While the old model of fall TV premieres has given way to a constant, year-round flow of content, autumn still carries a certain weight in the entertainment world. It is a time when streaming platforms roll out their most ambitious and star-studded projects, signaling the unofficial start of awards season and offering viewers a fresh slate of cinematic television. From gripping crime thrillers to mind-bending genre epics and compelling comedies, this fall’s streaming guide is packed with A-list talent and boundary-pushing storytelling. Grab your blanket, a hot drink, and prepare to dive into the season’s most anticipated shows and films.
Thrillers, Crime, and Conspiracy
Autumn is the perfect season for a gripping mystery, and this year’s slate of streaming thrillers does not disappoint. The genre receives a fresh take with Prime Video’s The Girlfriend (Sept. 10), which stars the always-compelling Robin Wright in a suspense thriller about a dangerously unhinged person. With House of the Dragon’s Olivia Cooke in the title role, the series promises to be a complex and twisted take on a classic sub-genre. The crime-thriller genre is also a fertile ground for A-list talent. On Netflix, Jude Law and Jason Bateman join forces in Black Rabbit (Sept. 18), a caper following two brothers embroiled in a criminal underworld. The series promises to be a departure for Bateman, who plays a “turbulent” brother to Law and is joined by Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur as a menacing crime lord.
For those who love a good conspiracy, FX and Hulu’s The Lowdown (Sept. 23) looks to deliver a deeply satisfying story. Ethan Hawke stars as a messy, conspiracy-minded journalist in Tulsa who stumbles onto a dangerous story. With a stellar supporting cast including Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson, and Kyle MacLachlan, the series is poised to be a smart and twisty affair. Meanwhile, Apple TV+’s The Savant (Sept. 26) delivers a high-stakes espionage thriller. Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain portrays a brilliant investigator who infiltrates online hate organizations in a race to thwart domestic terror attacks, a premise as timely as it is tense. And if you’re looking for a moody murder mystery, look no further than Netflix’s The Beast in Me (Nov. 13), which sees the return of the incomparable Claire Danes as a grief-stricken author who becomes obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor (Matthew Rhys), the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance.
From History to Horror
For viewers who want to be transported to another time or a different world, this fall offers a number of compelling dramas and epic fantasies. Acclaimed director Paul Greengrass, known for the harrowing United 93, returns with a new, intense historical drama in Apple TV+’s Lost Bus (Oct. 3). The film stars Matthew McConaughey as a heroic bus driver who, along with a schoolteacher played by America Ferrera, helps rescue 22 children during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. The film promises to be a powerful and emotional retelling of a real-life tragedy. Meanwhile, the presidential assassination of James Garfield is explored in Netflix’s Death by Lightning (Nov. 6), a series that delves into the events that led to the murder of the 20th US President. Michael Shannon takes on the role of Garfield, while Succession star Matthew Macfadyen plays his obsessive admirer-turned-killer, creating a chilling historical thriller.
On the horror and fantasy front, the world of Anne Rice is expanding with AMC’s Anne Rice’s Talamasca (Oct. 26). The new series introduces a secret order that monitors all manner of supernatural beings, a perfect companion to the returning Interview with the Vampire. But the big genre event of the season is undeniably Guillermo del Toro’s new monster epic, Frankenstein (Nov. 7), coming to Netflix. The visionary director brings his singular style to the classic horror tale, with Oscar Isaac starring as the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his monstrous creation. With a supporting cast that includes Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz, the film is poised to be a cinematic masterpiece of gothic horror.
Comedy and Modern Love
For a dose of much-needed levity, a number of comedies are gracing the small screen this fall. The biggest is arguably the highly anticipated return of the mockumentary format with Peacock’s The Paper (Sept. 4). The series, a continuation of the beloved The Office, shifts the setting to a local newspaper in the Midwest and stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore in what promises to be a hilariously awkward new take on the genre. On Netflix, the “hot rabbi” and his podcaster girlfriend are back for a second go-round in Nobody Wants This Season 2 (Oct. 23). The show, starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, will continue to explore their cross-cultural romance and the hilarious complications that arise from their relationship. And in a more surreal comedic offering, Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn reunites with creator Vince Gilligan for Apple TV+’s new show Pluribus (Nov. 7). The show’s teaser trailer has been cryptic and intriguing, with a bizarre sequence involving a woman licking donuts, but for fans of Gilligan’s dark and quirky style, the intrigue is more than enough.
Behind the Screen: Biographies and Docs
This fall, streaming services are also offering a number of compelling biographical projects that take viewers behind the curtain. Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir “The Pink Marine,” Netflix’s Boots (Oct. 9) is a coming-of-age series that explores the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era of the 1990s US Marine Corps. The series follows a closeted teen and his friend as they navigate military life, with a supporting role from Vera Farmiga. On a more lighthearted note, Apple TV+’s Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost (Oct. 24) is a new documentary directed by Ben Stiller about his parents, the legendary comedic duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. The film explores their rich and storied careers, proving that their work in iconic shows like Seinfeld and Sex and the City was only the beginning of their legacy.
Bold-Faced Talent & Genre-Bending Tales
Some of the most exciting entries defy easy categorization and are defined by their star power. Spike Lee’s latest “joint,” Apple TV+’s Highest 2 Lowest (Sept. 5), reunites him with his frequent collaborator Denzel Washington for the fifth time. The film, which also stars Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky, is a New York City-based story about a music executive targeted by a kidnapping and ransom plot. Colin Farrell takes on a new role in Netflix’s lavish-looking film Ballad of a Small Player (Oct. 29). The film from director Edward Berger (Conclave) sees Farrell as a gambling addict in over his head, costarring the always-welcome Tilda Swinton. And on Prime Video, Tessa Thompson shines in the title role of Hedda (Oct. 29), a sumptuous and modern retelling of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler. The film promises to be a dramatic and intriguing story of repressed emotions and societal intrigue, with Thompson leading a stellar cast. With a roster this stacked with talent and unique concepts, this fall’s streaming season is set to be one for the books.
