What to Watch in October: Streaming and TV Guide

Scrolling through endless streaming catalogs while your dinner gets cold? That’s over. Do It In Paris makes life easier with a carefully curated selection of the best October movie releases on MyCanal, AppleTV+, Arte, Netflix, and France.TV. Ready? Let’s go!

The film. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), one of the only survivors of the massacre of his clan along with his mother, must seek refuge with a tribe that was until now enemy. The Fremen live in the desert and know it like the back of their hand. The hiccup? The dunes conceal enormous worms that blindly swallow everything that walks too loudly on the sand... and produce a substance, Spice, whose harvest is fiercely contested between the Fremen and the Harkonnen, a third exoplanetary tribe. These ones are not only after the Spice as they plan to conquer the entire planet Arrakis, producer of this substance, while not forgetting to annihilate its inhabitants along the way. Fortunately (or not) for the Fremen, Paul and his mother Jessica seem to possess dark prophetic powers that might just ensure their survival... or else trigger the worst war of religion in inhabited space.

Why we loved it. The second part of the massive opus directed by Denis Villeneuve, narrated by Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), has nothing to envy from the first. Its cast, gathering the biggest names in Hollywood, transports us to another universe. Timothée Chalamet is absolutely irresistible in this role of a messiah draped like a desert warrior. The battle scenes, featuring ships, explosives, and hand-to-hand combat, completely glue you to the screen. The sound effects are highly impressive, almost deafening. Watch out: the desert and its Fremen live under a blinding sun! It's not just Timothée Chalamet who dazzles us.

Available on MyCanal starting October 4.
© 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

The film: A crime scene cleaner (George Clooney) is called to tidy up a hotel room where a body was found, only to be interrupted by another professional, nearly identical to him (Brad Pitt). These two lone wolves have never met and instinctively dislike each other, but they're forced to team up. What follows is a chaotic night where nothing goes as planned. The young man found dead was carrying a massive amount of hard drugs, dragging the duo into a dangerous web involving the Albanian and Croatian mafias. Amid shootouts, hideouts, and constant bickering, they begin to bond, setting the stage for an unlikely bromance.

Why we loved it: Real-life buddies Brad and George took the Venice Film Festival by storm, presenting the buddy movie of their dreams, which they also co-produced. Directed by Jon Watts (of Spider-Man fame), this film marks their return 16 years after their first collaboration in the Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading. Hollywood's heartthrobs deliver a two-hour guilty pleasure filled with banter and action, making it the perfect choice for a cozy movie night!

Available on Apple TV+ from September 27.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLJUPjiRbAM

© 2024 Apple inc. 

The film: Every Friday, the Ménard family gathers at the run-down café owned by the eldest son, Henri (Jean-Pierre Bacri), who has just been left by his wife. On this particular evening, they’re celebrating the 35th birthday of Yolande (Catherine Frot), the wife of the family's golden child (Wladimir Yordanoff). The sibling rivalry is fierce, with the self-centered younger brother constantly belittling Henri. Their overbearing mother (Claire Maurier) obsesses over the single status of her youngest daughter, Betty (Agnès Jaoui), the rebellious black sheep of the family. As they wait for Henri’s estranged wife, long-held grudges bubble to the surface under the dispassionate gaze of Denis, the easygoing waiter (Jean-Pierre Darroussin).

Why we loved it: Adapted from the iconic play by Jaoui and Bacri, this cult classic, directed by Cédric Klapisch (L'Auberge Espagnole), is a must-watch for anyone who thinks their family is dysfunctional. From dog collar birthday gifts to jaw-dropping exchanges between siblings and parents, Un air de famille is a masterclass in witty, razor-sharp dialogue (winning the César for Best Screenplay in 1997). It’s a film to watch again and again, offering timeless laughs and insight into family dynamics.

Available on France.TV from October 4

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8tj4jo

© D.R.

The film: Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) share a romantic evening that ends in complete disaster. Six months later, they both find themselves invited to Bea’s sister’s wedding. The problem? They can’t stand each other after their disastrous first date. Their friends and family are worried that their mutual hostility could ruin the wedding! To make things worse, Bea’s ex-fiancé is also attending. To keep Bea's ex at bay and help Ben impress someone he's interested in, they come up with a plan: pretend to be in a relationship.

Why we loved it: We’re used to seeing Sydney Sweeney in more serious roles, like her character in Euphoria, but here she brings a charming, clumsy side that leads to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Glen Powell (recently seen in Twisters as a sexy cowboy) lights up the screen as well. Directed by Will Gluck, known for Friends with Benefits and a Golden Globe nomination, this film delivers another delightful "fake relationship" rom-com packed with hilarious, over-the-top scenes.

Available on MyCanal from September 26.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtjH6Sk7Gxs 

© 2023 CTMG. 

The film: Louis Mahé (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a wealthy cigarette plantation owner on the island of Réunion, marries the beautiful Julie (Catherine Deneuve), whom he met through a newspaper ad without ever having seen her in person. Risky move. When she arrives by boat, Louis quickly realizes that she’s probably not the woman who wrote the letters that captivated him! But mesmerized by her beauty, he doesn’t confront her. Big mistake—Julie robs him and vanishes. Determined, Louis sets out on a quest to find her. Back in mainland France, he discovers Julie working as a cabaret artist under the name Marion. Who is she, and what really happened?

Why we loved it: It’s impossible not to know this masterpiece by François Truffaut, a monumental figure in French cinema. Deneuve and Belmondo, the sex symbols of the 1960s, form an absolutely magnetic on-screen couple. Louis’s character gives up everything in his obsessive search for the woman he loves, making himself vulnerable and entirely consumed by his passion for Marion. This time, it’s the femme fatale who controls the game, leaving the man emotionally captive—and it’s a refreshing twist!

Airing on Arte on October 14 at 8:55 PM, available on Arte.TV starting October 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jah7kVd3Qss

© Artistes Associes, Films du Carrosse.

The film: Sam (Malik Zidi) is a freelance journalist determined to write the book of his life. Using his Muslim background, he infiltrates extremist circles and clandestine mosques in the Paris suburbs. His goal: to blend in with a jihadist cell that has been ordered to unleash chaos in the capital with an attack on the Champs-Élysées. Fully committed, Sam attends sermons by radical imams preaching to young men who know little about the Quran. He grows closer to would-be jihadists like Hassan (Dimitri Storoge) and Christophe (François Civil). The problem? They are under the direct command of Al-Qaeda leaders. As Sam becomes more deeply entangled, he finds himself unable to escape the dangerous world he has infiltrated.

Why we loved it: Made in France is a gripping psychological thriller that immerses us in an opaque, unsettling world. The tension Malik Zidi’s character experiences, torn between his family and his undercover mission, is palpable throughout the film. Director Nicolas Boukhrief (Like a Son) delivers a powerful narrative, despite the unfortunate timing of the film's release following the Bataclan attacks.

Available on Netflix from October 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33ylK6Lb_Yg

© Radar Films, Pretty Pictures. 

Discover also the show In Vogue and The Rings of Power.