What’s new to streaming this week? (Oct. 16, 2026)

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that’s before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don’t be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We’ve got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you’re seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we’ve got you covered there, too.

20. Hallowarrior

Postapocalyptic survival meets home invasion survival in Ben Sottak’s Hallowarrior, which follows Pumpkin (Milly Shapiro of Hereditary fame) as she struggles to get by in a plague-ravaged world. The really bad news? Her Halloween is about to be made even worse by the arrival of a gang of violent raiders. This one looks like a much, much more brutal version of Home Alone. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Milly Shapiro, Ajani Russell, A.J. Bowen, Shannyn Sossamon, Vic Plajas, Taylor Valentine Lupini, Logan Beveridge, and Bobby McFarlane

How to watch: Hallowarrior debuts on Shudder on Oct. 16.

19. The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable

If you’re a Wu-Tang Clan fan, love a good music documentary, or just want to watch something unique, The Disciple hits Netflix this week. Directed by Joanna Natasegara, this RZA-produced film follows Dutch Moroccan rapper and producer Tarik Azzougarh (aka Cilvaringz) and how he ended up collaborating with the iconic New York rap collective. Notably, Cilvaringz helped the group create their notorious 2015 album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. Only one copy was ever made (and was once owned by Martin Shkreli), and the path it took is the stuff wild documentary dreams are made of. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

How to watch: The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable debuts on Netflix on Oct. 16.

18. Clown Panic

From The Trouble with Mr Doodle documentarian Ed Perkins comes Clown Panic, a feature doc that explores that bizarre time in 2016 where scary clowns seemed to be coming out of the woodwork.

Perkins sits down with police officers, witnesses, and one good clown to make sense of this weird phenomenon that lead to a full-on clown panic. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Clown Panic is now streaming on Hulu.

17. Instadocs: AI Gone Wild

Netflix’s Instadocs series is made up of documentaries that were created with a quick turnaround so they can delve into recent headlines. In new entry AI Gone Wild, Instadocs takes a look at this year’s cyberattack on open-source AI platform Hugging Face, which was conducted by AI agents created by OpenAI. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Instadocs: AI Gone Wild is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Kate Berlant: Parmesan

Looking for a laugh this weekend? You’ll certainly find one in Kate Berlant: Parmesan, the first HBO stand-up special from comedian and actor Kate Berlant. Known for her absurdist comedy and her frequent collaborations with John Early, including this year’s Maddie’s Secret, Berlant is an undeniable comedic force. In Parmesan, she dissects modern life, social media, and even stand-up itself. — B.E.

How to watch: Kate Berlant: Parmesan debut on HBO Max on Oct. 16.

15. Buddy

The horror comedy that got a lot of buzz out of Sundance is now coming home.

Directed by Casper Kelly (Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, Too Many Cooks) and co-written by Kelly and Jamie King, Buddy imagines what might happen if Barney the dinosaur were a cult leader who kills anyone breaking the rules of his seemingly wholesome world. Sure, the orange unicorn named Buddy looks fluffy and friendly. But there’s something sinister beneath his stitched-on smile.

This is a solid pick for spooky season, but be warned: It’s rated R for graphic violence. — K.P.

Starring: Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, Michael Shannon, Topher Grace, and Keegan-Michael Key

How to watch: Buddy is now available for rental and purchase on digital.

14. Tulsa King, Season 4

Sylvester Stallone returns as Dwight “The General” Manfredi for another season of mafia drama.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, Tulsa King imagines what might happen if a New York gangster set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And in the show’s fourth season, Dwight is battling to protect his empire from corrupt politicians and some deadly new foes. The hits are coming fast and hard. How will the king handle it? — K.P.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Domenick Lombardozzi, Vincent Piazza, A.C. Peterson, Garrett Hedlund, Dana Delany, Tatiana Zappardino, Annabella Sciorra, Neal McDonough, Frank Grillo, Chris Caldovino, McKenna Quigley Harrington, Mike Walden, Beau Knapp, Robert Patrick, Bella Heathcote, Kevin Pollak, and Gretchen Mol

How to watch: Tulsa King Season 4 premieres on Paramount+ on Oct. 16.

13. The Strangers: Chapter 2 & The Strangers: Chapter 3

Chapters 2 and 3 of The Strangers franchise are hitting streaming together this week, which is splendid news for anyone who likes their horror films heavy on masked killers. It’s a bit confusing, but these are actually the third and fourth movies in the series. Bryan Bertino’s 2008 psychological slasher The Strangers introduced the concept of a couple terrorised by three masked strangers invading their home, while the more recent trilogy has brought in a new set of faces — while keeping the masks and murder the same. — S.H.

Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Ella Bruccoleri, Richard Brake, Rachel Shenton, and Pedro Leandro

How to watch: The Strangers: Chapter 2 and The Strangers: Chapter 3 are now available on 4K digital.

12. Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald

Netflix is rolling out one comedian doc after another! Last week, we got one on Martin Mull. Next week will see the debut of Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story, and this week we get Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald.

The Saturday Night Live alumni died in 2021. However, his life, work, and influences are explored by director Judd Apatow in this documentary, which pulls together some of his famous colleagues and a treasure trove of archival footage. — K.P.

Starring: Norm Macdonald, Adam Sandler, and David Spade

How to watch: Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald debuts on Netflix on Oct. 16.

11. Hollywood Arts, Season 1

If you grew up watching Victorious, get ready for a blast of nostalgia from sequel series Hollywood Arts. The series reunites us with Trina Vega (Daniella Monet), whose one-woman show Trina! single-handedly changed the way I say “Chicago.” Now a struggling actress, she returns to Hollywood Arts High School as a substitute teacher, where she’ll teach the next generation of young artists. Also returning from Victorious are Eric Lange as Sikowitz, Yvette Nicole Brown as Principal Helen Dubois, Matt Bennett as Robbie Shapiro, and Jake Farrow as the voice of Robbie’s puppet, Rex. — B.E.

Starring: Daniella Monet, Alyssa Miles, Peyton Jackson, Martin Kamm, Emmy Liu-Wang, and Erika Swayze

How to watch: Hollywood Arts Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Sacrifice

Celebrity, fashion, and eco-activism collide in Sacrifice. Written by Will Arbery and Romain Gavras and helmed by the latter, this movie folds in comedy, drama, action, and adventure to create a star-studded spectacle sure to lure in Netflix viewers.

Chris Evans stars as Mike Tyler, a big-name movie star who’s already on the brink of an existential crash out when he turns up at a charity gala being held on a Greek island. Then, a gun-wielding radical (Anya Taylor-Joy) crashes the party with a bold plan to save the world. She wants to sacrifice three of these wealthy, famous folks to a nearby volcano. Forget eating the rich; Sacrifice is taking it to the next level. — K.P.

Starring: Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, Sam Richardson, John Malkovich, and Salma Hayek

How to watch: Sacrifice debuts on Netflix on Oct. 16.

9. Katseye: Wild Hearts

Let’s go, Eyekons. Katseye: Wild Hearts hits Disney+ and Hulu this week, a behind-the-scenes documentary that takes you into the world of pop powerhouses Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung. Directed by Nadia Hallgren (Becoming), the film features interviews with the members of the global girl group about everything from their Dream Academy beginnings to latest EP Wild, as well as plenty of footage of their live shows and their dedicated fans. Pinky up, indeed. — S.C.

Starring: Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung

How to watch: Katseye: Wild Hearts debuts on Hulu and Disney+ on Oct. 16.

8. Tenzing

Plenty know the story of Sir Edmund Hillary, who summited Mount Everest. But fewer know of Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese Indian sherpa who got him there.

Director Jennifer Peedom has previously helmed documentaries Sherpa and Mountain, and now brings that awareness of mountaineering and Norgay’s legacy to Tenzing. Genden Phuntsok stars as the eponymous historical figure, while Tom Hiddleston plays Hillary. Do you want to see the emotional heights they’ll reach together?* — K.P.

Starring: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Caitríona Balfe, and Thinley Lhamo

How to watch: Tenzing debuts on Apple TV on Oct. 16.

7. Love of Your Life

Seeking romance? Then you’ll want to watch Love of Your Life.

Written by Julia Cox and directed by Rachel Morrison, this romantic drama stars Margaret Qualley as Maya, a young woman who has some enviable highs and awful lows in her love life. When she was 26, she was a nurse in Boston, and madly in love with Charlie (A House of Dynamite’s Gabriel Basso). They got married, but their happily-ever-after was ruined when the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world. Fleeing to Europe for a fresh start, Maya isn’t looking for love. But then she meets Felix, played by the dashing Aaron Pierre.

After great loss, will Maya be brave enough to allow intimacy back in her life? Watch and see. — K.P.

Starring: Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Basso, Catherine Keener, Tamara Lawrance, and Corey Johnson

How to watch: Love of Your Life is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. Practical Magic 2

It’s been 28 years since Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman played lovelorn sister witches, and now they’re back with a sequel sprinkled with magic, sexual chemistry, and romance.

