The first month of 2026 is already coming to a close, and despite the dreaded January blues, it’s been solid streaming-wise – well, at least it has been for me. Last year, I embarked on an ambitious mission to document my favorite movies and shows across the best streaming services each month — and I’m doing it all over again in 2026.
One of the defining new series from the past month has been the new HBO Max show Heated Rivalry, which has been hyped up on all my social media pages. More often than not, hype like this would be very off-putting for me, but it turned out to be so much more than what I was expecting.
Heated Rivalry (2025)
Creator: Jacob Tierney
Age rating: TV-MA
Runtime: ~ 43 minute episodes
Where to stream: HBO Max (US); Now TV (UK); HBO Max (AU)
While I’m waiting patiently for HBO Max’s long overdue UK launch in March, Now TV has been a reliable placeholder for catching up on the most talked-about TV shows of the moment. I haven’t been able to escape the online hype over Heated Rivalry, and now I can see why it’s got so much attention.
The world of ice hockey is full of complications, at least it is for Major League Hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). As the two rival hockey players climb to the top of their game, an unexpected relationship blossoms between them, sparking a hidden romance that they shun from the public eye, but what starts off as an exclusively sexual relationship evolves into something much more.
If you’re looking for a show to really add some heat to the winter evenings, look no further.
Bones and All (2022)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Age rating: R
Runtime: 130 minutes
Where to stream: Netflix (US); Prime Video (UK & AU)
As it is with any Luca Guadagnino movie, expect the unexpected is my best advice and the same goes for Bones and All, a big genre-blend of drama, romance, and a bit of horror. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but believe me, it kind of works.
In the late ’80s, high school student Maren (Taylor Russell) finds herself moving to yet another new town concealing a secret – she’s a cannibal. After an unfortunate run-in with another student that results in her father abandoning her, she’s left to her own devices to find her place in society.
She embarks on a road trip to where she meets Lee (Timothee Chalamet), a fellow runaway and cannibal. Together, the two find themselves amid a blossoming romance as they seek purpose in a society that’s cast them aside.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)
Director: Peter Jackson
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 178 minutes
Where to stream: Prime Video, HBO Max (US); Now TV (UK); HBO Max, Prime Video, Stan (AU)
I’ve gone my entire life without having watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy after putting it off (fantasy has never really been for me), but since flying through the series of movies recently, I’ve never felt more embarrassed for not having seen them before.
Tolkien’s infamous trilogy of fantasy novels comes to life in Peter Jackson’s big-screen reimagination. Years after the Dark Lord Sauron created a Ring to harness all power over Middle Earth, the lost artifact falls into the hands of Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood).
When great wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) tasks him with destroying the Ring to put an end to the power-hungry forces that seek it, Frodo embarks on an epic mission to the deadly land of Mordor (the only place it can be destroyed) as the future of civilization rests on his small but mighty shoulders.
Train Dreams (2025)
Director: Drew Hancock
Age rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes
Where to stream: Prime Video, HBO Max (US); Now TV (UK); Prime Video (AU)
This year’s Oscar run of movies is very strong indeed, and Netflix’s Train Dreams has earned itself four nominations including Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay. While it doesn’t come close to its more dynamic competitors One Battle After Another and Marty Supreme, it’s a beautifully shot movie showcasing the hidden landscapes of north-western USA.
Based on Denis Johnson’s novella of the same name, Train Dreams spans the 80-year life of logger Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton). Starting in the early 20th century, Grainier is orphaned at a young age and finds himself lost without purpose, working a hard labor job expanding railways in northwest USA. When he meets his wife Gladys (Felicity Jones), the pieces start to fall into place for him.
But with all the happiness comes hardships, and when his life takes an unexpected turn, Grainier is left to find his new purpose in life.
Euphoria (2019-2026)
Creator: Sam Levinson
Age rating: R
Runtime: 107 minutes
Where to stream: Prime Video, HBO Max (US); Now TV (UK); Prime Video (AU)
The Euphoria season three production drama hasn’t done well for the show’s reputation. On top of alleged feuds with cast members and the prioritization of the god awful show The Idol, Sam Levinson hasn’t done the show any favors. With that said, the trailer for the upcoming finale has drawn me back in.
