3 Upcoming Netflix Movies I’m Excited to Watch in October 2025: ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ and More!
Netflix has just unveiled its October 2025 lineup — and I’ve promptly canceled all my plans for that month, even my wedding.
Just kidding! If a wedding were on my calendar, I’d still consider rescheduling to enjoy all the fantastic content the streamer has to offer.
Can you really blame me? With films like Steve (featuring Cillian Murphy) and two star-studded thrillers—The Woman in Cabin 10 with Keira Knightley and The Ballad of a Small Player starring Colin Farrell—who has time for anything else?
So, lock the doors, switch off the lights, ignore those loving relatives, and prepare to binge these three Netflix films I’m most excited to see in October.
‘Steve’ (2025) – Now Streaming
Since the monumental success of Oppenheimer in 2023, Cillian Murphy has kept a low profile. Besides starring in the indie drama Small Things Like These last year, the Irish actor hasn’t been as visible as his costars Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr.
That will change in October with Steve, a new Netflix drama based on the novel Shy by Max Porter. Murphy plays an overworked and underappreciated teacher at an English school for troubled teens. Steve aspires to help his students improve their lives, but most resist his outreach. One exception is Shy (Jay Lycurgo), whose interest is piqued by Steve’s kindness. Why does someone like Steve care so deeply about students like Shy? And is he as composed as he presents himself to be?
Steve may sound like your typical inspirational teacher story, but its dynamic visual style sets it apart from films like Dangerous Minds. Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson also star as Steve’s colleagues, but the main event is watching Murphy deliver yet another stunning performance.
‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ (2025) – October 10
Aboard a luxury cruise ship on a dark and lonely night, journalist Laura Blacklock witnesses something shocking — a woman being pushed into the sea. When she reports the apparent murder, authorities tell her no passengers or crew members are missing. They insinuate she must be hallucinating.
Unconvinced, Laura launches her own investigation. Who was the woman she saw? Why is there a cover-up involving everyone she questions?
This is the gripping premise of The Woman in Cabin 10, a new Netflix mystery led by Keira Knightley. Based on a bestselling novel by Ruth Ware, the film echoes past hits like The Girl on the Train, which featured a female protagonist convinced she witnessed a murder. The Woman in Cabin 10 is set to be just as riveting, especially with Knightley headlining, making it a must-watch for Netflix’s fall lineup.
‘Ballad of a Small Player’ (2025) – October 29
Colin Farrell often plays charismatic roguish characters, and Lord Doyle is no exception. A compulsive gambler, Doyle clings to hope for one last big win in Macau. However, he’s deep in debt to some unsavory figures and is evading a private investigator, Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton), who has her own agenda. With only his life and freedom at stake, will he escape or be caught?
Netflix has dramatically enhanced its original movie offerings in recent years. Last year’s standout films included the charming rom-com Hit Man featuring Glen Powell and the exciting action thriller Rebel Ridge, but these recent successes pale compared to what’s slated for the rest of 2025.
Directed by Conclave’s Edward Berger, Ballad of a Small Player is a drama that plays out like a low-stakes thriller. Doyle is always running from something — Cynthia, angry casino owners demanding payment, and his own conscience. The film effectively captures his growing desperation while portraying a man acutely aware that his luck is running out, unable to alter his fate.
