As October wraps up and, in many places, temperatures drop from summer sun to sweater weather, the season for cozying up on the couch and streaming movies and TV shows is upon us. Unsurprisingly, many spent the month embracing the spooky season, but that doesn’t mean horror is the only genre represented; comedies and other new releases also received plenty of attention in October.
Here are the top five movies and TV shows streamed in October 2025, as well as what to know about them and where to find them on services like Netflix and HBO Max.
5. A House of Dynamite (2025)
A House of Dynamite is a new political thriller from Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow that both released in select theaters and came to streaming this month. Though not billed as a horror movie, its story of the United States government reacting to a nuclear missile launch, told from three different perspectives, is certainly as tense as one.
Though its high place on the list could be attributed to the film’s acclaimed director, timely subject matter, or star-studded cast, which includes Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, the most likely explanation is that people want to see the divisive movie and its controversial ending for themselves. Critics and audiences alike have been split on whether A House of Dynamite’s ending and overall structure works; some find the film repetitive and unfulfilling, while others say it’s riveting and sobering considering its connection to contemporary geopolitics. If political thrillers about the threat of nuclear armageddon interest you, or you simply like being involved in the online discourse surrounding new movies, you can find A House of Dynamite on Netflix.
4. Bring Her Back (2025)
Another 2025 horror movie went from theaters to streaming this month, with Bring Her Back releasing on HBO Max in early October. The second film from twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou tells the story of two orphaned step-siblings whose new foster mother, played by Sally Hawkins in a terrifying yet emotionally moving performance, tries to subject them to a gruesome occult ritual.
Clearly, it’s been a fantastic year for horror movies. 2025’s 28 Years Later and Sinners also make the top 10, though they’ve been available to stream for a bit longer. For those trying to find the perfect movie to round out the spooky season, pick Bring Her Back if you like horror movies that are fast paced but still incredibly tense.
3. The Black Phone (2022)
The Black Phone is the only movie in October’s top five that didn’t release this year, but it’s place on this list is no doubt because of Black Phone 2 (2025), which has been in theaters since October 17. The movie follows a teenage boy (Mason Thames), abducted by a serial killer known as the Grabber (Ethan Hawke), who finds a mysterious phone that lets him communicate with previous victims and gives him a chance to escape.
If you’re a fan of horror movies and serial killer stories, particularly ones that involve kids and teens like It (2017), you’ll probably be engrossed in this tense, twisty story. However, hardcore horror fans may walk away wishing the movie were a bit scarier.
2. The Naked Gun (2025)
Another of Summer 2025’s big releases dropped on Paramount+ at the end of last month. The Naked Gun (2025) stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., son of the late Leslie Nielsen’s Detective Sergeant Frank Drebin from previous Naked Gun movies, alongside Pamela Anderson, and has been widely praised as one of the funniest comedies in years.
If you’re not familiar with The Naked Gun franchise, expect a lot of absurd slapstick comedy and clever wordplay delivered with a straight face. The series is a loving parody and relentless mocking of the action genre full of silly scenarios and on-the-nose names. Steer clear if you prefer your action more serious or your comedy more sophisticated, but if you’re looking for lighthearted laughs, the new Naked Gun certainly delivers plenty.
1. Weapons (2025)
One of the most talked about movies of 2025 made it to streaming for the first time this month. Weapons (2025), which was released in theaters back in August, is now available on HBO Max, just in time for Halloween. The film follows parents, law enforcement, school officials and more after 17 children from the same third-grade class mysteriously run away from home at the same time.
Weapons is a modern fairy tale—the super dark and twisted ones all the cute Disney movies are based on—with a lot to say about how we address, or fail to actually address, problems that endanger children. Of course, horror movies that center around kids aren’t for everyone, but if you can handle the dark content and enjoy movies like Pulp Fiction (1994) with non-linear storytelling, watch Weapons.
