From dragons and dinosaurs to doll-sized nightmares, prestige drama, reality chaos, and homegrown originals, Showmax is kicking off 2026 at full throttle.
January 2026’s line-up blends global box office heavyweights, award-winning films, buzzy series debuts, and fan-favourite returns – spanning fantasy, comedy, thrillers, reality TV, and local storytelling.
Whether you’re in the mood for epic spectacle, emotional depth, or unapologetic escapism, this slate proves there’s no such thing as a quiet start to 2026 on Showmax.
Here’s What’s Coming to Showmax in January 2026
How to Train Your Dragon
Available to Stream on Showmax already
One of the eight biggest box office hits of 2025 worldwide, How to Train Your Dragon gets a bold live-action reimagining that expands the beloved Oscar-nominated franchise into epic territory.
Set on the rugged isle of Berk, the story follows Hiccup, the inventive but underestimated son of Viking chief Stoick the Vast. In a world where Vikings and dragons have been sworn enemies for generations, Hiccup’s unexpected friendship with Toothless, a feared Night Fury, challenges everything his society believes about power, fear, and tradition.
Mason Thames stars as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker as Astrid, Nick Frost as Gobber, and Gerard Butler returning as Stoick. Franchise veteran Dean DeBlois writes, directs, and produces, with a sweeping score by John Powell.
Check out the trailer below:
The Life of Chuck
Available to stream on Showmax already
Described by Collider as “the best Stephen King film ever made,” The Life of Chuck is a deeply emotional meditation on love, loss, and the small moments that define a life.
Tom Hiddleston leads a powerful ensemble cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jacob Tremblay, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, and narrator Nick Offerman. Directed by Mike Flanagan, the film won the People’s Choice Award at TIFF and holds an 80% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Check out the trailer below:
Smurfs
Available to stream on Showmax on already
When Papa Smurf is kidnapped by Gargamel and Razamel, Smurfette leads a rescue mission that takes the Smurfs into the real world.
The film boasts a massive voice cast, including Rihanna, John Goodman, James Corden, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, and more. Blending live action, animation, and musical numbers, Smurfs features original songs by Rihanna and Tyla, with “Higher Love” earning a Kids’ Choice Award nomination.
Check out the trailer below:
Volspoed
Streaming on Showmax on Tuesdays from 6 January 2026
This high-octane reality series dives into the world of endurance racing through the lives of Antonie Marx and his wife Ronette. On the track, Antonie chases milliseconds at speeds exceeding 200km/h. Off it, the family navigates ambition, sacrifice, and the emotional cost of living at full throttle.
Volspoed blends the danger of motorsport with raw, personal storytelling.
Check out the trailer for Volspoed below:
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15
Streaming on Showmax on Fridays from 9 January 2026
Season 15 delivers jet-setting glamour, shifting alliances, and resurfacing tensions as the Housewives travel from The Hamptons and Sedona to Italy.
Returning cast members include Kyle Richards, Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke, and Garcelle Beauvais, with Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly also back. New additions include Bozoma Saint John, Rachel Zoe, Natalie Swanston Fuller, and Amanda Frances.
Check out a sneak peak of the show below:
The Mindy Project Season 1 to 6
Binge on Showmax from Friday, 9 January 2026
Mindy Kaling stars as OB/GYN Mindy Lahiri, juggling career ambition, messy relationships, and rom-com fantasies. Since its debut, the series has earned multiple Emmy, Critics’ Choice, and Writers’ Guild nominations, with an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Expect memorable guest appearances from Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Seth Rogen.
Touch
Streaming on Showmax from Thursday, 15 January 2026
Based on the bestselling novel, Touch follows a widower racing against time to reunite with his first love, who vanished decades earlier. Iceland’s Oscar submission, the film has won 11 awards and holds a 93% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Check out the trailer for Touch below:
The Copenhagen Test Season 1
Available on M-Net & Showmax from 15 January 2026
This sci-fi espionage thriller stars Simu Liu as an intelligence analyst who discovers his brain has been hacked, allowing unknown parties access to everything he sees and hears. Produced by James Wan, the series blends paranoia, tech anxiety, and spy intrigue.
Watch the trailer for The Copenhagen Test below:
Die Kantoor Season 1
Streaming on Showmax from 20 January 2026
South Africa’s take on The Office, Die Kantoor stars Albert Pretorius as polony-plant manager Flip, whose documentary-fuelled quest for greatness leaves his staff just trying to survive the workday.
The series is produced by Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, with Bennie Fourie as head writer and director.
Check out the trailer for Die Kantoor below:
Izingane Zes’thembu Season 3
Binge on Showmax from Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Following five of Musa Mseleku’s older children, the new season explores independence, relationships, and identity after growing up in a polygamous household under the public spotlight.
Die Byl Season 6
Binge on Showmax from Tuesday, 20 January 2026
The final season of Die Byl sees Piet van der Bijl and his team pushed to their limits as a ruthless killer targets them with chilling precision. As the case escalates, the line between justice and humanity begins to blur.
Watch the trailer for the new season below:
Crutch Season 1
Binge on Showmax from Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Tracy Morgan stars as a blunt but beloved Harlem shop owner whose life is upended when his adult children move back home. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Crutch is already being praised as a future sitcom classic.
Watch the trailer below:
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Stream on Showmax from Friday, 23 January 2026
The fourth biggest box office hit of 2025 roars onto Showmax. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, the film sends an extraction team to a deadly abandoned research island filled with the worst dinosaurs left behind.
Watch the trailer below:
Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition
Stream on Showmax from Friday, 23 January 2026
Two iconic reality franchises collide as Housewives swap lives, routines, and expectations. The result is emotional, explosive, and occasionally enlightening.
Check out a sneak peak for this show below:
I Love LA
Binge on Showmax from Monday, 26 January 2026
A sharply written comedy about friendship, ambition, and growing up — or not. Created by Rachel Sennott, the series stars Odessa A’zion and Josh Hutcherson and has already secured a second season following strong debut numbers.
Watch the trailer below:
Fire Country Season 3
Binge on Showmax from Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Max Thieriot returns as Bode Donovan, with new characters and higher stakes as elite firefighters battle increasingly unpredictable wildfires. The series remains one of CBS’s biggest hits and is already renewed for a fourth season.
Watch the trailer below:
M3GAN 2.0
Streaming on Showmax from Friday, 30 January 2026
The killer doll saga escalates with Amelia, a military-grade AI weapon built using M3GAN’s underlying tech. Darker, sharper, and funnier, the sequel leans fully into controlled chaos.
Watch the trailer for the movie below:
January 2026 on Showmax is anything but quiet. Whether you’re chasing spectacle, emotional storytelling, reality drama, or local originals, this month’s line-up makes staying in a very easy decision.
If you don’t have a Showmax account yet, sign up HERE.
Watch this space for updates in the Streaming category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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