LIST: Films and TV series to watch in October 2023
October is a month full of interesting series to binge-watch and movies worth going to the cinemas for.
For K-drama lovers, there's a good list of shows and films led by some of our favorite Hallyu wave superstars. Pinoy filmmakers and producers also have a good number of interesting local releases lined up this month. There are even upcoming offerings that are worth a trip to the theater with a friend or two.
Here are the series and movies that you might want to include in your watchlist this October.
Haunted Mansion
Status: Streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 4
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto
Start the spooky Halloween month by watching Haunted Mansion, an adaptation of the 2003 classic. In this new offering, a single mother named Gabbi hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to help exorcise her newly purchased mansion after she discovers that it has been inhabited by ghosts.
Cobweb
Status: Showing in Philippine cinemas starting Oct. 4
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se, Jeon Yeo-been, and Krystal Jung
Set in the 1970s, this period black comedy film is about a director who's obsessed with making a new ending for his film, which is also titled Cobweb. It exposes the funny and sad things happening behind the scenes during productions under certain circumstances. Check out our review of the movie: Cobweb is a manic, hilarious love letter to filmmaking.
Linlang
Status: Streaming on Prime Video on Oct. 5
Starring: Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, Jake Ejercito, and JM De Guzman with Maricel Soriano
After the success of the romantic comedy series Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen, "Chinita Princess" Kim Chiu is back as the lead actress of a new intriguing heavy drama titled Linlang.
Marking the actress' first team-up with award-winning drama actor Paulo Avelino, the Pinoy drama sees Kim as a wife who is suspected to have an affair with her boss. Looks like she's set to show a different side of her in this one.
Ballerina
Status: Streaming on Netflix on Oct. 6
Starring: Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, and Park Yu-rim
There seems to be a demand for content related to revenge this year. In Ballerina, an ex-bodyguard grieves for the loss of her best friend whom she failed to protect. Her last wish? A sweet revenge. Based on the trailer alone, we're adding Jeon Jong-seo to our new favorite female action stars.
Loki Season 2
Status: Streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 6
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and more
Loki Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the season finale when Loki gets into a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. According to Marvel, Loki "navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous Multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes, and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose."
Strong Girl, Nam-soon
Status: Streaming on Netflix on Oct. 7
Starring: Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Jung-eun, and Kim Hae-sook
Fans of the 2017 K-drama Strong Girl, Bon-soon are eager and excited to watch its spin-off series Strong Girl, Nam-soon. This time, the focus is on a girl named Gang Nam-soon, who went missing when she was just a little kid in Mongolia. She flies to South Korea to look for her biological parents where she meets Hwang Geum-jo (her mother) and Gil Joong-gan (her grandmother). The trio then finds themselves entangled in a drug case being handled by a cute detective. Sounds fun and exciting, doesn't it?
A Good Day to be a Dog
Status: Streaming on Viu on Oct. 11
Starring: Park Gyu-young, Cha Eun-woo, and Lee Hyun-woo
Cha Eun-woo lovers are in for a treat because he's again taking part in a romantic comedy. After his serious role as a priest with exorcism capabilities in the dark fantasy series Island, the K-drama actor is back with another fantasy project. This time, he portrays the love interest of a single high-school teacher (played by Park Gyu-young of Celebrity), whose family is suffering from a weird curse: Any person she kisses turns into a dog at midnight for six hours. The cycle repeats until the sharer of the kiss locks lips with them again in their dog form.
Instant Daddy
Status: Showing in Philippine cinemas starting Oct. 11
Starring: Jerald Napoles Althea Ruedas and Ryza Cenon
Based on the hit Mexican family hit movie Instructions Not Included, Instant Daddy showcases the brilliance of award-winning director Crisanto A. Aquino who helmed the Philippine adaptation of the popular franchise. As a product of a broken family, Val (Jerald Napoles) vows to never enter a serious relationship. Things change when one of his flings shows up with his baby. In an instant, the easy-going lad needs to play the role of a dad to a little girl. Better bring some tissues with you.
In My Mother’s Skin
Status: Streaming on Prime Video on Oct. 12
Starring: Beauty Gonzalez, Felicity Kyle Napuli, James Mavie Estrella, Angeli Bayani, Ronnie Lazaro, Arnold Reyes, Noel Sto. Domingo, and Jasmin Curtis-Smith
It's nice to see a Pinoy horror film in Prime Video’s catalog again! Set in the 1940s, a wealthy family gets trapped in their country mansion and is terrorized by Japanese soldiers who are losing against the Americans. The family patriarch flees amid rumors that he has stolen some Japanese gold and hid it somewhere. As the chaos ensues, the family is scared that he will never come back. It doesn’t help that the mother’s health is declining. Desperate, the youngest daughter named Tala seeks help from a flesh-eating fairy, who has some evil plans.
Can’t Buy Me Love
Status: Streaming on Netflix on Oct. 13 and iWant on Oct. 14
Starring: Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano
Calling all DonBelle lovers! The Kapamilya love team is back with their highly anticipated series Can’t Buy Me Love. Hopeless romantics will surely love the familiar yet heartwarming romance trope where a rich heiress falls for an ordinary dude. With a star-studded cast, this show could deliver not just in terms of the kilig we all need in our lives, but a good performance, too!
Five Breakups and a Romance
Status: Showing in Philippine cinemas starting Oct. 18
Starring: Alden Richards and Julia Montes
Who would’ve thought that one day, GMA’s Alden Richards and ABS-CBN’s Julia Montes would team up for a mainstream romance film?
Five Breakups and a Romance deals with the complexities of relationships in modern times. Alden portrays the role of Lance, an easygoing guy while Julia plays the character of Justine, a career-driven lady who will do everything to meet her goals. How will differences in their life principles affect their relationship?
Doona!
Status: Streaming on Netflix on Oct. 20
Starring: Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong
Did you know that before Bae Suzy became a K-drama land sweetheart, she was also part of a second-generation girl group? She was once the visual and maknae of Miss A before the group disbanded and she became one of the most loved Hallyu stars.
In Doona!, the Korean star plays the role of an idol group singer who suddenly retires from the entertainment industry and begins her life in isolation in a house near a university. She crosses paths with a younger university student (played by Yang Se-jong) and soon, romance will bloom.
Castaway Diva
Status: Streaming on Netflix on Oct. 28
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Chae Yong-hyeop, and Kim Hyo-jin
Did you miss Extraordinary Attorney Woo star Park Eun-bin? The K-drama darling is back with her highly anticipated series Castaway Diva.
Seo Mok-ha is a young girl who aspires to become a singer, but one day, she finds herself stranded on an island while on her way to an audition. She ends up getting stuck there for fifteen years. Once she's rescued, she faces the challenges of adjusting to the fast-paced world. She will once again try to pursue her dreams. Will she succeed this time?