Gotham group / Temple Hill Entertainment / 20th Century Fox
A new month is here, and that means lots of new movies. This month is exceptionally busy with new movies joining the October slate constantly. It’s also the start of “prestige” season for Netflix’s Original slate of movies, with their biggest swings of the year all on our doorstep.
As always, we’ll split our article into two sections: first, we’ll cover all the Netflix Original movies we’re most excited about that are coming to the streamer globally. Following that, we’ll delve into some of the licensed titles, both new and old, that are coming to the United States specifically.
For the complete list of everything coming to Netflix in the US throughout October 2025, keep it locked here on What’s on Netflix.
Most Anticipated New Netflix Original Movies in October 2025
The Twits
Coming to Netflix: October 17th
The Twits. (L to R) Margo Martindale as Mrs. Twit, Johnny Vegas as Mr. Twit, in The Twits. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
You have to feel sorry for anyone attached to one of Netflix’s animated feature film projects in the coming months, given that they’ve got one hell of a tough act to follow with KPop Demon Hunters having soared to the number 1 slot on Netflix’s all-time most-watched list. It’s a tough act to follow, but thankfully, The Twits appears to have the goods to deliver something very different.
Coming from the director of Wreck-It Ralph, the movie is actually one of the first major Roald Dahl adaptations to emerge from Netflix since the company acquired the author’s book catalog a few years ago.
Featuring music by David Byrne of Talking Heads, the film boasts a distinctive visual aesthetic and brings to life the 1980 children’s novel, with a voice cast that includes Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke.
A House of Dynamite
Coming to Netflix: October 24th
For the longest time, details on this project were one of the best-kept secrets from Netflix. We’ve known it’s a political thriller for quite some time and that it’s a long-awaited return for director Kathryn Bigelow, who last released a movie eight years ago. Similar in tone and themes to much of her prior work, the film centers on an unidentified missile launched at the United States, sparking a race to determine who is responsible and how to respond.
Debuting at the Venice Film Festival, the movie garnered a slew of solid reviews and was nominated for the Golden Lion award. Most of the praise was lumped onto the director’s ability to convey urgency and frantic action. Vulture called it an “absurdly riveting thriller with the kind of ticking-clock, military-grade suspense the director does so well.”
The cast alone is worth the admission price. Just look at it. Here goes: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke
Ballad of a Small Player
Coming to Netflix: October 29th
Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton are a potent mix who come together for this high-stakes movie that comes from Edward Berger, who returns to Netflix several years after his Oscar-winning film, All Quiet on the Western Front. The story focuses on Lord Doyle, who is a bit of a disaster, given that he’s picked up horrible debts and is now lying low in Macau. Unable or perhaps unwilling to learn from his mistakes, he’s offered a lifeline by a casino employee who sends his life into a tailspin.
Much like House of Dynamite, this one has already hit the festival circuit, but sadly, reviews have been more mixed across the board. Perhaps one of the reviews that summarizes the consensus the best is The Daily Beast, which wrote, “Stylized to the hilt but empty inside, it faithfully echoes the harried shallowness of its protagonist, whose desperate search for one big score to reverse his fortunes is all surface, no substance—the cinematic equivalent of a knock-off Rolex.”
Despite that, we suspect fans of the big stars that headline the project will still turn out, and we’re still excited to give it a punt.
The Woman in Cabin 10
Coming to Netflix: October 10th
Bizarrely, Netflix hasn’t got any English-language horrors lined up for October, with the closest thing being this murder mystery thriller, and even typing that, I feel like I’m stretching! Headlined by Keira Knightley, who had a breakout hit on Netflix late last year with Black Doves (Season 2 coming soon!), the movie adapts the novel of the same name.
The synopsis for the film reads, “While on board a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Keira Knightley) witnesses a passenger thrown overboard late at night, only to be told that it didn’t happen, as all passengers and crew are accounted for. Despite no one believing her, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger.”
