Key Facts
- Netflix is rolling out a packed fall lineup, headlined by the conclusion of Wednesday Season 2 (Part 2) on Sept. 3 netflix.com. The streamer also debuts Black Rabbit – a limited thriller starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law – on Sept. 18 cosmopolitan.com, and even enters live sports with the Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing mega-fight streaming globally on Sept. 13 (no pay-per-view fee) netflix.com.
- Disney+ highlights include the streaming premiere of its billion-dollar live-action Lilo & Stitch remake on Sept. 3 discussingfilm.net, along with Marvel Studios’ new animated miniseries Marvel Zombies (Sept. 24) featuring an all-star MCU voice cast discussingfilm.net. The platform also kicks off Dancing With the Stars Season 34 live on Sept. 16 thewrap.com and drops High Potential Season 2 on Sept. 17 (globally via Star/Hulu) advanced-television.com facebook.com.
- Hulu welcomes back its acclaimed whodunit comedy Only Murders in the Building for Season 5 on Sept. 9, reuniting Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez alongside new guest stars like Renée Zellweger and Christoph Waltz discussingfilm.net. Hulu is also launching fresh originals such as The Lowdown (Sept. 24), a gritty noir series from Reservation Dogs co-creator Sterlin Harjo starring Ethan Hawke discussingfilm.net, and Swiped (Sept. 19), a biographical drama about Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd starring Lily James discussingfilm.net.
- Apple TV+ serves up prestige projects with A-list talent: Jessica Chastain headlines The Savant, a limited thriller series premiering Sept. 26 apple.com, while Denzel Washington’s crime drama Highest 2 Lowest (directed by Spike Lee) begins streaming Sept. 5 yahoo.com. Additionally, Gary Oldman returns as cantankerous spymaster Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses Season 5, adapting Mick Herron’s London Rules and debuting Sept. 24 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.
- Max (formerly HBO Max) debuts the crime miniseries Task on Sept. 7, from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby and starring Mark Ruffalo en.wikipedia.org. Critics are praising Task as “another excellent crime drama” that subverts genre tropes with an “astute study of guilt, revenge, and forgiveness” time.com. Max’s September library refresh also brings high-profile titles like Goodfellas and Misery and new episodes of Rick and Morty (Season 8) to the service comicbook.com comicbook.com.
- Peacock launches The Office’s first spinoff, The Paper, on Sept. 4 – following the Dunder Mifflin documentary crew as they tackle a new subject reddit.com. NBC’s fall TV staples will stream next-day on Peacock too, including The Voice Season 28 and new seasons of Law & Order (S25) and SVU (S27) starting late September thewrap.com. Peacock is also bolstering its international catalog by adding over a dozen hit Spanish-language telenovelas on Sept. 15 (e.g. Pasión de Gavilanes, Santa Diabla) thewrap.com thewrap.com in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Paramount+ reunites fan-favorite NCIS characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David in the new limited series NCIS: Tony & Ziva, premiering Sept. 4 popculture.com. Stars Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo call the romantic-action spinoff “very dreamy” – a project “manifested for the fans” who clamored for this reunion popculture.com popculture.com. Meanwhile, Sylvester Stallone’s mob drama Tulsa King returns for Season 3 on Sept. 21 thewrap.com, and Paramount+ will stream the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards live on Sept. 14 thewrap.com. The service also debuts The Wedding Banquet (Sept. 8), a modern reimagining of Ang Lee’s classic rom-com starring Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran thewrap.com.
Netflix: Blockbusters, Boxers & Black Rabbit
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday Season 2, Part 2 – one of Netflix’s marquee September releases. Netflix is kicking off the fall TV season in style, delivering both highly anticipated originals and big-name licensed titles this month thewrap.com thewrap.com. The streamer’s marquee release is Wednesday – Season 2, Part 2, which lands Sept. 3. The goth-supernatural comedy’s mid-season finale left fans on a cliffhanger, and Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams returns to Nevermore Academy for an “abundance” of twists in the concluding episodes netflix.com netflix.com. In fact, Netflix even threw a mock “graveyard gala” to drum up buzz, with Ortega and co-star Emma Myers joined by surprise guest Lady Gaga unveiling a new tie-in song netflix.com netflix.com. The Wednesday hype is real – the show was a breakout hit in 2022, and Part 2 promises a climactic face-off that has social media abuzz.
Another Netflix original generating excitement is Black Rabbit, an 8-part limited thriller dropping Sept. 18. Directed and produced by star Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit pairs Bateman with Jude Law as estranged brothers who run an exclusive New York nightclub – until old grudges and new dangers threaten to tear their world apart cosmopolitan.com. “It’s a very interesting world… at the heart [of it] is the complicated, loving, volatile relationship of these two brothers,” Jude Law explained of the series cosmopolitan.com. Bateman, who helmed the first episodes, adds that the show examines a relatable sibling dynamic: “one’s a screw-up, and the other is much more buttoned-up… Everybody can relate to that… that person [who] usually gets you in trouble, but they’re really exciting to be around” cosmopolitan.com. With its pedigree (Bateman fresh off Ozark, Law fresh off Star Wars and Marvel projects) and taut nightlife noir vibe, Black Rabbit has the makings of a fall obsession. Critics are already calling it a “pulse-pounding watch” and an “ultimate autumn TV obsession” cosmopolitan.com.
