It's October and it's time to refresh that streaming queue. Here are the best selections from Hulu, Netflix and more.
With Fall TV under way, our DVRs are filling up. But that hasn’t stopped us from getting excited about what’s coming to our favorite streaming services.
In fact, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix are making our Fall TV schedule even more crowded with new original, scripted content. And trust us, these networks are pumping out prime programming this month. Among the highlights: A Jason Reitman sitcom, Jennifer Grey in a ‘80s throwback, and Netflix’s first Oscar contender.
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ETonline sifted through all the offerings from Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Now, and Netflix to bring you our top picks for October.
1.Back to the Future Trilogy
With the exact date -- Oct. 21, 2015 -- Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) time-traveled to coming up, there’s no better way to celebrate than by streaming all three films. Luckily, Amazon Prime is giving users unlimited access to the trilogy thirty years after its initial release. So strap on a pair of McFly Nikes to travel back in time for a month of nostalgia. (Amazon Prime, Oct. 1)
2.Beasts of No Nation
As Netflix continues to ramp up its original content, it’s also diving into feature films. One of the first major releases is Beasts of No Nation starring Idris Elba. The film, which tells the story of a West African boy forced to join a group of mercenary survivors, is directed by Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) and picking up Oscar buzz. How can it compete at the Oscars if it’s a streaming offer? The service will screen the film in
select theaters and festivals in order to meet Academy rules. (Netflix, Oct. 16)
3. Brick
Ten years ago, we might not have predicted that Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be a shoe-in for Robin (The Dark Knight Rises), a Bruce Willis doppleganger (Looper), our favorite would-be boyfriend (Don Jon) or a happily married father. Oh, how time flies! Before you go see him in his latest 3D epic, The Walk, watch him in Brick, a high school-set noir about the murder of a coed. It’s a slinky, fun film that showcases the future prowess of Levitt. (HBO Now, Oct. 1)
4. Casual
Netflix and Amazon have a reason to be nervous. Over the past three months, Hulu has debuted two, buzzworthy scripted programs -- Difficult People and The Mindy Project -- and adding a third original that's a must-watch. Casual, a Jason Reitman sitcom starring Michaela Watkins, is a slow-burn of a comedy about a divorced mother who moves in with her brother. It brings the best of Reitman’s dramedies -- and superb acting by Watkins -- to the streaming site. (Hulu, Oct. 7)
5. Circle
Circle is another Netflix exclusive film that looks to scare ahead of Halloween. Starring Julie Benz (Jawbreaker), the film tells the story of a group of strangers seized and awaiting execution. The twist: they have to choose who among them is worthy of being spared. (Netflix, Oct. 16)
6. Red Oaks
If you’re feeling nostalgic this month, Amazon is the place to stream. In addition to the Back to the Future franchise, the site is premiering its latest scripted comedy, Red Oaks, starring Jennifer Grey and Paul Reiser. The coming-of-age show from the minds of David Gordon Green and Stephen Soderbergh mixes the vibes of John Hughes and Richard Linklater. (Amazon Prime, Oct. 9)
7. Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (2015)
Fans of Disney’s animated films will surely have seen the shorts that aired ahead of them in theaters. The latest collection pulls together Frozen Fever -- yes, that Frozen! -- and several award-winning programs, including Paperman and Feast.