Everything New on HBO Max in October 2025

If you’re planning a prequel to Stephen King’s *It*, releasing it in October is the only way to go. That’s when the new series, *It: Welcome to Derry*, will debut on HBO Max. The show, based on King’s ideas and created by many of the same people who made the recent *It* movies, is set in the early 1960s and shows a previous encounter between a different group of kids and Pennywise the terrifying clown. (Bill Skarsgard will be back as Pennywise, too!) Hopefully, everything goes smoothly and no one gets too scared!

Look, the world is stressful enough, but if you’re looking for a scare, HBO and Max have you covered this Halloween. They’re dropping a new series from Tim Robinson called *The Chair Company*, which… honestly, might be a bit much! But if you’re *really* in the mood for horror, they’re also adding the recent A24 film *Bring Her Back* to their streaming library. And for those of us who love the classics, get ready: they’ve got the entire *Nightmare on Elm Street* series, *The Exorcist*, and tons of *Halloween* and *Insidious* movies. Basically, it’s a horror fan’s dream!

Here’s everything coming to HBO Max in October…

TITLES COMING TO HBO MAX IN OCTOBER

Here’s a list of film and television titles: 2 Days in New York, 50 First Dates, A Nightmare on Elm Street (and its sequels 2-5), Alan Partridge, All Eyez on Me, Beetlejuice, Big, Beautiful Tariffs: A Fareed Zakaria Special, Broken English, Bronson, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, Christine, Confidence, Crime in the Streets, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932 & 1941), Drag Me to Hell, Edward Scissorhands, Enemy, Fay Grim, Firestarter, Freaks, Freddy vs. Jason, Friday the 13th (2009), From Hell It Came, Gone Girl, Gremlins (1984), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Halloween: Resurrection, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Hereditary, Highway 301, House of Wax (1953), House on Haunted Hill (1958), I Died a Thousand Times, I Give it a Year, Indestructible Man, Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, Insidious: Chapter 2 & 3, Interview with the Vampire, Intruder in the Dust, Isle of the Dead, It’s Complicated, Krypto Saves the Day: Halloween Havoc, Lady in the Lake, Los Cronocrimenes, Macabre, Marcel the Shell with Shoes, Mirror Mirror, National Velvet, Nora Prentiss, Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words, Page One, Pearl: The X-Traordinary Origin Story, Phenix City Story, Poltergeist (1982), Practical Magic, Pride, Scooby-Doo (2002) & 2: Monsters Unleashed, Shame, Talk to Me (2023), Tension, The Black Scorpion, The Brothers McMullen, The Cyclops, and The Disembodied.

Here’s a list of film and television titles: The Exorcist (1973), The First Monday in May, The Gangster, The Harvey Girls, The Lobster, The Monster, The Mummy (1959), The Mummy (2017), The Mystery of the Wax Museum, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Return of Doctor X, The Shining, The Sixth Sense, The Steel Jungle, The Switch, The Tattooed Stranger, The Unfaithful, The Walking Dead (1936), The Watch, The Witch, Tickled, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Trick ‘r Treat, Uncut Gems, War for the Planet of the Apes, X, You Can’t Get Away with Murder, and Zombies on Broadway.

Here’s a look at what’s coming up: On October 2nd, a declassified report on the Air India crash will be released (Discovery, 2025). Also premiering is Season 1 of E.B. White’s *Charlotte’s Web*, Season 12 of *Mysteries of the Abandoned* (Discovery), Season 1 of *The Friday the 13th Murders* (ID), and Season 2 of *The Real Murders on Elm Street* (ID).

October 3
Bring Her Back (A24)
Where We Call Home, Season 4 (Magnolia Network)

October 6
SMILING FRIENDS, Season 3 (Adult Swim)

I recently watched a couple of compelling CNN Originals. First up was *Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt*, a deep dive into pain management – really thought-provoking stuff. Then I checked out the first season of *One Day in October*, which offered a fascinating, focused look at a single day. Both were well worth my time, and I’d recommend them if you’re looking for something a bit different from the usual entertainment fare.

October 8
Alex vs America, Season 5 (FOOD Network)
Baylen Out Loud, Season 2 (TLC)

October 9
Vgly, Season 2 (Max Original)

Here’s a list of shows and seasons that were released on October 10th: Bugs Bunny Builders (Season 2G on Cartoon Network), Homes With a View (Season 1 on Magnolia Network), Lu & The Bally Bunch (Season 1D on Cartoon Network), The Alabama Solution (an HBO Original), and The Substance (available on MUBI).

