7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more this weekend (October 17)

From the horror sequel The Black Phone 2 to the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut, there's a packed lineup of new movies releasing this weekend. But if you're not heading to your local cinema to catch a showing, then you're in for a treat at home because there are plenty of new TV shows to choose from.

Alongside the return of fan-favorite series like Netflix's political thriller The Diplomat and CBS' fiery drama series Fire Country, there's a real mix of shows debuting on the world's best streaming services that are bound to keep you busy, including two true crime dramas, a video game adaptation and a docuseries about one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Have a browse below and let us know in the comments what ends up making your watchlist. – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

The Diplomat season 3 (Netflix)

More Keri Russell and Alison Janney being brilliant in Netflix's best political thriller? Go on then. The Diplomat season 3 returns after the death of President Rayburn (Michael McKean), meaning Vice President Grace Penn (Janney) has no choice but to step up to the plate.

As for Kate Wyler (Russell), her professional life has got a lot more complicated. Penn's change in political power means she's struggling to manage to new presidency alongside the fallout of the attack on HMS Courageous, creating something of a "living nightmare," as showrunner Debora Cahn told the streamer.

The drama is known for leaving us on the best cliffhangers and with a burning desire to know even more, and season 3 will be no exception. Our plot remains as compelling and as complex as ever (perhaps upping the ante, if you ask me) and Russell's performance is head and shoulders above the rest. It's all a West Wing fan's dream, really. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch The Diplomat season 3 on Netflix

Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Hulu/Disney+)

Patricia Arquette is no stranger to the true crime genre. She stunned me in her role as Dee Dee Blanchard in The Act, also available on Hulu, and now she's back for another chilling story.

Here, Arquette plays Maggie Murdaugh, the wife of a prominent attorney. This series follows the rise and fall of South Carolina’s Murdaugh dynasty, as the couple's son Paul is involved in a deadly boat crash, giving them a test unlike any they've ever encountered.

The first three episodes are on Hulu and Disney+ this weekend, with weekly releases thereafter. So if you want a good binge watch this weekend, check out the first episodes now. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Murdaugh: Death in the Family on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

Fire Country season 4 (Paramount+)

RIP, Vince Leone (Billy Burke)... we knew him well. Station 42 has been thrown into leadership turmoil at the start of Fire Country season 4 for this very reason, leaving Bode (Max Thieriot) once again struggling to define who he is as a firefighter.

Personally, I think we can extend that to who he is as an individual, as well. Season 3 was a testing time for Bode, navigating the immediate aftermath of his dad's death, alongside having his credibility questioned in the force.

I'd like to say things get cheerier in new episodes, but don't hold your breath. However, we do have a new chief on the block in the form of Brett Richards (Shawn Hatosy), and that's sure to cause havoc. – JV

• Watch Fire Country season 4 on Paramount+

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (Netflix)

I had a great time playing Ubisoft's Splinter Cell series over the years and sometimes I really miss my PlayStation 2 because of it. We haven't had a game since 2013, but don't worry, the Netflix series is well worth your time.

If, like me, you yearn for more Sam Fisher then go and check out Splinter Cell: Deathwatch this weekend. Liev Schreiber takes over from Michael Ironside in the leading voice role, and is no less brilliant.

Don't just listen to me either, it's got a Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% and fans have been praising it across social media too. All eight episodes are available to stream right now. – LB

• Watch Splinter Cell: Deathwatch on Netflix

Mr Scorsese (Apple TV)

It's almost impossible to pick a single best Martin Scorsese movie, and I say that as a big fan of the filmmaker's work, so if you're anything like me then you're going to want to tune into this new five-part docuseries to get a rare behind-the-scenes look into the director's life.

The Apple TV Original is made up of interviews with the Scorsese himself and his closest companions, including family, friends and creative collaborators, like Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mick Jagger. These are broken up by footage from the filmmaker's private archives, giving fans an intimate look at the man behind the camera.

Taking us back to his film student days in New York, the series chronologically explores Scorsese's filmography as he reflects on the influences that have creatively shaped him. There's my weekend plans sorted. – AS

• Watch Mr Scorsese on Apple TV

Culpa Nuestra / Our Fault (Prime Video)

Even through how Prime Video has chosen to market Our Fault, I can tell that they're expecting it to go big. The Spanish language drama follows Noah (Nicole Wallace) and her step-brother Nick (Gabriel Guevara) in the wake of their breakup (yes, I am typing that correctly).

Their parents' wedding forces them to confront their connection, and whether their passion for each other can survive in their new lives. Amazingly, this is the third film in the series, which unsurprisingly began with My Fault and Your Fault.

As the title suggests, the mess that the pair have found themselves in is most definitely a shared burden, and quite frankly I don't know how they can fix things. The central conflict is intense enough for you to put the family logistics to one side, and there's no denying that these two have incredible chemistry. – JV

• Watch Our Fault on Prime Video

John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise (Peacock)

Peacock’s limited series Devil in Disguise follows in the footsteps of Netflix's Monster anthology, starting off with John Wayne Gacy. Season 2 is already set to focus on Richard Ramirez, aka ‘The Night Stalker’, per Variety, so we should expect more grisly tales to come.

In this season, Severance star Michael Chernus plays serial killer John Wayne Gacy, also known as 'The Killer Clown'. Gacy was convicted of 33 counts of murder, and a number of other grisly crimes, and this series dramatizes what happened.

According to a press release, the eight-episode drama "reframes the narrative through the people forever impacted by his crimes: the victims, their families, and the detectives who refused to stop digging". – LB

• Watch John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise on Peacock

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