Netflix’s global content slate continues to expand in September as well. On Sept. 25, the streamer drops Alice in Borderland Season 3, the latest chapter of the hit Japanese sci-fi thriller about deadly life-or-death games in an alternate Tokyo. Star Kento Yamazaki returns as Arisu, who “prepares to join another round of deadly games” in the new season netflix.com. The show’s mix of Squid Game-style survival drama and manga-inspired suspense has earned it a worldwide cult following. Other international highlights include Love Is Blind: Brazil Season 5 (Sept. 10) and Love Is Blind: France (Sept. 10) thewrap.com – part of Netflix’s strategy to localize its reality TV hits for different regions – plus the debut of Filipino dark comedy Kontrabida Academy (Sept. 11) and a steady stream of K-dramas, anime and beyond. Whether it’s a glossy Korean romance (Diary of a Ditched Girl, Sept. 11) or family-friendly animation (Pokémon Horizons Part 4, Sept. 26), Netflix’s global reach is on display.
The month’s Netflix lineup isn’t just originals – it also features some high-profile movies making their way to the platform. Starting Sept. 1, subscribers can stream Hollywood hits like La La Land (2016), Inglourious Basterds (2009), and the entire four-film Shrek franchise thewrap.com thewrap.com, among dozens of other additions. But perhaps the most groundbreaking “get” for Netflix in September is a live sports event: on Sept. 13, Netflix will exclusively stream the Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match – a champion vs. champion super-fight for the undisputed super middleweight title imdb.com netflix.com. It’s being billed as a once-in-a-generation bout and notably, Netflix’s first live boxing broadcast, signaling the company’s bold foray into live sports. The main card will stream from Las Vegas at 9 p.m. ET globally on Netflix, with no extra pay-per-view charge for subscribers netflix.com sportsvideo.org. To build hype, Netflix even released a behind-the-scenes docuseries (Countdown: Canelo vs. Crawford, out Sept. 4) and trailers narrated by Josh Brolin netflix.com youtube.com. All eyes will be on how smoothly Netflix can deliver a live sporting spectacle – success could open the door to more live events in the future.
From spooky comedy (Wednesday), to gritty crime (Black Rabbit), to reality romance (Love Con Revenge, a new Tinder-scam expose launching Sept. 5 netflix.com netflix.com), to live sports, Netflix in September 2025 offers a remarkably eclectic mix. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos has emphasized their goal of having “something for everyone” each month, and September’s lineup certainly fits that bill. As Netflix’s own media site Tudum teased, this month is “about abundance” – so get ready to clear your schedule and enjoy an onslaught of fresh Netflix content netflix.com netflix.com.
Disney+: From Ohana to Zombies
Stitch causes chaos in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch (2025), arriving on Disney+ in September after a $1 billion+ theatrical run. Over on Disney+, the big news is that one of 2025’s biggest box-office hits – the live-action Lilo & Stitch film – is finally coming home to streaming. After grossing over $1 billion worldwide in theaters this summer en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, Lilo & Stitch will make its Disney+ debut on September 3 discussingfilm.net. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell), this remake of the beloved 2002 animated film features newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo and original voice actor Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch movies.disney.com imdb.com. The remake earned a 72% Rotten Tomatoes score – notably stronger than many recent Disney live-action remakes – with critics calling it “one of the better live-action adaptations” of a Disney classic en.wikipedia.org. Beyond the numbers, fans have praised how this version retains the “ohana means family” heart of the story and the delightful chaos of everyone’s favorite blue alien “dog.” It also makes some updates, like casting a diverse ensemble (Hawaiian newcomer Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong as Nani, plus Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, and more) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. The film’s arrival on Disney+ is a huge draw for families and nostalgics alike – Disney even timed it to coincide with the long Labor Day weekend. Expect Lilo & Stitch to dominate the trending row on Disney+ upon release, as viewers revisit (or discover) this tale of friendship and ohana for the first time at home.
Disney+ isn’t stopping at cuddly aliens – it’s also diving into the undead. On Sept. 24, Marvel Studios will premiere Marvel Zombies, a four-episode animated miniseries timed perfectly for the Halloween season marvel.com discussingfilm.net. A spin-off from the popular What If…? series (specifically the zombie Avengers episode) and loosely based on the cult-classic Marvel Comics run, Marvel Zombies reimagines the MCU in an alternate timeline overrun by a zombie plague. Fan-favorite heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, and Scarlet Witch have turned into flesh-eating undead, and a scrappy band of survivors must fight to save what remains of the world discussingfilm.net. Notably, many original MCU actors voice their characters, including Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Florence Pugh (Yelena) and more discussingfilm.net. That star power, combined with Marvel’s first TV-MA (mature-rated) animated project – yes, Marvel Zombies promises to “spill blood” per showrunner Bryan Andrews facebook.com – has Marvel fans intensely curious. The series will drop all episodes at once on the 24th, letting binge-watchers indulge in a gory, irreverent twist on their favorite heroes just as spooky season kicks off.
