New Titles Streaming in October

October excites me for many reasons but mostly because with it comes Halloween, which is finally right around the corner. It’s the time of year when the leaves start fallin’ and the weather starts coolin’ off, and yards are decorated with fun and excitement. It's also the time of year cable channels start streaming classic horror movies like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Scream, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, in addition to a host of other titles. There's even a Friday the 13th in store this month, adding that touch of extra spookiness. You guys will have plenty of new streaming titles on October’s menu of releases to keep you in the mood of the season, especially now that the writers’ strike has finally come to a close. (Hallelujah!)

But there’s much more than horror releases to look forward to on your favorite platforms. As Fall rolls in, so, too, do Loki (Season 2), The Fall of the House of Usher, Our Flag Means Death (Season 2), and a Milli Vanilli documentary that I know all Gen Xers can’t wait to see. Ba ba-ba-ba baby.

So let’s get with it! Here’s what’s new and streaming in October.

APPLE TV+

Lessons in Chemistry (Oct. 13) -- Brie Larson (Avengers: Endgame) fights against the patriarchal powers that be in this new series based on the 2022 Bonnie Garmus novel of the same name. Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, an aspiring scientist who gets canned from her laboratory job but refuses to go down without a fight. After accepting a role as a cooking show host, she uses the platform to educate and rally her core demographic: belittled housewives.

The Pigeon Tunnel (Oct. 20) -- Fans of documentary filmmaking should know the name Errol Morris, who is one of the greatest documentarians of his era. Morris has made his name with some of the best documentaries in history, including The Fog of War and The Thin Blue Line. His latest work is coming to Apple TV+ as he tells the story of the life of John le Carre, an author who wrote some of the best spy novels in history, including those about the famed spy George Smiley ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"). Le Carre died in 2020 and this was his final interview.

The Enfield Poltergeist (Oct. 27) -- Another chilling docuseries for Halloween? Yes, thank you. If you've ever seen The Conjuring 2, you may already be familiar with this case, although Director James Wan chose to explore the haunting through a slightly more fictionalized lens. The Enfield Poltergeist is a limited series presenting actual audio recordings captured during the investigation of the English residence. Don't worry if it makes you quiver and cower--I promise we'll all be doing the same!

DISNEY+

Loki, Season 2 (Oct. 5) -- The new season of Loki picks up in the aftermath of the shocking Season 1 finale when Loki (Tom Hiddleston, of Thor) finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius (Owen Wilson, of Meet the Parents), Hunter B-15, and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino, of Peacock TV series), Judge Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, of The Morning Show), Miss Minutes (Tara Strong, of Young Love TV series), and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.

Goosebumps (Oct. 13) -- R.L. Stine’s classic tale comes to life in a 10-part series starring Justin Long (Barbarian), Rachael Harris (Lucifer), and Rob Huebel (The Goldbergs). Unlike the anthology formatted series from the 90s, this version of "Goosebumps" will combine several terrifying tales from Stine’s book series to tell one consistent narrative. A group of five high schoolers embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle, while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past. Also streaming on Hulu.

HULU

Nada (Oct. 11) -- In 2002, 30 would-be contestants gathered to film what they were told was an ambitious new reality show that would change their lives. The problem: The show didn’t exist! So, what happened? What’s the story, morning glory? This docuseries attempts to get to the bottom of all that.

Goosebumps (Oct. 13) -- R.L. Stine’s classic tale comes to life in a 10-part series starring Justin Long (Barbarian), Rachael Harris (Lucifer), and Rob Huebel (The Goldbergs). Unlike the anthology formatted series from the 90s, this version of "Goosebumps" will combine several terrifying tales from Stine’s book series to tell one consistent narrative. A group of five high schoolers embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle, while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.

Shoresy, Season 2 (Oct. 27) -- The Letterkenny spinoff returns with Season 2, so fans will once again get to see the titular hockey goon Shoresy (Jared Keeso, of Letterkenny) get into all sorts of comedic trouble as he continues his journey to become the greatest hockey player of all time. The complete second season will be available to stream starting October 27.

