Q Wave’s Watchlist: January 2026
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The RIP (Netflix)
Mark your calendars for one of Netflix’s most anticipated crime thrillers of early 2026: The Rip, starring longtime collaborators Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. This gritty, high‑stakes action drama drops on Netflix January 16th, reuniting two of Hollywood’s most iconic on‑screen partners since Good Will Hunting in a Miami‑set tale of cash, corruption, and fractured loyalty.
Directed and written by Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces, The Grey), The Rip follows Miami police officers Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Damon) and Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne (Affleck) after a routine narcotics raid unearths millions in hidden cash. What should be a straightforward seizure quickly spirals into mistrust, betrayal, and life‑or‑death decisions as pressure mounts from outside forces and within the squad.
The supporting cast is stacked with talent, including Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler, and Scott Adkins, promising both explosive set pieces and layered character conflict. With its mix of tense action and morally ambiguous storytelling, The Rip promises to be one of the most compelling action thrillers on Netflix this year.
You’d like this if you enjoyed: Training Day, Heat
Runtime: 133 minutes
Genre: Crime, action
The Pitt (Crave)
One of the surprise breakout hits of 2025 returns for another pulse‑pounding shift. The Pitt, the Emmy‑winning medical drama that captured audiences with its real‑time depiction of a 15‑hour emergency room shift, is coming back for Season 2, premiering January 8th on Crave.
Picking up roughly 10 months after the events of the first season, Season 2 once again unfolds over a single day, this time during the chaos of Fourth of July weekend. The trauma center of Pittsburgh’s fictional medical hospital faces its toughest tests yet: fireworks‑related injuries, system outages, and emotionally fraught reunions among a cast still carrying the psychological weight of previous shifts.
Noah Wyle returns as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, navigating burnout, moral dilemmas, and the return of Dr. Frank Langdon after rehab. With returning and new ensemble members, The Pitt is poised to deliver the same relentless energy and emotional depth that made Season 1 such a sensation.
You’d like this if you enjoyed: ER, This Is Us
Runtime: 15 episodes
Genre: Medical drama
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Crave)
The world of Westeros returns, this time with fewer dragons but just as much intrigue. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the next chapter in HBO’s expanding Game of Thrones universe, premiering January 18 on Crave.
Set nearly a century before the events of Game of Thrones, the series follows the humble yet noble Ser Duncan the Tall and his sharp-witted squire, Egg—who will one day become King Aegon V Targaryen. As the two wander from tourneys to taverns, they find themselves caught in the rising tensions of a realm inching toward civil war.
Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s beloved novellas, the tone here is more grounded than its fire-and-blood predecessors. Fewer epic battles, more character-driven storytelling and political scheming. The cast includes Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, alongside Finn Bennett and Bertie Carvel.
You’d like this if you enjoyed: Game of Thrones, The Witcher
Runtime: 6 episodes
Genre: Fantasy, drama
Wonder Man (Disney+)
Marvel is bringing a fresh twist to the MCU early in 2026 with Wonder Man, an eight‑episode Disney+ series that blends superhero action with Hollywood satire and insider comedy. The show, set to premiere January 27th, stars Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II as Simon Williams, an aspiring actor whose life changes dramatically when he crosses paths with washed‑up MCU favorite Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) and gets involved in an ambitious remake of a superhero film.
Created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, the series leans into self‑aware humor about the entertainment industry and superhero genre fatigue, exploring the absurdity of fame and the personal cost of reinvention. It's part character study, part meta-commentary, and fully Marvel.
Alongside Abdul‑Mateen and Kingsley, the cast includes Arian Moayed, Zlatko Burić, Olivia Thirlby, and Byron Bowers. With all episodes dropping at once, it’s set to be one of January’s biggest binge events.
You’d like this if you enjoyed: Ms. Marvel, She‑Hulk: Attorney at Law
Runtime: 8 episodes
Genre: Superhero, comedy
Hijack (Apple TV)
After its breakout first season, Apple TV+’s real‑time thriller Hijack is back with Season 2, premiering January 14th with the first two episodes dropping at once and weekly installments continuing through late February. Idris Elba returns as Sam Nelson, the cool‑headed negotiator whose steady nerve saved a plane in Season 1—and who now finds himself facing an entirely new threat.
This time, the action moves to Europe as Sam is trapped aboard a Berlin commuter train hijacked by unknown forces. With hundreds of passengers in danger and a clock ticking toward disaster, Sam must rely on his instincts once again. Returning cast members Christine Adams, Max Beesley, and Archie Panjabi join new faces Toby Jones and Lisa Vicari.
If the first season’s pacing had you glued to your screen, Season 2 promises to keep the adrenaline flowing.
You’d like this if you enjoyed: Speed, Non‑Stop
Runtime: 8 episodes
Genre: Thriller, drama