No early reviews for this one yet, so all we’ve got to go on so far is the trailer, and from that, we can tell it’s going to be a tense and claustrophobic affair.
Best New Licensed Movies on Netflix US in October 2025
Once again, these titles are scheduled to arrive on Netflix US specifically – other regions’ availability will vary.
Bad Shabbos (2024)
Coming to Netflix: October 16th
If you’re looking for a relatively new movie being licensed to Netflix US next month, look no further than Bad Shabbos, a small indie comedy that’s not gotten the credit it deserves. Directed and co-written by Daniel Robbins, the film details the awkward interactions of two families (of separate faiths) that have come together for the first time. Already with a lot on their plate, things go from bad to worse with an accidental death putting a dent in proceedings.
While the film has only been available in a very limited setting until now, it has still garnered plenty of reviews, with many praising its sharp, witty writing, which provides big laughs throughout.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Coming to Netflix: October 17th
The second animated title we’re featuring on this list is one that had Seth Rogen’s involvement from a couple of years ago, which is thankfully getting a sequel in the near future (although it was recently pushed back to mid-2027 -boo!).
Reviewed well across the board, the uniquely styled animation brings the turtles to life like never before, with the four iconic brothers facing off against an army of mutants. Easily the best big-screen adaptation of the classic IP to date, if you’ve never watched this before, you’re missing out big time.
In addition to the relatively recent animated movie, Netflix is also acquiring two live-action movies that burst onto the big screen throughout the 2010s, including the 2014 title and its 2016 follow-up, titled Out of the Shadows. While I’m hard-pressed to recommend either, if you’re a fan of TMNT, it’s going to be a good month to have a Netflix subscription!
The Maze Runner Trilogy
Coming to Netflix: October 9th
Over the past year or so, we’ve slowly seen some of 20th Century Fox’s movie library licensed to Netflix in the United States. It’s still exceedingly rare, but it is happening more and more. This month, we’ll see the entire trilogy of Maze Runner added for a limited time, and although the film franchise is often overlooked when compared to some of the other sci-fi juggernauts that were released around the same time, these are still thoroughly enjoyable films.
The trilogy brings to life the dystopian science fiction novels written by American author James Dashner, with the first film centering on a teenage boy named Thomas who wakes up in a mysterious, isolated community called the Glade, surrounded by a massive, ever-changing maze. Like the other boys in the Glade, he has no memory of his past, only his name. The group’s goal is to find a way to escape the deadly maze and the biomechanical creatures known as Grievers that lurk within it.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Coming to Netflix: October 1st
If you can’t get enough of Kathryn Bigelow, our favorite movie from her incredible lineup of works was added to the streamer as part of the first of the month additions. Staff Sergeant William James (played by Jeremy Renner) is the center of this story with him being an adrenaline addicted bomb-squad expert working during the height of the Iraq War.
The heart-pounding psychological thriller explores what happens to a man who thrives on the adrenaline of combat and finds ordinary life a pale imitation of the battlefield. It still looks a million bucks and serves as the perfect precursor to A House of Dynamite.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Added to Netflix: October 2nd
Finally, we round out with one of the comedies that I can quite easily throw on during an easy Sunday afternoon and never get tired of it. That film is Dodgeball, starring Ben Still and Vince Vaughn.
Peter LaFleur (Vaughn) plays the owner of Average Joe’s Gym, who is about to lose everything to the pristine, purple-clad fitness empire Globo Gym, run by the magnificently arrogant White Goodman (Stiller). The only way out? A ridiculous, last-ditch effort to win enough cash in the ultimate dodgeball tournament. Get ready for a motley crew of misfits, training montages that defy logic, and a whole lot of balls to the face.
It’s a tight hour and a half and is relentless with the laughs and intensity. It’s layered and, as mentioned above, is easy to watch no matter the time or day.
Which of these new movies (if any) are you looking forward to watching on Netflix this October? Let us know down in the comment section below.
