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Esquire published a weekend entertainment guide dated October 23, 2026, covering new theatrical releases and streaming and television picks ahead of Halloween. Its recommendations include Wildwood, Clayface, Wicker, The Cycle, and returning series Nobody Wants This, alongside a comedy special, a true-crime docuseries and other titles.
Esquire published a weekend watchlist dated October 23, 2026, pointing readers to new films in theaters and releases on streaming services and television in the week before Halloween. The guide features Wildwood, Clayface and Wicker among its theatrical picks, with The Cycle, Nobody Wants This season 3 and other titles available at home.
In theaters, the guide gives particular attention to Wildwood, a stop-motion fantasy from LAIKA adapted from Colin Meloy’s 2011 novel. It follows Prue, a Portland girl whose baby brother is taken by crows into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness. Esquire’s reviewer praised the film’s animation and described its story as centered on bravery, family and war. That assessment is the publication’s critical view, not an independently established consensus.
The other theatrical selections span different genres. Clayface is described as DC Studios’ psychological horror film, following actor Matt Hagen as an attempt to repair his face turns his body into clay. Wicker stars Olivia Colman as a woman who asks a village basketmaker, played by Peter Dinklage, to create a husband; Alexander Skarsgård plays the resulting figure. Esquire characterizes Wicker as a romantasy film that has attracted attention online.
At home, the guide lists Shudder creature feature The Cycle, Netflix’s returning romantic comedy Nobody Wants This, and Hulu’s three-part true-crime series Swipe Right on the Devil, about the 2017 disappearance of Sydney Loofe. Other picks include Adam Conover’s YouTube stand-up special, scheduled for October 23 at 5 p.m. ET, the Netflix anime sequel Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, and the return of Tony Scott’s 1993 film True Romance to Netflix. The guide’s descriptions and evaluations are Esquire’s; availability can depend on location and change over time.
A Halloween-Week Mix of New Releases
The list gives readers a quick way to compare theatrical premieres with at-home options during a crowded late-October release period. Its selections range from stop-motion fantasy and superhero body horror to romance, anime and true crime, offering alternatives for viewers who have already seen the films highlighted earlier in the month.
For readers planning a weekend around a specific service or genre, the guide also identifies where several titles are listed: Shudder, Hulu, Netflix and YouTube. It is an editorial recommendation roundup, not a report on box-office results, viewership figures or audience response. The distinction matters: Esquire’s enthusiastic descriptions communicate its editors’ tastes, but do not establish how viewers or critics at large will receive each release.
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The Weekend Before Halloween
Esquire frames its recommendations around the final stretch of October, with Halloween one week away. The introduction refers to readers who have already watched You Can See Everything and notes that new films and season premieres remain on the schedule. The article is presented as a practical guide to what editors plan to watch, rather than a complete listing of every release that weekend.
The selections include both new releases and a returning film. True Romance, directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino, is described as newly available on Netflix beginning that week. The guide also says Nobody Wants This returns for a third season, following Noah and Joanne as they move in together. These details place the roundup between Halloween programming and ongoing television and film releases.
““one of the most breathtaking movies I’ve seen all year””
— Esquire’s reviewer, on Wildwood
Availability and Reception Still Vary
The source is a recommendation article, not a distributor schedule or independent verification of platform catalogs. It does not provide regional availability details for the streaming titles, and catalogs may differ by country or change after publication. The listed release timing is tied to Esquire’s October 23 guide.
Esquire also offers opinions such as calling Wildwood a potential “new classic” and describing Wicker as a viral sensation, but supplies no audience figures or measurement for those characterizations. The article does not establish how the films will perform commercially, how viewers will respond, or whether every listed title is accessible to every reader.
Check Listings Before Watching
The titles named in the guide are positioned for the weekend of October 23, 2026, with Adam Conover’s special given a specific release time of 5 p.m. ET that day. Readers can check local theater schedules and their streaming services for current availability, particularly for titles whose access may vary by region.
Esquire’s article does not announce a follow-up event or provide later release milestones for most of the selections. The next developments to watch are the films’ and shows’ availability during the Halloween weekend and any subsequent updates from theaters, platforms or distributors.
Key Questions
What does Esquire recommend watching in theaters?
The guide highlights Wildwood, Clayface and Wicker. Wildwood is a LAIKA stop-motion fantasy, Clayface a DC psychological horror film, and Wicker a romantasy starring Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage and Alexander Skarsgård.
Which streaming titles are in the guide?
Esquire lists The Cycle on Shudder, Swipe Right on the Devil on Hulu, and Nobody Wants This season 3, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and True Romance on Netflix. It also includes Adam Conover’s stand-up special on YouTube.
When does Adam Conover’s special come out?
According to the guide, Adam Conover: Big Divorce Energy is scheduled to appear on his YouTube channel on October 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.
Is this a complete release schedule?
No. It is an Esquire editors’ recommendation list, not a comprehensive calendar. The article does not confirm availability in every region, so readers should check local theaters and their streaming platforms.
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