What to Watch This Week: 7 Must-See Premieres from Streaming and Theaters (Week of September 28, 2025)

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Sep 29

From horror anthologies and true-crime dramas to Matthew McConaughey battling a school bus inferno, here’s everything worth watching this week.

As October begins, the fall entertainment calendar shifts into high gear — and this week brings a perfect mix of prestige dramas, genre thrills, high-profile streaming premieres, and even a theatrical return for one of Canada’s most beloved cult comedies. Whether you’re looking for a buzzy new Netflix series, a Hulu original starring Glen Powell, or Dwayne Johnson’s gritty MMA transformation in The Smashing Machine, there’s no shortage of options.

These seven picks include a mix of streaming debuts and theatrical must-sees, curated for anyone craving something bold, suspenseful, or wildly entertaining. Scroll through the full list below for what to stream — and what to see on the big screen — starting this week.

1. Chad Powers

Premieres September 30 on Hulu

In what might be Glen Powell’s most unpredictable role yet, Chad Powers follows Russ Holliday, a disgraced college quarterback who adopts a new identity and walks onto a struggling Southern football team in a last-ditch effort to reclaim his dream. Inspired by a viral Eli Manning bit on ESPN, the series blends sports drama with absurd comedy and underdog energy.

With Steve Zahn and Toby Huss rounding out the cast, Chad Powers is a confident, character-driven comedy about reinvention, deception, and second chances. Think Friday Night Lights by way of Eastbound & Down — and with Powell at the center, it’s bound to be one of Hulu’s most watchable series this fall. –JPM

2. Monster (Season 3)

Premieres October 3 on Netflix

The Netflix true-crime anthology Monster returns with its third season, continuing to explore the lives and crimes of infamous killers and the culture that enabled them. This time, the series dives deeper into how media, law enforcement, and public obsession often collide — for better or worse.

Created by Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy, Monster has consistently drawn strong ratings and controversy in equal measure. With a new cast and a new case, Season 3 promises to be another chilling and provocative installment in one of Netflix’s most talked-about franchises. –JPM

3. The Lost Bus

Premieres October 3 on Apple TV+

Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera team up in The Lost Bus, a high-stakes thriller from director Paul Greengrass (United 93, Captain Phillips). The story centers on a school teacher and a wayward bus driver racing to save a group of children after a fire breaks out during a field trip.

Greengrass applies his signature real-time intensity to the story, crafting a suspenseful and emotionally resonant tale that explores trauma, redemption, and heroism. Expect awards buzz for both leads — and a seat-clenching experience from start to finish. –JPM

4. V/H/S/Halloween

Premieres October 3 on Shudder

Just in time for spooky season, the V/H/S horror franchise returns with a Halloween-themed installment featuring a fresh slate of twisted short films from rising genre directors. This anthology promises found-footage scares with a seasonal twist — and it’s already earning praise for its inventive kills and nostalgic throwbacks.

The series has long been a favorite among horror aficionados, and V/H/S/Halloween continues the tradition of delivering inventive, blood-soaked tales with sharp political undertones. If you’re looking for early October terror, this one’s a no-brainer. –JPM

5. Steve

Premieres October 3 on Netflix

Cillian Murphy stars in Steve, a gripping British drama about a school headmaster struggling to keep his reform college afloat while battling his own mental health demons. As he fights to hold the institution together, a new student named Shy (Jay Lycurgo) arrives, triggering buried trauma and hard moral choices.

Directed by Tim Mielants (The Responder), Steve is both a character study and a societal reckoning, anchored by Murphy’s commanding, emotionally raw performance. It’s a dark, riveting exploration of education, masculinity, and redemption. –JPM

6. Nirvanna the Band the Show: The Movie

In Theaters October 1

Matt Johnson (BlackBerry) and Jay McCarrol bring their cult series Nirvanna the Band the Show to the big screen in a meta-comedy that’s already generating buzz in Canadian circles. The film finds its delusional duo once again scheming to book a gig at the Rivoli — only this time, their antics spill into real-world chaos and TIFF-level absurdity.

A mashup of Nathan for You, Borat, and punk DIY filmmaking, this is the type of comedy that refuses to follow the rules — or even acknowledge them. Expect guerrilla filmmaking, industry satire, and cameos galore. –JPM

7. The Smashing Machine

In Theaters October 3

Dwayne Johnson trades charisma for carnage in The Smashing Machine, a brutal and transformative biopic about real-life MMA legend Mark Kerr. Directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), the film dives deep into the highs and harrowing lows of Kerr’s fighting career, addiction struggles, and emotional unraveling.

Far from Johnson’s typical crowd-pleasers, this is a serious, hard-hitting performance that could signal an Oscar campaign. With Safdie’s kinetic, unflinching direction, The Smashing Machine looks to be one of the most gripping sports dramas of the year — and a whole new chapter for The Rock. –JPM

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From football comedy to MMA heartbreak, and from horror anthologies to real-life rock icons, this week’s premieres reflect just how diverse and ambitious the fall slate is shaping up to be. With big-screen events like The Smashing Machine and Nirvanna the Band: The Movie offering theatrical spectacle, and streaming giants dropping high-concept series like Steve and Chad Powers, there’s never been a better time to update your watchlist. Check back next week for more must-sees — and scroll The Cinema Group for daily coverage of NYFF, box office updates, and streaming picks you won’t find anywhere else.