On the original series front, Disney+ has a few more tricks up its sleeve in September. Tempest, a fantasy adventure series that premiered earlier in the month (Sept. 10 on Disney+ with a 3-episode starter thewrap.com; also available on Hulu), will continue airing weekly. It’s an international co-production blending magic and historical drama – part of Disney+’s effort to court the YA fantasy crowd post–Willow. There’s also buzz around High Potential Season 2, a lighthearted crime drama that streams on Disney+ internationally (and Hulu in the U.S.) starting Sept. 17 advanced-television.com facebook.com. High Potential (adapted from a French series) stars Kaitlin Olson as a single mom who partners with a by-the-book detective – its mix of mystery and comedy made it a sleeper hit, especially after Season 1 landed on Disney+ and Hulu. Disney has proudly announced the show’s return, noting its strong following in both the U.S. and Europe advanced-television.com.
Reality and variety programming also get a spotlight on Disney+ this month. Notably, Dancing With the Stars begins its 34th season live on Disney+ as of Sept. 16 thewrap.com. Last year, the venerable ballroom competition made the historic move from ABC to Disney+ streaming, and it’s keeping that momentum. Episodes will air live on Tuesday nights (also simulcast on ABC, then available to stream) – a strategy Disney hopes will draw more subscribers into appointment viewing. Expect to see a new batch of celebrities cha-cha across your Disney+ app weekly, complete with viewer voting integration. Elsewhere, the service has niche additions like Traveling with Snow Man (a Japanese travelogue series following J-pop idol group Snow Man, with new episodes on Sundays) thewrap.com thewrap.com, and nature documentaries (Dolphins Up Close with Bertie Gregory, Sept. 19) thewrap.com, ensuring there’s always something new to click play on.
Overall, Disney+ in September 2025 is leaning into its biggest strengths: franchise content and four-quadrant family fare. From the nostalgia play of Lilo & Stitch, to the comic-book mayhem of Marvel Zombies, to the glitz of DWTS, Disney+ is reinforcing its identity as the go-to home for mainstream pop culture. And with the writers’ strike finally over, Disney has teed up a robust fall – including Marvel’s Echo and The Mandalorian Season 4 on the horizon – making it clear the streamer intends to finish 2025 strong.
Hulu: Murder Mysteries & Fresh Faces
Hulu enters September 2025 with a mix of buzzy returning series and brand-new originals, continuing its reputation as a destination for both prestige TV and water-cooler reality. The biggest attraction is undoubtedly Only Murders in the Building Season 5, which premieres with a three-episode drop on Sept. 9 discussingfilm.net. The Emmy-winning comedic mystery has become Hulu’s flagship original, and Season 5 looks to up the ante yet again. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are back as the unlikely trio of true-crime podcasters solving murders in their posh NYC apartment building – this time entangled in a fresh case rumored to revolve around a Broadway production. Hulu is keeping plot details tightly under wraps (fitting for a whodunit), but the guest cast speaks volumes: Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Christoph Waltz, comedy stalwart Keegan-Michael Key, and even pop star Dua Lipa (playing herself) are all slated for appearances this season discussingfilm.net. That’s on top of fan-favorite recurring players like Nathan Lane and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. With Only Murders’ past seasons each scoring upwards of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and nabbing 7 Emmy wins to date discussingfilm.net, expectations are high. Can the show keep its winning streak? Early industry buzz suggests yes – Hulu’s fall TV press day included Only Murders as its crown jewel, with critics calling the Season 5 opener “as sharp and witty as ever.”
Hulu’s not just resting on established hits; it’s also rolling out new original series to entice subscribers. One standout is The Lowdown (Sept. 24 on Hulu, with a two-episode premiere) discussingfilm.net. This modern noir thriller comes from Sterlin Harjo, co-creator of the critically adored Reservation Dogs, and stars Ethan Hawke as an investigative reporter digging into corruption in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hawke’s character, Lee Raybon, is a dogged citizen journalist whose quest for truth brings him face-to-face with unsavory power brokers – think Chinatown vibes in the American heartland. The Lowdown boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Kyle MacLachlan, Keith David, and Tim Blake Nelson discussingfilm.net. Given Harjo’s track record blending community-specific storytelling with universal themes, this series has sleeper hit potential. Early reviews from festival screenings praise its moody atmosphere and Hawke’s performance, dubbing The Lowdown a must-watch for fans of True Detective-style crime drama.
On the film side, Hulu snagged an intriguing exclusive with Swiped, streaming Sept. 19 discussingfilm.net. Swiped is a biographical drama about Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of the Bumble dating app, who famously left Tinder and built a $1 billion company in her 20s. Directed by academy Award nominee Kasi Lemmons and starring Lily James as Wolfe Herd, the film chronicles the tumultuous journey of a young female tech entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry discussingfilm.net. Expect boardroom battles, legal drama (Wolfe Herd sued Tinder for harassment and discrimination), and an empowering rise-to-success narrative. With society’s interest in tech culture and #GirlBoss stories still strong, Swiped could generate significant buzz (think along the lines of The Social Network, but make it feminist). The real Wolfe Herd has given her blessing to the project, and Lily James reportedly consulted with her to capture her tenacity and vision.
