‘The Substance’ and Every Other Movie Coming To Amazon Prime and HBO Max This Week

October’s shaping up to be a busy week for home viewing, with new premieres landing on both Amazon Prime and HBO Max between Monday, October 6 and Friday, October 10. From a buzzy body-horror hit to intimate, real-life portraits—of a comedy legend and an NFL superstar—there’s a lot to add to your watchlist.

Below, you’ll find quick, fact-packed rundowns for everything arriving this week. Each entry includes the essential who-made-it and who’s-in-it details, a concise plot primer, plus exactly when—and on which service—it drops.

‘Maintenance Required’ (2025)

In this romantic comedy, Charlie runs an all-female mechanic shop and unknowingly falls for her corporate rival through an anonymous online confidant. Starring Madelaine Petsch as Charlie and Jacob Scipio as Beau, with Madison Bailey, Katy O’Brian, Inanna Sarkis, Matteo Lane, Julee Cerda, and Jim Gaffigan, the film arrives on Prime Video on Wednesday, October 8. The story centers on professional rivalry, identity, and second chances as Charlie’s digital confidences collide with real-world competition.

Directed by Lacey Uhlemeyer and written by Uhlemeyer, Roo Berry, and Erin Falconer, the film’s producing team includes Matt Luber, Lena Roklin, and Matt Williams. Behind the camera, Hamish Doyne-Ditmas serves as cinematographer, Bruce Green handles editing, and Rob Lord provides the score. Set in the U.S. and U.K., the movie blends workplace stakes with classic mistaken-identity romance rhythms—all available on Amazon Prime.

‘Saquon’ (2025)

This feature-length sports documentary follows Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley across five years of personal video diaries—from ACL rehab and contract turbulence to a championship run. Alongside family moments and on-field milestones, the film tracks his first season in Philadelphia and the road to a Super Bowl title. It premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, October 9.

The project is produced with Martin Scorsese as an executive producer and draws heavily on Barkley’s self-recorded material to build a first-person narrative of resilience and reinvention. Expect footage spanning training rooms, huddles, and home life, woven into a single-film format rather than an episode series.

‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ (2025)

A comedy-drama about a wealthy super-fan who lures a once-famed folk duo to reunite for a private show on a remote island, this film stars Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as the estranged musicians and Tim Key as their eccentric host. Old wounds surface as the setlist nears, putting artistic pride and unfinished business center stage. It lands on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.

Directed by James Griffiths from a screenplay by Tim Key and Tom Basden, the movie adapts their earlier short, ‘The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island.’ Rupert Majendie produces; Adem Ilhan provides the music; and G. Magni Ágústsson and Quin Williams handle cinematography and editing, respectively. With its blend of dry humor and reunion-drama tension.

‘John Candy: I Like Me’ (2025)

This documentary portrait traces John Candy’s life from ‘SCTV’ to beloved film roles, drawing on never-before-seen archives and candid testimonies from family and collaborators. Interviewees include longtime friends and co-stars reflecting on the work—and the person—behind ‘Stripes,’ ‘Spaceballs,’ and ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles.’ The film debuts on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.

Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds alongside a team of collaborators, the film features original music by Tyler Strickland and includes a newly recorded performance of ‘Everytime You Go Away’ as a tribute to Candy’s legacy. Built from home videos, outtakes, and rare footage, it offers a comprehensive look at a singular career.

‘One Day in October’ (2024– )

An anthology drama series created and directed by Oded Davidoff and Daniel Finkelman, ‘One Day in October’ dramatizes personal stories connected to the October 7, 2023 attacks. The ensemble includes Michael Aloni, Lior Ashkenazi, Moran Rosenblatt, Yael Abecassis, and Hisham Sulliman, with episodes anchored in individual perspectives and family narratives. New to HBO Max on Monday, October 6, it presents a chaptered, character-driven approach rather than a single, sweeping account.

Produced in partnership between Israel’s yes and Fox Entertainment, the series runs as a self-contained anthology with each hour-long episode focusing on different voices and settings. With a score by Tomer Biran and cinematography by Lael Utnik, it emphasizes ground-level experiences and the reverberations felt across communities.

‘The Substance’ (2024)

A satirical body-horror film from writer-director Coralie Fargeat, ‘The Substance’ follows a fading celebrity who turns to an illicit procedure that creates a younger version of herself—only to face grisly, escalating consequences. Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, Margaret Qualley portrays the younger double, and Dennis Quaid appears as a powerful producer entwined in her fall and attempted rebirth. It becomes available on HBO Max on Friday, October 10.

The film is an English-language co-production with Working Title Films among the lead partners, featuring cinematography by Benjamin Kracun and an original score by Raffertie. Known for its hyperreal practical effects and sharp commentary on age, fame, and exploitation.

‘The Alabama Solution’ (2025)

This HBO Documentary Films feature investigates conditions inside Alabama’s prison system through years of reporting and unprecedented access to inmate-shot footage. Central figures include incarcerated organizers Robert Earl Council (also known as Kinetik Justice) and Melvin Ray, whose accounts help map a network of violence, forced labor, and institutional failures. The film premieres on HBO Max on Friday, October 10.

Directed and produced by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, with additional writing/editing by Page Marsella and executive producing from Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller, the documentary spans a multi-year timeline and uses contraband cellphone video to corroborate testimonies. With original music by Mark Batson and contributions from a large investigative team.

Share what you’re queuing up first this week in the comments!