Spielberg’s New Sci-Fi Hit Is the Most-Watched Movie on Peacock This Week

Peacock’s streaming library features an expansive selection of films that cater to diverse seasonal audiences throughout mid-October. Viewer engagement data shows significant interest in gothic thrillers, enduring horror classics, and family-friendly animated adventures, alongside newly released science fiction blockbusters. This lineup highlights the platform’s leading cinematic selections as audiences gravitate toward both perennial Halloween favorites and fresh high-profile releases.

‘Van Helsing’ (2004)

Directed by Stephen Sommers, ‘Van Helsing’ follows the renowned monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing as he is dispatched to Transylvania to eliminate Count Dracula. In his mission, Van Helsing allies with Anna Valerious, a determined warrior seeking to break her family’s multi-generational curse by destroying the vampire lord. The storyline merges multiple classic Universal Monsters, integrating Frankenstein’s monster, Igor, and the Wolf Man alongside the central vampire narrative. Produced on a budget of roughly $160 million, the action-adventure feature generated more than $300 million worldwide during its theatrical release in 2004. The film continues to experience seasonal surges in digital viewership due to its gothic aesthetic and monster-filled premise.

‘The Mummy’ (1999)

Written and directed by Stephen Sommers, ‘The Mummy’ is an adventure film that reinterprets Universal Pictures’ 1932 classic of the same name. The narrative follows adventurer Rick O’Connell and librarian Evelyn Carnahan as an archaeological excavation at Hamunaptra inadvertently awakens Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian high priest suffering under a lethal curse. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz star in the leading roles alongside Arnold Vosloo, who portrays the resurrected mummy intent on restoring his deceased lover. The production grossed over $416 million worldwide during its original 1999 theatrical release and established an expansive multimedia franchise encompassing feature sequels and spin-offs.

‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ (2009)

Directed by Conrad Vernon and Rob Letterman, ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ is a computer-animated science fiction comedy produced by DreamWorks Animation. The story centers on Susan Murphy, voiced by Reese Witherspoon, who grows to a height of nearly fifty feet after being struck by an extraterrestrial meteorite containing quantonium on her wedding day. Designated as Ginormica by a secret government agency, Susan is grouped with an eccentric collection of captive monsters to defend Earth from an alien mastermind named Gallaxhar. The supporting voice cast features Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, and Stephen Colbert. The film earned more than $381 million at the global box office and subsequently inspired an animated television series and multiple holiday-themed television specials.

‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)

Directed and produced by Sean S. Cunningham, ‘Friday the 13th’ is an independent slasher film centered on counselors preparing to reopen Camp Crystal Lake after a decades-long closure. The counselors are systematically stalked and murdered by an unseen killer seeking vengeance for the past drowning death of a young boy named Jason Voorhees. The ensemble cast features Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, and Kevin Bacon in one of his earliest film appearances. Produced on an estimated budget of $550,000, the picture grossed nearly $40 million domestically and laid the groundwork for a twelve-film horror franchise. Viewership for the original movie surged in mid-October 2026 following the exclusive streaming debut of Peacock’s prequel series, ‘Crystal Lake’.

‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’ (2016)

Written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry, ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’ is a comedy horror film that developed from a fictitious movie concept in Chris Rock’s 2014 comedy ‘Top Five’. Tyler Perry portrays multiple characters, including the outspoken matriarch Madea, who is hired to supervise a rebellious teenager on Halloween night. The supporting cast includes Cassi Davis, Patrice Lovely, Yousef Erakat, and Bella Thorne as Madea encounters trick-or-treaters, college fraternity pranksters, and eerie apparitions. Distributed by Lionsgate, the project grossed more than $74 million globally against an estimated production budget of $20 million. The motion picture frequently re-emerges across streaming platform popularity charts each autumn due to its holiday-themed subject matter.

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)

Directed by Ron Howard, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ is a live-action fantasy comedy adapted from the 1957 children’s book by Dr. Seuss. Jim Carrey portrays the reclusive green titular creature, who orchestrates a plot from his mountain lair to rob the neighboring community of Whoville of their holiday celebrations. The cast includes Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon, accompanied by narration from Anthony Hopkins. The theatrical release grossed more than $345 million worldwide and earned three Academy Award nominations, securing a win for Best Makeup.

‘Monster House’ (2006)

Directed by Gil Kenan in his feature directorial debut, ‘Monster House’ is a computer-animated supernatural horror comedy produced by ImageMovers and Amblin Entertainment. The narrative follows three suburban teenagers who uncover evidence that an elderly neighbor’s rundown house is a living, predatory entity that consumes objects and trespassers. Employing performance-capture animation, the film features voice work and physical performances from Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Spencer Locke, Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Catherine O’Hara. The production grossed over $140 million worldwide against a $75 million budget and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

‘Coraline’ (2009)

Directed by Henry Selick, ‘Coraline’ is a stop-motion animated dark fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman’s 2002 novella of the same name. The plot follows an adventurous eleven-year-old girl, voiced by Dakota Fanning, who discovers an alternate universe behind a hidden door in her new residence that initially mirrors her life with idealized button-eyed parental figures. Produced by animation studio Laika, the feature includes voice performances from Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr., and Keith David. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and generated more than $124 million at the global box office during its initial theatrical run. Subsequent anniversary re-releases in theaters, including a worldwide remastered release in 2024, brought the movie’s lifetime box office gross to over $185 million.

‘The Grinch’ (2018)

Directed by Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier, ‘The Grinch’ is a computer-animated holiday comedy produced by Illumination and Universal Pictures. Benedict Cumberbatch provides the voice of the solitary green protagonist, who plans to silence the cheerful holiday celebrations of Whoville by posing as Santa Claus and taking their festive items. The supporting voice cast features Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who, alongside Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Angela Lansbury, and narrator Pharrell Williams. Generating more than $512 million globally against a production budget of $75 million, the film holds the record as the highest-grossing holiday release in cinematic history. The production experiences recurring upticks in viewership across digital platforms every year heading into the winter season.

‘Disclosure Day’ (2026)

Directed and produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by David Koepp, ‘Disclosure Day’ is a science fiction thriller that examines the global consequences of proving extraterrestrial life exists. The plot centers on a television meteorologist, portrayed by Emily Blunt, and a cybersecurity analyst, played by Josh O’Connor, who flee government contractors while attempting to broadcast classified evidence of extraterrestrial contact. The ensemble cast includes Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell, with veteran composer John Williams supplying the original score. Released in theaters by Universal Pictures in June 2026, the motion picture earned more than $240 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $115 million. The film made its subscription streaming debut on Peacock on October 9, 2026, quickly generating substantial audience interest across the platform.

Share your thoughts in the comments on which of these trending Peacock movies you have watched recently.