Hulu is also beefing up its unscripted and animation lineup in September. True crime aficionados can dig into Betrayal Season 3 (Sept. 2) and a new docu-special Blood & Myth (Sept. 4) thewrap.com thewrap.com, while anime fans get treats like Himouto! Umaru-chan and Insomniacs After School (complete seasons dropping Sept. 11) thewrap.com. But one of Hulu’s quirkier additions is Chad Powers, a half-hour comedy series premiering Sept. 30 discussingfilm.net discussingfilm.net. Created by and starring Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick), Chad Powers is a sports comedy about a washed-up former football prodigy who adopts the goofy alias “Chad Powers” to fraudulently walk on to a college team. (The premise is cheekily inspired by NFL legend Peyton Manning’s viral 2022 stunt, where he pretended to be “Chad Powers” at a Penn State tryout.) Powell, an avowed football fan, co-created the show with the NFL’s cooperation – and even got Peyton Manning to make a cameo. With a supporting cast including Steve Zahn and King of the Hill’s Toby Huss discussingfilm.net, Chad Powers could score as a lighthearted underdog story full of Ted Lasso-style warmth. It’s an example of Hulu leaning into more weekly comedy after scoring hits with Hulu Originals like Only Murders and The Bear.
By balancing award-winning tentpoles and fresh storytelling, Hulu’s September offerings demonstrate why the platform continues to punch above its weight. As Only Murders in the Building co-creator John Hoffman put it, Hulu has become a place where “smart, character-driven stories can flourish”. This month, viewers can binge a killer comedy, get hooked on a new noir, and learn the backstory of a dating app – all in one place. With FX content, Hulu Originals, and next-day network TV, Hulu is staking a claim as the all-in-one streamer for the discerning TV fan.
Apple TV+: Stars, Spies & Savants
Apple TV+ is often lauded for quality over quantity, and September 2025 epitomizes that philosophy – the slate isn’t large, but it’s packed with star power and prestige projects. Topping the list is The Savant, a limited series thriller starring Jessica Chastain and premiering globally on Sept. 26 apple.com. Chastain plays a mysterious undercover operative (code-named “the Savant”) tasked with infiltrating online hate groups in order to stop violent real-world plots tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The eight-episode series is inspired by a gripping true story first reported in Cosmopolitan magazine – though the exact details are under wraps to avoid spoilers. What we do know is that Chastain’s character will assume multiple secret identities in a high-stakes digital cat-and-mouse game, blurring lines between her real life and her alias as she delves deeper into an extremist online rabbit hole tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The Savant’s first look drew comparisons to Homeland and Mr. Robot, and Chastain has called it “one of the most challenging roles I’ve taken on.” Apple is giving the show a splashy launch (the first two episodes drop at once, followed by weekly installments apple.com apple.com) and positioning it as an awards contender for 2026. Given Chastain’s Oscar-winning chops and the topical subject matter, The Savant has a good shot at cutting through the noise this fall.
Film lovers also have reason to tune into Apple TV+ this month – specifically for Highest 2 Lowest, a crime thriller film that marks a high-profile collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. After a brief theatrical run in August, Highest 2 Lowest begins streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5 yahoo.com. The movie stars Washington as a powerful NYC music mogul whose life is upended when a botched kidnapping attempt entangles his family in a dangerous ransom plot tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. It’s classic Spike Lee territory, blending social commentary with pulse-pounding suspense – and notably, it’s Washington’s first time headlining a streaming-original film. The project quietly premiered at Cannes earlier in the year to strong reviews (it’s sitting at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes after festival screenings tomsguide.com). Critics praised Washington’s performance and Lee’s direction, with Variety calling it “a taut urban thriller with vintage Lee swagger.” For Apple, which has found success with awards-y films (CODA, Killers of the Flower Moon), Highest 2 Lowest bolsters its bid to be taken seriously as a studio for grown-up dramas. And for viewers, the chance to see Denzel in fine form – from the comfort of home – is a huge draw heading into the weekend of Sept. 5.
Meanwhile, one of Apple TV+’s most acclaimed series is quietly returning: Slow Horses is back for Season 5 on Sept. 24 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The British spy drama, led by the inimitable Gary Oldman, follows a team of misfit MI5 agents exiled to London’s Slough House. In an era crowded with espionage thrillers, Slow Horses has stood out by mixing dark humor with tensely plotted intrigue – and by giving Oldman a deliciously unkempt role (Jackson Lamb) that he’s clearly relishing. Season 5 adapts London Rules, the fifth book in Mick Herron’s beloved series tomsguide.com. Without spoiling, fans can expect absurd assassination plots, political satire, and plenty of Lamb’s caustic one-liners as he leads his motley crew in unraveling a conspiracy that starts with a seemingly innocuous string of prank crimes. Notably, this season adds Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso’s Nate) as a dubious new MI5 higher-up tomsguide.com – a bit of stunt casting sure to delight British TV buffs. Apple just confirmed that Slow Horses has been renewed through Season 6, signaling strong confidence 9to5mac.com. The show has quietly amassed a devoted following and even snagged BAFTA nominations, so its return is a feather in Apple’s cap and a treat for those who like their spy shows smart and a tad cynical.
