New shows & films – quick links
Stan: new shows & films
Dear Life – 1 January
Series. Love lives on in unexpected ways. Filmed across Victoria, Dear Life is an unfiltered exploration into losing the love of your life.
Struggling to come to terms with the death of her fiancé, Lillian (Brooke Satchwell) finds comfort in seeking out the recipients of his organs, triggering a tangled chain of connection. After Ash, a doctor, is attacked by an ice addict, his fiancée Lillian turns off his life support.
Led by Brooke Satchwell (Black Snow), the six-part series also stars Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead), Ryan Johnson (Doctor Doctor), Ben Lawson (Firefly Lane), Annie Maynard (Upper Middle Bogan), Daniel Henshall (A Sunburnt Christmas), Kerry Armstrong (Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story), Deborah Mailman (Total Control), Megan Smart (Black Snow), Marg Downey (The Newsreader) and Khisraw Jones-Shukoor (The Newsreader).
Red Eye Season 2 – 2 January
Series. After a thrilling first season, Red Eye is returning as Jing Lusi reprises her role as DS Hana Li alongside new guest star, Martin Compston, who together, must set aside past differences to solve a new high-stakes conspiracy.
Changing Ends Season 2 – 3 January
Series. Based on British comedian Alan Carr’s life in the 80s, a period during which his father was manager of the football team, Northampton Town FC.
Netflix: new shows & films
Stranger Things 5: The Finale – 1 January
Series finale. Netflix has certainly been milking all the publicity it can get from the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. The season’s release was divvied up into three staggered volumes – with the first four episodes coming out on 27 November, then the next three episodes dropping as a Boxing Day treat on 26 December, and the standalone final episode kicking off the new year with a big ending, streaming from 1 January 2026.
The final venture into 1980s Hawkins finds the town under lockdown. With Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in hiding, and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.
Whether you come for the nostalgia, the horror, or just to see Steve Harrington wield a bat one last time, the closer of Stranger Things 5 will hopefully deliver a bittersweet farewell worthy of its cultural legacy. Watch the trailer.
AMC+, Shudder, Acorn TV: new shows & films
Love After Lockup: Crime Story – 1 January (AMC+)
Limited Series. Love After Lockup cast favourites from the past and present reveal what led them to a life of crime and what landed them behind bars. We have seen them walk out of prison gates and into the arms of loved ones, but who were they before prison?
In-depth interviews provide a no-holds-barred look at the pre-prison life of the franchise’s most loved and notorious characters as they return to the scene of the crime, and reflect on their origin stories and how far they’ve come.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil – 1 January (Shudder and AMC+)
Film (2010). Affable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students. Directed by Eli Craig (Clown in a Cornfield, Zombieland).
Brokenwood Mysteries: Season 11 – 5 January (Acorn TV and AMC+)
Series. This quirky, fan-favourite crime drama returns with an all-new season starring Neill Rea (Go Girls, Auckward Love) as Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd and Fern Sutherland (The Almighty Johnsons) as by-the-book Detective Kristin Sims. The formidable duo investigate crimes in the sleepy and secret-filled town of Brokenwood, New Zealand.
From seemingly supernatural incidents in the idyllic community to mysterious murders with hidden motives, Season 11 of the series sees Shepherd and his team plunge into a web of deception, greed and dark secrets, using less than conventional methods to tackle their most perplexing cases yet. The all-new also sees the return of Cristina Serban Ionda (Filthy Rich) as eccentric pathologist Dr. Gina Kadinsky and Jarod Rawiri (Shortland Street) as no-nonsense Detective Constable Daniel Chalmers.
ABC iview: new shows & films
Long Lost Family: Shipped To Australia – 30 December
A Long Lost Family special highlighting the scandal of thousands of unaccompanied British children shipped out to Australia in the middle of the 20th century.
New Year’s Eve 2025 – 31 December
Welcome in the New Year with the ABC’ s annual New Year’s Eve concert and fireworks celebration, live from Sydney Harbour. From midnight, the night’s sky will erupt with all the colour and spark New Year’s Eve is known for, all from the best vantage point in Sydney – in front of the Sydney Opera House.
