January 2026 is shaping up to be a packed month for Prime Video in the United States. From global K-dramas and big-budget reality competitions to a high-stakes heist thriller and a chilling true-crime docuseries, Amazon’s streamer is clearly betting on variety to kick off the year.
Below, you’ll find a detailed look at the biggest premieres and returns already locked in for January — plus what you should know about release plans, genres and who each title is really for. This line-up is still evolving, so expect more titles to be confirmed as the month approaches.
January 2026 on Prime Video at a Glance
If you just want the key dates before diving into the details, here’s the current roadmap for major Prime Video releases in January 2026:
- January 5, 2026 – Spring Fever, Season 1 (K-drama romance)
- January 7, 2026 – Beast Games, Season 2 (reality competition created by MrBeast)
- January 11, 2026 – The Night Manager, Season 2 (espionage thriller)
- January 18, 2026 – The Hillside Strangler (MGM+ docuseries, available via Prime Video)
- January 21, 2026 – Steal, Season 1 (crime thriller led by Sophie Turner)
Let’s break down what makes each of these worth adding to your watchlist.
Spring Fever (Season 1) – January 5, 2026
Prime Video opens the year with Spring Fever, a new series adapted from a popular web novel and aimed squarely at K-drama fans and romance lovers.
The story centers on Yoon Bom, a woman who walks away from her former life and relocates to the quiet rural town of Sinsu. At first, she keeps her distance from the locals, but her life slowly intersects with Sun Jae-gyu, and an initially cautious relationship starts to evolve into something deeper. The contrast between Bom’s emotional baggage and the calm countryside setting gives the show a gentle but emotionally charged tone.
The series is directed by Park Won-kook and is being released widely on Prime Video across the globe, with the notable exception of mainland China and South Korea, where it will follow different distribution paths.
For U.S. viewers who enjoy slow-burn romance, character-driven storytelling and scenic small-town backdrops, Spring Fever looks like one of January’s more soothing — but still addictive — options.
Beast Games (Season 2) – January 7, 2026
Just a couple of days later, Prime Video dials the energy all the way up with the return of Beast Games, the mega-scale competition series created by YouTube phenomenon MrBeast.
Season 2 introduces a new core idea: “Strong vs Smart.” The season brings together 200 contestants divided into two distinct groups:
- 100 players who rely primarily on their physical strength
- 100 players who bank on their logic, strategy and mental agility
They’re all going head-to-head for a staggering $5 million prize pool, making it one of the most lucrative reality competitions currently in streaming. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the season is built around fast-paced challenges and cliffhanger episodes.
New episodes are scheduled to drop weekly through February 25, 2026, which means this show is designed to be a recurring event rather than a one-weekend binge.
If you enjoy high-concept contests, social strategy and the over-the-top style that made MrBeast a YouTube giant, Beast Games Season 2 is likely to dominate your January watchlist.
The Night Manager (Season 2) – January 11, 2026
On the scripted thriller front, one of the biggest returns of the month is The Night Manager Season 2. After first premiering in the U.K. on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, the new chapter arrives on Prime Video for international audiences, including the United States.
Based on the world created by John le Carré, the series continues to weave together high-stakes espionage, murky geopolitics and intimate character drama. While plot specifics are kept under wraps, Season 2 aims to expand on the modern spy world introduced in the first season, with an emphasis on:
- Global power games and shifting alliances
- The blurred line between intelligence work and corporate interests
- Personal sacrifices demanded of those operating in the shadows
For U.S. viewers who gravitate toward prestige TV with an international cast, layered storytelling and a cinematic look, The Night Manager’s second season is one of the most notable January streaming events.
The Hillside Strangler (MGM+ Series) – January 18, 2026
True-crime fans get their turn mid-month with The Hillside Strangler, a docuseries from MGM+ that will be available via Prime Video. The series revisits one of the most infamous serial killer cases from late-1970s Los Angeles.
The narrative follows Frank Salerno, who was a young detective at the time of the murders. For the first time on screen, he walks viewers through the investigation that led to the capture of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, the two men convicted in the case.
Expect a methodical approach that digs into:
- How law enforcement pieced together a complex, multi-victim case
- The investigative techniques of the era — long before modern forensic technology
- The long-term impact of the crimes on Los Angeles and on criminal profiling
Rather than relying on sensationalism, the project aims to be a careful reconstruction of a landmark investigation that helped shape how serial killer cases are handled today.
Steal (Season 1) – January 21, 2026
Toward the end of the month, Prime Video launches Steal, a six-part thriller that mixes high finance, crime and personal drama — ideal for viewers who like the blend of heist storytelling and character-focused suspense.
The show centers on Zara, an employee at a pension fund who finds herself pulled into a major heist targeting the savings of countless families. What starts as what appears to be a straightforward robbery quickly unspools into something much more intricate, exposing a larger system where money, power and corruption intersect.
Sophie Turner leads the series as Zara, bringing a mix of vulnerability and resilience to a character besieged from all sides. On the other side of the investigation is DCI Rhys, played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, whose job is to unravel the case even as professional stakes and personal pressures collide.
With only six episodes, Steal is designed as a tight, bingeable experience, likely to appeal to fans of smart crime dramas and financial thrillers.
More Prime Video January 2026 Releases Still to Come
The titles above represent the key confirmed releases for Prime Video in January 2026, but Amazon typically keeps some of its calendar flexible to line up with global rights deals and last-minute acquisitions.
You can expect additional movies, series and possibly unscripted projects to be announced as the month gets closer. Some dates may also shift to coordinate with international rollouts, so it’s worth checking back periodically for updates if you plan your viewing around specific premieres.
To stay on top of the evolving schedule, keep an eye on Prime Video’s official U.S. channels and daily or weekly new-arrivals lists, which often highlight surprise drops and limited-time additions.
FAQ
What are the must-watch Prime Video releases in January 2026?
The biggest highlights currently confirmed for January 2026 on Prime Video are Spring Fever (Season 1), Beast Games (Season 2), The Night Manager (Season 2), the MGM+ docuseries The Hillside Strangler, and the new thriller Steal (Season 1).
Can the January 2026 Prime Video release dates change?
Yes. While these dates are officially announced, streaming calendars can shift due to international distribution plans, post-production timelines or marketing strategies. It’s always a good idea to verify dates directly on Prime Video as the premiere approaches.
Will Prime Video add more shows and movies for January 2026?
Almost certainly. Prime Video regularly updates its month-to-month lineup, adding licensed films, additional series and sometimes surprise drops. Expect this January 2026 list to grow as new titles are officially confirmed.
Which January 2026 Prime Video series should I pick if I only have time for one?
It depends on your tastes: choose Spring Fever if you love romantic K-dramas, Beast Games if you’re into high-stakes reality competitions, The Night Manager for elevated spy drama, The Hillside Strangler if you prefer true crime, or Steal if you want a compact, tense crime thriller.
