New on Netflix: 7 shows and movies to watch this week (Oct. 23-29)

Emily Blunt and Chris Evans in Pain Hustlers on Netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

If you're looking for what's new on Netflix this week, there are plenty of treats in store. 

The blockbuster new on Netflix movie is the Emily Blunt and Chris Evans vehicle Pain Hustlers, which finds Blunt starring as a single mom who’s just lost her job. With a sick daughter to take care of and dreams she doesn’t want to give up on, she looks for a way out, only to be drawn into the world of big pharma and white-collar crime. 

There’s also the long-awaited animated version of the manga series Pluto, which brilliantly adapts Osamu Tezuka’s visionary Astro Boy and follows a robotic detective on the trail of another robot who’s slashing its way through the city. 

Documentary fans won't want to miss Life on Our Planet, a new natural world series narrated by Morgan Freeman and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. Plus, Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club explores the popularity of Korean cinema and a unique film club that counted Oscar winner Bong Joon-Ho among its members. 

Here's our breakdown of everything what's new on Netflix this week. Want more? See our guide to the best Netflix romantic comedies to stream right now. Plus, check out our guide to the top new movies streaming this week

New on Netflix this week: Top picks

Pete Holmes: I Am Not For Everyone

Comedian Pete Holmes has built a successful career off of his youth pastor shtick, which consists of a pleasant demeanor and non-threatening, yet still funny jokes. You just can’t help rooting for such an unassuming guy. His newest special, I Am Not for Everyone, may not knock you down with cutting-edge humor, but it will make you laugh. In his set, he talks about an awkward post-prostate exam hug, a devilish Midwest meeting and his mom's voicemail glitches. - KW

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 24

Absolute Beginners

Set out for the Polish seaside with Absolute Beginners. It follows a teen on the autism spectrum who views the world in a unique way: through her camera. She dreams of film school glory and what's next for her in the world. Alongside her best friend, they embark on a heartfelt project, hoping it's the ticket to their cinematic dreams. But when a charismatic boy from a nearby sports camp enters the frame, their close-knit friendship faces its toughest challenge yet. There's an undeniable throwback feel to this series from the trailer, and if you're yearning for warmer days and romance plays, it should deliver on that front.  - BV

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 25

Life on Our Planet

Embark on an awe-inspiring journey into Earth's history with this documentary. Did you know that 99% of the Earth’s different species have vanished? Learn all about their rise and downfall, all with models brought to life with cutting-edge tech by Industrial Light & Magic. Morgan Freeman lends his voice and Steven Spielberg executive produces this expansive documentary alongside the team behind Our Planet. If you’re looking for a slick-looking journey into the planet’s history, this is a good place to start. - BV

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 25

Pluto

This animated adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki's version of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy has been a long time coming. Europol sends robotic detective Gesicht (Jay Rath) to investigate the murders of both humans and robots around the world. Each victim is marked with a macabre signature: horn-like protrusions on their skulls. Eventually, Gesicht figures out that the killer must be a robot as well. That changes everything, and complicates matters even further. With humans championing robot rights and seven of the world's most advanced robots, including Gesicht, on the hit list, the race is on for him to figure out the killer's identity before it's too late. - BV

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 26

Pain Hustlers

As autumn leaves fall, Liza Drake's (Emily Blunt) world is spiraling. She's a struggling single mother who, after losing her job, crosses paths with charismatic pharma rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans). This fortuitous encounter thrusts Liza into the world of big pharma, specifically, a racketeering scheme.  With her daughter's (Choe Coleman) health in decline, a volatile boss (Andy Garcia) breathing down her neck, and the effects of what she's really up to becoming ever clearer, Liza must take some time to evaluate her choices. What lengths will she go to so she can make money and keep a comfortable life for her daughter — or is this all out of greed for her now? - BV

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 27

Sister Death

At a once-sacred convent now transformed into a school in post-war Spain, the mysterious Narcisa (Aria Bedmar) joins as a teacher. But her unique supernatural gifts aren't the only shadows cast upon its stone walls. With each passing day, increasingly more chilling events occur, pulling Narcisa deeper into the haunting maze of the convent's past. This terrified nun has unknowingly woken something deeply demonic in the school for girls, and she'll be destined for eternal torment along with its inhabitants if she can't get to the center of everything. - BV