But Also John Clarke – 1 January
Documentary (2025). The late John Clarke, the New Zealand-born Australian satirist, is revealed through candid talks with his daughter, filmmaker Lorin Clarke, in this ‘abundantly comforting’ doco. This tribute explores his defiance, his move to Australia, and four decades of comedy, blending stories and archival material. Read ScreenHub’s four-star review and watch the trailer.
The Jetty Season 1 – 1 January
Series (2024). Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who, The Sandman, Me Before You) showcases her dramatic chops in this British crime drama series created and written by Cat Jones (The Idris Takeover). Recently widowed Detective Ember Manning uncovers dark secrets beneath the tranquillity of her hometown, secrets that threaten everything she thought she knew about consent – and her own life.
Changing Ends Season 3 – 1 January
Series. In the latest season of comedian Alan Carr’s semi-autobiographical sitcom, we return to 1980s Northampton, where a young Carr is struggling to find his place. Between a dad managing a 4th division football club and friends ditching him for being camp, Alan wants to change. Should he go against his instincts and become a footballer?
Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job – 1 January
Series. In a bid to breathe new life into forgotten towns, Italian municipalities are selling empty homes for one euro. In this reality series, we watch on as British media personality Amanda Holden fulfils a long-held ambition, purchasing two dilapidated apartments in picture-perfect Salemi, and convinces best friend Alan Carr to spend a summer renovating them to create an Italian dream home.
The Scarecrows’ Wedding – 1 January
Film (2025). Based on the beloved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this new made-for-television animated movie from the BBC and multi-Oscar-nominated Magic Light Pictures will delight young children. The Scarecrows’ Wedding is an enchanting story about two devoted scarecrows who are planning a wedding to remember. Will they be able to overcome disaster and celebrate a wedding that no one will ever forget?
Shaun Tan’s Tales from Outer Suburbia – 1 January
Series. This highly anticipated adaptation of Shaun Tan’s best-selling illustrated book premieres on New Year’s Day. Exploring the strangeness of everyday life through surreal imagery and fantastical characters, this 10-part cinematic series also features the voices of Dawn French and Geraldine Hakewill.
Viewers follow Klara and her brother Pim as they move to the suburbs with their mum, finding that there’s more to their new neighbourhood than meets the eye. As Pim and Klara navigate the quiet mysteries of everyday life and adventures full of surprising and bizarre encounters, they must learn to support each other as a family and discover where they belong in their ever-changing world.
Gardening Australia Junior Season 3 – 1 January
Series. Gardening Australia Junior is back and it’s full of green goodness, critters that wriggle and squawk, and projects that are tiny as ants, or as big as your school! Costa is back, along with a squad of nature-loving, spade-wielding kids to explore, create and laugh.
Art Detectives – 2 January
Series. In this gripping new six-episode British crime drama, art-loving DI Mick Palmer (True Blood’s Stephen Moyer) and straight-talking DC Shazia Malik (Nina Singh) lead the Met’s smallest department, the Heritage Crime Unit, investigating murders and thefts in the shadowy world of art, antiquities and priceless artefacts – from forged paintings to Viking gold.
Call the Midwife Season 14 – 3 January
Series. It’s the beginning of a new decade for the midwives of Poplar. This much-loved British series about life and birth in London’s impoverished East End continues with its 14th season, now set in the 1970s. (Hot tip: you can also watch Season 15 of Call the Midwife on BritBox this January.)
Goolagong – 4 January
Limited Series. Filmed in Victoria in 2025, this three-part mini-series is based on the inspiring true story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong, one of Australia’s most loved female sporting heroes. With a powerhouse team of First Nations creatives behind the camera, Goolagong was developed in close collaboration with Goolagong herself and her husband Roger Cawley, who are both attached as associate producers.