Also of note on Apple TV+: The Morning Show returns for Season 4 on Sept. 17, continuing the streamer’s first breakout hit. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are back as rival news anchors navigating a post-pandemic media landscape. This season jumps ahead to 2024 in its timeline, tackling issues like deepfakes and corporate mergers in the newsroom tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. With new cast additions (Nicole Beharie, Marion Cotillard, and William Jackson Harper have joined the ensemble tomsguide.com) and a reported $20 million+ per episode budget, The Morning Show remains one of Apple’s tentpoles. Though it’s not a “premiere” per se, its mid-month debut will surely grab headlines – especially after Season 3’s bombshell finale left the future of several characters (and the fictional UBA network) up in the air.
Rounding out Apple’s month are a couple of under-the-radar gems. All of You (Sept. 26) is an original romantic drama film starring Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) and Imogen Poots tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. It’s a sweeping, years-spanning story about two best friends navigating missed opportunities and “the one that got away” – essentially, Apple’s foray into tear-jerking romance territory, which could appeal to the Normal People/Nicholas Sparks crowd. There’s also buzz in genre circles for Alien: Earth, a new FX-produced series (streaming on Apple TV+ in some regions) which continues the Alien franchise on the small screen, though that arrives toward end of month with less fanfare.
All told, Apple TV+ in September 2025 feels like a showcase of the brand’s identity: big stars, polished production, and stories that aim to provoke and prestige-ify. As one 9to5Mac entertainment columnist put it, “2025 has been [Apple TV+’s] best year yet” 9to5mac.com, with the service achieving a higher bar for quality. This month’s releases – The Savant, Highest 2 Lowest, Slow Horses – continue that streak, and position Apple to compete strongly in the busy fall streaming season. If you’re someone who values water-cooler drama and top-tier talent, Apple TV+ just might command a bigger slice of your screen time this month.
Max (HBO): Prestige Crime and Popcorn Frights
Under its new moniker Max, the streaming service still informally known as HBO Max is delivering an array of content in September that runs the gamut from prestige drama to classic horror. The banner original this month is undoubtedly Task, a gritty crime miniseries that premieres Sept. 7 on HBO and streams on Max simultaneously en.wikipedia.org. Task carries high expectations, as it’s created by Brad Ingelsby, the mind behind Mare of Easttown, and stars Mark Ruffalo in his first TV lead role in years. The story unfolds in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia (Ingelsby’s signature setting) and follows FBI agent Tom Brandis (Ruffalo), who heads a task force investigating a string of violent robberies tied to a local opioid-dealing biker gang time.com time.com. On the other side of the law is Robbie (played by Tom Pelphrey), a struggling dad who gets pulled into the heists – setting up a cat-and-mouse dynamic where both “hunter” and “hunted” are portrayed with nuance. Critics who’ve seen screeners are raving: TIME Magazine calls Task “another excellent crime drama” that bends genre expectations by focusing intimately on its dual protagonists and their moral crises time.com time.com. “Like Mare, but slightly more elegant in its plotting,” TIME’s reviewer writes, adding that Task offers a “believable, unglamorous portrait of guilt, revenge, and forgiveness” rarely seen in cop shows time.com. Ruffalo’s performance (as a grief-stricken agent dealing with his own family tragedy) and Pelphrey’s turn as a sympathetic criminal have both drawn early Emmy talk. With its pedigree and Philadelphia-noir vibe, Task could very well be Max’s next Mare of Easttown-sized hit – the kind of weekly must-watch that has fans dissecting theories on Reddit after each episode.
For those in search of lighter fare, Max has you covered later in the month with some Halloween-appropriate releases. The service is adding a trove of horror movies on Sept. 1, from Friday the 13th (the first eight films of the slasher series) to modern chillers like The Ring (2002) and The Grudge thewrap.com thewrap.com. Horror aficionados will also note the addition of 2024’s The First Omen (a prequel to The Omen), which makes its streaming debut on Max on Sept. 1 thewrap.com thewrap.com. And if psychological horror is more your speed, keep an eye out for Love & Death (Sept. 15), a one-off special from the masters at Blumhouse that explores the true story of a bizarre 1970s murder in California – a companion piece to the Max original series that aired last year.
Max is also doubling down on its unparalleled library content. September sees a wave of popular films and shows jumping onto the platform. Just to cherry-pick a few: Quentin Tarantino’s Goodfellas-inspired crime epic American Prince: JFK Jr. (a CNN docuseries about JFK Jr.’s life) hits Max after its CNN airing press.wbd.com, as does The Kim Kardashian Heist, another headline-grabbing doc (covering the infamous Paris robbery). Comedy fans can revisit Almost Christmas (2016) on Max, while action buffs get the entire Bourne series and Mission: Impossible – Fallout rotating in mid-month (Max’s deal with Universal and Paramount keeps these titles cycling). Perhaps most exciting for animation fans, Rick and Morty Season 8 will stream new episodes on Max this month – Adult Swim is premiering the latest season of the cult sci-fi comedy in early September, and Max subscribers can catch each episode on demand the day after it airs comicbook.com comicbook.com. This is the first Rick and Morty season without co-creator Justin Roiland’s involvement (after his firing), so there’s curiosity around how the show fares creatively. The fact that Max can host it is a reminder of one advantage it has: leveraging HBO/Turner content that appeals to a young demographic.
