Sky Cinema and NOW October 2022: New movies and TV from 'Gangs of London' to 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2'

Sky Cinema and NOW's offering for October has a clear main event. The crunching violence and operatic criminality of Gangs of London is set to return for a second season, with Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù back at the top of the cast list as undercover cop turned criminal enforcer Elliot. Corin Hardy has taken over as the lead director and executive producer on the show, and has directed four of the eight episodes.

Elsewhere, some of this year's biggest blockbusters are coming to the service in the shape of family sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sandra Bullock adventure-comedy The Lost City. Halloween horror is not completely absent, of course, with Foo Fighters star vehicle Studio 666 bringing the frights.

Read more: Everything new on Netflix in October

Read more: Everything new on Disney+ in October

Read more: Everything new on Prime in October

Read more: Everything new on Paramount+ in October

Of course, NOW offers the chance to purchase one of its bespoke memberships, reflecting the sort of stuff you want to watch. For movie lovers, there's the NOW Cinema Membership, while telly junkies can buy the NOW Entertainment Membership and sports fans have the NOW Sports Membership available.

Here's what's coming to Sky Cinema and NOW this month...

New TV on Sky and NOW in October 2022

Buffalo Soldiers: The Unknown Army (3 October)

"Buffalo Soldiers" was a nickname given to Black cavalry soldiers by Native Americans in the 19th century and became a term synonymous with a number of different all-Black regiments in the US Army after the Civil War. This documentary explores the history of the earliest Buffalo Soldiers and traces their impact on the American military.

Portrait Artist of the Year S9 (5 October)

Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan return to present this painting competition, with the heats featuring artists given just four hours to put together a portrait of a famous person. The winner of the whole competition gets a £10,000 commission to paint Sir Lenny Henry for the National Portrait Gallery.

Train S1 (5 October)

A serial killer thriller with a sci-fi slant, this South Korean series stars Yoon Shi-yoon as Detective Do-Won, who is investigating a killer responsible for the death of someone close to him. He has also gained the mysterious ability to move between parallel universes.

A Friend of the Family (first three episodes on 7 October)

This true crime drama series deals with the same case depicted in the 2019 Netflix documentary Abducted in Plain Sight. Mckenna Grace, last seen in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, plays Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped several times by family friend Robert Berchtold (Jake Lacy). The cast for this one also includes Anna Paquin and Colin Hanks.

The Ghastly Ghoul (7 October)

The monsters of Halloween Town get one night a year to cross over into the human world and enjoy a night of trick or treating. Gary is too cute a monster to get in on the terrifying fun and, when he gets trapped in the human world, he bonds with a young boy.

Patrick Aryee's Wild World (9 October)

The documentarian and explorer Patrick Aryee — who has worked on numerous David Attenborough projects over the years — fronts this globe-trotting documentary, which aims to illustrate the myriad ways in which the natural world is joined together.

Monstrous S1 (first two episodes on 11 October)

Yeon Sang-ho — director of the incredible zombie movie Train to Busan — helms this series about a village terrified by a mysterious curse after an ancient statue is uncovered. An archaeologist who specialises in the supernatural is duly brought in to try to get to the bottom of what's happening.

Babylon Berlin S4 (14 October)

This drama set in Germany during the interwar years enters the 1930s for its fourth series. The impact of the Great Depression is being keenly felt in Berlin, while the burgeoning Nazi movement is bubbling up in the background of everything. Detective Gereon Rath finds that his investigation into the world of underground boxing brings him awkwardly close to supporters of Adolf Hitler.

MC Grammar's Halloween Party (14 October)

Family-friendly rapper MC Grammar returns to get kids singing and dancing with more of his signature tracks, this time at a Halloween disco.

Resident Alien S2, part 2 (14 October)

Alan Tudyk returns in the title role as an alien concealing himself on Earth as a human being. This second part of season two explores the aftermath of the birth of an alien baby, with Tudyk's character forced to track down the escaped youngster.

The Hillside Strangler: Devil in Disguise (16 October)

In the 1970s, a string of Los Angeles movies were eventually linked to a pair of cousins who would pose as off-duty police officers in order to lure their victims, whose bodies they would then dispose of in the California hills. This four-part series explores the many unanswered questions which still remain around the case.

Joseph Shabalala: Music is My Life (16 October)

This documentary explores the life and career of the late South African singer Joseph Shabalala, from his rural upbringing to his rise to global fame. It also explores his contribution to the history of isicathamiya music — a singing style linked to South African Zulus.

Gangs of London S2 (20 October)

A year after the murder of Colm Meaney's gangland kingpin Finn Wallace triggered shockwaves throughout the city, the London underworld remains in chaos.

Read more: Gareth Evans breaks down the violence of Gangs of London

The sinister investors from the first series — for whom former undercover cop Elliot (Sope Dirisu) now works — have aligned behind new gang leader Koba (Waleed Zuaiter), who envisages a monopoly over crime operations in London rather than the old school respect that underpinned the Wallace empire.

KIDZ BOP Haunted Halloween (21 October)

The KIDZ BOP brand is now so well-established that you know what you're getting here — fun song and dance, with added Halloween costumes.

Tom Gates: A Monster Halloween (24 October)

A special episode of the Tom Gates adaptations sees Tom and his friends join forces with an animated version of YouTube star DanTDM in order to plan the perfect night of trick or treating.

Libby, Are You Home Yet? (TBC October)

In 2019, the 21-year-old student Libby Squire was abducted and murdered on her way home from a club in Hull. This three-part series uses intimate interviews with Squire's family, as well as police, to explore not only the manhunt that led to her killer being found, but also the narrative around the safety of women.

Kingdom of Dreams (TBC October)

This four-part documentary series explores the way the fashion industry has exploded over the last few decades, focusing on the big fashion houses and some of their most eye-catching shows amid the current Golden Age.

The White Lotus S2 (TBC October)

Jennifer Coolidge returns to the resort for a second season of Mike White's darkly satirical comedy series, but is joined by a new ensemble cast of hotel guests. White has said that this second season focuses on sexual politics as well as class and wealth, with Aubrey Plaza and Theo James among the most eye-catching additions to the cast list.

Other movies and TV on Sky Cinema and NOW in October 2022

1 October

She Will (2021)

2 October

Clean (2021)

7 October

Studio 666 (2022)

8 October

The Lodge (2020)

9 October

18 1/2 (2022)

14 October

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Watch: Trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 2

15 October

The Accursed (2021)

16 October

The Immaculate Room (2022)

21 October

Umma (2022)

Watch: Killing Eve star Sandra Oh stars in trailer for Umma

22 October

Wickensburg (2022)

28 October

The Lost City (2022)

29 October 

Wolf (2021)

3 October

Red Rocket (2021)

Watch: Trailer for The Lost City