Rising star Lila McGuire (The Twelve) leads the cast as Evonne, joined by Marton Csokas (Equalizer) as coach Vic Edwards, Felix Mallard (Ginny & Georgia) as Roger Cawley, and Luke Carroll (Mystery Road: Origin) as Evonne’s brother, Kenny Goolagong.
Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now Season 2 – 4 January
Series. Now in its second season, this follow-up to the ABC’s beloved doco-series Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies catches up with the human and canine stars who captured the hearts of millions of Australians – delving a little deeper into their lives and seeing what they’ve been up to since they competed to be crowned Champion Muster Dog.
SBS On Demand: new shows & films
Porco Rosso – 29 December
Film (1992). Part of the SBS Studio Ghibli Collection. A former Italian World War air fighter is now making ends meet as bounty hunter in the Adriatic Sea chasing air pirates.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind – 30 December
Film (1984). Part of the SBS Studio Ghibli Collection. In a post-nuclear world, we follow the story of the pacifist Nausicaä, the pacifist teenage princess of the Valley of the Wind.
Castle In The Sky – 31 December
Film (1986). Part of the SBS Studio Ghibli Collection. In their bid to find a legendary flying castle said to house groundbreaking technology, orphans Sheeta and Pazu find themselves followed by a government agent, the army and pirates.
Princess Mononoke – 31 December
Film (1997). Part of the SBS Studio Ghibli Collection. The young prince Ashitaka travels west, hoping to find a cure for his cursed arm. On the way, he finds himself caught up in unexpected conflicts.
Queen of F*cking Everything – 1 January
Series. An Australian premiere, this six-episode Finnish series follows Linda, a luxury real estate agent, who faces a harsh reality when her husband vanishes, leaving her millions in debt. With her finances seized, Linda struggles to keep her life together no matter what. Turning to her long-neglected childhood friend Marke for a loan, Linda finds herself pulled into a world of shady business dealings. Watch the trailer.
Daddy Issues Season 2 – 1 January
Series. Boasting a rave five-star review from The Guardian, this quirky British comedy returns with a second season starring Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus, Sex Education, Living) and David Morrissey (Britannia, The Walking Dead).
Gemma’s still coming to terms with life as a new mum when her estranged mother Davina moves in, forcing her dad Malcolm out. With mum being no help, missing her dad, and in a state of despair, Gemma plots to oust Davina and move Malcolm back in.
Along the way, she tries to get back to her old self, sister Catherine decides she wants a baby, and incel pal Derek tricks Malcolm into helping him seek revenge on his ex-wife. However, a surprise visitor arrives, forcing Malcolm to confront his past, and Gemma to face her future.
The first season of Daddy Issues is also available now on SBS On Demand.
Catch-22 – 1 January
Series. Featuring the star power of George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, Hugh Laurie and Lewis Pullman, this six-episode satirical dark comedy is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Joseph Heller.
Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a United States Army Air Forces bombardier in World War II, is furious that thousands of people are trying to kill him and that his own army keeps increasing the missions he must fly. He is trapped by the bureaucratic rule Catch-22, which considers a willingness to fly dangerous combat missions to be insane.
The series is executive produced by Clooney, Grant Heslov, Luke Davies, David Michôd, Richard Brown, Steve Golin and Ellen Kuras. The series was written by Davies and Michôd, and directed by Clooney, Heslov, and Kuras. Watch the trailer.
Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025 – 1 January
Special. What was the first thing Katy Perry did when she returned from space? Why did two members of the public go viral for attending a Coldplay concert together? And what did Lily Allen allegedly find in the West Village apartment? All these questions and more will be answered in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2025.
Helping Host Jimmy Carr ask the big questions are Charles Dance, the children of Mitchell Brook primary school and a whole host of celebrity question setters including Richard Ayoade, Lou Sanders, Nick Mohammed, Katherine Ryan, Roisin Conaty and Jonathan Ross.
Summer of Movies Collection – 1 January
Film collection. This curated summer movie collection from SBS On Demand offers a rich mix of gripping dramas, standout indies, bold international gems and crowd-pleasing favourites perfect for long, warm evenings spent discovering something new. From thought-provoking stories to stylish thrillers and surprising bursts of humour, these films bring fresh perspectives and unforgettable performances.