October 11
Bering Sea Gold, Season 19 (Discovery)
Impractical Jokers, Season 12A (truTV)

October 12
The Chair Company, Season 1 (HBO Original)
The Snake Catcher, Season 1 (Animal Planet)

Here’s a rundown of shows airing on October 15th: Season 16 of *7 Little Johnstons* on TLC, Season 20 of *Graveyard Carz*, Season 2 of *Mother May I Murder?* on Investigation Discovery (ID), and the film *Pan*.

Here’s a list of shows and specials available starting October 17th: Adam Pally’s intimate evening (an HBO Original), Season 1 of ‘Baby Assassins Everyday!’, Season 5 of ‘Beach Cottage Chronicles’ (on Magnolia Network), ‘Ignite’ Season 1, ‘La Grande Maison Tokyo Special’, Season 1 of ‘La Grande Maison Tokyo’, Season 1 of ‘Light of My Lion’, Season 1 of ‘Love is for the Dogs’, Season 1 of ‘Mr. Mikami’s Classroom’, Season 1 of ‘Please Die My Beloved’, Season 3 of ‘The Thaw’ (a Max Original), Season 1 of ‘True Beauty’, Season 1 of ‘Until I Destroyed My Husband’s Other Family’, Season 1 of ‘Vivant’, and Season 1 of ‘Who Saw The Peacock Dance in the Jungle?’

October 19
Anything But Gray, Season 1 (Magnolia Network)

October 20
Haha, You Clowns, Season 1 (Adult Swim)

Here’s what’s new on streaming:

October 21st brings “Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death of Brent Renaud” (an HBO Original) and “The Simril(l)s: A Family in Black and White, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” (a CNN Original).

October 22
Holmes Family Rescue, Season 3 (HGTV)
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

October 23
Expedition X, Season 10 (Discovery)
Dangerously Obese, Season 2 (TLC)

Here’s what’s new to streaming today, October 24th: Season 1 of *Lakeside Retreats* is available on Magnolia Network, and Season 9D of *Teen Titans Go!* is now streaming on Cartoon Network.

October 26
It: Welcome to Derry, Season 1 (HBO Original)

October 27
Naked and Afraid Brazil XL, Season 1 (discovery+)

Okay, so this weekend on TV, October 28th, I caught the HBO Original, “Country Doctor.” It’s a really interesting piece. Then, over on CNN, they had a deep dive called “The United States vs. Harvard, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper.” Definitely worth checking out if you’re into documentaries.

October 29
American Monster, Season 13 (ID)
Survival of the Beast, Season 1 (Animal Planet)

October 30
Fatal Engineering, Season 1 (Science)
Sorry, Baby (A24)

Here’s what’s new on TV for October 31st: a new volume of *House Hunters* (Season 246, Volume 10 on HGTV), the first season of *Jonathan Ross Haunted Homecoming* on Travel Channel, and the premiere of *Old Home Stories* on Magnolia Network.

10 Great HBO Miniseries You Totally Forgot About

1. Generation Kill (2008)

Despite a talented cast, *Generation Kill* doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, perhaps because its actors haven’t become as widely famous as those from *Band of Brothers* and *The Pacific*. This HBO miniseries, created by the team behind *The Wire* (David Simon and Ed Burns) and based on Evan Wright’s book about his experiences with the U.S. Marines during the 2003 Iraq invasion, offers a realistic and unbiased look at the early months of the war. It features a young Alexander Skarsgard as the remarkably composed Staff Sergeant Brad “Iceman” Colbert. The series is intense, often violent, and unflinchingly honest, making it one of the most compelling portrayals of that period in recent decades.

2. Show Me a Hero (2015)

It’s hard to imagine now, but Oscar Isaac wasn’t always a household name. As he gained recognition in the early 2000s with films like *Drive*, *Inside Llewyn Davis*, and *A Most Violent Year*, he also starred in the HBO miniseries *Show Me a Hero*. The series, based on Lisa Belkin’s book of the same name, tells the story of Nick Wasicsko, the mayor of Yonkers, New York, and the conflict that arose when a white neighborhood opposed a new federally-funded public housing project. Created by David Simon and William F. Zorzi (a writer from *The Wire*) and directed by Academy Award winner Paul Haggis, the show received high praise from critics but didn’t get the attention it deserved. It was lauded for both Isaac’s performance and its honest portrayal of racism and inequality.

