October on HBO Max is built for spooky season. The October 1 drop is packed with horror classics, and new HBO Originals and A24 releases land all month. The MLB postseason and AEW WrestleDream round things out. Here are the 10 titles you shouldn’t miss this month. Complete October 2026 Schedule!
1. The Shining (October 1)
Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King is still the gold standard for slow-burn dread. Jack Nicholson, the Overlook Hotel, and one of the most unsettling scores ever put to film make this October viewing at its best.
2. The Torment, Season 1 (October 2)
This is a new HBO Original series arriving at the start of spooky season. With a title like that and an early-October release, it’s clearly aimed at horror fans, so keep it on your radar.
3. Rage, Season 2 (October 9)
The HBO Original series returns for its second season. If you caught Season 1, you already know why this is on the list.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) (October 1)
Wes Craven’s original is where Freddy Krueger began. It is also the start of a full franchise marathon, since every Elm Street film lands on the 1st, along with Freddy vs. Jason. That covers you for a whole weekend.
5. The Death of Robin Hood (A24) (October 16)
A24 puts its own spin on the Robin Hood legend. Given the studio’s track record, expect something darker and stranger than the version you grew up with.
6. Trick ‘r Treat (October 1)
This cult-favorite Halloween anthology has become required viewing every October. It tells interlocking stories and follows the rules of the holiday, and it is a lot of fun.
7. The Departed (October 1)
Scorsese’s Best Picture winner, with DiCaprio, Damon, and Nicholson in a Boston cat-and-mouse crime thriller. If you need a break from horror, this is the one.
8. Kate Berlant: Parmesan (October 16)
This is a new HBO Original comedy special from one of the sharpest, most singular voices in stand-up. Berlant’s style is all her own, which makes this a highlight of the month.
9. Coraline (October 1)
Laika’s stop-motion masterpiece is creepy enough for adults and still works for the whole family. ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and The Boxtrolls arrive the same day, so you can make it a Laika marathon.
10. AEW WrestleDream (October 17)
AEW’s big October event airs on the 17th. The WrestleDream Tailgate Brawl and the Countdown special earlier in the week build up to it, so it’s appointment viewing for wrestling fans.
Source: HBO Max
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