5 Must-Watch New Movies and TV Shows on Netflix, Prime, and More (Oct. 28-31)
The last week of October is set to deliver an exciting array of new streaming offerings across various platforms.
The premieres of several new films and series (including returning seasons and original streaming content) are sure to make for a bustling Halloweekend for those opting to stay in and skip the festivities.
This week’s recommendations from Watch With Us feature the launch of a new Colin Farrell movie titled Ballad of a Small Player, the streaming debut of this summer’s Jurassic World Rebirth, and the return of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It: Welcome to Derry.
‘Ballad of a Small Player’ (2025)
Colin Farrell portrays Lord Doyle, a high-stakes gambler who is currently on the run in Macau due to his mounting debts. He spends his days indulging in excessive drinking and gambling away his remaining funds until a mysterious casino worker named Dao Ming (Fala Chen) presents him with a potential escape route. Meanwhile, a private investigator (Tilda Swinton) is on his trail, ensuring that his past eventually catches up with him.
Farrell is extremely active this year, releasing two films (including the recent flop A Big Bold Beautiful Journey). However, Ballad of a Small Player is the one that truly piques our interest. Critics have already praised Farrell’s powerful performance and the breathtaking visuals.
Stream Ballad of a Small Player on October 29 on Netflix.
‘Down Cemetery Road’ Season 1
This new British crime drama features Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson as they investigate a scandal that has shaken their tranquil community. Private detective Zoë Boehm (Thompson) is hired by Sarah Tucker (Wilson) to solve the mystery of a house explosion and the subsequent disappearance of a young girl. As they delve deeper, they uncover a complex governmental conspiracy, plunging South Oxford into chaos.
Marking a rare television appearance for Thompson, Down Cemetery Road showcases her in this sharp, engaging mystery-thriller that superbly intertwines black humor with tension-filled suspense. The series adapts the second book from Mick Herron, whose novel Slow Horses was also made into a series for Apple TV.
Stream Down Cemetery Road on October 29 on Apple TV.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ (2025)
Following the disastrous events of Jurassic World in 2015, Earth’s climate has become increasingly hostile for the remaining dinosaurs, with only a small number existing in equatorial regions off-limits to humans. However, that’s precisely where a team must venture to retrieve essential genetic material from three specific dinosaurs, leading them to a shocking finding in the ruins of an old park facility.
The fourth installment in the Jurassic World franchise (and the seventh in the overarching Jurassic Park series) features a team of operatives, including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend, as they enter the dino-zone at great personal risk. While it may not reach the heights of Steven Spielberg’s original film, Jurassic World Rebirth promises plenty of dinosaur-related excitement.
Stream Jurassic World Rebirth on October 30 on Peacock.
‘The Woman in the Yard’ (2025)
After a devastating car accident claims her husband’s life, Ramona (Danielle Deadwyler) becomes both widowed and disabled, left to care for her two children alone. In their rural farmhouse, Ramona begins to experience visions of a woman dressed in black, bringing a sinister warning. As this haunting presence grows ominously closer to their home, Ramona strives to shield her children from its influence.
Critics have lauded The Woman in the Yard for its eerie visuals and haunting atmosphere, making it a fitting choice for the Halloween season. The film has also received praise for Jaume Collet-Serra’s direction (Jungle Cruise) and Deadwyler’s outstanding performance.
Stream The Woman in the Yard on October 31 on Amazon Prime Video.
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Season 1
After six years, Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to haunt viewers, this time on HBO Max. It: Welcome to Derry transports audiences back to 1962, two decades before the events of the previous two It films. A couple moves to Derry, Maine, just as a young local boy named Matt goes missing, prompting his friends to embark on a search. Strange and unsettling occurrences then begin to unfold in their small town.
Developed by the original team behind It (2017) and It: Chapter 2 (2019)—Andy and Barbara Muschietti—the initial episodes are directed by Muschietti himself. It: Welcome to Derry kicks off well, featuring a gruesome opening scene that highlights Muschietti’s strong directorial and visual style from the It films. Additionally, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise, leaving us excited about what else this series will unveil.
