A new month, a new batch of streaming arrivals. As we head into spooky season, Netflix will premiere originals from across its global studios while becoming the streaming home for some standout films from the festival circuit.
We expect even more films and series to be added to the service over the course of October. I have to imagine the streamer has some Halloween surprises up its sleeve, and will update as soon as we know more. For now, here’s a look at what’s coming to Netflix in October, including recommendations from the staff here at IGN.
Everything Coming to Netflix in October
October 1
Love Is Blind (S9) Riv4lries (S1) About My FatherAustin Powers in GoldmemberAustin Powers: International Man of MysteryAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Beverly Hills Cop 1-3The Book Club MurdersCasperThe Christmas ContractCoach CarterComing to AmericaDaddy Day CareDeath Becomes HerDirty Dancing Dr. Seuss’ The LoraxDracula
Dracula(s)
Man, I vant to suck the blood out of all the Dracula titles Netflix has this month. OK, that doesn’t really make sense, but the point is, in the month of October the streamer is hosting not one, not two, not three, but four Dracula tales (by my, uh, count). One of them is an all-time classic, one is good, another is an interesting misfire and curiosity, and the other is a British series that, for me anyway, has long been on my “I gotta check that out” list.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is of course Francis Ford Coppola’s phantasmagorical take on the classic book, the kind of “fuck yeah” kick in the pants that the oft-adapted vampire story really needed back in 1992. It’s one of the greatest films of its kind (whether you look at it as a horror movie, a Gothic romance, a Keanu Reeves weird accent movie, or somewhere in between). Then there’s the 1979 take from director John Badham and starring Frank Langella as another romantic-as-all-hell Drac. Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence, and Kate Nelligan also star, and look out for (at that time) future Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy as well. As far as Dracula Untold goes, it’s hard to believe the film is 11 years old at this point, or that the Luke Evans-starrer was kinda/sorta intended to be the start of a new Universal Monsters cinematic universe. (They’re still trying to figure that out, eh?) The film cribs from the prologue of Coppola’s masterpiece to give us a Batman Begins-style origin story for Evans’ Vlad the Impaler, but it didn’t quite land the way the studio, or audiences apparently, had hoped. (I visited the sets in Belfast during production though and it was awesome.) The fourth Dracula title is the 2020 BBC/Netflix three-episode series simply called Dracula. It comes from Sherlock writer-producers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (hey, also Doctor Who vets), and stars Claes Bang as the Count. IGN’s Matt Fowler gave it an 8/10 when it debuted, saying the series “has a few issues balancing tone, but its epic take on Dracula vs. Van Helsing is strong enough to carry it.” -Scott Collura
Eddy Murphy: RawFifty Shades 1-3Friends with BenefitsThe GooniesHacksaw RidgeHalo (S1-2)The Hurt LockerI Still Know What You Did Last SummerLaw Abiding CitizenThe Lincoln LawyerThe MaskMeet Joe BlackMolly’s GameMr & Mrs SmithNCIS (S18-19)
The Goonies
The Goonies is one of those classic ’80s movies that will never leave my brain space. The amount of lines I’ve said over the years from it in casual conversation should probably embarrass me. Written by a fantastic duo of Steven Spielberg (story by) and Chris Columbus (screenplay), and directed by Richard Donner, The Goonies has this perfect blend of a family comedy-adventure film mixed with action, but with plenty of perfectly-timed swearing to tip into extra fun and laughs.
The cast really elevates the story to make this film what it is, including the likes of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, and Ke Huy Quan as some of the star kids, and Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, Anne Ramsey, and John Matuszak as the adults. The premise is simple: kids on a treasure-hunt. But it’s deeper than that, between the relationship-building, unexpected (and sometimes torturous) challenges, and both positive and negative experiences along the way; it’s a story a lot of us can relate to, even if we’ve never experienced being chased by criminals. As the story progresses amid the various (and incredible) sets you get to see throughout, it’ll make you feel like you are right there with the teens, exploring through the deep caverns to find this long-lost treasure. If you’re looking for the classic that helped inspire Stranger Things, this is the wild, fun ride you’ll want to jump on. -Jessie Wade
Pineapple ExpressPoint BreakRed DragonSinister 2Sister Act Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Slender Man The StrangersTaxi DriverTraining DayThe Way Home (S1-2)When a Stranger CallsThe Wrath of Becky
First up, Netflix is picking up both seasons of the live-action Halo series from Paramount+. IGN’s review of Halo’s first season acknowledges it “isn’t a perfect adaptation of the games, but it ultimately succeeds in expanding the series’ mythology.”
In terms of originals, the streamer will premiere the newest season of Love Is Blind, featuring singles from Denver, Colorado, as well as the first season of RIV4LRIES, a new series for teens.