MAX (formerly HBO Max)

The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (Oct. 1) -- In 2008 and 2009, a crime ring of suburban teens stole over three million dollars’ worth of jewelry, designer clothing, and cash from the homes of Parish Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Lindsay Lohan, and dozens more celebrities. Now, the so-called “ringleader” and mastermind behind the robberies, Rachel Lee, opens up for the first time about her role in the crime spree and outlines the culture of celebrity worship.

Our Flag Means Death, Season 2 (Oct. 5) -- Set in the early 18th century during the Golden Age of Piracy, Our Flag Means Death follows the misadventures of gentleman-turned-pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby, of Flight of the Conchords) and his crew aboard the Revenge as they try to make a name for themselves as pirates. When they cross paths with the famed captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi, of What We Do in the Shadows), Stede and Blackbeard develop then proclaim their feelings for each other, only to part ways after Stede returned home to see his family. In Season 2, Stede pines for his lost love while Blackbeard is full of angst, wreaking havoc and spilling blood all over the Caribbean.

Doom Patrol, Season 4 Part 2 (Oct. 12) -- In the final run for the popular series revolving around members left terribly disfigured but full of superhuman abilities after a tragic accident, Doom Patrol returns with the second part of its fourth and final season. The story will pick up where it left off in Part 1 with the team in Orqwith, where the force called Immortus is capable of stripping them of their longevity. How will this play out? You’ll have to watch and see!

The Gilded Age, Season 2 (Oct. 29) -- A period of immense economic change and great conflict between the old ways and new systems, The Gilded Age saw huge fortunes made then lost. In Season 1, an aspiring writer seeking a fresh start becomes inadvertently enmeshed in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of old money, and her stupendously rich neighbors, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife. On the brink of the modern age, Season 2 will feature a war between the wealthy women of New York society. Nothing like a good catfight full of stubbornness and snobbery.

NETFLIX

Beckham (Oct. 4) -- David Beckham isn't just one of the most recognizable soccer players in history, he’s also a global icon who shaped the pop-culture landscape of an entire decade. This docuseries looks beyond the headlines and the iconic sporting moments as it explores the man behind it all, with insight from Becks himself as well as his closest friends and family. Beckham chronicles a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom. This glitzy bio-doc will be a must-watch for Man Utd fans, and anybody who took a photo of Beckham to the barbers as a kid.

Lupin, Season 3 (Oct. 5) -- France’s most-wanted gentleman thief is back, and this time he’s returning to Paris. The last time we saw Assane Diop (Omar Sy, of The Intouchables), he was on the run from the police after being framed for murder by Hubert Pellegrinr (Hervé Pierre, of Paris, je t’aime), a wealthy entrepreneur responsible for Assane’s father being falsely imprisoned. Now most wanted in France, the suave thief decides to live off radar for a bit in hopes that his disappearance will keep his son safe, but first the conman is planning his most audacious heist yet.

The Fall of the House of Usher (Oct. 12) -- Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) is back with another classic horror literature adaptation, this time from the OG literary master, Edgar Allen Poe. Inspired by Poe’s short story "The Fall of the House of Usher", Flanagan’s adaptation is an eight-part miniseries focusing on two siblings, Roderick (Bruce Greenwood, of The Resident) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell, of Battlestar Galactica), who have built a pharmaceutical empire. However, when the heirs to the Usher dynasty begin mysteriously dying one by one, the company’s corrupt foundations are exposed. The Fall of the House of Usher will be Flanagan’s last gothic-horror drama for the streaming giant, ending his fruitful partnership with Netflix on a high note. Also stars Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House), Henry Thomas (E.T. the Extraterrestrial), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy), and Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights).

Bodies (Oct. 19) -- When a dead body appears on the streets of London, it seems like business as usual for the detective working the case. But this same victim has actually appeared across three other points in time: 1890, during the Victorian era; 1941, during the height of World War II; and 30 years into the future in 2053. As the crime is further investigated in each period, a sinister conspiracy that could threaten the entire United Kingdom begins to unravel. This unique sci-fi series blends murder mystery, police procedural and period drama into an intriguing mix you won’t want to miss.