The full list of the top 10 movies streamed in October 2025 is as follows:
- Weapons (2025)
- The Naked Gun (2025)
- The Black Phone (2022)
- Bring Her Back (2025)
- A House of Dynamite (2025)
- 28 Years Later (2025)
- The Substance (2024)
- The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)
- Sinners (2025)
- The Lost Bus (2025)
5. The Diplomat (2023-Present)
At number five we have The Diplomat, which released its third season on Netflix this month. The show follows Keri Russell’s Kate Wyler in her role as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Kate must balance various international crises with the collapse of her marriage to fellow career diplomat Hal (Rufus Sewell), whose new job presents more challenges.
The Diplomat balances the high stakes of global politics along with compelling personal drama and humor, much like Slow Horses (2022), which also topped the streaming charts this month. It’s a show for fans of political dramas, particularly ones that focus on the high-stakes, low-reward work of diplomacy, as well as any fans of Russell’s work on The Americans (2013).
4. Only Murders in the Building (2021-Present)
The only comedy series on the list this month, Only Murders in the Building recently wrapped up its fifth season on Hulu. This time, the trio of eccentric, true crime-loving neighbors played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are investigating the mysterious death of their upscale building’s doorman after last season’s cliffhanger ending. Season 5 keeps up the series’ tradition of casting lots of familiar faces, with Renée Zellweger, Keegan-Michael Key, and Christoph Waltz joining the ever-expanding list of stars this time.
Despite being a show about murder, OMITB is a surprisingly cozy series oozing with charm, largely as the result of the core trio’s incredible chemistry. If you like crime-related comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) or the star-studded investigations of Poker Face (2023), Only Murders in the Building is a must-watch.
3. Peacemaker (2022-2025)
Peacemaker’s latest season concluded in early October with a critically acclaimed penultimate episode and divisive finale. Season 2 brings John Cena’s titular antihero fully into James Gunn’s DC Universe with all the pros and cons that entails. While it led to some great moments, including a cameo from a major Superman (2025) character, it also results in the season finale feeling more like set-up for Man of Tomorrow (2027) and other upcoming DCU projects instead of a satisfying conclusion to what was mostly a well-received season.
If you’re a fan of superhero shows that aren’t afraid to get edgy or just plain weird like The Boys (2019) and Doom Patrol (2019), you’ll probably like Peacemaker Season 2. Just know you’ll want to watch the first season and the latest Superman movie first, all of which are available to stream on HBO Max.
2. Slow Horses (2022-Present)
Also popular this month was the Gary Oldman-led spy thriller Slow Horses, which released its fifth season on Apple TV+ throughout October. The British series follows disgraced and failed MI5 agents who are transferred to a fictional department to complete dull assignments under the watch of the rude Jackson Lamb (Oldman). However, despite being “slow horses,” the dysfunctional team of agents ends up investigating serious cases that threaten Britain's security.
Slow Horses’ first four seasons set a high bar that Season 5 doesn’t necessarily top, but it’s still a thrilling and darkly comedic show full of sharp writing and strong performances. The season’s painfully timely subject matter—political violence committed by extremists who were radicalized through social media—may also make the new episodes hard to watch if you’re looking for escapism. But if you like spy thrillers with a sense of humor or are just intrigued by the idea of James Bond with misfits, look no further than Slow Horses.
1. Task (2025)
October 2025’s most streamed show was Task (2025), the HBO crime drama miniseries that debuted in September and concluded earlier this month. It stars Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis, an FBI agent and former Catholic priest leading a task force investigating a series of violent robberies carried out by normal-seeming family man Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey).
Task’s premise of an investigation led by a troubled protagonist mixed with their morally complex target’s perspective is nothing new, nor is its Delaware County, Pennsylvania, setting, which it shares with fellow HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown (2021). But while much of it will be familiar to fans of these kinds of dramas, Task’s writing and performances make it worth a watch for anyone who enjoys shows like The Wire (2002) and True Detective (2014).
The full list of the top 10 TV shows streamed in October 2025 is as follows:
- Task (2025)
- Slow Horses (2022)
- Peacemaker (2022)
- Only Murders in the Building (2021)
- The Diplomat (2023)
- Black Rabbit (2025)
- The Chair Company (2025)
- Gen V (2023)
- Alien: Earth (2025)
- Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)
