What to Watch This Week
The 5 movies, TV shows, and events everyone will be talking about, for the week of October 15 to October 21.
If the past two decades of movies have taught us anything, it’s that we all love a story about a hero. Sometimes that hero dons a cape and wields otherworldly powers. But that hero can also be everyday people, striving to achieve something great — yet profoundly human — for themselves or their community.
Heroes of all ilks can be found everywhere in this week’s most anticipated releases. Marvel’s VisionQuest offers the classic caped do-gooder, reuniting audiences with Paul Bettany’s emotionally clouded android following the events of WandaVision, while video game adaptation Street Fighter mixes relatable stakes with preternatural abilities. And while the characters in Season 4 of political thriller The Diplomat may not be superhuman, they do have to confront their own nature as they decide if they’ll use the influence they wield for good.
For the week of October 15 to October 21 here are the five movies, TV shows, and events that will have everyone talking.
Street Fighter
When to watch: October 16
Where to watch: In theaters
It’s no secret that putting a live action adaptation of a video game is tough work. Sometimes, they’re too grounded in reality, stripping the fun and creativity that fans loved in the original version. Other times, they lean so campy and stylized, it feels as if the source material has been disrespected. That’s the weight the new Street Fighter movie is shouldering, thanks to two previous not-so-loved movie attempts. (The 1994 version starring Jean-Claude Van Damme has become somewhat of a cult classic despite its 20% score on both the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter; 2009’s Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, however, has just a 3% score on the Tomatometer.)
Baggage or not, 2026’s Street Fighter looks incredibly promising. Set in 1993, the story follows estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), who are recruited by the formidable Chun-Li (Callina Liang) to compete in the World Warrior Tournament. While there, they’re forced to face off against each other — and confront old demons. The cast also includes Jason Momoa, Eric André, and 50 Cent, as well as pro wrestlers like Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
Based on trailers alone, it appears as if the movie is deftly balancing humor, action, and game-play vibes with performances that honor the beloved characters. It has the tone and classic elements that make fans of the games happy, while also offering riotous entertainment for casuals.
Buy tickets on Fandango.
VisionQuest
When to watch: October 14
Where to watch: Disney+
Outside of Spider-Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been struggling over the last few years — particularly in the TV realm, where shows have often been disappointing or have failed to find huge audiences even with critical/fan acclaim. So the fact that there’s genuine hype and anticipation for VisionQuest, a spinoff to WandaVision, is a pretty big deal.
Starring Paul Bettany as the titular android hero, the miniseries finds Vision (who was killed in Avengers: Infinity War, then resurrected as a new version of himself by a grieving Wanda Maximoff in the aforementioned WandaVision) as he’s retreated from the public eye and interacting with other sentient AIs that share his programming (such as James Spader’s Ultron and James D’Arcy’s J.A.R.V.I.S.). His contemplative solitude is interrupted when an assassin starts hunting him, forcing him to go on the run with a teenage boy (Ruaridh Mollica) with superspeed who is a sort of reincarnation of one of Wanda’s sons.
Yes, that’s a lot. But that’s exactly what makes VisionQuest so intriguing. It’s the MCU leaning into what it did most successfully at its peak: experimenting with unconventional tropes and experimental storytelling inside the larger comic book/action framework. Hopefully, the show can also draw upon the heart and profoundly human emotion that has allowed WandaVision to remain one of the franchise’s most beloved TV series ever. Plus, with Avengers: Doomsday looming, die-hard fans are definitely going to want to pore over every frame for potential MCU easter eggs.
The Diplomat Season 4
When to watch: October 15
Where to watch: Netflix
The Diplomat is the platonic ideal of a binge show. It’s glossy and soapy, boasts incredible (Emmy-worthy!) performances, and is packed with addictive high stakes, plot twists, and cliffhangers that keep people watching and obsessing over in group texts and/or online chats. Season 4 of the political drama promises to follow in that same vein — and then some, because Season 3 left us off with a real doozy.
As a refresher: after losing the coveted Vice President job to her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell), Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) has been juggling her Second Lady and ambassador roles. That’s how she discovers that Hal and President Grace Penn (Allison Janney) have secretly stolen a deadly Russian weapon, lying to long-time allies in the U.K. (and the rest of the world) in the process. Now, Kate is left figuring out how to keep the peace and stop Grace and Hal from exerting their power too far while trying to save her marriage. Talk about juicy. Clear your calendars, because once you start watching Season 4 of The Diplomat, you won’t stop until you’ve torn through every episode.
Sense and Sensibility
When to watch: October 16
Where to watch: In theaters
A Jane Austen adaptation — when done well — is a very special experience. All these years later, the British author’s depictions of love, life, and women’s positioning in society remain thought-provoking and relatable, and translate so well to the screen. It’s no wonder that the film industry keeps turning to her work for inspiration, with Sense and Sensibility being the latest story told through new eyes. And this adaptation of Austen’s debut novel has big shoes to fill: it was originally made into a movie in 1995 directed by Ang Lee and written by Emma Thompson (who also starred), which went on to earn seven Oscar nominations (Thompson even won for her screenplay).
In 2026, the production is really embracing rising voices. As expected, the film follows the Dashwood women, who are displaced from their home when their patriarch dies. At the center of it all are sisters Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), two opposites who approach romance and life completely differently. Up-and-coming filmmaker Georgia Oakley directs. Every generation deserves an Austen adaptation that speaks to them and the current moment, and this Sense and Sensibility has the potential to do just that. Plus, the film offers a nice alternative to the more tense, in-your-face offerings this week, providing a lush, feelings-first story to sink into while exploring love and sisterhood.
Buy tickets on Fandango.
Whalefall
When to watch: October 16
Where to watch: In theaters
If you’ve read the description of or watched the trailer for Whalefall, your immediate thought was probably: “Huh?” It’s only a natural reaction to finding out that the entire premise of this movie, adapted from Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel of the same name, is that a diver (Austin Abrams) is searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) remains off of the California Coast when he gets swallowed by a sperm whale. Once that happens, he has just one hour of oxygen to escape.
It’s hard to figure out what to do with a concept like this. Is it for real? Is it too absurd? Does it make any scientific sense — and do we even care? Will the experience of watching it feel like nothing more than the fever dream? Part of the intrigue is finding out if the creative team can pull off this big, wild feat.
But that’s not the only reason why Whalefall is worth checking out. Based on early reviews, the movie is ambitious and offers spectacle quite unlike anything else that’s hit the big screen this year. And even amidst extreme circumstances, the crux of the story — a strained relationship between a father and son and the resulting grief — grounds the film, giving viewers something to latch onto. It’s not often we get big creative swings at this scale, so why not be open to them when they come?
Buy tickets on Fandango.
