The Must Stream Movies and Shows Coming to Netflix this October

Summer is officially over, and the quick passing of September really drove the death nail in for everyone. The days of the summer action-flicks are over and the weather will prove to keep us huddled in our homes with the allure of streaming to keep us warm. If you’re not planning on just watching spooky horror films in the approaching month of October, you might be wondering what kinds of content will be making its way to Netflix in the coming weeks. The spookiest thing to happen this October may be just how much is actually leaving Netflix, come the first. Whether or not you have time to mourn the loss of 30 Rock binge sessions, it is a bittersweet month to look forward to. Fear not, however, for this handy list should shine a light on what treats are coming to your watch list this Halloween season.

Here are a few of our must-stream movies and shows on Netflix in October, and don’t forget to check out the complete list of new additions below!

Boogie Nights (October 1)

An unmistakable classic and the first time I could take Mark Wahlberg seriously somehow. This raunchy yet poignant comedy about the 1970s porn industry paved a path for several careers and became a calling card for Paul Thomas Anderson. There are a plethora of incredible performances in here with a golden cast. With a story full of laughs, characters grounded in reality, and the finesse of a filmmaker with a solid vision, this is a must-see film.

I Love You, Man (October 1)

This is one of the only movies in the age of Judd Apatow buddy comedies movies I can stand anymore, and that lies solely in the fact that Paul Rudd and Jason Segel have such great chemistry. The duo manages to take the concept of a dad-rock infused jam session and deliver one of the more endearing and funny scenes in the whole film.  Frankly, I think the ship has sailed on these types of movies and the chemistry we get with Rudd and Segel has shifted over to television these days. Whether you are looking to put something on in the background, or genuinely want a good laugh, this movie offers plenty in both categories.

Tommy Boy (October 1)

“HOLY SCHNIKES!” Not everyone can get down with the brand of comedy that comes with everything Chris Farley ever touched. But if you needed to limit yourself to one, Tommy Boy trumps his filmography as the funniest, most memorable road trip movie from the mid-90’s. There is an undeniable charm that a movie like this can rub off onto a person, young or old. While it may not be seen universally as a classic, it is definitely worth a watch. If anything you can put it on mute at a party because you can expect to see lots of Farley hurting himself, and for some, that’s just enough.

Patton Oswalt: Annihilation (October 17)

Patton Oswalt is my favorite comedian, hands down. It may be an obvious pick for me personally but with the long list of stand-up specials on the platform, Oswalt is a name that deserves a ton of attention. Patton has an incredibly original voice in the comedy scene and fits right up there with the likes of Louis C.K. and Marc Maron. He doesn’t pull any punches, and he certainly doesn’t settle for less with his specials. I’ve been sleeping on some of these comedy specials because, frankly, Netflix puts out so many at a time. But this next month I will absolutely be checking this out.

Donnie Darko (October 11)

Notorious for its convoluted and sometimes incomprehensible plot, Donnie Darko was a defining role in Jake Gyllenhaal’s career, and he really earned his stripes as a definitive up-and-comer of the early 2000’s. Whether or not the version coming to Netflix will be the theatrical release or the directors cut is somewhat important, as the lack of information in the original version really becomes the deciding factor in one’s enjoyment of the polarizing film. Regardless of all this, Donnie Darko solidifies its place in cinematic history with a thrilling atmosphere and memorable characters that drive the plot of the supernatural and unsettling series of events following the eponymous Donnie. If you’re looking for a Halloween movie like nothing else of its ilk, try this one out.

Stranger Things: Season 2 (October 27)

Here’s the big one. Halloween is barreling towards us like one of Sam Raimi’s signature shots in Evil Dead. The season mirrors Christmas in that it feels like it starts earlier and earlier with each passing year. It certainly feels like ages since the impactful Stranger Things hit the scene with a bombastic cast and surprisingly infectious plot. As someone who loves Halloween the most out of all the holidays, Stranger Things cannot come fast enough. The series made a terrifying tease for an ever-thickening plot in the final moments of its last episode. Season 2 promises to hit the ground running straight from when we left off and if you haven’t caught up on this show, time is running out.

October 1

• 88 Minutes
• A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song 
• Before Midnight
• Blood Diamond
• Boogie Nights
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Cleverman: Season 2
• Death Sentence
• Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
• Eagle vs. Shark
• Eyes Wide Shut
• Generation Iron 2
• Ghost Patrol
• I Love You, Man
• Ice Guardians
• Lockup: Disturbing the Peace: Collection 1
• Made of Honor
• Miss Congeniality
• Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
• Must Love Dogs
• Never Let Me Go
• No Reservations
• Penelope
• PJ Masks: Season 1
• Set Up
• The Reaping
• Tokyo Idols
• Tommy Boy
• Vanished
• Veronica

October 2

• Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
• Sleeping with Other People

October 3

• 13 Demons
• Rodney Carrington: Here Comes The Truth 
• Cult of Chucky
• The Survivalist

October 4

• Raw

October 5

• Bonus Family (Bonusfamiljen): Season 1 
• Schitt’s Creek: Season 3
• The Fosters: Season 5

October 6

• ID-0: Season 1 
• Skylanders Academy: Season 2 
• Suburra: Season 1 
• The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson 
• Word Party: Season 3 

October 7

• Middle Man
• Chris Brown: Welcome To My Life

October 10

• The Skyjacker’s Tale
• Christina P: Mother Inferior

October 11

• Donnie Darko

October 12

• Fe de Etarras 

October 13

• El Especial de Alex Fernández, el Especial 
• Kingdom of Us 
• MINDHUNTER: Season 1 
• Super Monsters: Season 1 
• Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
• The Babysitter —
• The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) 
• Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 4

October 15

• LEGO: City: Season 1Money
• OtherLife
• She Makes Comics
• Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses
• West Coast Customs: Season 6

October 17

• Patton Oswalt: Annihilation 
• Slasher: Guilty Party 

October 19

• Wedding Unplanned

October 20

• 1922
• Haters Back Off: Season 2
• One of Us
• Smurfs: The Lost Village
• The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story
  
• Wheelman

October 23

• While We’re Young
• Meet the Robinsons

October 24

• Wanted: Season 1
• Wanted: Season 2
• The Mist: Season 1

October 25

• The Hateful Eight
• The Final Master
• La Querida del Centauro: Season 2

October 26

• Strange Weather

October 27

• Stranger Things: Season 2 
• Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold

October 28

• Pup Star: Better 2Gether

October 30

• Judah Friedlander: America Is The Greatest Country In The United States

October 31

• Zumbo’s Just Desserts: Season 1

Kevin Charbonneau | Intern