10 Great Movies New To Netflix In October 2025

In what feels like a massive shift from recent years, there aren’t many horror films to be found in Netflix’s October lineup. While that might be bad news for scary movie fans (like me), that doesn’t mean there isn’t great new cinema to be found on Netflix this month—in fact, there’s a cornucopia of great material. That includes several brand-new, star-studded releases from the streaming platform (from atmospheric pop operas starring Colin Farrell to quiet, slice-of-life character studies starring Cillian Murphy), as well as old favorites that are perfect for autumnal viewing (from forgotten gothic-inspired fantasies to classic tales of the one and only Count Dracula). Those movies (and more) are newly available to Netflix subscribers this month.

So where do you start with such a stellar lineup? I’m here to help. Below, I’ve highlighted ten standout movies that should be on your watch list this month. Each movie comes with many details, including plot summaries, trailers and when they’re available for viewing. Then, at the end of this article, you can find a full list of every movie hitting Netflix this month.

10 Great Movies New To Netflix In October 2025

Ballad of a Small Player (2025)

The Academy Awards rewarded Edward Berger for his epic war film All Quiet on the Western Front with Best International Feature, while the BAFTA Awards bestowed the Best Director honor upon him. With that and Conclave now under his belt, all eyes are on the German director as Colin Farrell takes center stage in Netflix’s Ballad of a Small Player. This stylish new psychological thriller based on Lawrence Osborne’s novel follows Lord Doyle (Farrell), a disgraced lawyer who escapes to Macau’s neon-lit casinos to drown his debts and his past. But as the tables turn against Lord Doyle, he crosses paths with Dao Ming (Fala Chen), a mysterious woman who might be his only chance at salvation—or ruin. Tilda Swinton also stars as a figure from Doyle’s past who won’t let him slip away. With its blend of glitz, desperation and psychological intrigue, this “pop opera” promises one of Netflix’s most atmospheric releases of the year. This much-anticipated film will make its Netflix premiere worldwide on October 29, after a brief theatrical run.

Steve (2025)

It’s always interesting to see what an actor does after winning the top acting honor from the Academy Awards. Cillian Murphy, still fresh from his Best Actor win for Oppenheimer, has continued his mix of high-budget genre productions and quiet ones, going from post-apocalyptic horror like 28 Years Later to historical dramas like Small Things Like These. In fact, the director of that latter film, Tim Mielants, oversaw the latest slice-of-life movie in Murphy’s canon, Steve. In this reimagining of Max Porter’s Shy, Murphy stars as the titular headteacher at a struggling reform school in mid-1990s England. Over the course of a single, pressure-filled day, he battles bureaucratic collapse, tries to support troubled students and wrestles with his own mental health. Meanwhile, Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a volatile teen under his care, provides a parallel journey of anguish and hope. Produced through Murphy’s production company Big Things Films, Steve feels like a passion project, promising a grounded, emotionally raw drama about the fragility of care in broken systems. You can catch it on Netflix starting October 3, after a limited theatrical run beginning September 19.

A House of Dynamite (2025)

It feels like Kathryn Bigelow has been away from the big screen for a really long time. She did direct Detroit in 2017, but it was a box-office disappointment that made little impression during awards season. That’s a far cry from films like 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty, which garnered five Oscar nominations, and the 2008 Best Picture– and Best Director–winning juggernaut The Hurt Locker. But now she’s back with a Netflix picture that’s sure to put her name in the spotlight. And the film doesn’t waste any time: A House of Dynamite throws viewers into a nation’s worst 20 minutes, when a mysterious missile streaks toward the U.S. and top officials must determine its origin—and whether to retaliate. Idris Elba plays the president, Rebecca Ferguson is a military communications captain, and an ensemble cast (including Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Greta Lee and Tracy Letts) races against time in a procedural thriller of moral and existential stakes. After a limited theatrical release in October, the film lands globally on Netflix on October 24.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

Sometimes a director’s abrupt switch into new genre territory can go terribly wrong—but it didn’t seem to bother Stacie Passon. Best known for her debut Concussion (a heavily emotional, culturally relevant drama) and her work on the television show Transparent, Passon shifted seamlessly into the fantasy realm with We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Based on Shirley Jackson’s novel, this chilling story follows two reclusive sisters—Merricat (Taissa Farmiga) and Constance (Alexandra Daddario)—living in isolation with their invalid uncle after a family tragedy. When their manipulative cousin Charles (Sebastian Stan) arrives, Charles threatens their fragile equilibrium and exposes buried secrets. Appreciated by critics but largely unnoticed by the general public, this little horror gem on Netflix leans into gothic suspense with its psychological undercurrents and ambiguous reality. For anyone willing to go down the horror path this spooky season, it’s an atmospheric, character-driven reminder of the uncanny hidden within domestic spaces.

