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In Theaters (Top Box Office)
- Avatar: Fire and Ash: Dominating the charts with over $343M total gross to date.
- Zootopia 2: A long-standing favorite in its 7th week, having earned roughly $379M.
- Primate (2026): A newly released horror-thriller that opened in early January, earning $11M in its opening weekend.
- The Housemaid (2025): Starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney, this thriller remains a top draw with nearly $95M in total earnings.
- Greenland 2: Migration: Gerard Butler returns in this disaster sequel which recently debuted to $8.4M for the weekend.
Streaming (Popular Right Now)
- People We Meet on Vacation: Currently the #1 film on Netflix with over 17 million views this week.
- Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story: A popular true-crime documentary ranking highly on Netflix charts.
- KPop Demon Hunters: An animated action-comedy that is trending in the Netflix Top 10.
Highest Rated by Critics
- Sentimental Value (97% Rotten Tomatoes): A mature drama from director Joachim Trier.
- Sinners (97% Rotten Tomatoes): A Ryan Coogler original blockbuster starring Michael B. Jordan.
- One Battle After Another (94% Rotten Tomatoes): A high-action epic from Paul Thomas Anderson featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.
As streaming continues to reshape entertainment, traditional network television is proving it still commands massive audiences. From record-setting dramas to breakout comedies, broadcast networks are delivering some of the most-watched and talked-about series of 2026—and The Vending Lot is tracking every major player shaping this prime-time revival.
For exclusive network merchandise, licensed studio content, and collectible releases tied to today’s biggest TV properties, explore The Vending Lot’s TV Studio Store, where fan-favorite series meet premium entertainment retail.
High Potential Leads Broadcast Television
ABC’s High Potential has emerged as the most powerful non-sports show on network television. Averaging an astonishing 16.5 million multi-platform viewers, the crime-driven procedural blends psychological intrigue with serialized storytelling, making it the undisputed leader of broadcast prime time. Its January return only strengthened its dominance, driving renewed viewership across both live and digital platforms.
CBS Continues Its Prime-Time Reign
CBS remains television’s most consistent ratings powerhouse, stacking multiple top-tier dramas on the charts.
Tracker currently ranks as the second-most-watched drama on broadcast television, drawing roughly 16.4 million viewers per episode. The series has gained traction for its fast-paced investigations and strong ensemble performances that resonate across demographics.
Matlock, the modern reboot starring Kathy Bates, has quickly become one of the network’s most reliable hits. With weekly audiences exceeding 10 million viewers, the show blends nostalgia with contemporary legal drama, appealing to both longtime fans and a new generation of viewers.
Even in its 23rd season, NCIS remains a broadcast juggernaut. The long-running procedural continues to sit comfortably among television’s top five most-watched programs, proving that franchise loyalty and character-driven storytelling still deliver powerful ratings.
Network Comedies See a Ratings Renaissance
Comedy is enjoying a notable resurgence on broadcast TV, led by Abbott Elementary. Now in its fifth season, the ABC workplace comedy remains the top-rated network sitcom, earning praise for its relatable storytelling, sharp humor, and consistently strong viewership.
NBC’s St. Denis Medical has quickly joined the conversation as one of the strongest new workplace comedies on television. Its offbeat humor, character-centric writing, and steady ratings performance have positioned it as one of the network’s most promising comedy properties.
Broadcast Television’s Momentum Is Real
These ratings leaders signal that network television is far from fading. Instead, broadcast networks are successfully blending traditional storytelling with multi-platform accessibility, creating appointment viewing once again. As these franchises grow, merchandise demand, collectible licensing, and studio partnerships are also expanding rapidly.
Fans looking to stay connected to today’s biggest TV franchises can explore officially licensed network collections at The Vending Lot’s TV Studio Store, where broadcast television meets premium entertainment retail.
From crime dramas and legal thrillers to workplace comedies and long-running franchises, network television in 2026 is thriving—and The Vending Lot remains your inside source for tracking the shows shaping the modern prime-time era.
As of January 14, 2026, streaming platforms have launched several major series, with
Stranger Things 5 and the new thriller His & Hers currently leading the global and US charts.
Top Shows by Platform
- Netflix:
- His & Hers (Season 1): Currently the #1 trending show. This mystery thriller stars Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal as estranged spouses investigating a murder where they are both suspects.
- Stranger Things (Season 5): This final season remains at the top of overall popularity charts and has revitalized viewership of its previous four seasons.
- Run Away (Limited Series): A recently debuted British thriller adapted from a Harlan Coben novel, currently ranking at #2 on Netflix’s Top 10.
- Max (formerly HBO Max):
- The Pitt (Season 2): This acclaimed medical procedural starring Noah Wyle returned for its second season on January 8, 2026.
- Industry (Season 4): The high-stakes finance drama continues to be a critical and audience favorite.
- Amazon Prime Video:
- The Night Manager (Season 2): Tom Hiddleston returns in this long-awaited second season, which debuted on January 11, 2026.
- Fallout (Season 2): Still trending heavily following its successful sophomore debut.
- Hulu & Disney+:
- Best Medicine (Season 1): A new medical comedy-drama based on Doc Martin that premiered in early January.
- A Thousand Blows (Season 2): This period action drama starring Stephen Graham recently released its second season.
As of January 14, 2026, network and regular broadcast TV (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) are dominated by high-stakes dramas and a heavy rotation of live sports.
Top-Rated Network Dramas & Comedies
- High Potential (ABC): Currently the #1 non-sports show on broadcast TV, averaging 16.5 million multi-platform viewers. New episodes returned on January 6, 2026.
- Tracker (CBS): Closely following as the #2 drama, with roughly 16.4 million viewers.
- Matlock (CBS): The Kathy Bates-led reboot remains a massive hit with over 10 million viewers.
- NCIS (CBS): In its 23rd season, it remains a top-five staple in total viewership.
- Abbott Elementary (ABC): The leading network comedy, currently airing its fifth season.
- St. Denis Medical (NBC): Recently ranked among the best workplace comedies on network TV.
Highest-Rated Live Programs
- NFL Football: Sports remain the overall ratings leaders. NFL National (CBS) and Sunday Night Football (NBC) are the highest-rated television programs of the 2025–2026 season.
- The 83rd Annual Golden Globes: Aired Sunday, January 11, on CBS, drawing 8.66 million live viewers.
- 60 Minutes (CBS): Remains the top-rated non-entertainment news program, ranking in the top five overall.
Network News Wars
- ABC World News Tonight: Maintained its long-standing #1 status in total viewership, averaging over 8 million viewers for the week of Jan 5–11, 2026.
- NBC Nightly News: Recently achieved a rare win over ABC in the key 25-54 demographic, its first weekly demographic win in six years.