We’ve all been there: staring at the screen as we try to decide among hundreds of movies to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Max or any of the other popular streaming services. It can be daunting, which is why it’s always nice to have a little help from someone else. So allow me to humbly offer my services in suggesting movies to stream in October.
While there are plenty of new movies to watch in movie theaters this month, October’s slate of streaming offerings includes both new and classic movies for viewers to enjoy.
Here are my personal recommendations for movies launching on streaming services this month that you should watch, in alphabetical order for ease of reference:
1. The Birds (Netflix)
Alfred Hitchcock comes to Netflix in October, as two of the Master of Suspense’s most famous movies are available. The first is Psycho, which was available on streaming prior to its Netflix debut, but the other is coming to streaming for the first time in a while: The Birds. Tippi Hedren stars as a woman who finds herself caught in a bizarre situation where birds start attacking people. There isn’t much more to it than that but Hitchcock uses his master filmmaking style for an utterly gripping movie. All praise to Hedren as well, who not only had to deal with real birds attacking her during filming, but Hitchcock, whose direction of his lead actress is another infamous Hollywood horror story.
2. Didi (Peacock)
One of the best reviewed movies of the year hits streaming in October, as the coming-of-age movie Didi lands on Peacock. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang makes his full length feature debut directing a story about teenager Chris, who spends the summer before high school begins trying to find himself and who he fits in with. “Certified Fresh” with a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Didi is a gem that you can now enjoy at home.
3. Django Unchained (Paramount Plus)
Though Quentin Tarantino is not making The Movie Critic anymore, what was once thought to be his self-proclaimed final movie, you can enjoy one of his other classic movies on streaming this month, as Django Unchained hits Paramount Plus. Jamie Foxx stars as the freed slave Django who, along with his bounty hunter mentor Dr. King Schulz (Christoph Waltz), set out to save Django’s wife (Kerry Washington) from a notorious plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Tarantino applies his trademark violence and dialogue for a wildly entertaining western.
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Peacock)
I’m a big Wes Anderson fan, as are other members of the WTW team, as we listed the director’s The Grand Budapest Hotel as one of our 100 best movies of all time. You can see for yourself why on Peacock this month. But in summation, The Grand Budapest Hotel encompasses everything that makes Anderson such a unique filmmaker, from a carefully crafted world/set to quick witted and snappy dialogue. But what puts this above others like The Royal Tenenbaums (also back on streaming this month) is the performance by Ralph Fiennes, who should have been nominated for an Oscar as the concierge that is trying to hold onto a kind of civility in a world quickly losing it. It’s peak Anderson.
5. Hell or High Water (Paramount Plus)
There are a couple of great cat-and-mouse crime thrillers returning to streaming in October worth a watch. One is Heat, the classic Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Michael Mann movie getting a sequel (Heat 2), but the other, and my personal pick for the month is Hell or High Water. Written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water follows two brothers (Ben Foster and Chris Pine), one an ex-con and the other a divorced dad trying to keep his farm from being foreclosed, who decide to rob banks. Soon on their tail is a brilliant, if tough to work with, Texas Ranger, portrayed by an Oscar-nominated Jeff Bridges. It’s a fantastic heist movie that has everyone on their A-game.
6. Misery (Max)
Kathy Bates is currently charming TV audiences with her latest series Matlock on CBS, but still one of her most defining roles is her Oscar-winning performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery. Bates is downright terrifying as Wilkes, who “rescues” her favorite author after he is in a car accident, but it soon turns into a kidnapping as she reveals herself to be much darker than she initially appears. Co-starring the late, great James Caan and based on a Stephen King novel, Misery is a fun alternative for the Halloween season if jump scares aren’t exactly your cup of tea.
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (Max)
If you’re in the mood for a more traditional horror movie, the original 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street returns to streaming on Max in October. Robert Englund stars as the scarred, glove-knife wearing monster of nightmares Freddy Kreuger, who terrorizes teens in their dreams. Hailing from one of the masters of horror, Wes Craven, A Nightmare on Elm Street remains one of his most popular movies.
8. Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Disney Plus/Hulu)
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most iconic musicians of all time, and this new documentary allows fans of his to get access like they’ve never had it before. Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which is going to be available to stream on both Disney Plus and Hulu, takes viewers behind the scenes with Springsteen as he prepares for his 2023-2024 world tour. Get ready to rock out with the Boss this month starting October 25.
9. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Hulu)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic, with part of that being the famous midnight screenings that fans have been partaking in for years. You can have your own Rocky Horror experience at home this month as the movie arrives on Hulu. Gather some friends and do the Time Warp as you sing along with the Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon musical about a recently engaged couple take shelter in the mysterious and odd residence of Dr. Frank-n-Furter (Curry). If you’re not familiar, perhaps the less I say the better, but just prepare yourself for a wild ride.
10 & 11. The Three Musketeers Part 1: D’Artagnan & The Three Musketeers Part 2: Milady (Hulu)
The Three Musketeers are classic characters, portrayed on the big screen numerous times. But a new iteration has been made from Alexandre Dumas’ native France and is earning plenty of buzz. Two separate movies that tell the adventures of D’Artagnan, Athos, Aramis and Porthos as they fight to protect the King of France against multiple conspirators arrive on Hulu this month. The movies, which star well known Hollywood actors like Eva Green, Vincent Cassel and Vicky Krieps, have been well received, as both are “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.
12. Tuesday (Max)
One of the queens of comedy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus got serious with her latest movie, Tuesday, from A24. The critically acclaimed movie makes its streaming debut, telling the story of a mother who cares for her terminally ill daughter when they are visited by death, which comes in the form of a talking bird. This one is supposed to get the waterworks flowing, so be prepared with some tissues.
13. Woman of the Hour (Netflix)
In addition to its range of new library titles this month, Netflix has more than a few original movies that it is debuting on the streaming platform, including the Laura Dern romance movie Lonely Planet and the thriller Don’t Move starring Yellowstone‘s Kelsey Asbille. But our pick for the month is Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, Woman of the Hour. This movie is based on the true story of a woman who goes on a TV dating show only to unwittingly select a notorious serial killer. Can she escape becoming his next victim? Woman of the Hour premieres on Netflix on October 18.