One unique event for Max in late September: the platform will stream a collection of Studio Ghibli films in newly remastered 4K editions starting Sept. 29, coinciding with the U.S. release of Hayao Miyazaki’s new movie The Boy and the Heron. Classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro were temporarily off Max (due to previous licensing deals), but Warner Bros. Discovery struck a fresh arrangement to bring them back in higher quality. Anime and film fans are thrilled, with many planning Ghibli marathons as soon as the titles drop – a timely move as Miyazaki’s name is back in headlines.
Overall, Max’s September strategy seems to be: offer a little bit of everything, and remind viewers of HBO’s legacy even under the “Max” name. The head of original content at Max, Sarah Aubrey, recently emphasized that “HBO’s defining series will continue, but we also want a broad swath of entertainment”. We see that reflected this month: a prestige HBO drama (Task), but also reality shows (new episodes of FBoy Island Season 3 will hit weekly), kids’ content (Season 2 of Batwheels, an animated Batman spinoff for preschoolers, on Sept. 12), classic films, and genre picks. It’s a buffet approach, clearly meant to court a wider audience as Max competes with Netflix and others on breadth. Yet, as Task shows, they haven’t abandoned the high-quality storytelling that made “HBO” a gold standard. In short, Max is aiming to be both the home of the next Sopranos and your comfort-food sitcom binge – and this month is a microcosm of that vision.
Peacock: New ‘Office’, Old Favorites, and ¡Telenovelas!
Peacock might be one of the younger streaming platforms on the block, but in September 2025 it’s leaning on some very familiar IP – as well as making a play for diverse audiences. The headline here is the launch of The Office spinoff The Paper, which premieres on Peacock on Sept. 4 with four episodes reddit.com vulture.com. Fans of the original Office (and let’s face it, that’s a lot of people – it’s one of Peacock’s most-streamed library shows) have been eagerly awaiting this follow-up. But importantly, The Paper is not a direct reboot of The Office. Instead, it’s a mockumentary-style comedy about a different workplace: a struggling small-town newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, being filmed by the same documentary crew that shot the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin vulture.com vulture.com. In other words, it exists in the same universe and shares the filmmaking style, but it centers on new characters and a new setting. Greg Daniels, the original Office creator, is back as co-creator of The Paper, so the tone and humor should feel familiar. And one beloved Office character is confirmed to appear: Oscar Nuñez returns as Oscar Martinez (the accountants’ accountant!), now working in the finance department of the Toledo newspaper vulture.com. Beyond that cameo, The Paper stars a fresh ensemble including Gbemisola Ikumelo (Abbott Elementary), comedian Alex Edelman, and Domhnall Gleeson (as the paper’s ambitious new editor) vulture.com vulture.com. Early footage shows plenty of office shenanigans – albeit in a newsroom – with Daniels promising it’s more a spiritual successor than a direct sequel. Peacock is clearly hoping The Paper can capture The Office’s magic to draw subscribers. If it hits, expect weekly discourse and maybe even some overlap with Office nostalgia (cameos, Easter eggs about Dunder Mifflin, etc.). For now, cautious optimism: as one Vulture writer quipped, “Everybody stay calm! A new Office-ish show is happening” vulture.com.
Beyond The Paper, Peacock’s September slate is tightly interwoven with NBC’s fall TV schedule – a synergy the streamer is doubling down on. For example, Sunday Night Football returns in September and Peacock will simulcast select NFL games live (a huge selling point for sports fans). Likewise, reality competition juggernaut The Voice begins Season 28 on NBC Sept. 23, and episodes will be available on Peacock the next day thewrap.com. The same goes for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, both of which launch new seasons (post-writers’ strike) on Sept. 23 and stream next-day on Peacock thewrap.com. Peacock is making itself the hub for cord-cutters to still enjoy NBC content: so if you don’t have cable or an antenna, you can catch up on Law & Order Season 25 and Law & Order: SVU Season 27 on Peacock the day after they air on NBC (both premiere with a crossover event on Sept. 26) thewrap.com. Also coming Sept. 24 is M. Night Shyamalan’s 2023 thriller Knock at the Cabin, which hits Peacock as part of Universal’s post-theatrical output deal thewrap.com. Horror fans can stream that alongside Peacock originals like Screamboat (a quirky horror-comedy short premiering Sept. 12) thewrap.com.
