Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Happy New Year everyone! And you know what a new year and a new month means? That’s right; all sorts of new streaming goodies are coming to your favorite services. Whether your binging service of choice is Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video, or HBO Now, there are lots of new and great shows and movies to watch starting today. We’ve done all the hard work for you. Here are the top five things per platform you need to check out this month. With selections like these, 2016 is already shaping up to be a great year.
NETFLIX
Chelsea Does *Netflix Original
Chelsea Handler did stand up. She did the late night scene. She did the book scene. Now it’s time for her to do everything else. In this four-part Netflix original, Handler attempts to show the importance of confronting stereotypes through comedy. Each episode has a different theme, including marriage, the tech boom, and racism. If it’s even a quarter as sharp as Handler’s other work, it’s bound to be good.
[Stream Chelsea Does on Netflix January 23]
Degrassi: Next Class Season One *Netflix Original
Head back to the angst and drama that is high school by watching a reboot of the thing you were obsessed with in high school, Degrassi. The Netflix reboot of the Canadian drama is framed to be a modern day makeover of all the reasons you loved the original: growing up, falling in love, and dealing with loss. We’re hoping that Drake makes an appearance, too.
[Stream Degrassi: Next Class: Season One on Netflix January 15]
YouTube
The Overnight
Have you always secretly wanted to see Jason Schwartzman wearing a giant fake penis? You don’t have to answer that; we already know the answer. This Sundance selected film follows what starts as a normal couples dinner that quickly spirals out of control. Starring Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), and Schwartzman, this a cautionary tale about couple friends you don’t want to miss.
[Stream The Overnight on Netflix January 14]
Hulu
Parks and Recreation Season Seven
We get it; there are a lot of shows, and it’s easy to miss stuff. If the final season of NBC’s Parks and Recreation was one of the watches that fell off your radar, fear not. It’s on Netflix this month, and you’re going to love it. Final seasons of sitcoms always have some element of cheese to them, especially when they are as influential and long-running as this one. But in this case, it’s less cheesy and more endearingly sweet, making it one of my favorite parts of 2015. I miss you Pawnee.
[Stream Parks and Recreation: Season Seven on Netflix January 13]
Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season Two *Netflix Original
Why not add something to your kids’ watching radar? The second season of the How to Train Your Dragon series continuation is available this month. There have been several TV adaptations of beloved animated movies, but this is one of the few that does its source material justice. Dive back into Dreamworks’ world of Toothless and Hiccup and relearn the power of friendship.
[Stream Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season Two on Netflix January 6]
RELATED: WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX JANUARY 2016: MOVIES, SHOWS, ORIGINAL SERIES, AND MORE
HULU
The X-Files: Season 10 Premiere
The truth is out there, and now it’s so close, we can practically hear that the music. Detectives Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) are finally returning to our lives this month with even more unexplainable happenings, skepticism, and sexual tension. Though we’re sad to see Scully’s 90s era shoulder pads go, we’re beyond excited for this reboot. Stream new episodes starting January 25 and catch up on past seasons.
[Stream The X-Files: Season 10 on Hulu January 25]
Netflix
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 10
The gang comes back to FXX for Season 11 on January 6, so what better way to celebrate than to binge Season 10? From group dates to cult initiations, this season is full of antics and mayhem starring our favorite alcoholics to hate, Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank (Danny DeVito). (P.S. This one is going to be on Netflix too, starting January 5.)
[Stream It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 10 on Hulu January 5]
YouTube
Saturday Night Live: New Episodes
Starting on January 17, Hulu will be adding new, complete episodes of SNL Season 41 to its service. This is a win for anyone who is sick of dealing with Yahoo Screen or who prefers to watch full episodes rather than the stray YouTube clip. Plus, full episodes mean that you have access to all those amazing musical performances without having to stay in on a Saturday.
[Stream Saturday Night Live: Season 41 on Hulu January 17]
Photos: Everett Collection
Get to know one of the grandfathers of modern action flicks by watching Mission Impossible. In Tom Cruise’s most famous role, Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, a specialized secret agent who is tasked with uncovering corruption in his organization’s highest ranks. It’s a fun watch, but please forgive the 90s tech.
[Stream Mission: Impossible on Hulu January 1]
Hulu
New Girl: Season Five Premiere
Who’s that girl? She’s back! If you can’t get enough of the adorkable Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and her band of roommate misfits, get excited. The show’s fifth season premieres this month, which means you get to watch the day after on Hulu. In the meantime, you can catch up on past season shenanigans, which are also available on Hulu. (P.S. Season Four is going to be on Netflix too, starting January 5.)
