What’s new on Netflix in October 2026? The best shows and films to watch this month

October brings another packed month of new Netflix shows and films, with big-name stars, returning favourites and plenty of gripping drama. Florence Pugh leads the cast of East of Eden, a new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel, while Ben Affleck directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington in the tense thriller Animals.

There are also new seasons of some of Netflix’s biggest shows to look forward to. Keri Russell returns for more political intrigue in The Diplomat, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody continue their complicated love story in Nobody Wants This, and Omar Sy is back as the suave gentleman thief in Lupin.

And if that wasn’t enough, darts fans can watch Luke Littler put his skills to the ultimate test in the live event Beat Luke Littler, as 20 amateur players get the chance to take on the world No. 1 for a £501,000 prize.

If you have Virgin TV 360, our V6 box (powered by TiVo®) or our Stream box, you can watch Netflix through your telly. Netflix is also included in a range of our TV bundles and is available to add to those that don’t include it.

Already have a Netflix subscription? Transfer your billing over to Virgin Media to keep everything together in one bill without changing your Netflix account.

Here’s all you need to know about the best TV show and film releases on Netflix in October 2026…

Stream it from Thursday 1 October in Apps > Netflix

Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer) leads this ambitious new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel. Set in early 20th-century California, East of Eden follows the Trask family across two generations, with Cathy Ames at the centre of a story filled with love, rivalry, ambition and betrayal.

With Christopher Abbott (James White), Mike Faist (Challengers) and Ciarán Hinds (The Cook) also starring, this seven-part limited series puts a fresh spin on one of America’s most enduring family dramas.

Stream it from Thursday 15 October in Apps > Netflix

Ben Affleck (Argo) directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington (Scandal) in this tense thriller about a family pushed to breaking point. When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife are forced into a desperate race to raise the ransom. But as the pressure mounts and time runs out, they find themselves caught in a dangerous web of deception, forcing them to make difficult choices that could have far-reaching consequences.

Stream it from Thursday 15 October in Apps > Netflix. Seasons 1-3 also available

Keri Russell (The Americans) returns as Kate Wyler in the fourth season of Netflix’s political drama. After the explosive events of Season 3, Kate finds herself caught up in another dangerous power struggle as tensions rise around the US presidency.

With political alliances shifting and new threats emerging, she must navigate a world of high-stakes diplomacy while trying to work out who she can trust. As the pressure builds, Kate faces some of her toughest challenges yet, with the future of the presidency hanging in the balance.

Stream it from Thursday 22 October in Apps > Netflix

Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl) and Adam Brody (The O.C) return as Joanne and Noah for another chapter of the hit romantic comedy. This time, the couple are moving in together and getting to grips with the everyday challenges that come with sharing a home.

Meanwhile, Sasha (Timothy Simons) and Esther (Jackie Tohn) find themselves back in the dating world, while Morgan’s (Justine Lupe) career starts to take off. With new faces joining the mix, there’s plenty more romance, awkwardness and laughs on the way.

Stream it from Friday 23 October in Apps > Netflix. Parts 1-3 also available

Omar Sy (The Intouchables) returns as suave gentleman thief Assane Diop in the fourth part of Netflix’s hugely popular French thriller. After faking his death and turning himself in, Assane finds himself behind bars alongside his former nemesis Hubert Pellegrini. But prison is unlikely to keep Assane out of trouble for long, and with eight new episodes arriving in one go, expect more elaborate schemes, twists and stylish heists.

Live on Friday 30 October in Apps > Netflix

Darts superstar Luke Littler faces his biggest challenge yet in this live event, as 20 amateur players get the chance to take on the world No. 1. Each challenger will face Littler in a single leg of 501, with £501,000 up for grabs if anyone can pull off the ultimate upset.

Hosted by Gary Lineker, Beat Luke Littler promises plenty of high-stakes sporting drama as ordinary players step up to the oche and try to beat one of darts’ biggest stars.

Here’s the full list of everything else landing on Netflix in October 2026, with dates.

• Crazy Rich Incredibly Broke (2026) – Thursday 1 October

• Ramparts of Ice (season 2) – Thursday 2 October

• Doing Life (2026) – Friday 3 October

• Schumacher '94 — The Birth of a Legend (2026)– Friday 3 October

• Ranma 1/2 (season 3) – Saturday 4 October

• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) – Sunday 5 October

• Love Village (Season 3) – Monday 6 October

• Less of a Stranger (2026) – Tuesday 7 October

• Below (Limited Series) – Wednesday 8 October

• Doctor X (season 1) – Thursday 9 October

• Malory Towers – Friday 10 October

• Wicked (2024)– Friday 10 October

• Free Leonard Peltier (2026) – Sunday 12 October

• The Trap (season 1) – Monday 13 October

• Balaraw: Blood Island (season 1) – Wednesday 15 October

• Hollywood Arts (season 1) – Wednesday 15 October

• Money Trap (season 1) – Thursday 16 October

• Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (season 2) – Tuesday 20 October

• Did Someone Happen to Mention Me? – Thursday 22 October

• Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story (2026) – Friday 23 October

• My Happy Marriage (Special Episodes) – Sunday 25 October

• The One About Matthew Perry (season 1) – Tuesday 27 October

• Dead-End Job (Limited Series)– Friday 30 October

• A Couple of Lies (Limited Series) – Saturday 31 October

If you have our 360 or Stream box, there are four ways to navigate to the Netflix app:

1. Use your voice
A. Just press and hold the voice button and say “Netflix” to open the app.

2. Via the app section
A. Press Home.
B. Go to the right and select Apps.
C. Select Netflix in the Apps screen.

3. Via channel 204 if you have our 360 box
A. Tuning to this channel automatically launches Netflix.

4. Navigating down to the Netflix icon in the homepage if you have our Stream box

To search for Netflix content on our 360 and Stream boxes, select the Search icon from any full screen menu. Enter your Search term using the on-screen keyboard. Press back and then right to highlight the “All” filter. Press OK and select Netflix. You can now view and select from the Netflix results for your search term.

To access Netflix if you have our Virgin TV V6 box, powered by TiVo^®:

Press home on your remote
Select Apps & Games
Select All Apps
Select Netflix

Our Biggest TV, Biggest TV Volt and Ultimate Volt bundles already include Netflix in Full HD. You can also add Netflix to any other bundle that includes broadband and TV – just hit Customise your package to add it.

Already have a Netflix subscription? You can transfer your billing over to Virgin Media to keep everything together in one bill without changing your Netflix account! Learn more here.

Explore our amazing TV deals and never miss a moment of entertainment.