OTT & Theatre releases this week: Franchises, Sequels, and Star Power dominate

The second week of January underlines a structural shift in how audiences are consuming entertainment in 2026. Streaming platforms are no longer treating January as a soft-launch month, instead opening the year with franchise extensions, prestige series, and mainstream Hindi films making their post-theatrical digital debut. Theatres, particularly in South India, are responding by doubling down on scale, star power, and event-led releases. The result is a week that clearly reflects the bifurcation of viewing habits—OTT platforms chasing volume and continuity, while cinemas position themselves as destinations for spectacle-driven storytelling.

OTT releases this week

The most talked-about digital premiere this week is Predator: Badlands, which landed on Prime Video on January 6. In a first for the long-running franchise, the story shifts perspective to place the Predator itself at the centre of the narrative. Stripped of advanced weaponry and exiled to a lethal planet, the film reframes survival as character study, signalling how legacy Hollywood IP is being retooled for streaming-first audiences.

Prime Video also brings the second season of its most acclaimed series, The Night Manager, which premieres on January 11. Set eight years after the first season, the spy thriller sees Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine pulled out of isolation to confront a new global arms threat. With wider geopolitical stakes and contemporary conflicts at its core, the series underlines the platform’s push towards prestige international storytelling.

Bollywood’s most prominent OTT arrival this week is De De Pyaar De 2, which begins streaming on Netflix on January 9. The Ajay Devgn–Rakul Preet Singh–R Madhavan starrer continues the industry trend of mid-budget Hindi films finding scale and longevity on streaming platforms after their theatrical runs, with the sequel leaning heavily into family dynamics and generational conflict.

Science fiction fans are served with Tron: Ares, which began streaming on JioHotstar on January 7. With Jared Leto, Greta Lee, and Evan Peters, the film is positioned as a darker and more philosophical sequel, exploring artificial intelligence crossing into the physical world and reflecting Hollywood’s growing fascination with AI ethics and digital permanence.

Horror takes a more unsettling turn with Weapons, streaming on JioHotstar from January 8. Told through multiple perspectives, the film revolves around the mysterious disappearance of 17 children from a single classroom. Rather than relying on jump scares, it leans into psychological dread and social allegory, continuing the trend of “elevated horror” finding a strong audience on OTT.

Netflix’s major English-language film release this week is People We Meet on Vacation, which arrives on January 9. Adapted from Emily Henry’s bestselling novel, the romantic comedy focuses on two long-time friends navigating unresolved emotions during a final holiday together. With its feel-good tone and strong literary fanbase, the film is positioned as a mass-appeal weekend watch.

The week also sees the return of several series across platforms, including the real-time medical drama The Pitt on JioHotstar, the historical crime saga A Thousand Blows, and Netflix’s psychological thriller His & Hers. Together, they highlight how streamers are leaning heavily on returning properties to drive sustained viewership early in the year.

In theatres this week

On the theatrical front, the spotlight firmly remains on South Indian cinema. The Raja Saab, a romantic horror comedy starring Prabhas releases on January 9.  The film blends supernatural elements with mainstream humour, reinforcing the industry’s appetite for genre hybrids led by bankable stars.

Political and historical drama finds representation through Parasakthi, directed by Sudha Kongara and releasing on January 10. The film adds a prestige dimension to the week’s theatrical offerings, appealing to audiences seeking substance-driven narratives.

Hollywood also makes its presence felt with Greenland 2: Migration, which arrives in Indian theatres on January 9. Led by Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, the post-apocalyptic sequel continues the survival journey of the Garrity family, banking on scale, spectacle, and franchise familiarity.

This week’s release calendar reinforces a clear industry divide. OTT platforms are consolidating their position as the primary release window for Hollywood franchises and Bollywood’s mainstream titles, while theatres—particularly in the South—continue to depend on star-led spectacles to sustain footfalls. For audiences, the choice is no longer about availability, but about where the experience feels most compelling.