Based on Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, Practical Magic 2 follows Sally Owens (Bullock) on a quest to rescue her headstrong daughter (Joey King) from the influence of dark magic. Naturally, her sister Gilly (Kidman) is by her side, but so is a towering, tattooed male witch (Lee Pace) who might have more than magic in mind.

In my review, I wrote, “Practical Magic 2 is more than a good time; it’s a source of inspiration and hope in dark times for women.” — K.P.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, and Xolo Maridueña

How to watch: Practical Magic 2 is now available for rental and purchase on digital.

5. VisionQuest

Marvel gets mind-bendy in the upcoming show VisionQuest.

Billed as the conclusion to the “Wanda trilogy,” which also includes WandaVision and Agatha All Along, the series picks up with everyone’s favorite philosophical android, Vision (Paul Bettany). He’s dealing with a serious identity crisis after getting resurrected in WandaVision, and he’s communicating with other Marvel AI in order to figure out who he is. Among them? Avengers villain Ultron (James Spader), appearing in a human avatar.* — B.E.

Starring: Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T’Nia Miller, Lauren Morais, Orla Brady, Diane Morgan, Henry Lewis, Polly Frame, Jonathan Sayer, Emily Hampshire, and James D’Arcy

How to watch: VisionQuest episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes weekly.

4. Crystal Lake

While Jason Voorhees and his hockey mask are the most memorable iconography from the Friday the 13th franchise, Camp Crystal Lake’s first killer was actually his mother, Pamela (Betsy Palmer in the very first Friday the 13th). Now, Pamela gets her own origin story in Peacock’s prequel series Crystal Lake, from A24 and showrunner Brad Caleb Kane. (Kane is no stranger to horror prequels, also serving as showrunner on IT: Welcome to Derry.)

Crystal Lake stars Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini as Pamela, who is still grieving the loss of her son, Jason (Callum Vinson). The arrival of two strangers inquiring into her past sets a series of disturbing events in motion, with Pamela at their heart. Get ready for gory kills and an exceptional performance by Cardellini, even if Crystal Lake‘s story doesn’t always land.* — B.E.

Starring: Linda Cardellini, Will Catlett, Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom

How to watch: Crystal Lake debuts in full on Peacock on Oct. 15.

3. The Diplomat, Season 4

Take a break from real-life political drama with some fictional political drama courtesy of The Diplomat. The Emmy–winning series returns for its fourth season this week, and the stakes have never been higher. The U.S. has stolen Russia’s deadliest nuclear weapon, the Poseidon, putting the whole world at risk and placing diplomat Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) in an impossible position. Add to that the fact that President Grace Penn (Allison Janney, fresh off an Emmy win for Season 3) worked with Kate’s husband, Vice President Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), on the plot, and you’re looking at a juicy web of politics and deception heading into Season 4. — B.E.

Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Allison Janney, and Bradley Whitford

How to watch: The Diplomat Season 4 debuts on Netflix on Oct. 15.

2. Hope

You’re not ready for Hope. Written and directed by South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin (The Wailing), this sci-fi epic clocks in at 156 minutes, and they breeze by like the galloping monsters at its center, fast and ruthlessly violent.

Hwang Jung-min stars as a small-town sheriff who is looking into the bizarre slaughtering of a cow near the forest. Soon enough, he’ll come face to face with the killer creature, but only after a barrage of building-shattering, bone-snapping action that makes up the film’s first act. You won’t believe what comes next, but spoilers: It’s epic.* — K.P.

Starring: Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender

How to watch: Hope is now available for rental and purchase on digital.

Best of streaming this week: The Lowdown, Season 2

If you haven’t watched Season 1 of The Lowdown yet, I need you to run and do that now, please. Then, once you’ve witnessed its perfection, I’ve got great news for you: Season 2 is here!

Created by Reservation Dogs‘ Sterlin Harjo, The Lowdown is the perfect combination of gritty mystery and hangout comedy. It centers on Tulsa citizen journalist Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a roguish “truthstorian” with a heart of gold and a knack for getting into nasty situations. In Season 1,  he uncovered a sinister conspiracy at the heart of Tulsa. In Season 2, he’s back on the case, this time investigating the mysterious disappearance of a prison inmate. The Lowdown‘s first season was one of 2025’s absolute best shows, and given Harjo’s track record (and the arrival of incredible stars like Betty Gilpin and Tommy Lee Jones), it’s no surprise that Season 2 is just as great.* — B.E.

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Kaniehtiio Horn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Macon Blair

How to watch: The Lowdown Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.