Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Movies and TV Shows Streaming This October
Get ready for a fantastic October! Each month, streaming platforms refresh their catalogs with exciting new movies and TV shows, and we’ve handpicked the most anticipated titles for you. (Please note: Streaming schedules can change unexpectedly. For more great recommendations, consider checking out our Watching newsletter.)
New to Amazon Prime Video
‘Play Dirty’
Starts streaming: Oct. 1
Donald Westlake’s renowned Parker novels, penned under his pseudonym Richard Stark, have inspired numerous film adaptations. This October, "Play Dirty" offers a fresh, original narrative featuring these beloved characters. Under the direction of Shane Black, who also co-wrote the script, Mark Wahlberg steps into the shoes of Parker, a criminal mastermind forced by an unlikely alliance of mobsters and revolutionaries to snatch a priceless, billion-dollar jeweled statue from a small, authoritarian nation’s military. LaKeith Stanfield as Grofield and Rosa Salazar as Zen join Parker’s crew, assisting in a series of audacious heists leading up to the grand caper. True to Black’s signature style, the film promises intense, high-octane action sequences cleverly infused with sharp, dark humor.
‘Hedda’
Starts streaming: Oct. 29
Writer-director Nia DaCosta reimagines Henrik Ibsen’s classic play "Hedda Gabler" with "Hedda," a visually striking film that transports the story from late-19th-century Oslo to a opulent British country estate in the 1950s. Tessa Thompson stars as Hedda, the materialistic and free-spirited wife of a financially strained academic, played by Tom Bateman. The majority of the film unfolds during one lavish, alcohol-fueled party, where Hedda attempts to charm her husband’s peers while simultaneously plotting the downfall of his chief rival, Eileen (Nina Hoss), who also happens to be a former lover. DaCosta’s dynamic camera work sweeps through the grand manor, immersing viewers among the impeccably dressed guests, all intoxicated by luxury and desperate to maintain their social standing.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 2
"A Star Brighter Than the Son" - Oct. 3
"Sanda" - Oct. 7
"Ninja vs. Gokudo" - Oct. 8
"Maintenance Required" - Oct. 9
"Saquon" - Oct. 10
"John Candy: I Like Me" - Oct. 17
"The Chosen Adventures" Season 1
"Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam, Scam" - Oct. 22
"Harlan Coben’s Lazarus" - Oct. 23
"Allen Iv3rson"
"Host" - Oct. 29
"Hazbin Hotel" Season 2
New to AMC+
‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’
Starts streaming: Oct. 23
Joining "Interview With the Vampire" and "The Mayfair Witches," the new supernatural drama series "Talamasca: The Secret Order" expands the "Immortal Universe," a collection of interconnected TV shows inspired by Anne Rice’s captivating stories and characters. This series introduces Nicholas Denton as Guy Anatole, a recent law school graduate who uncovers a stunning truth: a clandestine international organization has been monitoring him since childhood. It turns out Nicholas possesses formidable telepathic abilities, which could prove invaluable in the centuries-long battle against vampires and witches. Elizabeth McGovern portrays Helen, a prominent leader of this anti-evil cabal, while William Fichtner plays Jasper, a complex colleague and rival who might be subtly guiding the operation towards a sinister path.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 2
"Wasp Woman: The Murder of a B-Movie Queen" - Oct. 3
"V/H/S/Halloween" - Oct. 10
"Aliens Expanded"
"The Braxtons" Season 2
"Darwin" - Oct. 17
"Guts & Glory" Season 1 - Oct. 17
"Operation: Aunties"
"O.T.H.E.R" - Oct. 23
"The Light in the Hall" Season 2 - Oct. 24
"Descendent" - Oct. 30
"Hell House LLC: Lineage"
New to Apple TV+
‘The Lost Bus’
Starts streaming: Oct. 3
The devastating 2018 Camp Fire saw the residents of Paradise, Calif., desperately trying to escape the inferno with their lives and what little they could carry. The gripping disaster thriller "The Lost Bus," based on Lizzie Johnson’s nonfiction book "Paradise," hones in on one of the most harrowing accounts from that tragic day: a school bus driver who navigated through hours of chaos, smoke, stalled vehicles, and burning debris to find a safe passage for his students. Matthew McConaughey stars as the courageous driver, Kevin McKay, with America Ferrera portraying Mary Ludwig, an elementary schoolteacher who helps keep the children calm amidst the terror. Director Paul Greengrass, known for his work on "United 93" and "Captain Phillips," masterfully employs striking visual effects to recreate the nightmarish reality of being trapped by raging fire and thick smoke.
