they potentially migrate to rival services, while also offering a strong slate of new and acclaimed content to discover in the new year.