Euphoria season 3 was the last thing I thought I’d be excited for in 2026, but since the trailer dropped, I’ve been asking myself all sorts of questions and devising my own theories – but we’ll have to wait until April 12 to see what comes of it.
The A24-produced series follows a group of high schoolers in California as they navigate the trials and tribulations of finding yourself in an age of social media. It centers on Rue (Zendaya), a 17 year-old drug addict who’s failing attempts at sobriety land her in dangerous and life-threatening situations.
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Age rating: R
Runtime: 137 minutes
Where to stream: Prime Video (US); Prime Video, Netflix (UK)
Casey Affleck has been sitting in my watchlist for a while and this was the month I finally pressed play on Manchester by the Sea. If you haven’t seen this yet, let me warn you, it’s not for the emotionally unstable – but if you can handle one heart-shattering event after the next, then by all means indulge in this depression domino effect.
When his brother passes suddenly, handyman and loner Lee (Casey Affleck) finds himself returning to his hometown after tragic life events sent him away years prior. On his return, he’s surprised to find out that he’s been left with the responsibility of caring for his 16 year-old nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges), a role for which he’s not ready to take on.
As he settles into his temporary new life, Lee is forced to reckon with his past and revisit the tragedies that caused him to leave in the first place.
About Time (2013)
Director: Richard Curtis
Age rating: R
Runtime: 123 minutes
Where to stream: Paramount+, Fubo (US); Now TV (UK); Paramount+, Foxtel Now, Binge (AU)
From one heartbreaker to the next, About Time is a classic romance movie but is intertwined with devastating events that will hit you like a truck. I can’t count the amount of times people have told me to watch this, but on reflection, they definitely just wanted to see me break down – and they got what they asked for.
When Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) turns 21 his father (Bill Nighy) tells him that, just like al the men in the family he has the ability to time travel. Though he can’t alter history, he decides to use his hidden ability to improve his life, starting with securing a girlfriend.
After moving to London to train as a lawyer he meets American girl Mary (Rachel McAdams) who, after several time-traveling events to re-meet her, wins her over. Throughout their life together, he uses his abilities to prevent mishaps and reverse mistakes, but he learns that not all of his problems can be solved with the power of time travel.
Interstellar (2014)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 169 minutes
Where to stream: Paramount+ (US); Prime Video (UK)
Interstellar encapsulates everything powerful about modern movies. It has a killer score, magical special effects and scenery, and acting performances that bring the words of the script to life. It’s one long ride of a movie, but one that keeps you wondering what on Earth is going to happen next (pun intended).
In a near-future midwestern America, sandstorms destroy Earth’s crops which puts farmer and former science engineer and pilot Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) in an unfortunate position. As a result of the increasing amount of dust and rise of global famine, the planet is deemed inhospitable.
As NASA prepares to embark on a mission to travel through a wormhole in search of a hospitable planet, Cooper is recruited to lead a team of astronauts given his experience. He accepts it reluctantly, knowing that he’ll have to sacrifice never seeing his children again in order to save all of humanity.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Director: Gil Junger
Age rating: PG-13
Runtime: 97 minutes
Where to stream: Disney+ (US, UK & AU)
My screening of Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet (2025) prompted me to revisit modern adaptations of classic literature, starting with the timeless 10 Things I Hate About You. The ’90s was rife with book-to-movie adaptations, Clueless (1995) being a prime example, and Gil Junger’s take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is no exception.
When new student Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) moves to town, he quickly falls for Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), however strict family rules forbid her from having a boyfriend until her older sister Kat (Julia Stiles) has one of her own. Given Kat’s stern attitude and desire to renounce men, the odds are stacked against Bianca.
Her desperation for romance gets the best of her, and soon Bianca and Cameron come up with a scheme to get Kat a boyfriend. They approach the troubled Patrick (Heath Ledger) who couldn’t be further from Kat’s own personality, but their plan unexpectedly starts to work.
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