Dracula (1931)

The story might be familiar at this point, with Dracula’s tale told and retold time and again in fresh ways, but there’s simply no topping the original Dracula—a movie that houses one of the all-time great horror performances from Bela Lugosi as the titular blood-sucker. This age-old tale follows British solicitor Renfield (Dwight Frye), who travels to Transylvania to finalize a real estate transaction with Count Dracula. Once inside Dracula’s eerie castle, Renfield falls under the vampire’s hypnotic control and becomes his devoted servant. After Dracula travels by ship to London, the villain becomes fascinated with Mina Seward (Helen Chandler), the daughter of Dr. Seward (Herbert Bunston), and begins feeding on Mina, drawing concern from Mina’s fiancé John Harker (David Manners), all while Professor Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan) deduces that Dracula is a vampire. Lugosi’s iconic turn as Count Dracula has echoed through generations of horror—the cape, the accent, the menace, all of it. Directed by Tod Browning and adapted from the stage play and Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula remains a lean, eerie classic that continues to haunt screens nearly a century later.

The Twits (2025)

Phil Johnston has quietly become one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers in animation, writing the screenplays for movies such as Wreck-It Ralph and Zootopia (he also had voice acting roles in both). He even went on to direct the sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet, and is now continuing down that directorial path with Netflix’s latest animated feature, The Twits. Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, the story follows the hideous Mr. and Mrs. Twit as they rule Twitlandia with nasty pranks and cruelty—that is, until two orphans (Beesha and Bubsy) and a family of magical animals (the Muggle-Wumps) unite to fight back. In Netflix’s first feature-length stab at Dahl (previously they’ve housed shorts from Wes Anderson’s multi-film project), you can find an all-star voice cast that includes Johnny Vegas, Margo Martindale, Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke, plus original songs from the one and only David Byrne (and an end-credit collaboration with Hayley Williams). Expect a wild, whimsical ride full of Dahl’s signature darkness and heart.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

The story of Desmond T. Doss, who refused to carry a weapon due to his religious beliefs while serving as a medic in World War II, went untold on the big screen for years. Despite interest from studios, the family insisted on creative integrity and a focus on Desmond’s faith. That’s where Mel Gibson stepped in, whose return to movies was seen as a redemption arc of sorts, mirroring the film’s themes of conviction and transformation. This true story stars Andrew Garfield as Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector in WWII who, despite relentless harassment from fellow soldiers, performed his duties without carrying weapons. Channeling his inner faith and courage, Doss saved dozens of soldiers under heavy fire at the Battle of Okinawa, earning the Medal of Honor in the process. Chronicling both Doss’s moral struggle and the physical brutality of war, Hacksaw Ridge has remained a stirring, visceral war drama that stands out for its moral backbone, its visceral realism and its commitment to Doss’s earned legacy.

The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)

Up until this point, director Simon Stone has specialized in a certain kind of film—his projects often feature Australian casts (Stone is Australian), and his bare-bones films tend to be very dramatic, moving with a gentle, contemplative rhythm. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with The Woman in Cabin 10, the latest psychological thriller from Netflix that, from the looks of the trailer, promises to be mysterious, taut and full of surprises. Adapted from Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, Keira Knightley stars as Lo Blacklock, a journalist aboard a luxury yacht who witnesses what appears to be a passenger thrown overboard. But when all passengers are accounted for and no one believes the story, Lo must navigate a labyrinth of deception and danger to uncover the truth. Supported by Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham and a strong ensemble, The Woman in Cabin 10 enters whodunit territory with a fresh perspective: a gripping cruise-ship mystery where perception is everything.

Blue Crush (2002)

There are some directors who have been unfairly maligned, who never got the time of day from critics or casual moviegoers because their movies only seemed trivial. John Stockwell was certainly one of those artists, whose output has generally been received either lukewarmly (great movies like Crazy/Beautiful) or harshly (great movies like Into the Blue). And 2002’s Blue Crush, with its immersive surf cinematography and naturalistic approach, certainly fits into that mold. But make no mistake: this kinetic story is beautifully shot and told. The movie centers on Anne Marie Chadwick (Kate Bosworth), a former rising star in the surfing world whose ambitions were shot after a near-drowning accident. Living in a ramshackle house on the North Shore of Oahu with her younger sister Penny (Mika Boorem) and best friends Eden (Michelle Rodriguez) and Lena (Sanoe Lake), Anne Marie is encouraged to join the prestigious Pipeline surf competition, all while pursuing a potential romance with visiting NFL quarterback Matt Tollman (Matthew Davis). At its core, Blue Crush is about fear and recovery—how trauma doesn’t just disappear, how real courage is only found when you’re truly scared.

