It's time for a fresh new batch of content to be added to Netflix's expansive library of TV shows and movies! As is the case every month, in January the streaming giant will drop some of its existing content and add a bunch more. Subscribers will see several brand-new movies and series and new seasons of popular shows land on the streamer throughout the month, as well as some content that was previously on the streamer but has been gone for a while. Also joining the library are some older movies and shows that are making it onto Netflix for the first time.
To be honest, the new content coming this month isn't the most exciting, but after a stellar December 2020 lineup — packed full of new Netflix originals and movies including The Power of the Dog, The Unforgivable, and Don't Look Up, as well as the release of long-awaited new seasons of shows such as Money Heist and Cobra Kai — we can give Netflix a pass.
All that said, we're still looking forward to streaming several shows and movies that are headed to the platform in January, especially some classics and older movies we never had the chance to watch when they were new. Oh, and there's some great new content for kids too (perfect for those days when it's too cold to play outside). Here's what's coming to Netflix in January 2022.
'300'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
The 2006 film 300, starring Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender, was hugely popular when it was released, earning multiple awards and a loyal fan base who still can't get enough of the film 15 years later. It tells the story of the battle of the Spartans and the Persians in Thermopylae in 480 B.C.
'Annie'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
The original 1982 movie Annie will be available on Netflix on the first of the month. It's a classic, and we love that we now get to introduce our kids to it. Just expect your entire family to be belting out "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "Tomorrow" nonstop, all month long.
'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Tim Burton's 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake, starring Johnny Depp, is also returning to Netflix in January. Though it's quite a bit more unsettling than the original thanks to Johnny's quirkiness, it's still a must-watch for fans of the Roald Dahl story, and an interesting adaptation for sure.
'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Purists need not fear. The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which was released in 1971 and stars the legendary Gene Wilder, is also coming to Netflix. We're still obsessed with this classic film decades later and could (and do) watch it again and again.
'Dark Shadows'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Tim Burton fans will be happy to catch another of his Johnny Depp collaborations on Netflix. Dark Shadows, which is the weird tale of a vampire who gets out of prison and returns to his former home to live with descendants he's never met, will stream on the platform all month.
'Free Willy'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
A classic for '90s kids, we're sure Free Willy will hold appeal for modern kids, too. It's about a boy determined to save an orca whale that is scheduled to be killed by the aquarium where he lives because he isn't performing the way they would like. The boy and the whale form an unlikely bond that will warm anyone's heart.
'Girl, Interrupted'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Based on the real-life story of writer Susanna Kaysen's experience at a mental hospital in the 1960s, 1999's Girl, Interrupted stars a young Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie. It's an eye-opening film that sheds a massive light on the various mental health issues that women experience and how they can affect every facet of their lives and relationships.
'Hook'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
This Robin Williams classic is so nostalgic for '90s kids! It's of course a reimagining of the tale of Peter Pan, in which Peter must return to Neverland to rescue his own children who've been kidnapped by none other than Captain Hook himself. It's so much fun to watch!
'Interview With the Vampire'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
The film adaptation of Interview With the Vampire — perhaps the best-known work of author Anne Rice, who died on December 11, 2021 — is the be-all and end-all for many vampire fiction fans. Starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, it's spooky and mysterious and romantic all at once, and also features great performances from Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, and Antonio Banderas.
'Runaway Bride'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Julia Roberts in the '90s gives us all the feels! We can't even count how many times we watched Runaway Bride — which also stars Richard Gere — back in our middle school days. It's a super fun rom-com about a reporter who's been tasked with writing a profile on a woman who has the reputation of leaving her grooms at the altar, but he of course ends up falling for her.
'Scary Stories: To Tell in the Dark'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Horror fans will be excited to see Guillermo del Toro's Scary Stories: To Tell in the Dark on Netflix this month. The movie is about a group of friends who on Halloween night in 1968 discover a book of scary tales written by an abused girl. As they read through the stories, the terror that sets in begins to feel real.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'
Coming to Netflix: January 2021
All four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies — the original 1990, 1991, and 1993 live-action titles and the 2007 remake — will land on Netflix this month. They chronicle the adventures of a group of crime-fighting turtles who just so happen to be martial arts experts.
'The NeverEnding Story'
Coming to Netflix: January 1
Another nostalgic watch headed to Netflix is 1984's The NeverEnding Story. It's a family fantasy film about a little boy who is being bullied, who finds solace in the story he's reading in an antique book he discovers in an old shop. Soon, he becomes so engrossed in the story that he finds himself a part of it.
'Hype House'
Coming to Netflix: January 7
We're not promising high-caliber TV here, but if you're obsessed with TikTok and a fan of reality TV, this one is a must-watch. Hype House is actually the name of a collective of TikTok influencers, and in the show, we'll get a peek inside the lives of these young content creators, including founders Chase Hudson and Thomas Petrou.
'Brazen'
Coming to Netflix: January 13
A Netflix original movie starring Alyssa Milano, Brazen is a thriller based on the Nora Roberts novel Brazen Virtue. Alyssa plays a mystery book author who discovers that her sister has been moonlighting as a webcam performer. Despite promises of safety from the agency she works with, things turn deadly, and the author can't resist getting involved in the investigation.
'Archive 81'
Coming to Netflix: January 14
Archive 81 is a new Netflix series that serves as the TV adaptation of the podcast of the same name. It follows a professional archivist whose job is to restore old tapes. He becomes engrossed in the work of a filmmaker who was investigating a cult, and finds himself picking up where she left off.
'Blippi'
Coming to Netflix: January 14
If Blippi is your kid's fave TV show, you'll be excited to see that Netflix is adding both Blippi: Adventures and Blippi's School Supply Scavenger Hunt in January. Until now, there hasn't been any Blippi content on the streamer, so this is a big win for parents of Blippi fans. This should buy you some time to catch up on housework or that book that's been sitting on your nightstand for the past few weeks.
'Ozark' Season 4: Part 1
Coming to Netflix: January 21
Ozark fans have been waiting so long for this one! The dark drama, starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, will wrap up this year with its fourth and final season, the first half of which is due out on January 21. We can't wait to see how Netflix concludes this riveting crime saga — and what becomes of the troubled Byrde family.
'Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series' Part 2
Coming to Netflix: January 21
Pokémon-obsessed kids are going to be thrilled to see the second part of Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series on Netflix later this month. Several episodes of the animated series will be released, so expect your kids to ask for permission to binge-watch them all. Trust us, it's not worth the fight!
'Ada Twist, Scientist' Season 2
Coming to Netflix: January 25
Produced by former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, Ada Twist, Scientist is an animated series based on the books of the same name by children's author Andrea Beaty. The second season comes out this month and will see budding, young scientist Ada and her curious friends continue to learn about and explore the world around them.
'Home Team'
Coming to Netflix: January 28
A brand-new original comedy from Netflix, Home Team stars beloved comedian Kevin James and Twilight star Taylor Lautner. Loosely based on a true story, it's about former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton who returns home to coach his 12-year-old's football team after he's suspended from the NFL in the wake of the "Bountygate" scandal. Don't worry, though, it's rated PG, so the whole family can watch together.
