Netflix struggles to replace blockbuster hits as it awaits new slate
Netflix's Oscar nods in March for Frankenstein and Train Dreams were a fleeting bright spot for the embattled streamer, which has largely seen its big bets come up short this year. While K-pop phenomenon Demon Hunters surprisingly took off, the service is now without its cash cow, Stranger Things, which wrapped its fifth season on New Year's Eve. As rival HBO preps for the return of Harry Potter and Amazon teases a new James Bond, Netflix needs a major tentpole to call its own. So far, the biggest hit has been The Rip, a crime thriller co-directed by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, which cleverly put its stars to good use during a time when major studios are usually cool to new releases. The streamer also won a highly competitive bidding war for a BTS documentary and rebooted Peaky Blinders with the help of Steven Knight. We'll see how the rest of the year plays out for Netflix as it tries to refocus after the failed Warner Bros. merger. For now, these are the standout original Netflix films of 2026 so far.
The rip
A tense film that really makes the most of its stars during a time when major studios are usually reticent to new releases, The Rip sees Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunite as members of a special Tactical Narcotics Team in the Miami-Dade Police Department. When a large sum of cash from a drug bust goes missing, their characters begin to question one another, leading to a tense, action-packed shakedown.
Peaky blinders: the immortal man
Essentially an extended final episode of the hit British TV drama, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bridges the original series with its upcoming reboot. With a dramatic end for Cillian Murphy's celebrated gangster, the film follows Barry Keoghan as Duke Shelby, Tommy's eldest son and the new leader of the Peaky Blinders, in a tale of old-school gang warfare versus the new, brash upstarts set during the turbulent World War II-era politics of the early 1940s.
The rise of the red hot chili peppers: our brother, hillel
Before John Frusciante and Chad Smith joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, lead singer Anthony Kiedis and Flea shared the stage with the late guitarist Hillel Slovak, a major influence on the band's early sound. In this touching documentary, Kiedis and Flea recall their memories of Hillel nearly 40 years after his death, featuring interviews with Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons and funk legend George Clinton.
Bts: the return
One of the biggest stories in music this year, BTS's comeback is finally here after nearly six years serving in South Korea's mandatory military service. The behind-the-scenes documentary takes fans through the group's recording sessions for their fifth album, Arirang, as they contemplate how to make their grand return in a genre that's already changed drastically since they left in 2022.
War machine
In this sci-fi action film, Alan Ritchson plays a staff sergeant in the Army Rangers who investigates a fallen asteroid and is then attacked by a robot from space. The plot may be a bit rote, but even the predictable premise is enough to entertain for a simple Netflix action thriller.
One last adventure: the making of stranger things 5
Still missing Stranger Things? Vent your frustrations or reminisce with the cast in this documentary that details the pressures of filming the final season of such a beloved TV show. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer provide insight into the decision-making process for Season 5's finale, including how they wrote Vecna's demise and why they ended the series back where it all began.