10 TV Shows to Watch in October 2026

October 2026 brings a diverse selection of new and returning television series. The month's lineup includes adaptations of major literary works, legal dramas, crime thrillers, horror stories and a new Marvel series. From **John Steinbeck** and **Stephen King** adaptations to productions starring **Catherine Zeta-Jones**, **Josh Hartnett**, **Ethan Hawke** and **Paul Bettany**, these are 10 series attracting attention in October 2026. > **Note:** Release dates and streaming availability may vary by country. ## 1. War **Release:** 1 October on HBO in the US; 2 October on Sky and NOW in the UK *War* is a legal drama centred on wealth, relationships and a highly contentious divorce. **Dominic West** plays technology billionaire Morgan Henderson, while **Sienna Miller** portrays actress Carla Duval, his former wife. Their divorce becomes a high-profile legal battle involving rival law firms, media leaks, betrayal and competing strategies. The series was created by **George Kay**, who previously worked on projects including *Hijack*. ## 2. East of Eden **Release:** 1 October on Netflix internationally John Steinbeck's classic 1952 novel receives a new television adaptation in *East of Eden*. **Florence Pugh** plays Cathy, the complicated figure at the centre of the conflict between brothers Adam and Charles Trask. **Christopher Abbott** and **Mike Faist** play the brothers. The series was created by **Zoe Kazan**, whose family has a direct connection to the earlier film adaptation of the novel. Unlike the 1955 movie starring James Dean, the series has more room to cover Steinbeck's full story, moving from post-Civil War New England to California during the First World War. ## 3. Kill Jackie **Release:** 2 October on AMC+ in the US and Prime Video in the UK **Catherine Zeta-Jones** stars as Jackie Price, a former international drug dealer who has spent years living a wealthy and seemingly peaceful life as an art dealer. Her past returns when assassins begin targeting her. Jackie must work out who is behind the attacks while confronting people and events from her former life. The cast includes **Ron Perlman**, **Bill Paterson**, **Daniel Ings** and **Sidse Babett Knudsen**. The production was partly filmed in Swansea, Wales, where Zeta-Jones uses her native Welsh accent. ## 4. Carrie **Release:** 7 October on Prime Video internationally Stephen King's *Carrie* returns as a television series. The story follows Carrie White, a bullied teenager dealing with a difficult relationship with her mother while discovering her telekinetic abilities. The new adaptation comes from **Mike Flanagan**, known for series including *The Haunting of Hill House*. **Summer H. Howell** plays Carrie, with **Samantha Sloyan** as her mother. The adaptation also places the story in the age of smartphones and social media, giving its central theme of bullying a contemporary setting. ## 5. Small Prophets **Release:** 7 October on Apple TV internationally; BBC iPlayer in the UK Created by **Mackenzie Crook**, *Small Prophets* combines everyday drama with an unusual supernatural premise. Michael's life has been disrupted by the unexplained disappearance of his partner seven years earlier. His father Brian possesses a journal containing a recipe for creating *homunculi*, mysterious creatures supposedly capable of revealing the truth. **Michael Palin** plays Brian. The series mixes fantasy with themes of grief, friendship and ordinary working life. It has already been renewed for a second season following its original UK broadcast. ## 6. Cupertino **Release:** 8 October on CBS and Paramount+ in the US Robert and Michelle King, creators of *The Good Wife* and *The Good Fight*, turn their attention to the technology industry with *Cupertino*. **Mike Colter** plays lawyer Mike Price, who loses stock options after a dispute involving his technology start-up. Meanwhile, Olivia Siffre, played by **Rachel Keller**, loses her job after challenging a sexually predatory boss. The two lawyers eventually establish a firm representing people who believe they have been mistreated by major technology companies. Artificial intelligence and the growing influence of technology corporations form part of the series' wider conflict. ## 7. Below **Release:** 8 October on Netflix internationally Set in Newfoundland, *Below* is a maritime horror story with echoes of classic creature movies. **Josh Hartnett** plays fisherman Calvin Penney, whose financial difficulties deepen as the local fishing industry struggles. Then fish begin disappearing, tourists go missing and ice harvested from icebergs develops an alarming smell. A marine biologist played by **Mackenzie Davis** investigates what may be hiding beneath the water. **Charlie Heaton** plays Calvin's son Wade. Alongside its monster story, the series explores economic pressure and environmental change in a coastal community. ## 8. The Lowdown – Season 2 **Release:** 14 October on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK **Ethan Hawke** returns as Lee Raybon in the second season of *The Lowdown*. Lee is an investigative journalist and bookstore owner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose search for the truth repeatedly leads him into complicated situations. The second season introduces several new characters. **Betty Gilpin** plays a public defender who becomes involved with Lee after her client disappears from prison. **Tommy Lee Jones** joins the cast as Lee's father, whose sudden arrival creates another personal complication. Lee has previously told his young daughter that her grandfather is dead. ## 9. Vision Quest **Release:** 14 October on Disney+ internationally Marvel expands its television universe with *Vision Quest*, a spin-off connected to *WandaVision*. **Paul Bettany** returns as Vision. After losing Wanda, Vision attempts to understand his emotions and identity through interactions with artificial-intelligence personas embedded within him. One of the most significant figures is Ultron, again played by **James Spader**. The story also introduces Thomas Shepherd, a teenager connected to Vision and Wanda's history. ## 10. Nocturne **Release:** 30 October on Apple TV internationally *Nocturne* brings the month to a darker conclusion with a crime thriller adapted from novels by Swedish writers Lars Kepler. **Liev Schreiber** plays Jonah Lynn, a former soldier and homicide detective who leaves Philadelphia for a quieter town. The new life does not last long. A person previously believed to be a victim of a serial killer is discovered alive, forcing Lynn back into an investigation. **Stephen Graham** plays Jurek Walter, while **Zazie Beetz** portrays FBI agent Saga Bauer. The series combines police investigation, serial-killer mythology and psychological suspense. # From Steinbeck to Marvel October's television lineup covers a broad range of genres. Literary adaptations are represented by *East of Eden* and *Carrie*, bringing well-known works by Steinbeck and King into contemporary television. *War* and *Cupertino* approach the legal-drama format from very different perspectives, while *Carrie* and *Below* provide horror stories. Marvel audiences, meanwhile, can follow Vision's story after *WandaVision* in *Vision Quest*. *Small Prophets* takes a more unusual route by combining everyday human drama with fantasy. ## Old Stories, New Television One of the notable themes of October's lineup is the continued revival of established stories. *East of Eden* and *Carrie* both originate from influential works of literature, but television provides more space to develop characters and storylines. These adaptations also place familiar narratives within contemporary cultural contexts, including modern technology and social media. ## Streaming in October 2026 Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, Paramount+ and traditional television networks all have new programming arriving during October. For international viewers, however, availability can vary significantly by territory. Release schedules, licensing agreements and streaming catalogues may differ between countries. Viewers should therefore check their local platform listings for the latest availability information. ### Source * BBC Culture, *10 of the best TV shows to watch this October*, Caryn James, September 2026. * BBC Culture — Film & TV section, listing the October 2026 television feature.