3. The Night Of (2016)

If you enjoy crime dramas, you likely remember *The Night Of*, the gripping miniseries starring Riz Ahmed as a college student accused of murder in New York City, and John Turturro as his sharp lawyer. The show, which is based on a British series called *Criminal Justice*, was in development for years, and originally James Gandolfini and Robert De Niro were considered for Turturro’s role. The version we ultimately saw focused on the terrifying uncertainty of a suspect who can’t remember what happened, creating a truly suspenseful atmosphere. Combined with outstanding performances from Ahmed, Turturro, and Michael Kenneth Williams (yes, we’ll eventually stop mentioning *The Wire*!), it’s considered one of the best crime shows ever made.

4.The Young Pope (2016)

HBO’s miniseries, *The Young Pope*, starts with a fascinating premise: what if the pope was young? While often absurd, the show is surprisingly captivating. It was so popular, in fact, that HBO created a follow-up series, *The New Pope*. Jude Law plays Lenny Belardo, a New York cardinal who unexpectedly becomes Pope Pius XIII. The series follows Pius XIII as he deals with the complex politics of the Vatican and tries to fundamentally change the Catholic Church. Though he appears arrogant and difficult, a deeper vulnerability lies beneath the surface, known only to his childhood caretaker and advisor, a nun played by Diane Keaton.

5. Mosaic (2018)

When many companies were experimenting with interactive TV, HBO created the murder mystery miniseries *Mosaic*, directed by Steven Soderbergh. The show stars Sharon Stone as Olivia Lake, a children’s book author who’s been murdered, and follows her sister and friends as they try to find the killer. Originally, viewers could watch *Mosaic* as a traditional TV series *or* use an app to piece together the story themselves, exploring different scenes, dialogue options, and background information to solve the crime. (Unfortunately, the app and website are no longer available.) This interactive element was intentional, reflecting Soderbergh and writer Ed Solomon’s goal of presenting a story with multiple perspectives and no clear-cut good or bad guys.

6. Sharp Objects (2018)

Before becoming famous for *Gone Girl*, Gillian Flynn wrote *Sharp Objects*, a dark and atmospheric Southern gothic novel about a reporter investigating a series of murders in her hometown. The HBO miniseries stars Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, a troubled alcoholic who returns to face her past and a difficult relationship with her mother (played by Patricia Clarkson). While investigating, Camille reconnects with her half-sister (Eliza Scanlen) and tries to solve the crimes. The series is known for its gloomy tone, oppressive heat, and realistic portrayal of how environment can influence behavior. It was also the last project directed by Jean-Marc Vallée before his death in 2021.

7. Watchmen (2019)

If a new adaptation of *Watchmen* was going to happen, the HBO series certainly took a wildly unexpected approach. It reimagines the *Watchmen* universe in the present day, assuming masked vigilantes never disappeared. Created by Damon Lindelof, known for *Lost* and *The Leftovers*, the show delivers the complex storytelling and unique atmosphere you’d expect from him. The story unfolds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a masked hero portrayed by Regina King investigates the police chief’s murder. This investigation reveals connections between current events, historical white supremacist activity, and the original *Watchmen* storyline.

8. I May Destroy You (2020)

Michaela Coel, the creator and star of *Chewing Gum*, brings her singular vision to *I May Destroy You*. The show centers on Arabella, a writer who finds success with her first book and online, but whose life is turned upside down after a night of sexual assault. The series follows Arabella’s journey to understand what happened, and also explores the lives and challenges of her group of friends in London, portrayed by a predominantly Black British cast.

9. We Are Who We Are (2020)

Luca Guadagnino is a highly acclaimed filmmaker, but his HBO series, *We Are Who We Are*, doesn’t get nearly enough attention. This coming-of-age drama, set on a US military base in Italy in 2016, follows two 14-year-olds (Jack Dylan Grazer and Jordan Christine Seamón) as they navigate the complexities of teenage life – friendships, first crushes, and figuring out who they are. Rather than dramatic plot twists, the show excels at capturing quiet, intimate moments, making even the smallest seconds feel significant.

10. Irma Vep (2022)

HBO’s *Irma Vep* is a truly unique show, and a playful one at that. Created by Olivier Assayas, it’s both a reimagining and a continuation of his earlier film with the same title. The show cleverly critiques the trend of sequels and reboots while simultaneously redefining what those terms even mean. Alicia Vikander stars as an American actress who chooses an artful project – a remake of a classic French silent film – over big Hollywood productions. Like the original film, the series explores the blurring lines between the actress, her on-screen persona, and the intriguing mystery at the heart of the story.

2025-09-26 17:59