Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ’80s Fantasy Epic Is Streaming on Netflix at Last
Netflix’s 2026 lineup sharpens its swords: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1984 sword-and-sorcery adventure Conan the Destroyer rides onto the platform, joining a cache of classic rom-coms and dramas.
Netflix is ringing in 2026 with a very specific kind of New Year energy: Arnold, swords, and a whole lot of 80s fantasy cheese. Yes, Conan the Destroyer is finally hitting the service on day one, alongside a big pile of comedies, dramas, sci-fi favorites, and yes, that long-awaited Bridgerton Season 4 later in the month.
Conan the Destroyer hits Netflix on January 1, 2026
Per Whats on Netflix, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer starts streaming January 1, 2026. Directed by Richard Fleischer and originally released in theaters on June 29, 1984, it continues the Conan saga that kicked off with 1982’s Conan the Barbarian (that first one was directed by John Milius).
The plot this time is straightforward pulp: Conan teams up with Jehnna on a quest to track down a magic gem guarded by a powerful wizard inside his fortress. Simple, loud, and very, very 1984.
Fun cast check: Schwarzenegger is back as Conan, Olivia d'Abo plays Jehnna, Grace Jones shows up as the fierce warrior Zula, NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain is Bombaata, Sarah Douglas rules as Queen Taramis, Makoto Iwamatsu (you probably know him as Mako) is Akiro "The Wizard," and Sven-Ole Thorsen is Togra. Peak 80s line-up. Also, quick clarification for anyone mixing up the lore: Conan is not a king in this movie, and Jehnna is not his niece. She’s tied to Queen Taramis, and Conan is still very much in sword-swinging mercenary mode.
What else is dropping on Netflix in January?
Netflix’s New Year haul is stacked across genres, with a bunch of titles arriving on January 1 and more rolling out in the following days. Highlights include:
- Comedies: Bruno (2009), Just Go With It, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
- Dramas: 12 Years a Slave, Ford v Ferrari
- Family picks: Despicable Me, My Girl
- Sci-fi: District 9, Johnny Mnemonic
After that day-one batch, Netflix will start rolling out its latest Originals, including Season 4 of Bridgerton. So if your New Year’s resolution was to watch Arnold swing a broadsword and then pivot to period romance and British gossip, you’re oddly in luck.