HBO Max updated its lineup for October 2026, highlighted by the brand-new legal drama "War" premiering on October 1, starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller, alongside a massive addition of horror classics to the library to warm up for Halloween. Several more films and programs will be released successively later in the month.
What is "War" about? Who stars in it?
"War" is an 8-episode HBO/Sky original series set in London's most powerful legal circles, depicting a fierce clash between two rival law firms, Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne, over a high-profile case. Dominic West stars as tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson, and Sienna Miller stars as movie star Carla Duval, with the season 1 core plot revolving around their messy divorce. Archie Renaux plays ambitious young lawyer Jonathan "Johnny" Warren, who gets caught up in this workplace power struggle; Phoebe Fox and James McArdle play the married partners of Taylor & Byrne, while Nina Sosanya and Pip Torrens lead the opposing law firm. New episodes premiere on Thursdays, and as of October 20. several episodes have already aired.
What other new series and comedy specials are there?
The Spanish series "Rage" (originally titled "Furia") returned for its 8-episode second season on October 9 with weekly updates on Fridays. Starring Maribel Verdú, Carmen Maura, and Cecilia Suárez, it tells the story of a group of women in a system that objectifies and consumes them, using anger as their only remaining weapon of counterattack. On the comedy front, Kate Berlant's stand-up comedy special "Kate Berlant: Parmesan" premiered on October 16, featuring content ranging from personal stories to her reflections on technology, the moon, and even shifts in sexual orientation.
Which movies are landing on the streaming platform?
This month features three films transitioning from theaters to HBO Max. Lionsgate's adaptation of Freida McFadden's bestselling novel "The Housemaid" premiered on October 9, starring Sydney Sweeney as Millie, who is hired as a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy couple and gradually uncovers dark secrets hidden in her employer's home, co-starring Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. A24's "The Death of Robin Hood" was released on October 16, starring Hugh Jackman as an aging and severely wounded Robin Hood, confronting his violent past alongside Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård. Also from A24, "The Invite" is scheduled for release on October 23, bringing together Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton to tell the story of a couple having dinner with mysterious upstairs neighbors that quickly spirals out of control.
What horror films are included in the October 1 library update?
To match the Halloween atmosphere, the October 1 library update adds a large number of horror classics, including the entire "A Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise (featuring the 1984 original, the 2010 remake, and "Freddy vs. Jason"), as well as "The Shining," "The Exorcist," "Poltergeist," "Friday the 13th," "Trick 'r Treat," and "Little Shop of Horrors." Stop-motion animation works such as "Coraline," "ParaNorman," "Kubo and the Two Strings," and "The Boxtrolls" are also added, along with Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride" and two "Scooby-Doo" films. In addition, all 4 films in the "Ocean's" franchise, "The Departed," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Anatomy of a Fall," and "The Post" were added on the same day; all of these contents are currently available.
When will documentaries and other programs be released?
On the documentary front, "The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story" premiered on October 11. Consisting of 3 episodes, it tracks the reopening of the investigation into a 1985 cold case murder in Louisiana. "Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn" is scheduled for release on October 27, looking back at the turbulent professional career of former Pittsburgh Stewart quarterback Kordell Stewart and the rumors that swirled around him for years. Other new additions during the month include "Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights" (released October 2), "Crazy Rich Asians" (October 6), "The Amateur" (October 17), and "Anyone But You" (scheduled for October 20), with multiple HBO original programs launching successively in late October.