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 27

Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club

The explosion in popularity of Korean movies and television shows can be traced back to the 1990s when film clubs proliferated on Korean campuses and gave young students a creative outlet. One of them was the Yellow Door Film Club, which counted eventual Oscar winner Bong Joon-Ho among its members. Doc director Lee Hyuk-rae, also a member, gathers the club's collective memory about Bong's first unreleased short film, a stop-motion animated piece titled "Looking for Paradise." And though it was early days in his artistic journey, the club sensed he would go far. - KW

Watch on Netflix starting Oct. 27

Everything new on Netflix: Oct. 23-29

OCTOBER 23

Princess Power: Season 2 (Netflix Family)
When there's trouble in the Fruitdoms, these princess pals jump in to help each other — because sometimes problems are too big for just one princess!

OCTOBER 24

The Family Business: Seasons 1-4

Get Gotti (Netflix Documentary)
Told from both sides of the law, this documentary from the makers of "Fear City" follows the FBI’s battle to bring down mob infamous boss, John Gotti.

Minions

Pete Holmes: I Am Not For Everyone (Netflix Comedy)
Comedian Pete Holmes delivers a feel-good stand-up set on his awkward post-prostate exam hug, a devilish Midwest meeting and his mom's voicemail glitches.

OCTOBER 25

Absolute Beginners (PL) (Netflix Series)
Two lifelong teenage friends enjoying summer at the beach meet a handsome, aspiring pro athlete who they try to cast in their sensual short film.

Burning Betrayal (BR) (Netflix Film)
In this adaptation of Sue Hecker's novel, an accountant sees her fiance's betrayal as an opportunity for a sexual awakening, with dangerous consequences.

Life on Our Planet (Netflix Documentary)
This is the story of life’s epic battle to conquer and survive on planet Earth. Today there are 20 million species on our planet, yet what we see is just a snapshot in time — 99% of earth’s inhabitants are lost to our deep past. The story of what happened to these dynasties — their rise and their fall – is truly remarkable.

The UnXplained with William Shatner: Season 3

OCTOBER 26

PLUTO (JP) (Netflix Anime)
When the world’s seven most advanced robots and their human allies are murdered one by one, inspector Gesicht soon discovers that he’s also in danger

OCTOBER 27

Pain Hustlers (Netflix Film)
Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is a blue-collar single mom who has just lost her job and is at the end of her rope. A chance meeting with pharmaceutical sales rep Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) puts her on an upwards trajectory economically but dubious path ethically as she becomes entangled in a dangerous racketeering scheme.

Sister Death (ES) (Netflix Film)
After a miraculous childhood, Narcisa becomes a novice and starts teaching girls in a former convent haunted by a disturbing presence.

Tore (SE) (Netflix Series)
An immature and aimless 27-year-old throws himself into an unknown world of sex, drugs and self-discovery after his closest companion's death.

Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club (KR) (Netflix Documentary)
This intimate documentary explores a bygone era of cinematic passion and the emergence of young film enthusiasts in South Korea, including Bong Joon-ho.

OCTOBER 28

Castaway Diva (KR) (Netflix Series)
Fifteen years after being stranded on a remote island, an aspiring singer reenters society — stopping at nothing to pursue her dream of becoming a diva.

OCTOBER 29

Botched Season 1 

Leaving Netflix This Week

Leaving 10/31/23
Cliffhanger
Collateral
Coming to America
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Girl, Interrupted
Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie
Into the Badlands: Seasons 1-3
LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE
Mile 22
No Strings Attached
Pride & Prejudice
Reservoir Dogs
Steel Magnolias
Tagged: Seasons 1-3
Terminator Genisys
The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther 2
The Thundermans: Seasons 1-2
Victorious: Seasons 1-2

What to watch on Netflix

If you want to browse by specific genres, check out our guides to the best family movies on Netflix, best comedies on Netflix, best Netflix documentaries, best romantic movies on Netflix and the best horror movies on Netflix

Plus, dig into Netflix hidden features which will let you access secret categories, games and more.

More From Tom's Guide

Brittany Vincent

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She's also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.

With contributions from