The streaming wars have kicked off the new year with aggressive moves from major platforms, but it's HBO Max claiming the first decisive victory of 2026. According to Reelgood's latest data for the week of January 8–14, HBO Max secured the #1 position with One Battle After Another, while simultaneously showcasing impressive depth with three titles in the Top 6.
HBO Max: The Triple Threat Strategy
The rapid ascent of One Battle After Another to the top spot suggests audiences were hungry for fresh, high-stakes drama immediately following the holiday lull. The title's dominance capitalizes on the "January window", a period traditionally neglected by blockbusters but perfect for launching new IP that can breathe without tentpole competition.
But HBO Max's platform retention strategy is firing on all cylinders, holding spots at #3 The Pitt and #6 Heated Rivalry. The Pitt, the medical drama starring Noah Wyle, returned for its second season on January 8th, driving huge swaths of returning viewers who stuck with the show through its fall run. Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry, the hockey romance adaptation that became a viral sensation in late 2025, continues to hold ground in the Top 6, proving it has transcended "niche genre" appeal to become a bonafide mainstream staple.
Prime Video: Winning the Volume Game
While HBO Max took the crown, Prime Video arguably won on sheer diversity, placing three distinct titles on the chart across wildly different genres. The Night Manager (#2) landed immediately in the runner-up spot, pulling in viewers hungry for premium espionage content in the wake of the spy thriller boom. But the most impressive feat on the chart belongs to Fallout (#7)—whether this is sustained long-tail viewership or a surge tied to Season 2 buzz, its mid-chart hold confirms it as a franchise pillar for Amazon. Rounding out the platform's showing is Sinners (#9), Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller, giving Prime a balanced portfolio of spy, sci-fi, and horror that mirrors its "something for everyone" acquisition strategy.
The Challengers: Franchise Power vs. Curiosity
Disney+ landed Tron: Ares (#10) on the chart, the Jared Leto-led sci-fi sequel that dropped to streaming earlier this month. While it anchors the bottom of the Top 10, its presence suggests franchise recognition is successfully pulling theatrical audiences to the small screen, though its positioning also reveals Disney's ongoing struggle to generate streaming-first hits outside the Marvel/Star Wars universe.
Peacock's Bugonia (#4) is the week's wild card. Yorgos Lanthimos's distinct sci-fi comedy performing this well for a platform exclusive indicates Peacock is successfully converting "curiosity clicks" into actual viewing time, likely driven by strong word-of-mouth and the director's post-Poor Things momentum. It's a rare win for a platform that has spent years fighting for visibility in a crowded field.
Netflix, meanwhile, appears to be cornering the market on relationships and romance this week, with His & Hers (#5) and People We Meet on Vacation (#8) both landing in the Top 8. The service remains the default destination for comfort viewing, a positioning that may seem less glamorous than HBO's prestige plays or Prime's franchise swings, but continues to drive the steady engagement that keeps churn rates low.
What It Means
The early 2026 rankings reveal a maturing market where platforms are leaning into their strengths rather than chasing an elusive "everything to everyone" strategy. HBO Max is building a prestige-plus-viral portfolio, Prime is leveraging volume and IP, and Netflix is doubling down on accessibility. The question now is whether these distinct identities can hold, or if the next big release will scramble the board entirely.
