5 Best New Disney+ Series To Binge-Watch This Week (October 19–23, 2026)

Published Oct 18, 2026, 7:45 PM EDT

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.

Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.

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These are the 5 best new shows to binge-watch on Disney+ and Hulu from October 19–23, including new releases, returning hits, and current favorites. This week, Disney+ and Hulu have plenty of great new streaming options to dive into, including an Emmy-winning sitcom, a popular horror series, a stylish neo-noir crime mystery, a high-concept dark comedy, and a critically acclaimed Marvel action thriller.

Some of the most popular streaming options on Disney+ and Hulu this Fall 2026 include the fantasy comedy series Coven Academy and the Japanese romantic comedy series Merry Berry Love, both of which rank on Disney+'s top 5 most-watched series worldwide right now. While both of these are great choices this week, the following five series are the newest series that are worth watching this week on the platform.

Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary season 6 just premiered on October 7 and is one of the best new shows to watch on Hulu and Disney+ this week, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday. Abbott Elementary has won 4 Emmys since it premiered back in 2021 and earned a near-perfect 99% Rotten Tomatoes score across six seasons, making it one of the most celebrated sitcoms of the 2020s. Abbott Elementary was created by and stars Quinta Brunson and follows a group of teachers in a Philadelphia public school. If you like mockumentary comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation, Abbott Elementary is a perfect show for you.

American Horror Story: 13

American Horror Story season 13 releases two new episodes this week on Thursday, October 22, leaving just its season finale episode to arrive next week before Halloween. The long-running horror franchise created by Ryan Murphy continues to enjoy its status as one of the most popular horror shows of the 21st century and ranks #5 on Disney+'s U.S. viewership chart at the time of writing. American Horror Story season 13 brings back several characters and storylines from the twelve previous seasons and is one of the best new shows to watch on any streaming platform right now to get into the Halloween spirit.

The Lowdown

The Lowdown season 2 just arrived on Disney+ and Hulu last Wednesday with its 2-part premiere, greeted by a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its sophomore effort. Ethan Hawke stars as a citizen journalist named Lee Raybon living in modern-day Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he investigates seeds of local corruption across the city. Known for its highly stylized combination of neo-noir and Western genres, The Lowdown is a perfect watch for fans of classic movies and has just improved its already stellar cast with Tommy Lee Jones and Betty Gilpin. New episodes arrive every Wednesday on Hulu and Disney+.

Phony

Phony is a brand new dark comedy series that stars Connie Britton and Sam Nivola and drops its 2-part premiere on Tuesday, October 20. The series stars Sonny Cooke, a high school student who wakes up after a car accident and discovers that his mom, Ellen, may be an impostor. Although everyone around him believes Sonny is impaired from the crash, he is convinced that the woman who claims to be his mother is not really who she says she is. If you're looking for the newest show on Disney+ and Hulu this week, don't miss the 2-part premiere of Phony this Tuesday.

VisionQuest

VisionQuest was the most-watched series on Disney+ and Hulu this weekend and should continue to be the #1 show on the platform for the foreseeable future following its 2-part premiere on Wednesday, October 14. Paul Bettany reprises his role as Vision from The Avengers movies and the popular series WandaVision and serves as the final entry of the WandaVision Trilogy after Agatha All Along. VisionQuest received a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and is already considered one of the better Marvel series of the 2020s. If you love everything in the MCU, you won't want to miss new episodes of VisionQuest Wednesdays on Disney+ and Hulu.

VisionQuest