Ever feel like there are so many new movies out there that it’s hard to keep track of? Do you worry about wasting your precious time on a film you might not like? We’re here to help! Each week, ScreenRant’s New Movies team breaks down the latest releases in theaters, on VOD, and on streaming, including our personal recommendations, so you can decide what’s worth checking out.
It’s October, and that means the start of two very important movie seasons: scary flicks for Halloween and dramatic films for award consideration. Both prestige dramas and inventive horror are on display on this big screen this weekend, with two projected Oscar contenders making their debuts for general audiences with The Smashing Machine and Anemone.
Even beyond the multiplex, there are still plenty of new movies to see this weekend — with horror fans in particular having plenty of viewing options. Whether you’re looking for a good laugh, a dramatic cry, or a horrified gasp this weekend, here are the best movies to check out and where to find them across theatrical, VOD, and streaming.
New To Theaters This Week (Oct. 3, 2025)
- Anemone
- Bone Lake
- Coyotes
- Good Boy
- The Smashing Machine
This weekend might have two Oscar contenders hitting the big screen, but the most entertaining theatrical releases of the week are Good Boy and Bone Lake. Good Boy is a creative experiment in the horror genre that thrives thanks to a shockingly good animal performance, while the psychoSєxual twists and turns of Bone Lake make for a grisly good time.
The less said about either of them, the better, as the steady tension and eventual twists are a big part of the fun. Horror fans will also enjoy Coyotes, a tense and funny take on the “man vs. nature” conflict. All three stand out as fresh takes on familiar horror concepts that are worth checking out.
If you’re looking for something more serious, then the week’s two big dramas are the right way to go. Award-season watchers should make sure to see The Smashing Machine and Anemone, which are both anchored by potential Best Actor performances. Both performances are terrific, elevating the surrounding film.
– Brandon Zachary, Lead Writer
New To VOD This Week (Oct. 3, 2025)
- Caught Stealing
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
- Honey Don’t!
- Primitive War
- Shell
- The Toxic Avenger
An interesting selection of movies are debuting on VOD this week, including a few we’re partial to. Senior Writer Bill Dubiel had this to say for The Toxic Avenger:
Macon Blair brings the 1980s cult classic monster into the modern era, with even more gore than the original. Boasting a shockingly star-studded cast that includes Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, and Elijah Wood, The Toxic Avenger is equal parts funny and gory, and definitely entertaining.
Meanwhile, New Movies Editor & Critic expressed a lot of admiration for Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale, the long-awaited conclusion to the prestige period drama:
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale: If you’ve ever enjoyed the world of Downton Abbey and its characters, the final installment in the franchise is a must-watch. A satisfying send-off for all the people you know and love, it’s a crowd-pleaser for the longtime fans.
While I had a lot of fun with Honey Don’t!, the best kooky crime caper to watch this week is defenitly Caught Stealing:
A New York-riff on the kind of kooky crime capers that made Guy Ritchie famous, Caught Stealing is an unexpected delight from Darren Aronofsky. Bolstered by a cast that finds the right balance between off-putting and charming, Caught Stealing is a must-see for audiences who love a thriller that also has a sense of humor.
New To Streaming This Week (Oct. 3, 2025)
- Bring Her Back (HBO Max)
- Fight Or Flight (Paramount+)
- Play Dirty (Prime Video)
- Steve (Netflix)
- The Lost Bus (Apple TV+)
- The Naked Gun (Paramount+)
- V/H/S/Halloween (Shudder)
There’s plenty to check out across multiple streaming apps this weekend, with a wide range of genres on display. Squeamish audiences looking to avoid horror have plenty to check out. There’s the impressive dramatics of Steve, the tense survivalist story The Lost Bus, or the action/comedy of both Fight or Flight and Play Dirty.
Paramount+ getting The Naked Gun also means comedy fans can rewatch the hilarious legacy sequel for the seventh time. However, the two streaming highlights of the week among our team are Bring Her Back and V/H/S/Halloween, which have released on HBO Max and Shudder respectively. Senior Writer Bill Dubiel had this to say about Bring Her Back:
Bring Her Back: Loaded with haunting imagery and driven by an Oscar-worthy performance from Sally Hawkins, Bring Her Back is beyond bleak in its examination of grief. However, that makes it one of the most impactful horror movies of 2025.
As a horror fan, I’ve always had a soft spot for a good anthology like the V/H/S series. I can’t recommend the latest entry enough, which reaches new heights this time around with Shudder’s V/H/S/Halloween:
The latest entry in the long-running horror anthology might also be one of the most fun iterations of the concept. Gleefully gory and filled to the brim with black comedy, V/H/S/Halloween‘s gross-out moments and effective scares make for a great (and pretty grisly) time.
What did you think were the best new releases of the week? Let us know in the comments!
