Our October Watchlist
Posted: 28 September 2026
Consider your next night in sorted. From returning favourites and sweeping period dramas to spooky-season thrillers and a few new releases we can’t stop talking about, these are the TV shows and movies on our watchlist this October.
Consider your next night in sorted. From returning favourites and sweeping period dramas to spooky-season thrillers and a few new releases we can’t stop talking about, these are the TV shows and movies on our watchlist this October. Fresh sheets, snacks within reach and absolutely no plans to leave the couch required.
The Diplomat — Season 4
Netflix | October 15
Keri Russell returns as Ambassador Kate Wyler for another season of political maneuvering, international crises and a marriage almost as complicated as the diplomacy. Season four picks up with Kate questioning whether she’s been double-crossed by Hal and President Grace Penn, while a conspiracy involving a powerful Russian weapon threatens the fragile peace between the US and UK. Smart, tense and incredibly bingeable — if you’ve already made your way through the first three seasons, clear October 15 from the calendar.
Digger
Cinemas | October 1
Tom Cruise like we haven’t seen him before. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Digger follows the world’s most powerful man as he desperately tries to convince everyone he’s humanity’s saviour before the disaster he’s caused destroys everything. With a stacked cast including Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Emma D’Arcy and Sophie Wilde, this dark comedy-drama is definitely one of our most intriguing cinema picks for October.
Crystal Lake
Stan | October 16
Spooky season viewing, sorted. From A24, Crystal Lake takes us back into the world of Friday the 13th, with Linda Cardellini starring as Pam Voorhees. The prequel explores a darker history surrounding Crystal Lake as Pam’s past begins to resurface — and, naturally, things get increasingly unsettling. Save this one for a lights-off October night… preferably from the safety of bed.
Kill Jackie
Stan | October 2
Catherine Zeta-Jones leads this slick new revenge thriller as Jackie Price, a woman whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel when her dangerous past catches up with her. Based on Nick Harkaway’s novel The Price You Pay, expect secrets, revenge and plenty of twists. One for anyone looking for a darker binge this month.
Gnomes
Stan | October 8
And now for something completely different… killer garden gnomes. Yes, really. Starring Asa Butterfield alongside Megan Smart, Matt Okine and Luke McGregor, this new Stan Original follows an unsuspecting Australian town after an ancient evil unleashes a murderous army of ceramic gnomes. Weird, camp and wonderfully chaotic — consider this our wildcard October recommendation.
Sense and Sensibility
Cinemas | October 16
Jane Austen is back on the big screen with a fresh adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles and George MacKay. Expect romance, longing, complicated family dynamics and, naturally, plenty of beautiful period interiors to obsess over. The perfect excuse for an October cinema date.
Nobody Wants This — Season 3
Netflix | October 22
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are back, which frankly is reason enough for this to make our October watchlist. The new season returns to the charming, complicated relationship at the heart of the series, with more romance, family dynamics and the effortless chemistry that had us bingeing in the first place. Consider our evening plans sorted.
East of Eden
Netflix | October 1
Florence Pugh leads this new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s sweeping family saga, set against California’s Salinas Valley. Following generations of the Trask family, expect complicated relationships, family secrets and plenty of beautifully moody period drama. This feels like the kind of series made for cancelling plans, getting into bed early and watching “just one more episode.”
Carrie
Prime Video | October 7
Just in time for spooky season, Mike Flanagan brings Stephen King’s Carrie to the screen in a new series starring Summer H. Howell as the iconic teenager. Dark, unsettling and emotionally charged, the series offers a fresh take on the classic story while exploring the pressures and isolation surrounding Carrie White. Definitely one to add to the October night-in list.
Nocturne
Apple TV | October 30
Arriving just in time for Halloween, Nocturne is a new crime drama starring Liev Schreiber, Zawe Ashton and Stephen Graham. Atmospheric, mysterious and packed with an incredible cast, it follows a detective drawn into a dark and increasingly complex investigation. Save this one for a lights-down, phone-away kind of night.
The Social Reckoning
Cinemas | October 8
Aaron Sorkin returns to the world of The Social Network with a new chapter starring Jeremy Strong and Mikey Madison. This time, the story turns its attention to Facebook’s evolution and the growing cultural consequences of the platform it became. Smart, timely and guaranteed to give you plenty to talk about on the drive home — this is one of our most anticipated cinema releases of the month.
