Like pearls on a string, Pluribus arrives in November, Stranger Things 5 in December and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in January. Which one will be the biggest?
Streaming services have recovered from the pandemic and strikes that brought production to a halt for many months between 2020 and 2023.
Things started to pick up again over the summer with new big series and movies, but winter is shaping up to be even bigger. Apple, HBO and Netflix are all launching major new series.
Stranger Things 5. Photo: NetflixHawkins
We already knew the release date and trailer for Stranger Things 5. The fifth and final season consists of eight episodes split into three parts, premiering on Netflix on November 26, December 25 and December 31.
It has been a three-and-a-half-year wait, but in return Stranger Things 5 is Netflix's series biggest production to date. This week, we heard that each episode has cost Netflix 50–60 million dollars and each episode runs 90–120 minutes. Update: The Duffer brothers confirm that episode 1, 2, 3 and 4 run 68, 54, 66 and 83 minutes, respectively.
It will stream in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Photo: HBOWesteros
Another show that hardly needs an introduction is Game of Thrones. On January 19, 2026, the spinoff series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on HBO Max, once again created by George R. R. Martin.
The first season will consist of six episodes and promises another epic tale set a century before the events of Game of Thrones, following an unlikely duo: Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg.
It is also expected to be available in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos.
Pluribus. Photo: AppleAlbuquerque
More mystery surrounds the new series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. The show is called Pluribus (Latin for “many”) and will premiere on Apple TV+ on November 7.
Pluribus is described as a sci-fi drama about "the most miserable person on Earth". It takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but beyond that, little is known. Apple has released a series of cryptic clips featuring a phone number viewers can call. Yesterday, a teaser trailer was unveiled.
It too will stream in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos – like all titles on Apple TV+.
Which of these will you be watching?