One of the most interesting moves Peacock is making this month is a major expansion of Spanish-language content. On Sept. 15, the service will add a big collection of popular telenovelas and Telemundo series to its catalog – in total, over 25 titles drop that day thewrap.com thewrap.com. These include classics like Pasión de Gavilanes, El Clon, La Reina del Sur, ¿Dónde Está Elisa?, and many more spanning drama, romance, and crime genres thewrap.com thewrap.com. It’s clearly timed for the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, and it’s a savvy way for Peacock to leverage NBCUniversal’s ownership of Telemundo’s library. By making Peacock a one-stop-shop for telenovela binges, they’re courting the huge U.S. Hispanic audience and anyone who enjoys binge-worthy melodrama. (Many of these shows have fervent fanbases; Pasión de Gavilanes for instance was a massive hit across Latin America.) This strategic content dump got industry observers talking – with Forbes noting Peacock is “finally exploiting a rich vein of content that rivals aren’t focusing on.” Even non-Spanish speakers might dabble, given the trending nature of some titles and the addition of subtitles. For Peacock, which has struggled at times to define its niche, this move helps differentiate it from, say, Hulu or HBO Max.
Peacock isn’t neglecting original programming entirely. In addition to The Paper, the service will premiere Love Island Games Season 2 on Sept. 16 thewrap.com – a spin-off of the Love Island reality franchise that brings together past contestants in a competition format (think All-Stars meets dating show). Reality TV remains a strength for Peacock (it also carries Bravo shows next-day, which continues this month with The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6 on Sept. 17 thewrap.com). Peacock Originals like Killing It (comedy with Craig Robinson) and Based on a True Story (dark comedy) will also release new episodes in September, keeping the lineup fresh.
It’s worth noting Peacock’s moves appear to be paying off: the service surpassed 25 million subscribers earlier in 2025, buoyed by events like exclusive NFL games and big ticket live sports (e.g. it streamed an NFL Wild Card game in January). September continues that momentum with sports (besides football, Peacock will stream Premier League soccer matches and the WWE Payback event on Sept. 7). The strategy is clear – Peacock is leveraging everything under the NBCUniversal umbrella, from The Office to Telemundo to the NFL, to carve out a must-have spot in viewers’ streaming rotation. As fall TV kicks in, it’s essentially becoming “NBC on demand” plus some bonus goodies, and that might be exactly what a segment of viewers want. Keep an eye on how The Paper is received; if it takes off, it could herald a whole new era of Peacock mining NBC’s beloved franchises (who knows, Parks and Recreation: Pawnee next?).
In summary, Peacock in September 2025 is a case study in a streamer playing to its strengths and parent-company assets: a buzzy new comedy linked to a classic, next-day network content for cord-cutters, a sports lineup few can rival, and a generous serving of culturally specific content for underserved audiences. It’s a balancing act, but if Peacock can pull it off, the “blue streamer” might be a dark horse in the streaming wars this fall.
Paramount+: Reunions, Reality, and Regional Hits
Paramount+ comes into September 2025 armed with a diverse slate – from bringing back iconic TV characters to streaming live events – as it continues merging CBS legacy content with streaming-first originals. The most attention-grabbing premiere on Paramount+ this month is undoubtedly NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which launches on Sept. 4 (with the first three episodes available at once) popculture.com. This limited series is a dream come true for fans of the long-running CBS procedural NCIS, reuniting actors Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David after a decade. In the main series, Tony and Ziva’s will-they-won’t-they romance and Ziva’s presumed death (and later surprise survival) were major emotional touchstones. Tony & Ziva picks up with the duo working together as private security contractors in Europe – and yes, it confirms they’ve been raising their young daughter Tali together (a revelation that had “Tiva” shippers screaming at their screens back in NCIS Season 17). The stars have been doing press and couldn’t be more thrilled: “I think the show was manifested for the fans… they really wanted it,” de Pablo said, calling the reunion “very dreamy… like a fairytale” experience popculture.com popculture.com. Weatherly, who also executive-produces, joked that NCIS fan fiction planted the earliest seeds for this spin-off popculture.com popculture.com. The series itself promises a blend of action, old banter (yes, Tony’s movie quotes and Ziva’s malapropisms are back), and a deeper exploration of the Tony-Ziva relationship than episodic network TV ever allowed. Paramount+ is banking on nostalgia here – much as it did with Picard for Star Trek fans – and it likely will pay off. Decades-long NCIS devotees are signing up to see their favorite couple’s “happily ever after” (with ass-kicking and mystery thrown in, of course). It’s also a smart way for the streamer to leverage CBS IP without needing a full series commitment; Tony & Ziva will run 6 episodes through October, effectively as event television for streaming.
Another big return on Paramount+ comes from a very different corner of the TV universe: Tulsa King is back for Season 3 on Sept. 21 thewrap.com. This crime drama created by Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) and starring Sylvester Stallone became an unexpected hit when Season 1 dropped (it was, at one point, the #1 new scripted series on cable in late 2022). Season 3 continues the fish-out-of-water saga of New York mob capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) as he builds a criminal empire in Oklahoma. Without spoiling Season 2 (which wrapped in late 2024), Dwight is now facing new rivals moving in on his territory – and possibly a threat from within his own crew. Stallone, at 79, is as charismatic as ever, and Tulsa King’s mix of mob drama and dark humor has resonated. The new season reportedly ups the ante with bigger action set-pieces (one episode features an explosive casino heist sequence) and some Rocky-esque character beats as Dwight grapples with aging and legacy. Paramount+ will release episodes weekly, in tandem with a cable run on Paramount Network – a strategy similar to what they did with Yellowstone prequel 1883. Essentially, Tulsa King is being treated as a cross-platform tentpole. With Sheridan’s empire (which includes 1923 and Lioness) facing some scheduling reshuffles due to the strikes, Tulsa King might be the sole Sheridanverse show airing this fall, concentrating more attention on it.
