So, what’s everyone been watching this week? Hmmmm?
Just to get a sense of what everyone’s streaming, we’ve used data from streaming aggregator Reelgood, which gathers viewership numbers from hundreds of streaming services in the U.S. and UK. Each week, the most streamed TV shows and movies come down to a few elements — sheer buzz, a big finale, smart marketing, star power, critical acclaim, or word-of-mouth that leads uninterested people to finally watch it out of spite.
This week, with Halloween almost here, the scarier watches are ramping up, with Netflix’s The Watcher, Halloween Ends, American Horror Story: NYC, and Barbarian all making the top 10.
But just because a lot of people are watching something doesn’t make it…good. Here they are, the 10 most streamed TV shows and movies of the week, where to watch them, and what Mashable critics thought.
1. The Watcher
Ryan Murphy’s latest production is getting all the streams this week, a seven-episode horror anthology based on true crime stories. Based on a 2018 article published by The Cut, The Watcher is centred on New Jersey residents the Brannock family, who start receiving highly unsettling letters from an anonymous author. The Watcher is based on a real case, and the makers got permission from the family who actually lived through it (unlike the makers of Netflix’s Dahmer series). — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: The Watcher is now streaming on Netflix.
2. The Peripheral
Based on William Gibson’s 2014 novel of the same name, The Peripheral stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Flynne Fisher, a woman who tests out some new VR technology only to find herself in a futuristic new world with IRL consequences. Exec produced by Westworld creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, this one looks like a tense blend of The Matrix and Black Mirror. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
How to watch: The Peripheral is now streaming on Prime Video.
3. Halloween Ends
Laurie Strode has been fighting the same Haddonfield monster since 1978, when Michael Myers first barged his way into a closet and into horror history with the first Halloween. And now, the saga is ending (probably) after 45 years, with Jamie Lee Curtis returning to her iconic role to take on the masked murderer one last time. In the last film of the relaunched franchise following 2018’s Halloween and Halloween Kills, the David Gordon Green-directed Halloween Ends promises to do exactly that: pit Laurie and Michael against each other for the ultimate showdown.
Set four years since the events of the last film, this time Laurie is writing her memoir while living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and seemingly free from her tormentor. But when a babysitter, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) is accused of murder, a series of violent events can only mean one thing. — S.C.
What we thought: After over 40 years of a franchise and a slew of cast-aside sequels, that Halloween Ends isn’t boring is nothing to sniff at. — Jenni Miller
How to watch: Halloween Ends is now showing in cinemas and streaming on Peacock.
4. House of the Dragon
There is simply no denying the power of Game of Thrones, a franchise that has roared back into our lives with the release of prequel series House of the Dragon. Taking place nearly 200 years before Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen existed, House of the Dragon follows House Targaryen at the height of its power in Westeros. There’s just one small problem: King Viserys (Paddy Considine) doesn’t have a male heir. With the line of succession in question, you can bet on scheming, bloodshed, and mayhem. Oh, and many, many dragons. Let fire and blood reign! — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
What we thought: If you’re worried about House of the Dragon after getting burned by the final season of Game of Thrones, don’t be. HBO’s epic new series is excellent through and through, juggling memorable characters, high fantasy, and intense emotions with practiced ease. You’ll be sucked in faster than you can say « Dracarys. » — B.E.
How to watch: House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max.
5. Barbarian
Turns out Bill Skarsgård doesn’t even need clown makeup to be scary. Zach Creggar’s horror sees Tess (Georgina Campbell) arriving at her AirBnb only to find it already occupied. A stranger called Keith (Skarsgård) is there, but she decides to crash with him after realising it’s late and she has nowhere else to stay. As you can probably imagine, this turns out to be a bad idea. — S.H.
How to watch: Barbarian is streaming now on HBO Max.
6. The School for Good and Evil
Based on Soman Chainani’s popular YA fantasy series, Paul Feig’s The School for Good and Evil sees best pals Sophie (Sophie Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie) whisked off to an enchanted school where heroes and villains get their training. The movie is packed with big names and cameos (hello Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington) but, as Mashable’s Shannon Connellan explained, it simply needs way more Rachel Bloom. — S.H.
How to watch: The School for Good and Evil is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Terrifier
It must be Halloween because Damien Leone’s 2016 film Terrifer is one of the most streamed of the week — the sequel is out Oct. 24, and is also reportedly making viewers vomit and pass out, so that also helps. David Howard Thorton stars as Art, a murderous clown who’s after Tara, Vicky, and Dawn (Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, Catherine Corcoran) on the scariest night of the year. — S.C.
How to watch: Terrifier is now streaming on FuboTV.
8. Andor
Star Wars’ latest adventure is one of the most popular series this week, with Diego Luna in the lead and back in his 2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story role of Cassian Andor before he joins the Rebellion. In the prequel series Andor, you’ll also get an early peek at the tale of Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly). Rounding out the cast is Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, and Kyle Soller.* — S.C.
How to watch: Andor is now streaming on Disney+.
9. The Stranger
Based on Kate Kyriacou’s non-fiction book The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer, The Stranger follows the real-life child abduction case that saw an officer (played by Joel Edgerton) going undercover to befriend the main suspect (played by Sean Harris). Although the movie is popular, it’s worth noting that Daniel Morcombe’s parents have spoken out about it, describing the film as « callously disrespectful ». — S.H.
How to watch: The Stranger is now streaming on Netflix.
10. American Horror Story: NYC
With a cult following built up over 10 seasons, it’s really no surprise that Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s latest American Horror Story series (this time set in New York City) is in the top 10 this week. Behold the teaser, which is packed full of leather, needles, and blood, and brace yourself. — S.H.
How to watch: American Horror Story: NYC is now streaming on Hulu.
