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Esquire’s Oct. 23, 2026, entertainment guide highlights three theatrical releases and a slate of streaming and TV choices ahead of Halloween. Its picks include stop-motion fantasy Wildwood, DC horror film Clayface, Shudder’s The Cycle and returning Netflix series Nobody Wants This.
Esquire has published its weekend watchlist for Oct. 23, 2026, pointing readers to new theatrical releases including Wildwood, Clayface and Wicker, alongside streaming titles timed for the run-up to Halloween. The recommendations offer a guide to new and returning entertainment across theaters, Shudder, Hulu, Netflix and YouTube.
In theaters, the guide gives particular attention to Wildwood, a stop-motion fantasy from LAIKA adapted from Colin Meloy’s 2011 novel. The story follows Prue, a Portland preteen whose baby brother is taken by crows into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness. Esquire’s review praises the film’s craft and describes its themes as involving family, bravery and war. The article also lists Clayface, a DC Studios psychological horror movie about actor Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, and Wicker, a fantasy romance starring Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage and Alexander Skarsgård.
At home, the picks include The Cycle, a Shudder creature feature starring Deborah Ann Woll; Swipe Right on the Devil, a three-part Hulu documentary series about the 2017 disappearance of Sydney Loofe; and Nobody Wants This, returning to Netflix for season three. The guide also lists Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and the 1993 film True Romance on Netflix.
Another listed release is comedian Adam Conover’s stand-up special, Big Divorce Energy, scheduled for YouTube on Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Eastern. Esquire says the set draws on Conover’s recent divorce and notes that illustrator Lisa Hanawalt has given him permission to discuss it. The article also recommends a Factually interview between Conover and Hanawalt as a companion watch.
A Halloween-Week Watchlist
The guide arrives one week before Halloween, when audiences may be looking for seasonal horror as well as alternatives to genre fare. Esquire’s selection spans a creature feature, a superhero-world psychological horror film and a true-crime series, while also including animation, romance, comedy and a returning relationship series.
For readers, the practical value is its range of theatrical and at-home options, with platforms and release timing identified for several picks. The recommendations are editorial judgments, not a ranking or a guarantee that every title is available in every location or theater.
Wildwood Colin Meloy novel illustrated edition
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New Releases Before Halloween
Esquire frames the list as a crowded October entertainment weekend, noting that new films and season premieres remain on the schedule before Halloween. Its opening also refers to You Can See Everything, described as Nathan Fielder’s latest work, as a film some readers may already have seen; the article then turns to other choices for the weekend.
The titles cover different release formats. Wildwood, Clayface and Wicker are presented as theatrical options, while the rest of the list includes streaming releases, a returning Netflix season and a YouTube stand-up special. The article’s enthusiasm for individual titles reflects Esquire editors’ opinions rather than independent measures of audience response.
““one of the most breathtaking movies I’ve seen all year””
— Esquire’s reviewer, on Wildwood
Availability and Release Details
The guide does not provide theater locations, ticket details or regional streaming availability, which can vary by market. It also does not supply viewership figures, box-office results or evidence behind descriptions such as “viral sensation.” Those characterizations should be read as Esquire’s editorial framing, not independently verified measures.
The source gives a specific YouTube release time for Conover’s special but does not list exact premiere times for the other streaming selections. Further details about each title’s rollout may depend on the platform or distributor.
Weekend Releases and Viewing
Readers can check local theater listings and the named streaming services to confirm availability and start times. Conover’s special is listed for YouTube at 5 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 23, 2026. The guide’s remaining recommendations are presented as weekend viewing choices, with no additional release schedule or follow-up announcement specified in the source.
As Halloween approaches, the list points audiences toward a mix of seasonal horror and other new or returning titles. Whether the recommendations draw wider attention or translate into measurable audience results is not established by the article.
Key Questions
What new movies does Esquire recommend in theaters?
The guide lists Wildwood, Clayface and Wicker. It describes Wildwood as a stop-motion fantasy, Clayface as a psychological horror film set in the DC universe, and Wicker as a fantasy romance.
Which horror titles are on the weekend list?
The selections include The Cycle on Shudder and Clayface in theaters. The guide also lists Hulu’s true-crime series Swipe Right on the Devil, which covers a missing-persons case.
When does Adam Conover’s special come out?
Esquire lists Adam Conover: Big Divorce Energy for YouTube on October 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern.
What is returning to Netflix?
The guide lists Nobody Wants This season three and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, as well as the film True Romance.
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