Besides movies and TV shows, streaming platforms have been putting more effort into delivering notable documentaries over the last decade.
Documentaries about true crime stories, major scandals, or even successful events have been drawing a lot of views as they dig deeper into what exactly happened straight from the horse’s mouth.
Here are documentaries airing in October 2026, from true crime and feature docs to nature documentaries.
Netflix
Netflix leads the month with a balance of sports heritage, intimate celebrity portraits, and film festival acquisitions.
Schumacher ’94 — The Birth of a Legend (Friday, October 2)
A detailed look at Michael Schumacher’s pivotal 1994 Formula 1 season, charting his rise to his first World Drivers’ Championship amidst a rough period in motorsport history.
Lorne (Monday, October 5)
Lorne Documentary explores the life and career of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. It was directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville.
The documentary was initially released in theaters on April 17, 2026, and later streamed on Peacock.
Who Is Martin Mull? (Wednesday, October 7)
Who Is Martin Mull? is a retrospective honoring the late musician, artist, and comedic actor, reflecting on his versatile legacy through interviews and archive footage.
The documentary shows his journey from early folk music to famous TV shows and later his art career.
Free Leonard Peltier (Monday, October 12)
Free Leonard Peltier is a 2025 feature documentary that chronicles the life and imprisonment of American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Leonard Peltier.
The film was directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025. It will be released globally on Netflix on October 12, 2026.
TYSON (Tuesday, October 13)
TYSON is a four-part sports docuseries tracing Mike Tyson’s life inside and outside the ring, examining his triumphs, public falls, and cultural impact.
Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald (Friday, October 16)
Directed by Judd Apatow, this portrait of the beloved late comedian mixes archival footage, fan video clips, and interviews with comedy heavyweights like David Letterman, Jim Carrey, and Adam Sandler.
The One About Matthew Perry (Tuesday, October 27)
The One About Matthew Perry is a three-part documentary series that details the life, career, personal battles, and public legacy of the late Friends actor.
Key interviews include Mia Perry Bowick, who is Matthew’s younger half-sister and a psychotherapist, and his lifelong best friends.
SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of (Friday, October 30)
A deep dive into the legendary Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television, featuring Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis.
HBO Max
HBO Original Documentaries continues its focus on true-crime, sports scandals, and eerie atmospheric investigations.
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story (Sunday, October 11)
The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story is a three-part docuseries that explores the murder alongside the dark, violent history of the local community and the victim’s family secrets tied to a rural pet cemetery.
Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn (October 2026)
Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn follows the life of former NFL star quarterback Kordell “Slash” Stewart, examining his dynamic playing era, intense media scrutiny, and the rumors that followed his career.
The Flores Massacre (Thursday, October 22)
The Flores Massacre covers the tragic events of February 17, 1994, when Fructuoso Álvarez González set fire to the Bañato family home in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
The documentary focuses on Matías Bañato, the sole surviving family member, detailing the horror of that night, his decade-long fight for victims’ rights, and his journey toward building a life after unimaginable tragedy
3. Cable & Network Highlights
Ghost Adventures (Season 31) (Thursday, October 1 on Discovery / Max)
Zak Bagans and the paranormal team kick off Halloween month with investigations across haunted locations, dark history sites, and historic structures.
October 2026 Documentary Release Calendar
Here’s a schedule for the major documentaries released in October 2026.
| Date | Documentary | Platform/Network |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2 | Africa: Earth’s Wild Home | National Geographic |
| Oct. 2 | The Last First: Winter K2 | Apple TV |
| Oct. 3 | Africa: Earth’s Wild Home | Hulu / Disney+ |
| Oct. 5 | My Omaha | PBS |
| Oct. 6 | American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez | PBS |
| Oct. 7 | Who Is Martin Mull? | Netflix |
| Oct. 7 | Surviving Alaska: Women of the Wild | Hulu |
| Oct. 11 | The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story | HBO / HBO Max |
| Oct. 12 | Clown Panic | Hulu |
| Oct. 13 | TYSON | Netflix |
| Oct. 14 | Megastorm | Hulu |
| Oct. 16 | The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable | Netflix |
| Oct. 16 | Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald | Netflix |
| Oct. 18 | Super Scam Me | Hulu / Disney+ |
| Oct. 23 | Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story | Netflix |
| Oct. 23 | Rome Underground | Hulu |
| Oct. 24 | Monsters: Truth Behind the Myths | Hulu |
| Oct. 25 | A Course Called Ireland | Paramount+ |
| Oct. 26 | Seeds | PBS |
| Oct. 26 | Pati Jinich Explores Pan-American | PBS |
| Oct. 27 | The One About Matthew Perry | Netflix |
| Oct. 27 | Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn | HBO / HBO Max |
| Oct. 27 | In Pursuit: Lessons of American Leadership | PBS |
| Oct. 28 | Hanging by a Wire | Paramount+ |
| Oct. 30 | SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of | Netflix |
| Oct. 30 | Cars That Changed History | Hulu |
