Autumn means shorter days and a longer watchlist — and this year, the countdown starts before the leaves have even dropped.
Our pick of the best TV shows and films to watch this autumn spans new series of fan favourites, a genuinely stacked run at the cinema, and enough cosy-season energy to make staying in feel like the main event.
Grab a blanket, pick a platform, and get ready to fall behind on responsibilities instead of episodes.
New TV shows to watch this autumn and beyond
Whichever platform's doing the heavy lifting this autumn, it doesn't have to cost full price:
What to watch on Prime Video
Carrie — on Prime Video 7 October
Any horror genre fans will know this absolute cult classic storyline, which has already been adapted into 4 feature films since the book came out in 1976. Now Mike Flanagan is reframing Stephen King's classic as a limited series, with 8 episodes all timed perfectly for Halloween. Anyone who lost sleep over Mike's past works such as “The Haunting of Hill House” or “Midnight Mass” should clear an evening for this one.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, series three — Prime Video — 11 November
The highly-rated fantasy TV series is back for another season. Middle-earth's prequel era rolls on with more forging, more politics, and more slow-motion walks through beautiful scenery. A solid pick for anyone who wants a watch that doesn't demand too much brainpower - but transports you to a new world
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What to watch on Netflix
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — on Netflix 17 September
Now, if you're familiar with Ryan Murphy's widely popular Monster series, which turned the stories of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein and the Menendez brothers into some of Netflix's biggest true-crime hits, then you'll know what sort of creepy vibe to expect from this latest edition. This time the focus is on an 1892 axe murder case people still can't agree on, more than a century later. Prepare for a lot of suspense and to be a bit spooked.
Lupin, series four — on Netflix 23 October
Lupin is returning to Netflix with 8 action-packed episodes. Actor Omar Sy returns as Assane Diop - a master thief - for another heist that somehow always goes sideways in the most satisfying way. Based on a popular French book series written in the early 1900s - Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar - it brings an air of timelessness and great storylines. Three seasons in, “Lupin” still hasn't run out of ways to make theft look like art
What to watch on Disney+
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, series three — on Disney+ 20 November
The demigods return for “The Titan's Curse,” and it's shaping up to be the darkest chapter yet... Built for anyone who grew up on the books and loved the characters - the series has a Tomatometer score of 95% for good reason.
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New films to watch this autumn and beyond
Cinema trips add up fast, especially with a lineup this stacked. Regulars can stack the following:
The Last House –– on Netflix since 7 August
This film is the one everyone's already talking about. Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me, Lupin directs this Bird Box meets Arrival sci-fi thriller about a family sealed inside their own home with no way out, forced to survive dwindling supplies and a mysterious threat keeping them trapped. Greta Lee and Wagner Moura lead, and it debuted at No. 1 on Netflix's global chart with over 27 million views in its first three days.
The End of Oak Street ––in cinemas since 14 August
Director David Robert Mitchell (the mind behind the psychological horror film It Follows) teams up with producer J.J. Abrams for a sci-fi mystery starring (the iconic) Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and Christian Convery. Basically, picture a standard suburban family whose neighbourhood gets impacted by a strange cosmic event - taking it back 150 million years in the past. Worth a watch.
Insidious: Out of the Further — in cinemas 21 August
Back like it never left, in this sixth film in this renowned horror franchise, Insidious, Lin Shaye returns alongside Brandon Perea (Nope, Twisters), with Jacob Chase directing. Plot details are still under wraps; if you're wondering what the Insidious movies are about, they mainly focus on dark phenomena - think demons, ghosts and all that creepy stuff, probably not for the faint-hearted.
The Dog Stars — in cinemas 28 August
Ridley Scott's first sci-fi film in almost a decade follows a civilian pilot (Jacob Elordi) and a former marine (Josh Brolin) surviving the aftermath of a flu pandemic that's wiped out most of the population. Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, and Benedict Wong round out the cast.
Resident Evil — in cinemas 18 September
Yes, you read that right: the popular horror game is becoming a live-action film. Zach Cregger, the director of Barbarian, is rebooting the zombie franchise from scratch with Austin Abrams leading. Horror fans have wanted someone to finally get a Resident Evil movie right — word on the street says this could be it.
The Love Hypothesis — on Prime Video 23 September
Where are all the BookTok fans at? Ali Hazelwood's romance novel phenomenon is getting the adaptation treatment, with Lili Reinhart starring as the PhD student who fake-dates her way into a real relationship. Expect this to be the most-quoted movie on campus by October.
Street Fighter — in cinemas 16 October
Another video game adaptation on the list; this version of Street Fighter swapped directors mid-production — from Danny and Michael Philippou (Talk to Me) to Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip) — and kept fans guessing about the plot for a long time. Early trailers stay faithful to the games as we know them, right down to the character looks and signature moves. Featuring Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, and Andrew Koji, as well as a cast stacked with wrestling crossover cameos.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — in cinemas 20 November
The prequel everyone actually wanted: watch young, 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, decades before he became Katniss's mentor – and learn more about why he has become as weary as he is. Bring friends, and skip the popcorn refill during the reaping scene.
Jumanji: Open World — in cinemas over the Christmas period
The original four friends are back, except this time their in-game avatars — and every creature in Jumanji — get ported into the real world. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan return, with four new unlucky players about to get pulled into the game.
Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three — in cinemas both 18 December
A big date for big-production movie lovers: two of the year's biggest films happen to open on the exact same day, so this is less “what to watch” and more “which screening to book.” The Russo brothers bring Marvel's most stacked cast yet, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as the villain, while Denis Villeneuve closes out the Dune trilogy — the one scheduling clash you might have this year.
Make the most of the season, on or off screen
A stacked watchlist pairs well with the rest of autumn — autumn wardrobe updates and low-key date nights included. And once December hits, the ultimate guide to Christmas films and where to stream them has the festive film marathon covered.
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