To watch in October 2025: Must-See Films and Series
What will you watch this October 2025? Between tributes to Diane Keaton, new releases in theaters, and standout series to stream.
Tribute to Diane Keaton (1946–2025)
Oscar-winning actress for “Annie Hall,” Diane Keaton passed away in California at the age of 79 on October 11, 2025.
Born Diane Hall, she took her mother’s maiden name, Keaton, as her stage name. A Hollywood icon, she left an indelible mark on American cinema, appearing in nearly 100 film and television roles, balancing comedies such as “Annie Hall,” “The First Wives Club,” and “Something’s Gotta Give” with dramas like “The Godfather.”
She received the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1978 for Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” as well as a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. Diane Keaton was nominated three more times for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give.” She was also acclaimed for “Baby Boom,” “The Book Club,” and her final film, “Summer Camp” (2024).
She was the adoptive mother of two children, Dexter and Duke, and leaves behind a colossal cinematic legacy and a rare authenticity in Hollywood.
CINEMA IN THEATERS: to watch in October 2025: Highlights
CHIEN 51
A Franco-Belgian dystopian thriller directed by Cédric Jimenez, based on Laurent Gaudé’s novel. Starring Gilles Lellouche and Adèle Exarchopoulos.
Set in a 2045 Paris divided by social zones and controlled by an AI, two investigators from opposite backgrounds uncover a vast conspiracy after the AI’s creator is murdered.
Premiered out of competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
A major production with a somewhat predictable plot.
MARCEL AND MONSIEUR PAGNOL
A French-Belgian-Luxembourgish animated film by Sylvain Chomet (2025), inspired by the life and works of Marcel Pagnol, particularly his book “Confidences” (1990). Voices: Laurent Lafitte, Géraldine Pailhas, Elsa Pérusin.
In the 1950s, at the height of his career, Pagnol revisits his childhood memories and dialogues with his younger self, exploring his relationship with art and cinema.
Premiered as a Special Screening at Cannes 2025.
Visually stunning but emotionally distant — more of a Wikipedia biopic than a revelation.
Two Pianos
A musical drama directed by Lucie Borleteau (2025). Two virtuoso sisters see their bond tested by rivalry, fame, and their own life choices. Cast: Zita Hanrot, Louise Coldefy, Grégory Gadebois.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
Feature film directed by Kristen Stewart, based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir.
An intimate story premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, following a woman shaped by trauma, sexuality, and art — navigating shipwrecks and redemption. Starring Imogen Poots, Adam Pearson, and Sarah Gadon. Audience Award winner at the Deauville Festival.
A Pale View of Hills
Adapted by Kei Ishikawa from Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel. A Japanese-British drama centered on the memories of a Japanese émigré in the UK.
Main cast: Suzu Hirose, Fumi Nikaidō.
Presented in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025.
From October 22
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Directed by Jan Kounen, based on Richard Matheson’s cult novel. Jean Dujardin stars as a man who begins to shrink after exposure to a mysterious substance, confronting both an increasingly hostile environment and existential questions. With Marie-Josée Croze and Daphné Richard.
The Little One
Adapted from Fatima Daas’s novel, this coming-of-age story follows Fatima, a young Muslim woman navigating faith, identity, and desire — including the discovery of her homosexuality.
A tender and powerful portrait of self-acceptance and family. Nadia Melliti’s subtle performance earned her the Best Actress Award at Cannes 2025. Praised for its sensory style and authentic LGBTQI+ representation.
The Stranger
This new adaptation of Albert Camus’s masterpiece, directed by François Ozon, relocates the story to colonial Algeria in the late 1930s, with a modern, postcolonial perspective.
Shot in black and white, 4:3 format, Ozon creates a stripped-down, sensory aesthetic where light, silence, and the body express Camus’s existential themes.
Benjamin Voisin stars as Meursault, a withdrawn clerk in Algiers who becomes entangled in a fatal incident that exposes the moral and racial codes of a divided society.
Ozon rejects moral redemption, portraying Meursault as alien to the world while deepening the female roles (notably Marie and Djemila, played by Hajar Bouzaouit).
The film highlights colonial tensions through subtle yet powerful imagery — “No natives allowed” signs, segregated spaces — giving Camus’s story a political edge.
With Rebecca Marder, Pierre Lottin, Denis Lavant, and Swann Arlaud.
Music by Fatima Al Qadiri.
Premiered in competition at Venice 2025.
Regretting You
Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel, directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
A romantic drama following Morgan (Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) as they face loss, betrayal, and emotional healing after a family tragedy.
The Richest Woman in the World
Directed by Gilles Bourdos, starring Isabelle Huppert.
A darkly funny portrait of an eccentric billionaire — part satire, part drama — with Huppert delivering a magnetic, critically acclaimed performance.
The Smashing Machine
Directed by Benny Safdie, this documentary follows MMA champion Mark Kerr. A raw, gripping look at the brutality of combat sports, addiction, and resilience. Starring Dwayne Johnson.
The Kids Are Alright
Nathan Ambrosioni’s new drama opens with a mother’s sudden disappearance, leaving her eldest daughter to raise her siblings.
At just 25, Ambrosioni delivers a moving exploration of forced parenthood and sisterly strength. Camille Cottin shines in a touching performance, and the film has been celebrated across festivals.
The Housemaid
Millie Calloway plays a young maid working for Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried), a wealthy woman whose luxurious home hides dark secrets.
A psychological thriller blending mystery, class tension, and social critique.
Father Mother Sister Brother
An anthology dramedy by Jim Jarmusch, winner of the Golden Lion at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
Featuring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat.
STREAMING PLATFORMS — To watch in October 2025
Loot — Season 3
Apple TV+ comedy starring Maya Rudolph as billionaire Molly Novak, still searching for meaning and self-worth through philanthropy.
Created by Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard.
The Diplomat — Season 3
Keri Russell returns as Kate Wyler, now navigating power at the White House.
Praised for its realism and sharp writing, this new season deepens its political intrigue.
Nobody Wants This — Season 2 (from October 23)
Erin Foster’s romantic dramedy follows Joanne, a sex-positive podcaster, and Noah, a liberal rabbi.
Smart, irreverent, and touching, the show explores religion, desire, and identity with wit — like “Fleabag” meets “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
A Merry Little Ex-Mas
Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson reunite for a holiday rom-com about a divorced couple forced to spend Christmas together for the sake of their blended family.
The Narrow Road (Apple TV & Canal+)
A five-part Australian miniseries based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Jacob Elordi stars as Dorrigo Evans, a doctor haunted by war and forbidden love.
A sweeping, emotional epic about memory, guilt, and survival.
The Deal (ARTE)
A tense political drama by Jean-Stéphane Bron, starring Veerle Baetens as Swiss diplomat Alexandra Weiss, balancing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
A gripping look at diplomacy, power, and moral choices.
The Last Frontier (Apple TV / Canal+)
A dramatic thriller created by Jon Bokenkamp and Richard D’Ovidio, set in Alaska.
Jason Clarke stars as a marshal protecting his town after a plane crash releases fugitives.
With Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett, and Alfre Woodard.
Visually striking, light on substance.
All’s Fair (Hulu / Disney+ — from November 4)
Created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, All’s Fair is a glossy legal drama set in an all-female divorce law firm in Los Angeles.
Kim Kardashian stars as Allura Grant opposite Sarah Paulson as her rival, Carrington Lane.
Also featuring Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, Niecy Nash, and Teyana Taylor.
Produced with a massive $12M-per-episode budget, the series mixes sharp dialogue, social satire, and emotional justice.
Expected to redefine the legal drama genre — and Kim Kardashian’s public image.
