The 7 Best New Shows on Netflix in January

New year, new Netflix. OK, yes, Netflix releases new shows, movies, specials, and more every month, every week, just about every day, but there are still key changes afoot for the streaming service in 2025, and January features several indicators as to what those changes may mean for subscribers.

For one, live sports isn’t going to wrap after Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL games. Even more important to the streamer’s future than a single day of high ratings — as the NFL certainly provided, not to mention how many new sign-ups the two marquee games inevitably drew — is a week in, week out attraction for dedicated fans. In January, that means “WWE Raw 2025.” Netflix will be airing a new wrestling extravaganza every Monday night throughout the year, with a live broadcast starting at 8 p.m. ET and replays available for anyone who needs to catch up on their own time. Not only does the WWE provide hours and hours of fresh content for Netflix to tout to fans old and new, but it also creates appointment viewing in a way that few other programs can.

Of course, original scripted series are still what most subscribers are paying for, and January has a few of those options, as well. “American Primeval” marks the year’s first major limited series, starring Betty Gilpin and Taylor Kitsch, while “The Night Agent” and “The Recruit” give action aficionados plenty of explosions to admire at month’s end. “Mo” Season 2 marks the long-awaited return of one of 2022’s favorite originals, and any number of the month’s international acquisitions are hoping to break big on the back of “Squid Game’s” recent return.

Unscripted offerings remain a massive draw for streaming audiences, and while the platforms buying them keep focusing on celebrity portraits and brand promotions, that means there’s ample room for talented filmmakers to remind audiences what they’re missing — aka, uncensored profiles of meaningful people, timely analyses of key issues, and fascinating discoveries that go beyond broad definitions. Maybe it can start this month with “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action” or “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.”

Finally, viewers should expect more extended releases from the streamer that made bingeing TV the de facto streaming release model. This month alone sees “Sakamoto Days,” “Love Is Blind: Germany,” and “The Graham Norton Show” getting batch releases on Netflix, and a slew of even more popular series are expected to be dropped in parts rather than all at once. Fans saw it in 2024 and before, but it should only grow more prominent in the months ahead. For now, here’s what else you can expect from the best of Netflix in January: