Live-action Moana remake makes its Disney+ debut, biographical drama Tenzing climbs onto Apple TV, award-winning political thriller The Diplomat is back, plus more in this week’s streaming release list!
SERIES
The Diplomat S4
15 October 2026 – Netflix
Despite having a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and some prestigious other wins, it feels like The Diplomat is somehow still flying under the radar. I know that’s not 100% accurate because here we are in season four already, but it still feels that way. So, if you’re a fan of The Diplomat – i.e. you’re a fan of nail-biting political thrills, nuanced character work, and award-winning performances – then make some noise for this incredible show. Season four of The Diplomat picks up in the wake of Ambassador Kate Wyler’s (Kerri Russell) shocking suspicion about sometimes estranged/sometimes enamoured husband Hal, now Vice President of the USA. As Hal and President Grace Penn’s conspiracy to steal Russia’s most powerful weapon hurtles the United States toward war, Kate has to stem the political bleeding while trying to save her crumbling marriage, and is forced to turn to an unlike ally against the Grace-Hal alliance in the form of First Gentleman Todd Penn.
Phony S1
20 October 2026 – Disney+
We’ve heard of plenty of examples of people undergoing traumatic events and experiencing a huge change in personality. But we’ve experienced the traumatic and somebody else changes? That’s the hook for new coming-of-age mystery series Phony, which follows high school student Sonny Cooke (Sam Nivola) after he wakes up from a car crash and notices his mother, Ellen (Connie Britton), looks slightly different. Has his only parent and best friend somehow been replaced by an impostor?
The New Stanford Prison Experiment S1
21 October 2026 – Netflix
The 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment is one of the most infamous social psychology studies ever conducted that has resulted in countless debates and critiques, with some dismissing the whole thing as just unscientific cruelty. So, of course somebody at Netflix thought we should do it again! In the imaginatively titled The New Stanford Prison Experiment, exec producer Jane Lipsitz offers a bold reimaging of the controversial experiment as thirty willing participants enter a real prison and are randomly assigned as guards or prisoners. Thrust into a system of power, hierarchy, and control, they’ll discover whether ordinary people inevitably conform to the roles they’re given or whether empathy, morality, and individuality can withstand the forces pushing them in the opposite direction. As the pressure builds and the balance of power begins to shift, the central question feels more urgent than ever: Does power corrupt?
The Terminal List S2
21 October 2026 – Prime Video
Prime Video’s adaptation of author Jack Carr’s The Terminal List has been a quiet success for the streamer despite critics not being kind to it all. Described as being in the “Shows For Dads” genre, 2022’s first season introduced us to Chris Pratt as Navy SEAL Commander James Reece as he battles unknown conspiratorial forces seeking to upend the world order. That then gave rise to prequel spinoff The Terminal List: Dark Wolf that focuses on the past of Taylor Kitsch’s Ben Edwards. And now, like some kind of Spec Ops Avengers, season three of The Terminal List picks up Reese’s story again while also folding in elements from Dark Wolf. Based on Carr’s second novel, True Believer, the show’s story morphs from a psychological revenge thriller to a globe-trotting espionage thriller taking Reece across the Indian Ocean, Southern and Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, as he uncover a conspiracy that reaches from Moscow to Langley and ties into his own family’s history.
MOVIES
Tenzing
16 October 2026 – Apple TV+
History-making New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary once said that “Strong motivation is the most important factor in getting you to the top”. However, many would argue that it was actually Tenzing Norgay who was more important. In 1953, as part of a British expedition, Hillary and local Nepalese-Indian sherpa Norgay became the first confirmed people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, however that momentous achievement was mostly framed by Western media as Hillary being the leader of the two, with Norgay just there as his assistant. That could not be further from the truth as both men always insisted it was a total team effort and even refused to say who stepped foot on the highest point first. Despite that, Norgay’s own story has never really been given the prestige treatment, but that changes with Tenzing. Directed by Jennifer Peedom (co-director of award-winning mountain climbing documentary Solo), Tenzing chronicles the little-known story of its titular hero, played by Tibetan actor Genden Phuntsok. It delves into Norgay’s past and personal life, a side to his story that is rarely spoken about, leading to his historic expedition with Hillary (played by Tom Hiddleston). The film debuted on the film fest circuit earlier this week and has already drawn plenty of critical buzz.
Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald
16 October 2026 – Netflix
Canadian-born comedian Norm McDonald was one of Hollywood’s most beloved funnymen, as his career took him from standup gigs, to writing on sitcoms like on Roseanne, and eventually his big breakout as one of the star cast members of Saturday Night Live. Described by late night talk show host David Letterman as “the best” standup comedian, McDonald was praised for his chaotic yet understated comedic style that made him an icon with his peers. Sadly, McDonald’s life was cut short in 2021 when he died of leukemia, a condition he had not publicly disclosed. He was 61 years old. Directed by acclaimed comedic filmmaker Judd Apatow, Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald is an intimate feature film documentary that traces the life and career of the stand-up and SNL legend. Built entirely from archival footage, personal photos, and rare home videos contributed by fans and friends, the documentary lets Norm tell his own story in his own voice. This is a tribute to a comic genius whose influence on stand-up and television comedy remains unmatched.
Masterplan
16 October 2026
I won’t accuse Stanley Tucci of slumming it, but the beloved actor has been involved in a number of projects on Prime Video that wasn’t quite the best. And the verdict is still out for the latest of these efforts though. Mastermind sees Tucci playing legendary thief Roger who sets his sights on the Mona Lisa. Needing some help with his larceny Roger recruits two young strangers to help him – Chiara, a sharp Italian cybercrime expert, and Jay, a swaggering French explosives specialist. But there’s a twist that Roger soon reveals: The bickering pair are actually long-lost siblings… and oh yes by the way, he is their father. Thrown into a chaotic reunion they never asked for, this new family must learn to work together – and try not to kill each other – if they want any chance at pulling off the heist of the century.
Moana
20 October 2026 – Disney+
Moana, Disney’s latest live-action recreation of one of its beloved animated films, was – to put it bluntly – a flop. With estimates pegging it at a $100-125 million loss for the House of Mouse, it seems not a lot of people were interested in watching this one on the big screen. I maintain that was because of Dwayne Johnson’s comically bad wig. According to Noelle in here 5.5/10 review though, there were plenty of other reasons: “As a near shot-for-shot copy of the 2016 original, the live-action Moana remake is lacking in energy and a reason to be emotionally invested. Leads Laga’aia and Johnson are sincere and likeable in their roles at least, but with such heavy, distracting CGI use across the board, you have to wonder why make the movie in the first place. Not bad, just bland.”