What we’re watching in October 2026

Posted by Quade Au, 5 October 2026, 9:00 AM

Image credit: Prime Video

We’ve finally reached October, which means that the spooky season is finally upon us.

Even though Australians have a slight love/ hate relationship with Halloween, there’s something none of us can really deny – we all love a movie that gets our blood pumping. Whether it’s the heartfelt tingle from a romance film, the adrenaline of a thriller or the smile of a comedy movie, we can’t help but chase that feeling.

Movies and TV shows have this wonderful ability to take us out of our body and transport us into a new world and sometimes even headspace - but if you really want to get the blood pumping and feel that on edge sensation, it might be time to watch something Sci-Fi or horror.

Not sure want to watch? We’ve got you covered with some of our favourite October picks with Optus SubHub. Optus SubHub allows you stream more content and control multiple subscriptions all in one place. Binge easier and unlock savings by adding Optus SubHub to your plans.

Here are the perks you get with select Optus plans:

Postpaid plans: Save up to 10% every month on subscriptions through Optus ⁽¹⁾
Postpaid Promo Plan: Get a $10/month credit toward subscriptions of your choice for 12 months through Optus (offer available until withdrawn)⁽²⁾
Postpaid Large Choice Plus Plan: Get a $20/month credit toward subscriptions of your choice for as long as you remain on this plan through Optus ⁽³⁾
Choice Plus Data Plan: Save up to 10% on subscriptions every month through Optus ⁽⁴⁾

Check out our recommendations (if you dare).

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Netflix MA15+) October 20

Image credit: Netflix

The original Cyberpunk: Edgerunners story that released in 2022 was absolutely brutal – an awesome story that was often gut wrenching mixed with incredible animation from the amazing Studio Trigger, based in the universe of the blockbuster game Cyberpunk 2077. The first season was always meant to be a contained story about a group of mercenaries that pull off all kinds of jobs in the chaotic Night City.

Which is why season two follows the same guiding light: a group of misfits causing mayhem, with an entirely new cast in the same setting. If you’re unfamiliar with Studio Trigger’s work, know that they’re one of the best anime studios Japan has to offer – with their library also including Delicious in Dungeon, Little Witch Academia and a host of other brilliant animated shows. Though Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is certainly their most mature.

Zachariah Kelly, Optus writer

Below: Limited Series (Netflix MA15+) October 2

Image credit: Netflix

Josh Harnett is officially back - and we couldn’t be happier.

But please forget the 90’s heartthrob status, Harnett gives us a tense performance reminiscent of his 30 Days of Night and Trap characters.

In this limited series, Harnett plays Calvin Penney – a local fisherman from a small coastal town whose life is uprooted when a mysterious sea creature he witnessed as a child seemingly returns and starts terrorizing the local community.

Naturally his fellow townspeople are cautious to believe in this supernatural monster. To solve the mysterious occurrence, Penney teams up with marine biologist Fonda Howander (played by Mackenzie Davis) who initially is also skeptical of this underwater creature but is still willing to learn more and help uncover the truth about what’s really lurking in the deep water.

If you’re finding this storyline to be a somewhat strange concept to grasp, that’s completely fair because it is - but if can imagine the movie ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ combine it with ‘Stranger Things’ and in an element of ‘Lady In the Water’ - you’ve got Below. Enjoy!

Quade Au, Optus writer

Dexter Resurrection (Paramount +, MA15+) October 30

Image credit: Paramount +

If you were a fan of the original series, then please adjust your work calendars accordingly to dedicate yourself to weekly episodes of the second season of Dexter Resurrection.

Admittedly, like so many dedicated fans - I didn’t enjoy the ending of the original series. I found it somewhat underwhelming and personally not in line with the character we had grown to adore and fear. So, when news came out that a revival series was happening, I was trepidatious on whether or not I would be willing to commit to the show again.

Thankfully after the first episode, those worries were quickly dashed and the love for the character quickly returned. In Dexter Resurrection, our beloved anti-hero moves to New York City to track down his estranged son and face a secret society of serial killers.

If that wasn’t complicated enough, season 2 not only picks things up right where we left Dexter Morgan in season 1 but also introduces two major threats that have just entered the city: The ‘New York Ripper’ and ‘The Five Borough Killer’.

Somehow even after all this time with our main character, we still can’t help but still ask ourselves, “Do we root for or oppose him this season?”

Time will only tell - so make sure to block out your calendars.

Quade Au, Optus writer

Carrie (Prime Video) PG 13+, October 7

Image credit: Prime Video

In 1976 Carrie was the first of more than 100 Stephen King novels to be adapted for film, TV or theatre, and many critics and industry rankings list it as one of the best horror films ever made.

So it’s a spooky delight to see another reimagining heading to our screens, this one an eight series binge drop from Mike Flanagan, with Summer H. Howell leading a jam-packed cast including Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder. I can’t wait to see how this crew go about the genius plot, which sees anti-heroine, Carrie, a shy, anxious teenage girl, get teased relentlessly at school by the cool kids and hassled relentlessly at home by her over-bearing, slightly bonkers mum. The scary twist is that Carrie discovers she has telekinesis, the ability to move objects with her mind, and after she decides enough is enough with the teasing and the hassle, she uses her powers to get her own back in truly horrific ways.

If you like your horror with a side order of sweet, sickly revenge then do yourself a frightening favour and put Carrie on your binge list. Although be warned, you’ll never feel the same about school proms ever again.

Justin Coombs, Optus writer

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Disclaimers

Save up to 10% every month on subscriptions when you add three or more eligible subscriptions in Optus SubHub. Eligible customers and services. Group discounts apply outside free/trial periods.
$10 credit per month offer on $79 Optus Plus Promo Plan: Available until withdrawn. Forfeited if you cancel, move to an ineligible plan, or recontract. Must have paid subscription costs via SubHub greater than $0/mth to receive up to $10/mth credit for 12 consecutive months. Credit forfeited in months with no paid subscriptions via SubHub within credit period.
SubHub credit on the Large Optus Choice Plus plan: Available until withdrawn to new and existing Consumer and Business customers signing up to a Large Optus Choice Plus/Optus Choice/Business Choice/Business Choice Plus plan. Customer must have an active SubHub account with paid subscription costs greater than $0/mth to receive ongoing SubHub credit up to $20/mth maximum, depending on total of customers’ paid subscription costs (any difference between the total costs and $20 is forfeited). Credit will commence with first charge of paid subscription and continue each month. Credit forfeited if there are no paid subscriptions via SubHub in a particular month. Offer forfeited if you cancel, move to an ineligible plan, or recontract your plan (including by adding or removing a device payment plan). Limited to 1 SubHub credit per eligible plan.
Save up to 10% every month on subscriptions when you add three or more eligible subscriptions in Optus SubHub. Eligible customers and services. Group discounts apply outside free/trial periods.

Quade Au is an entertainment writer at Optus with a degree in Media and Communication.

With a background of editorial work, Quade has written for several websites and magazines covering culture, entertainment and travel and when he’s not writing, he’s most likely watching dog videos.

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