Halo
I may be in the minority on this one, but I don’t think Showtime’s Halo series was deserving of all the hate it got. Yes, it plays fast and loose with aspects of the franchise’s mythology, but so what? The games still exist, and you can play them whenever you want. The show tries to do something a little different rather than tie itself down to the continuity of the games, books, and comics.
Master Chief is a loose cipher of a character, and the series made an admirable effort at trying to humanize him and give him a literal and metaphorical face. And, if nothing else, the series is worth watching for Natascha McElhone’s Dr. Catherine Halsey, a compellingly ruthless and self-serving antagonist. Now that both seasons are on Netflix, I think it’s worth taking a step back from the controversy surrounding the show and just giving it a try on its own merits. You might just enjoy yourself. -Jesse Schedeen
October 2
Dudes (S1)The Game: You Never Play Alone (S1) Winx Club: The Magic Is Back (S1, 15 episodes)Dodgeball: A True Underdog StoryRockstar: DUKI from the End of the World
Dudes is pitched as a German comedy following four middle-aged men grappling with their masculinity. Netflix will also be the streaming destination for the Winx Club reboot, with 15 episodes arriving in October and 15 more airing next spring.
October 3
Monster: The Ed Gein Series (S1) Old Dog, New Tricks (S1)SteveGenie, Make a Wish (S1) The New Force (S1)Rhythm + Flow France: After the Beat
The next true crime series from Ryan Murphy hones in on investigations surrounding Ed Gein, a suspected serial killer in the ’50s. Steve, a new drama starring Cillian Murphy, will arrive on Netflix after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.
October 4
Night of the Living DeadAngel Has Fallen Ranma 1/2 (S2)
One of the anime highlights coming to Netflix this month, MAPPA’s Ranma 1/2 remake is getting a second season.
October 5
Despicable Me 3 Ip Man 1-4
October 6
Dr Seuss’ Horton
Based on the 2008 film Dr Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who (a personal childhood favorite), this new Netflix show for toddlers is part of an ongoing investment into Dr. Seuss-themed series.
October 7
Matt McCusker: A Humble Offering Nurse Jackie (S1-7) True HauntingWe Have Always Lived in the Castle
One of the spookier additions of the month, True Haunting is a Netflix documentary featuring interviews with those who believe they’ve encountered the paranormal.
October 8
Caramelo It It Cake? Halloween Nero the Assassin
Rafael Vitti stars as a man who finds hope in his friendship with a stray dog after receiving a “life-changing diagnosis” in Caramelo.
October 9
The Resurrected (S1) Boots (S1) The Maze Runner 1-3Victoria Beckham
After premiering its first two episodes at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, Netflix will stream the entire first season of the Taiwanese revenge thriller The Resurrected. Another Netflix original series, Boots, is inspired by Greg Cope White’s memoir about joining the U.S. Marine Corps as a teen in the closet.
October 10
Swim to Me (S1) The Woman in Cabin 10 Kurukshetra: The War of MahabharataMy Father, the BTK Killer Old Money
Adapting the novel of the same name, The Woman in Cabin 10 stars Keira Knightley as a journalist convinced she witnessed someone be thrown overboard on her luxury cruise. The Chilean series Swim to Me follows the relationship between a domestic worker and the 6-year-old girl in her care.
October 14
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (S1)
We found out last year that we’d be getting an animated adaptation of the Splinter Cell games, which were themselves inspired by the Tom Clancy novels. The Ubisoft series is written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of John Wick, and by our judgment takes place after the Splinter Cell mobile game, Chaos Theory.
October 15
Inside FuriozaNo One Saw Us LeaveSix Kings Slam 2025 Taken in Plain SightHeld Hostage in My House
Inside Furioza, also known as Furioza Again, is a sequel to the 2021 Polish crime triller about a man who becomes a police informant to save his brother. Netflix will also livestream the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition tournament between top-ranked tennis players in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
October 16
Thomas & Friends: Sodor Sing Together The Diplomat (S3) Romantics Anonymous (S1) Starting 5 (S2)The Time That RemainsConfessions of a ShopaholicThe A Team
The Diplomat, starring Keri Russell, is returning for its third season, while Romantics Anonymous is a joint production from South Korea and Japan based on the French rom-com that originally aired in 2012. Back to the kids, the fourth and final All Engines Go special is a feature-length Thomas & Tank Engines sing-along special.
The Diplomat
The Diplomat (starring Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, and David Gyasi) returns for Season 3, and I could not be more excited. In case you missed it, Season 2 left off on a pretty massive cliffhanger, with the President of the United States having just died and a morally ambiguous VP (Allison Janney in an incredible, scene-chewing performance) assuming the job. Throw in intrigue and chaotic romantic (and professional) relationships on both sides of the Atlantic, plus the arrival of Janney’s West Wing co-star Bradley Whitford, and the new season of The Diplomat is can’t-miss TV for political junkies everywhere.