‘Mr. Scorsese’
Starts streaming: Oct. 17
With a career spanning since the 1960s, Martin Scorsese has explored nearly every major film genre and worked across all budget scales, from independent shoestring productions to grand studio epics. Throughout his illustrious career, he has been a fervent advocate for global cinema, dedicating his influence to preserving and promoting film culture. It is, therefore, entirely fitting that Scorsese is the subject of this comprehensive five-part docuseries. Directed by Rebecca Miller, the series delves into the filmmaker’s extensive personal archive and hundreds of hours of his own footage, chronicling the journey of an asthmatic New York cinephile who blossomed into one of his era’s most revered and impactful artists.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 3
"The Sisters Grimm" Season 1 - Oct. 10
"Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars"
"The Last Frontier" - Oct. 15
"Loot" Season 3 - Oct. 24
"Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost" - Oct. 29
"Down Cemetery Road"
New to Disney+
‘Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation’ Season 1
Starts streaming: Oct. 29
Inspired by the popular Japanese video game where players train as fairy tale villains reminiscent of Walt Disney animated classics, "Twisted-Wonderland" now comes to life as an anime series, following its manga adaptation. The story centers on Yu, an ordinary teenager who finds himself unexpectedly transported to an ancient and mystical magic academy. This academy is uniquely divided into seven houses, each embodying a different Disney villain. As Yu struggles to adapt to the peculiar customs and high expectations of this fantastical world, he also desperately seeks a way back to his own reality, hoping to avoid becoming a target for his magic-wielding fellow students.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 1
"SuperKitties" Season 3 - Oct. 3
"The Balloonist"
"Something Wicked This Way Comes" - Oct. 8
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Season 2 - Oct. 15
"Vampirina: Teenage Vampire" Season 1 - Oct. 18
"Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery" - Oct. 24
"LEGO Disney Frozen: Operation Puffins" - Oct. 29
"Star Wars: Visions" Season 3
New to HBO Max
‘The Chair Company’ Season 1
Starts streaming: Oct. 12
Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, the comedic masterminds behind "Detroiters" and "I Think You Should Leave," reunite for a brand new series that cleverly blends absurdist conspiracy thrills with sharp corporate satire. Robinson stars as Ron Trosper, an ambitious executive at an Ohio property development firm. His career takes an unexpected turn when, during a crucial presentation, he dramatically falls out of his chair. This incident sparks an obsessive quest to prove that the chair’s manufacturers are at fault. While this crusade threatens to derail his entire career, Ron might actually be onto something – the furniture company could indeed be engaged in nefarious activities. The question remains: if he doesn’t expose them, who will? Much like Robinson and Kanin’s previous works, "The Chair Company" heightens feelings of embarrassment and discomfort for both its characters and the audience, aiming for that unique intersection where comedy meets sheer mortification.
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Season 1
Starts streaming: Oct. 26
Stephen King’s iconic novel "It" describes an unspeakable evil that resurfaces in the quiet town of Derry, Maine, every 27 years, embarking on a prolonged period of hunting and preying, primarily on children. In director Andy Muschietti’s recent "It" films, these terrifying visitations occurred in 1988 and 2016. His prequel series, "Welcome to Derry," takes us back to 1962, as a new group of Derry residents are caught off guard by this malevolent entity, whose previous rampages have been largely erased from historical memory. Alongside a diverse group of adolescents striving to survive, the series also follows Leroy Hanlan (Jovan Adepo), a Black soldier newly stationed at a nearby military base, whose family must also contend with the everyday malevolence of racism.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 3
"Bring Her Back" - Oct. 6
"Haha, You Clowns" Season 1
"Smiling Friends" Season 3 - Oct. 8
"Alex vs America" Season 5 - Oct. 10
"The Alabama Solution"
"The Substance" - Oct. 17
"An Intimate Evening With Adam Pally" - Oct. 21
"Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud" - Oct. 30
"Sorry, Baby"
New to Hulu
‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’
Starts streaming: Oct. 15
The highly publicized trial of Alex Murdaugh — a prominent South Carolina attorney accused of murdering two family members and concealing numerous other misdeeds — has spawned a multitude of true crime documentaries and books. Liz Farrell and Mandy Matney’s "Murdaugh Murders Podcast" was among the first in-depth journalistic endeavors to unravel the full scope of the scandal, and it serves as the foundation for the new TV dramatization "Murdaugh: Death in the Family." While compressing the complex timeline, the mini-series still spans several years of the Murdaugh family’s life, illustrating how Alex (Jason Clarke) attempted to leverage his status as one of his community’s wealthiest and most respected figures to evade accountability. Patricia Arquette portrays Alex’s wife, Maggie, who watches in growing horror as her privileged existence slowly unravels.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 2
"Abbott Elementary" Season 5 - Oct. 8
"Fate"
"Stay" - Oct. 10
"Frankie Quiñones: Damn That’s Crazy" - Oct. 12
"One-Punch Man" Season 3 - Oct. 13
"Solar Opposites" Season 6 - Oct. 17
"40 Acres"
"The Murky Stream" - Oct. 20
"Anyone but You" - Oct. 22
"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle"
New to Paramount+
‘Matlock’ Season 2
Starts streaming: Oct. 12
This contemporary reimagining of the beloved 1980s-90s legal mystery series "Matlock" became one of last year’s standout TV hits, captivating audiences with a surprising narrative twist. The show initially presented itself as the story of Matty Matlock (Kathy Bates), a charming elderly woman who joins a prestigious New York law firm and endears herself to colleagues with her folksy wisdom. However, the thrilling conclusion of Episode 1 revealed Matty to be Madeline Kingston, a wealthy retiree covertly working from within to expose the firm’s deep-seated corruption by powerful pharmaceutical companies. As Season 1 ended, Matty’s boss, Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), discovered her secret and began contemplating joining her clandestine mission. With Season 2, these two determined women must now decide if they can truly trust each other, and if so, how to continue their intricate deception amongst their unsuspecting co-workers.
Also arriving:
- Oct. 1
"Fight or Flight" - Oct. 5
"A Grammy Salute to Cyndi Lauper: Live From the Hollywood Bowl" - Oct. 7
"Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now"
"Red Alert" - Oct. 10
"Vicious" - Oct. 12
"Elsbeth" Season 3 - Oct. 13
"DMV" Season 1
"Watson" Season 2 - Oct. 16
"Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage" Season 2
"Ghosts" Season 5 - Oct. 17
"Boston Blue" Season 1
"Fire Country" Season 4
"Sheriff Country" Season 1 - Oct. 19
"The Road" Season 1
"Tracker" Season 3 - Oct. 22
"The Thundermans: Undercover" Season 1 - Oct. 26
"Mayor of Kingstown" Season 4 - Oct. 28
"Don’t Date Brandon"