5 Must-Watch Original Shows Coming to Netflix in October 2026
New month, new must-watch shows. For October 2026, Netflix has a full slate of new and returning shows on deck, including the fourth season of an Emmy-winning drama, a new adaptation of a classic American novel, and an in-depth look at one of the most controversial boxers in history.
Keep reading for Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s picks for must-watch Netflix shows in October 2026.
‘East of Eden’
Zoe Kazan adapts John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel East of Eden in this seven-episode limited series. Kazan comes to the material from a unique perspective. Her grandfather is Elia Kaza, who directed the 1955 movie adaptation of the story, which starred James Dean. The Netflix version centers the story on Florence Pugh’s Cathy Ames, rather than her sons, in this retelling of the book of Genesis.
East of Eden premieres October 1.
‘Below’
Dive into spooky season with Below, a six-episode creature thriller about a small and isolated Newfoundland fishing community facing a mysterious threat. Josh Hartnett stars as Calvin Penney, a stubborn fisherman haunted by his father’s death, alongside Mackenzie Davis and Charlie Heaton. When an unidentified sea creature begins terrorizing his hometown, Calvin must fight to hold his close-knit community together.
Below premieres October 8 .
‘Tyson’
Netflix dives into the dramatic life of Mike Tyson, one of the best-known and most controversial figures in sports history. This four-part series traces Tyson’s story from his chaotic early years in Brooklyn to his triumphant rise to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history. But behind the fame and success was a messy reality that nearly destroyed the fighter and his legacy.
“It’s hard to navigate your true self,” Tyson says in the trailer. “When you really don’t know who the f*ck you are.”
Tyson premieres October 13.
‘The Trap’
Fans of tense, twisty thrillers will want to check out German series The Trap, about a successful author who sets out to catch a real-life killer. The show – which comes from the creators of Dear Child — focuses on Lisa Konrad (Friederike Becht), who hasn’t left her house in nearly 10 years, ever since she witnessed the murder of her sister Anna. But one day, she believes she recognizes the killer on television. To get justice for her sister, she lays out a trap, using herself as bait.
The Trap premieres October 13.
‘The Diplomat’ Season 4
Fresh off multiple Emmy nominations (and one win for Allison Janney) The Diplomat returns this month for another season of high-stakes political drama. Keri Russell is back as Ambassador Kate Wyler, who finds herself at odds with President Grace Penn (Janney) and her own husband, VP Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) as they cook up a conspiracy to steal Russia’s most powerful weapon, a move that push the United States into war.
The Diplomat Season 4 premieres October 15.
More new releases coming to Netflix in October 2026
What other shows and movies are coming to Netflix in October 2026? Here’s a list of the streamer’s additional upcoming new releases.
- The Ramparts of Ice: October 1
- Crazy, Rich, Incredibly Broke: October 1
- Tyler Perry’s Doing Life: October 2
- Blue Box: October 4
- Love Village Season 3: October 6
- Inside the Circle: October 7
- Who Is Martin Mull?: October 7
- Less of a Stranger: October 7
- Haunted Hotel: October 9
- Take Charge of My Heart: October 9
- Is It Cake? Halloween Season 2: October 9
- Love Is Blind Season 11: October 14
- Hunting Gary Glitter: October 14
- Hollywood Arts: October 15
- The Storm: October 15
- Sacrifice: October 16
- The Disciple: October 16
- Money Trap: The Karun Treasure: October 16
- Six Kings Slam: October 21
- The New Stanford Prison Experiment: October 21
- Nobody Wants This Season 3: October 22
- Fading Grandeur: October 23
- Lupin Season 4: October 23
- Minimum Wage: October 26
- The One About Matthew Perry: October 27
- A Couple of Lies: October 30
- Collision Course: October 30
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