The Best in the World of Pop Culture this October

The Dandelion Chandelier Entertainment Calendar showcases the best in the world of pop culture. The notable new movies, TV shows, new plays and podcasts in October 2019. Plus new drops and tours launching in pop music, and the top music festivals in October 2019. For the full October 2019 Luxury Calendar, click here. And for a list of fantastic new books being published in October 2019, click here.

what’s happening in pop culture this october 2019?

October is often noted for its horror and Halloween-themed entertainment. But this year, October will super-powered by a number of comic book-inspired releases. On the big screen, there’s DC’s dark origin tale Joker.  On the small screen, its Raising Dion and Watchmen. 

But if superheroes aren’t your thing, there’s romance starring the reunited Claire Foy and Matt Smith in Lungs at the Old Vic. And BAM’s new season begins. Finally, new music drops from both Vagabon and FKA Twigs. And we found three cool new podcasts to check out.

Trick or treat? This month, dear reader, there’s plenty of both.

the best in pop culture this october 2019

1. best new movies and film festivals in october 2019

Warner Bros debuts its origin story of the iconic DC villain, the Joker.  Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert DeNiro, Joker promises to be even darker than The Dark Knight and will likely be one of the hottest Halloween costumes this year – Oct 4

Lucy in the Sky is follows the tale of astronaut Lucy Cola (Natalie Portman), whose life begins to unravel after her starry trip aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle – Oct 4

Pedro Almodovar reunites with his muse Penelope Cruz in Pain and Glory. Star Antonio Banderas won a Palm d’Or earlier this year for his portrayal of a director in creative decline – Oct 4

The Hamptons International Film Festival returns to the east end of Long Island – Oct 10 – 14

It’s not fall movie season without a film starring Meryl Streep.  The Laundromat also stars Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas in the story of a widow (Streep) investigating insurance fraud who uncovers two lawyers in Panama exploiting the world’s financial system – Oct 18

The Austin Film Festival returns – Oct 24 – 31

2. big television events in october 2019

From the folks behind Friday Night Lights and The Path comes an adaptation of the Australian drama series Sisters, titled Almost Family.  The Fox series centers on a woman (Brittany Snow) who believes herself to be an only child until her dad (Timothy Hutton), a fertility doctor, admits to secretly using his own sperm to father over 100 children.  Now, she finds herself with two new sisters and many more to come – Oct 2

A single mother raises a young son who begins to demonstrate supernatural abilities in Raising Dion, a 10-episode Netflix adaptation of Dennis Liu’s comic book.  Alisha Wainwright, Ja’Siah Young, Michael B. Jordan and Jason Ritter star – Oct 4

The apocalyptic hacker drama Mr. Robot returns for its final season on USA – Oct 6

Based loosely on the New York Times column of the same name, the premise of Amazon Prime Video’s Modern Love is simple: In each episode you will follow a 2019 couple as they struggle with relationship highs and lows.  The real pull here is the star-studded cast: Anne Hathaway and Tina Fey are just two of the actors involved – Oct 18

Set in an alternate history where “superheroes” are treated as outlaws, HBO’s Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own.  Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson and Robert Redford star – Oct 20

3. best new plays in october 2019

Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones stars in Cyrano  a musical version of Edmond Rostand’s 19th-century classic, with music from members of The National at the Daryl Roth Theatre – Oct 11

In the footsteps of Cher and Donna Summer and many others, Tina Turner gets her own bio-musical in Tina.  Adrienne Warren will reprise her performance from the West End, alongside Daniel J. Watts as Ike, Dawnn Lewis as Zelma and Myra Lucretia Taylor as Gran Georgeanna – Previews Oct 12, Opens Nov 7

Claire Foy and Matt Smith make their Old Vic debuts in Duncan Macmillan’s emotional rollercoaster of a play, as a couple wrestle with our planet’s biggest dilemmas in Lungs – Previews Oct 14, Opens Oct 22

Following a sold-out run in 2018, Ian Rickson’s production of Brian Friel’s masterpiece Translations returns to the National Theatre. Ciarán Hinds reprises his critically acclaimed role of patriarch and schoolmaster, Hugh, whose livelihood and culture are at risk – Previews Oct 15, Opens Oct 21

This year’s New Wave lineup at BAM will feature Hamnet, a new play by the Irish theater company Dead Centre that explores mortality, legacy and longing through the eyes of a boy who died when he was 11 years old – and who happened to be the son of the most famous playwright of all time – Oct 30 – Nov 3

4. best pop music events in october 2019

Carrie Underwood brings The Cry Pretty Tour 360 with special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June to MSG – Oct 2

Austin City Limits Festival returns for two weekends with Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino, Billie Eilish and more as headliners – Oct 4 – 6 and Oct 11 – 13

Cameroonian singer-songwriter Laetitia Tamko aka Vagabon will drop her new album titled Vagabon – Oct 18

The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This year’s performers include Brandie Carlile, Post Malone and The National.  While there may we suggest a stop by St. Louis Cemetery Number 1? – Oct 25 – 27

The reclusive singer FKA Twigs makes a long-awaited return with her sophomore album titled  Magdalene – Oct 25

5. best new podcasts in october 2019

In Scam Goddess, self proclaimed “scam goddess” Laci Mosley will pair up with special guests each week to break down some of the world’s oldest and most enduring scams  – Oct 1

The dramedy Moonface tells the story of Paul, a second-generation Asian-American who can’t speak Korean and must learn the language in order to have an honest conversation with his mother, who struggles with English, about his sexuality – Oct 9

Bad Batch follows Laura Beil’s investigation into Liveyon, a start-up that claims to use stem cells to treat pain, autoimmune diseases, infections and even autism. The company was hailed as a success until several of its stem-cell customers started falling critically ill – Oct 23

the best in pop culture this october 2019

That’s it. Our top picks for the new movies, plays, podcasts, pop music and more – the best in the world of pop culture this October 2019. Let’s get it started.

join our community

For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.

see other october 2019 events:

• Travel
• Food and Drink
• Planes, Yachts and Autos
• Fitness, Wellness and Sports
• Fashion, Art and Design
• The Arts

 Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

Forward This Article