2025 delivered a plethora of great movies, from big-budget blockbusters that defied expectations to exciting indie hits that dominated discourse. As the first weekend of 2026 arrives, you’ll want to start your year off right when it comes to movies, and the best part is, you don’t even need to leave your couch to do so. As a brand-new true crime doc and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse currently hold the top two spots on the Netflix streaming charts, there are many more great options available this January on the world’s biggest streamer. So, with all that in mind, here are three movies you should give a try on Netflix this weekend.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
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‘Despicable Me’ (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.6/10
To bring joy and laughter into your first weekend of the new year, look no further than the movie that put Illumination on the animation map. Despicable Me follows criminal mastermind Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) as he plans to commit the most ambitious heist of all time and steal the moon. However, his choice to adopt three orphan children to help carry out his nefarious scheme comes with unforeseen emotional consequences.
The movie that sparked one of the previous decade’s biggest franchises, Despicable Me is a must-watch for any animation fan. Of course, the film’s success would be nothing without those chaotic and ever-lovable minions, with this their first of many big-screen appearances, set to continue this summer with the release of Minions 3. For side-splitting laughter and a warm heart, Despicable Me is perfect.
2
‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Riding high on the coattails of Glee‘s small-screen success, Pitch Perfect arrived at the ideal time in 2012 and delivered an unforgettable a cappella experience. The film follows Beca (Anna Kendrick), a college freshman with a passion for music, who joins singing group The Bellas ahead of a fierce and brutal a cappella competition.
The film that catapulted Rebel Wilson to global fame, Pitch Perfect is a wild and hilarious girl-power journey featuring a wonderful lead performance from Kendrick. From surprising emotional beats to toe-tapping musical numbers, the film is also a neat 2012 time capsule that appropriately captures both the mood and the music of a time now, 14 years on, that is heavily nostalgic to many.
1
‘Ford v Ferrari’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.1/10
As January arrives, so do a host of exciting titles on Netflix. One of these new arrivals is the sports drama Ford v Ferrari, a film following the racing rivalry between the Ford and Ferrari companies and the former’s bitter attempt to revolutionize the industry ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, and directed by the brilliant James Mangold, Ford v Ferrari is the perfect way to inject some energy into this cold and dark first weekend of January. A fast-paced and detailed story that delivers for both racing fans and non-fans alike, Ford v Ferrari was nominated for four Academy Awards back in 2020, winning in both the Film Editing and Sound Editing categories.
- Release Date
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November 13, 2019
- Runtime
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153 minutes