[Stream New Girl on Hulu January 6]
RELATED: WHAT’S NEW ON HULU JANUARY 2016: SHOWS, MOVIES, SEASON ADDITIONS, AND MORE
PRIME VIDEO
Mad Dogs: Season One *Prime Video Original
Based on a UK series of the same name, this thriller comedy has the potential to be the next Amazon original we’re obsessed with. After four college friends go to Central America to celebrate an estranged friend’s early retirement (Billy Zane), things start to get increasingly dark. And by dark I mean a sex, drug, alcohol, and violent filled nightmare. Starring Ben Chaplin, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco, Steve Zahn, and Allison Tolman, this one already seems like a good buddy watch.
[Stream Mad Dogs on Prime Video January 22]
Billions: Season One (Stream with Showtime)
If you like your shows with high stakes and ever higher dollar amounts, this new Showtime original may be for you. Loosely based on hedge-fund swindler Steve Cohen’s high stakes game of cat and mouse, Paul Giamatti stars U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades. Quickly this series transforms into a battle between two powerful New York figures: Giamatti and hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Though the series is on Showtime, the first episode is available to watch on YouTube, Fabebook, and SHOW.com starting today.
[Stream Billions on Prime Video with Showtime January 17]
Baskets: Season One (Available to rent or purchase)
Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) is back with a new FX series, and it’s just as weird as you would expect. Chip Baskets is just your regular wannabe French clown, but things take a turn for the sad clown paint when he’s forced to return to his culture-free suburban hometown. Some people just don’t understand, and I’m sure that will apply to this quirky show. New episodes will be available to watch the day after they air on FX.
[Stream Baskets on Amazon Video January 22]
You can finally watch and be disturbed by the Austrian horror film that is sure to be a future cult classic. The film follows two twin boys who are suspicious when their mommy comes home from surgery covered in bandages. Increasingly, the boys become convinced that “mommy” is really an impostor, and the lengths they go to prove their point are chilling. Watch with the lights on.
[Stream Goodnight Mommy on Prime Video January 9]
Photos: Everett Collection
Light up and watch one of the best stoner comedies out there (Note: You don’t have to light up). Directed by Richard Linklater (Boyhood, School of Rock), rewatch Matthew McConaughey’s first feature film and go back to a time when the only thing you had to worry about was smuggling a keg for your party. We keep on getting older, but this classic movie stays the same.
[Stream Dazed and Confused on Prime Video January 1]
RELATED: WHAT’S NEW ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO JANUARY 2016: MOVIES, SHOWS, AMAZON VIDEO RENTALS, AND MORE
HBO GO
YouTube
Whitney Cummings: I’m Your Girlfriend *HBO special
You may know her as the creator of the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, but you should know her as hilarious. Cummings makes her stand up special debut at this Santa Monica taping. If this special is half as raunchy, upfront, and insightful as Cummings’ other work, it’s going to be a great watch.
[Stream Whitney Cummings: I’m Your Girlfriend on HBO Now January 23]
Photos: Everett Collection
Whether you’re catching up on awards buzz or just want to rewatch one of the best action movies of 2015, HBO has you covered this month. This fantasy action adventure has as many badass action sequences as amazing characters, especially Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Imperator Furiosa, making it the perfect way to start off 2016.
[Stream Mad Max: Fury Road on HBO Now January 9]
Photos: Everett Collection
It’s hard to overstate the cultural significance of this Francis Ford Coppola-directed epic. Head back to the seedy underbelly of the mob and get reacquainted with one of the most memorable families in cinema history, the Corleones. The Godfather Epic combines The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, which basically makes it one of the greatest film experiences you can have.
[Stream The Godfather Epic on HBO Now January 9]
Photos: Everett Collection
Ever feel like no one understands you? Andie (Molly Ringwald) can relate in this John Hughes classic. Between the loveably awkward Duckie (John Cryer), Andie’s heartthrob (James Spader), and that classic dress, there’s a lot to love about this sweet and quirky film. This is the perfect weekend movie pick whether you’re having date night or are enjoying some you time.
[Stream Pretty in Pink on HBO Now starting January 1]
Photos: Everett Collection
There have been a lot of action movies this year with a lot of muscle but with little to laugh at. Remedy that pop culture oversight by watching one of the greatest mock action flicks of all time, Tropic Thunder. Ben Stiller, a washed out action superstar, goes head to head with Robert Downey Jr. (in blackface!!). However, when the set of their latest action film becomes a real fight, things take a turn for the dark and hilarious.
[Stream Tropic Thunder on HBO Now starting January 1]