Films available to stream in this collection include: Anatomy Of A Fall, Godzilla Minus One, Pig, Priscilla, Bring It On, Benedetta, What We Do in the Shadows, The Zone of Interest, Triangle of Sadness, The Whale, La Chimera, Reality, A Taxi Driver and loads more.
Disney+: new shows & films
Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory – 2 January
Special. In the latest special from this British wildlife filmmaker, Bertie arrives in the Serengeti as the spectacular wildebeest migration kicks off. He’s here to film the fastest land animal on Earth: the cheetah. As he gets close to a mother caring for her tiny cubs and a young group of males executing phenomenal hunts as a team, he learns about the unexpected challenges the species endures.
BritBox: new shows & films
Rose West: Born Evil? – 30 January
Documentary (2021). This chilling made-for-television documentary re-examines the life of serial killer Rose West, probing her past, psychology, and relationships in a bid to understand how she became one of Britain’s most notorious and sadistic criminals.
HBO Max: new shows & films
The Prince – 1 January
Series. The Prince, created by Gary Janetti, is an animated comedy that satirically imagines the inner workings of the royal family through the eyes of a fictionalised Prince George, the youngest heir to the throne.
From spilling royal ‘tea’ to skewering palace protocol, George offers a mischievous and unfiltered look at his family, their followers, and the monarchy at large. With a star-studded voice cast, the series delivers an outlandishly funny, warm, and singular parody of life inside Buckingham Palace.
Janetti leads the ensemble as Prince George, joined by Orlando Bloom as Prince Harry, Alan Cumming as George’s loyal butler Owen, Frances de la Tour as Queen Elizabeth, Lucy Punch as Kate Middleton, Condola Rashad as Meghan Markle, Iwan Rheon as Prince William, Dan Stevens as Prince Charles, and Sophie Turner as Princess Charlotte.
The Cult of the Real Housewife – 2 January
Series. This special looks at allegations made about The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star, Mary Cosby, and the claims that the church she heads is actually a cult.
Binge: new shows & films
The Last Year of Television 2025 – 29 December
With the year racing to a close, Mitch McTaggart returns with The Last Year of Television 2025. ‘Making the show is a joy. A big, stressful, cringey, loving joy,’ says Mitch, who takes you through this year’s Aussie TV highlights: the overdone, the underdone, the forgotten and the occasional triumphs – even the mushroom lady.
It’s smart, insightful and a lot of fun.
RUN – 1 January
Series. Introducing RUN, a pulse-pounding six-part drama inspired by the unbelievably true story of Brenden Abbott, Australia’s most infamous bank robber. Known as ‘The Postcard Bandit’ (also the name of our companion doco), Abbott’s life was a whirlwind of daring heists, two jaw-dropping prison escapes and a relentless game of cat and mouse with the police, led by the dogged Detective Potter.
Taskmasters New Year Treat 2026 – 3 January
Special. Ring in the New Year with chaos and laughs across two nights as Greg Davies and Alex Horne unleash bizarre challenges on five celebrity guests: Big Zuu, Jill Scott, Rose Ayling‑Ellis, Sam Ryder and Susie Dent.
Freaky Tales – 4 January
Film (2025). Step into a wild, interconnected ride through 1987 Oakland in this bold American drama. Starring Pedro Pascal and Australia’s Ben Mendelsohn, the film weaves four genre-bending stories of love, revenge and survival against a backdrop of music and mayhem.
Prime Video: new shows & films
Trap House – 31 December
Film (2025). When a drug epidemic ravages the city, Detective Grant Pierce decides to take matters into his own hands. Going undercover to infiltrate the infamous Trap House: a madman’s meth lab outfitted with lethal and sadistic booby traps.
Starring Jaime Callica, Peter Bundic, Michael Eklund, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Fletcher Donovan and Donna Benedicto. Watch the trailer.