I was a huge fan of The West Wing back in the day, and I can’t wait to watch Janney and Whitford share scenes again and see what (if any) consequences Janney’s President Penn faces after Season 2’s deadly revelation (you’ll have to watch to find out what that is!). -Michael Peyton
October 17
27 Nights Good News She Walks in Darkness The Perfect Neighbor The Twits Turn of the Tide (S2) Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
For whatever reason, this is the day Netflix is dropping a substantial spread from the festival circuit. Highlights include the Korean disaster film Good News, the Spanish thriller She Walks in Darkness, and the Argentinian drama 27 Nights. The streamer is also getting a collection of TMNT movies, including Mutant Mayhem, which Tom Jorgenson described as a “new high for the Turtles on the big screen” in his review for IGN.
October 21
Michelle Wolf: The Well The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (S2) Who Killed the Montreal Expos?
Another Netflix documentary, this time taking aim at the decline of the Montreal Expos baseball team. Netflix will also pick up last year’s season of The Walking Dead spin-off, Daryl Dixon.
October 22
The Monster of Florence Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia
The Monster of Florence is a true crime drama following “Italy’s first serial killer” in the ’80s and ’90s. Speaking of the ’90s, Netflix has also announced a documentary series about the gnarly mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlin.
Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia
As a true crime buff with a keen interest in gangsters, I’m really looking forward to watching the new Netflix documentary series Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia (premiering Oct. 22). It covers the years-long and very bloody conflict between Philly mob boss John Stanfa and a younger upstart named “Skinny Joey” Merlino that rocked the City of Brotherly Love in the 1990s. What makes the Stanfa-Merlino war so fascinating was not just its carnage, but Merlino’s audacity to launch a coup against the boss of the family… and prevail (spoiler).
Merlino not only won the war but has managed to (purportedly) remain in power and free for nearly 30 years. And he’s an incredibly public figure. He has an official Instagram page and shows up on podcasts for crissakes! How could you not want to get the, ahem, skinny on a guy like that? -Jim Vejvoda
October 23
Nobody Wants This (S2) The Elixir
The second season of the Netflix Original Nobody Wants This, a rom-com starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell.
October 24
A House of Dynamite Parish (S1)
From director Kathryn Birgelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), A House of Dynamite is coming to Netflix after a limited theatrical release. The political thriller stars Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson as U.S. government officials who are forced to reckon with an incoming nuclear missile.
October 25
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim (S1)
Director Kim gets the ultimate corporate gig in Seoul, but struggles balancing the personal and professional parts of his life.
October 28
Physical: Asia (S1) Babo: The Haftbefehl StoryMo Amer: Wild WorldNightmares of Nature: Lost in the Jungle
Physical: Asia is the third iteration of the Physical: 100 reality series. The new season swaps individual rankings for national teams, with eight countries represented in the grueling physical challenges.
October 29
Ballad of a Small Player Rulers of Fortune (S1) Selling Sunset (S9) NOS4A2 (S1-2)
Coming off his success with Conclave, director Edward Bergir’s next project, Ballad of a Small Player, stars Colin Farrell as a debt-racked gambler who makes an unexpected connection in Macau. From Netflix Brazil, Rulers of Fortune also takes aim at the world of high-stakes gambling. And maybe somehow related to gambling its own way, Netflix is getting the latest season of the real estate reality series Selling Sunset.
October 30
Amsterdam Empire (S1) Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will The Son of a DonkeyThe Witcher (S4)Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers
A big moment for fans of The Witcher in any of its forms: the Netflix series is finally returning for its fourth season, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt de Rivia from Henry Cavill.
October 31
Breathless (S2) The White House Effect Rhythm + Flow France (S4) Bad Influencer
Capping things off, we’ll get the second season of the Spanish medical drama Breathless as well as a documentary about the Bush administration’s approach to climate change. Fun!
Netflix Continues to Expand Its Theatrical Releases
KPop Demon Hunters has set a new standard for Netflix, having recently become the service’s most-watched title of all time. The streamer responded by releasing the movie in theaters, where it achieved a similar milestone.
Despite recent comments from the Netflix CEO suggesting that the theater was “an outdated mode for most people,” the streamer seems nonetheless interested in expanding its reach to these spaces. Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein will open for a three-week theatrical run on October 17 before hitting Netflix November 7. A House of Dynamite will also have a limited theatrical release before it hits streaming. Looking forward, the Jean Luc-Godard docu-feature Nouvelle Vague will premiere in U.S. theaters on October 31 before streaming on Netflix in November.
Would you go to the theater to see a Netflix original? The streamer sure hopes so.