When a Stranger Calls (1979)

Horror movies these days have lost sight a bit, with their convoluted stories, with their overt political statements and cultural commentary, with their constant whip pans and Dutch tilts and crash zooms—what even happened to simplicity? Movies like Halloween, or House of Wax, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were effective because of their simplicity, because they were visceral and clean and static—essentially, free from excess. And When a Stranger Calls certainly fits into that camp. The film follows high schooler Jill Johnson (Carol Kane), who takes an evening babysitting job for two children. Before long, Jill receives disturbing phone calls from a stranger who repeatedly asks, “Have you checked the children?” It turns out, the children are already dead, and the killer, Curt Duncan (Tony Beckley), is apprehended. Seven years later, Duncan escapes from a psychiatric facility, and former detective John Clifford (Charles Durning) is hired to track him down as Duncan forces Jill—now married with children—to relive the horror.

Every New Movie On Netflix In October 2025

October 1: About My Father (2023); Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Beverly Hills Cop III (1994); Blue Crush (2002); Casper (1995); Coach Carter (2005); Coming to America (1988); Daddy Day Care(2003); Death Becomes Her (1992); Dirty Dancing (1987); Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012); Dracula (1931); Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987); Ejen Ali: The Movie (2019); Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 (2025); Elysium (2013); Fifty Shades Darker (2017); Fifty Shades Freed (2018); Fifty Shades of Grey (2015); Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012); Hacksaw Ridge (2016); I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998); Law Abiding Citizen (2009); Meet Joe Black (1998); Molly’s Game(2017); Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005); Pineapple Express (2008); Point Break (1991); Red Dragon (2002); Rockstar: Duki from the End of the World (2023); Scarface (1983); Sinister 2 (2015); Sister Act (1992); Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit(1993); Slender Man (2018); Taxi Driver (1976); The Book Club Murders (2024); The Christmas Contract (2018); The Goonies (1985); The Hurt Locker (2008); The Lincoln Lawyer (2011); The Mask (1994); The Strangers (2008); The Wrath of Becky (2023); Training Day (2001); When a Stranger Calls (1979)
October 2: Dodgeball: A TRUE Underdog Story (2004); Rockstar: Duki From The End of the World (2025); The Martian (2015)
October 3: Goodbye, Farewell (2024); Steve (2025)
October 4: 404 (2024); Despicable Me 3 (2017); Ip Man (2008); Ip Man 2 (2010); Ip Man 3 (2015); Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
October 7: We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)
October 8: Caramelo (2025)
October 9: Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022); Dendam Malam Kelam (2025); Host (2020); Only We Knew (2025); Prevenge (2016); The Maze Runner (2014); Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015); Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018); What Happens Later (2023)
October 10: Kurukshetra: The Great War of Mahabharata (2025); My Father, the BTK Killer (2025); Nouvelle Vague (2025); The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)
October 12: Some Other Woman (2023)
October 13: Vacation (2015)
October 14: Everybody Loves Me When I’m Dead (2025)
October 15: Held Hostage in My House (2024); Inside Furioza (2025); Taken in Plain Sight (2017)
October 16: Bad Shabbos (2024); Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009); The Time That Remains (2025); The A‑Team (2010)
October 17: 27 Nights (2025); Good News (2025); She Walks in Darkness (2025); The Perfect Neighbor (2025) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023); The Twits (2025); Turn of the Tide: The Surreal Story of Rabo de Peixe (2025)
October 18: Don’t Say A Word (2001)
October 21: Who Killed the Montreal Expos? (2025)
October 23: The Elixir (2025)
October 24: A House of Dynamite (2025)
October 27: Sliding Doors (1998)
October 28: Babo: The Haftbefehl Story (2025)
October 29: Ballad of a Small Player (2025); Small Engine Repair (2021); The Forgiven (2021)
October 30: Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers (2025); The Rats: A Witcher Tale (2025)
October 31: The White House Effect (2025)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2025/10/03/10-great-movies-new-to-netflix-in-october-2025/