Paramount+ continues to serve as the streaming home for CBS’s prime-time lineup and special events. Case in point: the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards are set for Sunday, Sept. 14, and will stream live on Paramount+ alongside airing on CBS thewrap.com. This is a repeat of last year’s approach and is great for cord-cutters who want to watch TV’s biggest awards night. (Fun fact: with Paramount Global as the broadcast partner, the Emmys ceremony itself might feature some nods to Paramount+ programming – perhaps Star Trek: Strange New Worlds doing a skit, or a musical number by a Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies cast member, etc.) Additionally, Paramount+ will stream the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards live on Sept. 12, since MTV is part of the same corporate family. Award shows may not pull the ratings they once did, but offering them on streaming ensures younger viewers have access and can interact on social media in real time.
The service is also leaning into original movies and acquisitions. On Sept. 8 comes The Wedding Banquet, a modern remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 groundbreaking rom-com thewrap.com. This new version – which had a limited theatrical release in April – is directed by Andrew Ahn and reimagines the story with a diverse cast: Bowen Yang plays the gay protagonist who stages a sham marriage to satisfy traditional parents, alongside Kelly Marie Tran and Lily Gladstone in key roles bleeckerstreetmedia.com youtube.com. The remake shifts the cultural setting slightly (the family is Chinese-Korean-American) and updates the humor for 2025 sensibilities. Reviews were mixed-positive, noting it doesn’t quite capture the original’s magic but has its heart in the right place. Paramount+ likely scooped it up to appeal to fans of progressive rom-coms – it pairs nicely with the platform’s Queer as Folk series and other LGBTQ-inclusive content.
Another interesting film drop is Winter Spring Summer or Fall, arriving Sept. 3 (the same day as Lilo & Stitch on Disney+ – a counterprogramming play) thewrap.com. This is a coming-of-age romance starring Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White, which had been in limbo after production delays. Paramount+ quietly acquired it, and it’s notable for Ortega fans (coming off Wednesday, she’s a Gen Z icon). Think of it as a cozy autumn teen romance in the vein of The Fault in Our Stars. The streamer is clearly happy to have Ortega’s name on the marquee for September.
And let’s not forget reality TV – Survivor and The Amazing Race both kick off new seasons in late September on CBS, and episodes will be on Paramount+ the next day (Survivor S49 premieres Sept. 24; Amazing Race S38 on Sept. 25) thewrap.com. This is more routine now, but still a significant draw for subscribers who prefer streaming their reality competitions. Notably, Survivor 49 is hyped as a “new era” with some gameplay twists, which could drive even more streaming views if buzz builds.
Finally, Paramount+ is tapping further into international content via its “Paramount+ with Showtime” tier. One highlight: it’s adding UK drama Bodyguard of Lies on Sept. 23 thewrap.com – not to be confused with the 2018 Bodyguard series, this is actually a new espionage thriller from the UK’s Channel 5, which U.S. viewers can only watch via P+. Moves like this (and importing Australian drama NCIS: Sydney later in fall) show Paramount leveraging its global footprint to pad the U.S. service with unique offerings.
In aggregate, Paramount+ in September 2025 is a microcosm of the platform’s dual approach: lean into its CBS/Viacom heritage (e.g. NCIS, Survivor, MTV VMAs) while also delivering fresh originals and films to stand out. The nostalgic allure of Tony and Ziva, combined with Stallone’s continued small-screen success, gives P+ some big watercooler moments this month. And by bolstering its library (from SpongeBob to Star Trek) and live offerings, Paramount+ aims to position itself as an indispensable part of a TV fan’s portfolio. With reports that the Paramount+/Showtime integration has increased engagement, the service is hoping its mix of old and new will keep subscribers tuned in as we head into the fall TV rush. As one industry analyst put it, “Paramount+ is doing a little bit of everything – and quietly winning fans because of it”. September’s lineup certainly backs that up.
Sources
- Netflix Tudum – “New on Netflix in September 2025: Stream Black Rabbit, plus new seasons of Wednesday, Beauty in Black, and more.” (Aug. 31, 2025) netflix.com netflix.com netflix.com
- TheWrap – “Everything New on Streaming in September 2025” (Aug. 30, 2025) thewrap.com thewrap.com thewrap.com thewrap.com
- Cosmopolitan – “‘Black Rabbit’ Is a Twisted New Thriller Starring Jason Bateman & Jude Law as Brothers” (Aug. 21, 2025) cosmopolitan.com cosmopolitan.com
- DiscussingFilm – “New Arrivals for Disney+ and Hulu September 2025” (Aug. 31, 2025) discussingfilm.net discussingfilm.net discussingfilm.net discussingfilm.net
- Tom’s Guide – “New on Apple TV Plus in September 2025” (Aug. 28, 2025) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com tomsguide.com
- TIME Magazine – “Task Is Another Excellent Crime Drama From the Creator of Mare of Easttown” (Aug. 31, 2
