Finding the right movie shouldn't feel like a part-time job. Honestly, we’ve all been there—scrolling through endless streaming menus until the popcorn is cold and you’ve basically lost the will to watch anything at all. If you still have a cable package or a digital add-on, you've probably realized that the starz encore tv listings are a bit of a goldmine for those of us who miss the "sit down and see what’s on" era of television.
It’s not just one channel. That’s the thing people usually miss. It’s an entire ecosystem of themed vibes. Whether you want to see things explode, cry over a classic, or find something that won't scare the kids, the schedule is actually pretty packed this January.
Decoding the Starz Encore Schedule Right Now
If you’re looking at the lineup for this week, say Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the main Starz Encore feed is leaning heavily into blockbusters and nostalgia. You've got Transformers (2007) playing at 8:00 PM, which is a classic "easy watch" if you just want to see giant robots smash things. Earlier in the day, they're running Old School around 2:50 PM. It's that 2003 humor that honestly hits different when you’re just trying to kill a Tuesday afternoon.
But wait. What if you aren't on the main channel?
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The listings are split across several niche feeds. For instance, Starz Encore Action is currently doing a deep dive into revenge flicks. On Thursday, January 15, they’re playing Gladiator basically on a loop—12:47 AM, 1:19 PM, and again at 9:00 PM. It’s Russell Crowe at his peak, and if you miss one airing, you just catch the next. That’s the beauty of the linear schedule.
Where the Channels Live on Your Dial
Navigation is half the battle. If you’re a DISH Network subscriber, you’ll usually find the suite starting around Channel 341 for the West feed, with Action at 343 and Westerns at 342. DIRECTV users usually look in the 535 to 542 range.
The listings usually include:
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- Starz Encore Westerns: For the John Wayne and Hopalong Cassidy purists.
- Starz Encore Black: Highlighting heavy hitters like ATL or Think Like a Man Too.
- Starz Encore Suspense: Where you find the thrillers that make you double-check the front door locks.
- Starz Encore Classic: Basically a 24/7 time machine to the 80s and 90s.
Surprising Hits in the January 2026 Lineup
Most people think Encore is just "old stuff." That’s actually wrong. They’ve been pulling in some fairly recent theatrical releases. Greedy People (2024) is making rounds on the main schedule this week. Also, keep an eye out for The Killer's Game and Arthur the King. These aren't just "filler" movies; they're solid 2024 releases that have migrated from the premium Starz feed over to the Encore listings.
One thing that’s kinda cool is how they handle franchises. If you look at Friday, January 16, they are doing a marathon of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon. It starts early in the morning, around 3:14 AM, and carries through the lunch hour. If you're working from home and need background noise, a robot war is a weirdly effective choice.
The Power of the App vs. Live TV
Look, I get it. You might not want to wait until 10:26 PM to watch Old School.
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The starz encore tv listings are accessible via the Starz app too. If you have the channel through Spectrum, Xfinity, or even Hulu, you can usually just use those credentials to log into the standalone app. This gives you the "On Demand" version of the listings. It’s basically the same library, just without the commercial breaks or the fixed start times.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Listings
Don't just channel flip. That's a rookie move. If you want to actually enjoy your subscription, you need a plan.
- Check the "West" Feeds: If you missed a movie on the main channel, check the "Starz Encore West" listing. It’s usually a three-hour delay. If a movie started at 7:00 PM on the East Coast and you missed the beginning, it'll start at 7:00 PM Pacific time. It’s like a built-in "oops" button.
- Use the "Theme" Strategy: If you’re in the mood for a specific genre, don't check the main channel. Go straight to the specific sub-channel like Action or Westerns. The listings there are curated much more tightly.
- DVR the Marathons: Channels like Starz Encore Classic often run marathons of film series on weekends. If you see Terminator 2: Judgment Day popping up (it's on the schedule for Wednesday, January 14 at 3:09 PM), chances are the other films or similar sci-fi hits are nearby.
The Reality of Linear TV in 2026
We live in a world of "infinite choice," but sometimes that’s exhausting. The reason people still search for starz encore tv listings is that there’s something comforting about a programmed schedule. You don't have to choose; someone else chose for you.
This week, the highlights are definitely the Gladiator airings and the weirdly creepy Imaginary (2024) which is showing up late night on Tuesday. If you’re a fan of the Power universe, remember that while the big premieres happen on the main Starz channel, the older seasons and related movies often drift over to Encore Black or the main Encore feed for catch-up marathons.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist
Go to your cable box or streaming app right now and look for the "Favorites" heart icon. Tag Starz Encore, Encore Action, and Encore Westerns. This pulls them out of the hundreds of junk channels and puts the current listings right at the top of your guide. If you're on a service like Philo or YouTube TV with the Starz add-on, hit the "plus" sign on the movies Greedy People or The Killer's Game today so they automatically record whenever they hit the live schedule later this week.