The Devil on Trial (Oct. 17) -- A haunting true crime documentary, The Devil on Trial explores the true story behind The Conjuring 3 and chronicles the only example in the history of the U.S. legal system of demonic possession officially being used as defense in a murder trial. In 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson claimed that he killed his landlord, Alan Bono, while under the influence of demonic forces. This unbelievable claim drew the interest of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and was the inspiration for the most recent Conjuring movie. This Netflix doc explores the events leading up to the murder, the trial, and its aftermath and includes firsthand accounts from various people closest to the case, including Johnson himself.   

PARAMOUNT+

Painkiller: The Tylenol Murders (Oct. 10) -- This groundbreaking documentary uses hours of exclusive archival footage in a five-part docuseries that will transport viewers back four decades to the moments after a twisted killer laced Tylenol pills with cyanide and killed seven people in the Chicago area. True story. While no perpetrators were found at the time, a man named James William Lewis was suspected of extorting a million bucks from Johnson & Johnson to stop the cyanide murders. The Tylenol Murders is narrated by Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, John Wick).

Frasier (Oct. 12) -- A revival of the beloved spinoff of Cheers, Frasier returns with Kelsey Grammar as the eponymous psychiatrist back in Boston, looking to reconnect with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott, of Tenet). Most of the original cast are nowhere to be seen, so don’t get your hopes up on returning familiarity if you’re an old fan of the show.

Crush (Oct. 17) -- The team behind the award-winning documentary 11 Minutes, which told the story of the mass shooting as Las Vegas’ Route 91 Harvest music festival, have set up another docuseries, Crush. The docuseries will explore the Halloween tragedy in Seoul, South Korea, on October 29, 2022, that left 159 dead and hundreds injured. The multi-part series will be an immersive moment-by-moment dive into how the tragedy unfolded and the forces that make crowds panic.

Milli Vanilli (Oct. 24) -- I don’t know about you, but this Gen Xer is stoked about this new feature-length documentary detailing the story behind one of the greatest and most ill-fated chart-topping duo of the late 80s and early 90s, Milli Vanilli. In case you don’t know their story, after a rocky upbringing in Germany, Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan joined forces to become one of the biggest pop groups in the world, scoring three Billboard Hot 100 number one songs, “Blame It on the Rain”, “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You”, and “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” in 1989. They won the Best New Artist Grammy in 1990 before it was revealed that they didn’t actually sing on any of their hits. Now, the duo’s lone surviving member, Fabrice Morvan, tells their true story. Pilatus sadly died of an alcohol and prescription drug overdose in 1998.

PEACOCK

John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams (Oct. 13) -- Explore true tales of terror that took place in American suburbs with the horror legend himself, John Carpenter.

Wolf Like Me, Season 2 (Oct. 19) -- If you haven’t watched the first season of Wolf Like Me and have an interest in werewolf-centric series, you're gonna want to hop on this comedy train. Widower Gary (Josh Gad, of Ghostbusters: Afterlife) lives in suburban South Australia with his kid, with whom he struggles to connect. After getting into a car accident with a woman named Mary (Isla Fisher, of Wedding Crashers) and Mary helps Gary’s kid through a panic attack, the two decide to go on a date, which gets weird and doesn’t end well. Mary has a big hairy secret, and Season 1’s finale left us all wondering the same thing: Is she giving birth to a wolf pup or a human baby?

PRIME VIDEO

Upload, Season 3 (Oct. 20) -- After his untimely death, a man is able to choose his own afterlife by having his consciousness uploaded into a virtual world. When party boy Nathan (Robbie Amell, of The Witcher) gets uploaded to a virtual resort, he meets the down-to-earth Nora (Andy Allo, Chicago Fire), who starts as his customer service "angel," but becomes so much more as she helps him along the way. The longer Nathan is there, the more he begins to question whether his death was truly an accident.

Bosch: Legacy, Season 2 (Oct. 20) -- A spinoff of Prime Video’s hit crime drama series Bosch, Bosch: Legacy finds Harry (Titus Welliver, of Sons of Anarchy), retired homicide detective turned private investigator, embarking on the next chapter of his career, where he must learn to work with a former enemy. Streaming on Prime Video and Freevee.

Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with a voracious appetite for entertainment consumption and an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks.