October brings the premieres and program additions of the following 35 series and films to the US and beyond.
Below is our curated list of 35 programs from countries in Africa, Asia, North America, and South America that are premiering and being added to schedules/offerings in the US and other territories in October 2023. Additional program premieres are listed on our “viewing guide” page.
(For details about the premieres of programs from the UK, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and subtitled original-language programs from countries in Europe, visit The British TV Place, The Down Under TV Place, and The Euro TV Place.)
Programs and dates for the programs below are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
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Heist 88
Set in a time before widespread computerization and the vast cybersecurity of today, and inspired by true events, this crime drama centers on Jeremy Horne (Courtney B. Vance, The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, Lovecraft Country), a criminal mastermind with an innate ability to convince anyone to do just about anything. In deciding to pull one last job before going to prison, he recruits four young bank employees to steal close to $80 million dollars in a daring and brazen assault on the U.S. banking system. (For cast details, read this article.)
Heist 88 has its US linear premiere on Sunday, October 1, at 9 pm ET/PT, on Showtime, with streaming available on Paramount+.
The Night Logan Woke Up (Canada)
In this drama thriller, an unspeakable event rocks a small town in Quebec in October 1991, haunting a family that tries to hide its dark secret. Thirty years later, the secrets resurface, sending the family on a pursuit of reconciliation.
Starring Julie LeBreton (Epidemic), Patrick Hivon (The Wall), and Xavier Dolan (Lost Illusions), The Night Logan Woke Up premieres in the US and other territories on Sunday, October 1, on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Keys to the Heart (Philippines)
This comedy-drama sees troubled boxer Joma (Zanjoe Marudo, Dirty Linen) move in with his long-lost mother, Sylvia (Dolly de Leon, Triangle of Sadness), and his autistic pianist brother, Jayjay (Elijah Canlas, Senior High) — forcing him to try to fit in with a family he hasn’t known for years.
Keys to the Heart, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, October 4, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Bargain (South Korea)
In this award-winning dystopian thriller series, men are lured to a remote hotel under the guise of sexual encounters, only to be caught in a trafficking ring where their organs are auctioned off to the highest bidder. After a catastrophic earthquake, the victims, traffickers, and buyers are all trapped inside the crumbling building. Cut off from the outside world, they must fight to survive the aftermath at any cost.
Starring Jin Sun-kyu (The Uncanny Counter), Jun Jong-seo (Money Heist: Korea), and Chang Ryul (Stranger), Bargain premieres as a six-episode binge in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, on Thursday, October 5, exclusively on Paramount+.
Khufiya (India)
Inspired by real life events and based on the book Escape to Nowhere by Amar Bhushan, the former Chief of the Counter Espionage Unit of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s foreign intelligence agency, this spy thriller follows Krishna Mehra (Tabu, Drishyam, David), an R&AW operative who is assigned a crucial mission: to track down the mole selling India’s defense secrets. But when the mole leads to the murder of an undercover spy, the hardened agent relentlessly pursues him to avenge the death.
Costarring Ali Fazal (Mirzapur), Wamiqa Gabbi (Modern Love Chennai), Ashish Vidyarthi (Rana Naidu), and Azmeri Haque Badhon (Guti), House of Spies, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Thursday, October 5, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Ballerina (South Korea)
This thriller follows Ok-ju (Jun Jong-seo, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area), a former bodyguard who seemingly has no physical limits when it comes to her self-defense skills, swordsmanship, and agility with guns and motorbikes. But she wasn’t able to protect and save her best friend, Min-hee (Park Yu-rim, Extraordinary Attorney Woo), a ballerina. Now a grieving Ok-ju sets out to fulfill her dear friend’s last wish — to exact sweet revenge — by hunting down Choi (Kim Ji-hun, Nonstop), the man responsible for Min-hee’s death.
Ballerina, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, October 6, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
A Deadly Invitation (Mexico)
Based on the novel Invitación a un asesinato by Carmen Posadas, this comedic mystery thriller follows Agata (Regina Blandón, Making It Up) and other guests of her eccentric millionaire stepsister, Olivia (Maribel Verdú, You Cannot Hide), after Olivia invites them for a weekend on her yacht. Here they discover the true motive behind her invitation: to celebrate… a murder?
Caught off-guard by an unexpected death, and with the help of a rookie policeman, Agata, a fan of crime stories, tries to figure out if this is simply an accident or an elaborate plan for revenge. Everyone is a suspect: Olivia’s ex-husband Carlos (Pedro Damián, Waking Up with You), fading actor Cary (Manolo Cardona, Who Killed Sara), ex-friend Sonia (Stephanie Cayo, The Patients of Dr. Garcia), housekeeper Doña Cristina (Helena Rojo, Aguirre, the Wrath of God), Figue, the doctor (José María de Tavira, Rosario Tijeras), and even yoga instructor Naram (Aarón Díaz, Quantico).
Costarring Juan Pablo de Santiago (Club de Cuervos), Mariana Cabrera (The House of Flowers), and Julio Casado (Yankee), A Deadly Invitation, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, October 6, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Deane’s Dynasty (Thailand)
In this reality TV series, a power couple attempt to navigate the dramas of fame and family. Deane’s Dynasty, a Max Original, premieres in the US on Friday, October 6, exclusively on Max.
Strong Girl Nam-soon (South Korea)
In this action-crime comedy, a young woman gifted with superhuman strength returns to Korea to find her birth family — only to be entangled in a drug case that could test her power.
Starring Lee Yoo-mi (All of Us Are Dead), Strong Girl Nam-soon, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Saturday, October 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Stranded with My Mother-in-Law (Brazil)
In this reality competition series presented by Fernanda Souza, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law are partnered up with their mothers-in-law in a quest to win a life-changing cash prize, all while the spouses are on the other side of the island watching everything go down.
Stranded with My Mother-in-Law, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Monday, October 9, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Last One Standing: Season 2 (Japan)
This hybrid series, a comedy competition wrapped in a scripted drama, returns with a new season set in a large hospital and a mysterious organization swirling with intrigue.
Last One Standing: Season 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Tuesday, October 10, exclusively on Netflix.
Nada (Argentina)
Luis Brandoni (The Weasel’s Tale, My Masterpiece, El encargado) stars in this comedy-drama as Manuel, a sophisticated culinary critic, an art lover, and a provocateur. Manuel has been living for decades with Celsa (María Rosa Fugazot, Una chica invisible), the woman who takes care of everything for him. However, an exceptional event forces him to change his routine and hire Antonia (Majo Cabrera, Boundless, How to Survive Being Single), an inexperienced young woman born and raised in a small town in Paraguay, to help him with household tasks. This is how Manuel mentors her about countless aspects of his life — from his personal relationships and preferences, to strictly culinary matters. The clash of cultures and generations leads to unusual, contradictory, and tender situations that result in significant learning experiences for both of them.
Amidst this process, Manuel’s old friend, Vincent (two-time Oscar® winner Robert De Niro, Raging Bull, The Godfather trilogy), a renowned New York writer, goes to visit him. Together they share many adventures, including tasting foods, reading, taking long walks, and engaging in existential conversations — all set against the backdrop of Buenos Aires.
Nada, a Hulu Original, premieres in the US on Wednesday, October 11, exclusively on Hulu.
Once Upon a Star (Thailand)
Set in 1970, this drama follows the crew of a traveling pharma-cinema projection troupe as they journey across Thailand to entertain eager audiences by live-dubbing beloved films, all while facing roadblocks, overcoming difficulties and deceits, and reaching for their dreams.
Once Upon a Star, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, October 11, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Pact of Silence (Mexico)
In this drama, a young and successful social media influencer infiltrates the lives of four women to discover which of them is the mother who abandoned her at birth. Thirsting for revenge after living a difficult childhood, she will discover the truth while finding love and unearthing secrets that will put her in danger.
Starring Camila Valero (Misfortune), Kika Edgar (La Reina del Sur), and Adriana Louvier (I Don’t Trust Men Anymore), amongst others, Pact of Silence, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Wednesday, October 11, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Fall of the House of Usher
Based on the titular short story and referencing other works by Edgar Allan Poe, this horror thriller revolves around ruthless siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood, The Resident) and Madeline Usher (Mary McDonnell, Major Crimes), who have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege, and power. But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of Verna (Carla Gugino, The Haunting of Bly Manor), a demonic shapeshifter from their youth. (For cast details, read this article.)
The Fall of the House of Usher, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, October 12, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
In My Mother’s Skin (Philippines)
Set in 1945 as World War II is coming to an end, this folk horror film finds a wealthy family trapped in their country mansion, terrorized by Japanese soldiers who are losing control of the island. Aldo, the patriarch, is rumored to have stolen Japanese gold and hidden it nearby. Knowing that his family will be killed if the gold is found, Aldo leaves to seek help from the Americans. His absence causes the family to fear that he will never return, while the mother’s health deteriorates. Desperate for help, the family’s young daughter, Tala (Felicity Kyle Napuli, Maria Clara and Ibarra), turns to a deceitful and flesh-eating fairy (Jasmine Curtis-Smith, The World Between Us), who plans to devour them all.
In My Mother’s Skin premieres globally on Thursday, October 12, exclusively on Prime Video.
The Burial
Inspired by true events, this drama sees funeral homeowner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive) enlist charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx, Ray) to save his family business after a handshake deal goes sour. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.
The Burial, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday, October 13, exclusively on Prime Video. (You can add it to your watchlist now.)
Ijogbon (Nigeria)
In this thriller, four teenagers from a rural village in southwest Nigeria stumble upon a pouch of uncut diamonds, but before long, others come looking for the bounty.
Ijogbon, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, October 13, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Jigen Daisuke (Japan)
Tetsuji Tamayama (The Naked Director) stars in this live-action film as the cool, loyal, and sorrowful Jigen Daisuke, the most popular character in the Lupin III manga and anime series. This film tells the origin story of Jigen Daisuke, Lupin’s one-and-only sidekick and the world’s greatest gunfighter.
Jigen Daisuke, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday, October 13, exclusively on Prime Video.
Lessons in Chemistry
Based on Lessons in Chemistry, the best-selling debut novel by author, science editor and copywriter Bonnie Garmus, this period drama stars Brie Larson (Captain Marvel, Room) as Elizabeth Zott, whose dream of being a scientist is put on hold in the patriarchal society of the early 1950s. When Elizabeth finds herself fired from her lab, she accepts a job as a host on a TV cooking show and sets out to teach a nation of overlooked housewives — and the men who are suddenly listening — a lot more than recipes.
The eight-episode limited series costars Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick), Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder), Stephanie Koenig (The Flight Attendant), Kevin Sussman (The Big Bang Theory), Patrick Walker (Gaslit), and Thomas Mann (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty).
Lessons in Chemistry premieres globally with two episodes on Friday, October 13, 2023, with new episodes debuting weekly on Fridays through November 24.
Serenata de las Estrellas
Hosted by Julissa Bermudez, this heartwarming musical reality series features some of the biggest names in Latin music surprising deserving members of the community with once-in-a-lifetime concerts in unexpected locations. From church fundraisers to taquerias, no place is off-limits for these pop-up performances, with real people, real stars, and real surprises.
Serenata de las Estrellas premieres in the US and Mexico on Friday, October 13, exclusively on The Roku Channel.
Kaala Paani (India)
In this drama, a desperate fight for survival collides with a race to find a cure when a mysterious illness descends upon the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Kaala Paani, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Wednesday, October 18, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Candy Cruz (Mexico)
In this comedy series, Candy Cruz (Cassandra Sanchez Navarro, Crown of Tears) owes her natural gift for cooking for giving her one of the most unforgettable experiences of her life: her participation in a TV contest that will bring her fame. Candy Cruz, a Max Original, premieres in the US on Thursday, October 19, exclusively on Max.
Crashing Eid (Saudi Arabia)
In this comedy-drama, when Razan’s British-Pakistani fiance crashes her Saudi family’s Eid celebrations, she attempts to convince them that he is a suitable match.
Crashing Eid, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, October 19, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Teenage Kiss: The Future Is Dead (Mexico)
Set within the elite community of San Pedro Garza García in Monterrey, Nuevo León, one of the wealthiest municipalities in Latin America, this series centers on the Parras, a family who shows that not everything is as it seems while doing everything possible to maintain the appearances of their paradise of life. Teenage Kiss: The Future Is Dead, a Max Original, premieres in the US on Thursday, October 19, exclusively on Max.
Doona! (South Korea)
Based on the webtoon The Girl Downstairs by Min Song-a, this coming-of-age drama follows the romance between university student Won-joon (Yang Se-jong, Dr. Romantic, My Country: The New Age) and former K-pop idol Doona (Suzy, Start-Up, Vagabond), as they cross paths in a shared house for students and navigate the complexities of communal living and their emotions.
Doona!, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, October 20, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Kandasamys: The Baby (South Africa)
Set in Mauritius, this fourth installment of the “Kandasamy” comedy franchise sees a joyous family bonding moment celebrating the arrival of a precious baby turn into utter mayhem and chaos when the grandparents’ shenanigans take parenting to a disastrous level.
Kandasamys: The Baby, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, October 20, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Sayen: Desert Road (Chile)
In this action sequel to Sayen, Sayen (Rallen Montenegro) is now, unfairly, one of the most wanted criminals in the country. Following a lead in her mission against Acteon, the multinational organization responsible for the tragic loss of her family and the destruction of ecosystems throughout Chile, she arrives in the Atacama Desert, where she finds new allies who will join her journey to overthrow Acteon and its director, Máximo Torres (Enrique Arce, Murder Mystery 2).
Sayen: Desert Road, an Amazon Original, premieres globally on Friday, October 20, exclusively on Prime Video.
AKA Mr. Chow
This feature-length documentary details the vibrant and varied life of legendary artist, actor, and famed restaurateur Michael Chow. Born Zhou Yinghua in 1930s Shanghai, the son of a renowned Beijing Opera grand master, he would use creativity to triumph over childhood trauma, personal loss, and systemic prejudice, growing up to become the actor and artist before inventing a new identity, Mr. Chow, when he opens the first of his iconic restaurants. Having found fame and fortune in the West, Mr. Chow celebrates his Chinese roots and finds catharsis by returning to painting, reemerging as the artist M.
In an intimate, spirited, and no-holds-barred interview, Michael Chow unveils the irrepressible spirit and personal philosophy that led him to counter the hardships of his early life. By single-handedly building a business empire in the 1960s and 1970s with his restaurants, he showcased the richness and opulence of Chinese food and culture, and by capturing the cultural zeitgeist, they became dazzling hubs for the most celebrated artists, film stars, musicians, designers, and models of the times.
AKA Mr. Chow, an HBO Original Documentary, premieres in the US on Sunday, October 22, at 9pm ET/PT on HBO, with streaming available on Max.
Hostages: Season 2 (Israel)
In the second season of this thriller, Adam Rubin (Jonah Lotan, 24), an accomplished SWAT officer who has abducted the Prime Minister in order to save his wife’s life, finds himself in the midst of a hostage situation — but this time he’s the one surrounded by police, amongst them some of his best friends. While Adam is stuck with the PM in an abandoned Yeshiva building on the outskirts of Jerusalem, his wife’s medical condition is deteriorating, and he has to get out of there to save her life. He has no plan of action, and every passing moment sinks Adam deeper into quicksand. Even if he manages to extricate them from the trouble they’re in, he’ll discover that the real troubles await him outside.
Hostages: Season 2 begins streaming in the US and Canada on Tuesday, October 24, on MHz Choice and its digital channels, including MHz Choice on Amazon.
Burning Betrayal (Brazil)
In this adaptation of Sue Hecker‘s eponymous novel, an accountant sees her fiance’s betrayal as an opportunity for a sexual awakening… with dangerous consequences. Burning Betrayal, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, October 25, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Girl Who Killed Her Parents: The Confession (Brazil)
This sequel to the true-crime thriller The Girl Who Killed Her Parents goes behind the scenes of the investigation into the murder that shocked Brazil, focusing on the lives of Suzane Von Richthofen (Carla Diaz, Edge of Desire), Daniel Cravinhos (Leonardo Bittencourt, Second Call), and Cristian Cravinhos (Allan Souza Lima, New Bandits) days after the crime.
The Girl Who Killed Her Parents: The Confession premieres globally on Friday, October 27, exclusively on Prime Video.
When Evil Lurks (Argentina)
Set in a remote village, this horror thriller centers on two brothers who find a demon-infected man just about to give birth to evil itself. After warning the neighbors in town, they decide to get rid of the man but merely succeed in helping him to deliver the inferno.
Starring Ezequiel Rodríguez (Las Estrellas), Demián Salomón (Into the Abyss), and Silvia Sabater (Luis Miguel: The Series), When Evil Lurks, a Shudder Original Film, premieres in the US and Canada on Friday, October 27, exclusively on Shudder, the AMC+ streaming bundle, and their digital channels, including Shudder on Amazon and AMC+ on Amazon.
Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club (South Korea)
This documentary explores a bygone era of cinematic passion and the emergence of young film enthusiasts in South Korea, including triple Oscar® winner Bong Joon-ho (Parasite).
Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club, a Netflix Documentary, premieres globally on Friday, October 27, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Castaway Diva (South Korea)
Park Eun-bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo, The King’s Affection) stars in this drama as Seo Mok-ha, an aspiring singer who, after being stranded on a remote island for fifteen years, reenters society and stops at nothing to pursue her dream of becoming a diva.
Castaway Diva, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Saturday, October 28, exclusively on Netflix.
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For details about the premieres of programs from the UK, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and original-language programs from countries in Europe, please visit The British TV Place, The Down Under TV Place, and The Euro TV Place.
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