Dive into a season of cosy queer viewing: from a bold lesbian documentary to spooky reality TV, prestige horror, and drag that reimagines masculinity , here’s what’s new in September and where to find it.

Essential Takeaways

  • Big-name returns: American Horror Story: 13 brings back Coven-era chills and familiar faces, arriving on FX and Hulu on Sept. 24.
  • Documentary highlight: Barbara Forever, a kaleidoscopic tribute to filmmaker Barbara Hammer, opens in New York on Sept. 4 with wider theatrical screenings to follow.
  • Indie road drama: Dreams in Nightmares, a mid-30s queer road movie, hits theatres Sept. 4 , expect emotional texture and scenic detours.
  • Streaming variety: New seasons and original series spread across Netflix, Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, Revry, BBC iPlayer and more , something for every mood.
  • Reality and competition: From haunted renovations hosted by Anna Camp to King of Drag’s season 2, there’s playful, spooky and competitive TV throughout the month.

Fall’s queer calendar brings both comfort and edge

If your idea of autumn includes a blanket, hot drink and a good binge, September’s slate gets it. There’s something tactile about a documentary shown on a cinema screen or the slow-burn of an anthology horror , both ask you to settle in and feel. Films like Dreams in Nightmares land in theatres early in the month, offering a quieter, character-driven counterpoint to the loud pleasures of reality competition shows. Expect mood-rich storytelling, and plan an evening for each tone , one night for a documentary, another for campy thrills.

Documentaries and indie films worth the cinema ticket

Barbara Forever, a film that foregrounds Barbara Hammer’s own voice and archive, opens at Film Forum in New York on Sept. 4 before playing in other theatres. It’s the kind of cinematic excavation that rewards watching on the big screen, where her experimental films and textures will read as they were intended. Meanwhile Dreams in Nightmares arrives the same day with a road-movie sensibility , think found-family conversations, city-to-country vistas, and moments that linger. If you love cinema that makes you feel as much as think, these two are prime picks.

Streaming drama and prestige TV: big names, big returns

September’s schedule reads like a TV festival: Netflix debuts both the messy-sibling comedy DANG! and Call My Agent! The Movie, while Prime Video drops the thriller Neagley mid-month. Then there’s American Horror Story: 13, which promises to weave back into the franchise’s Coven lineage and reunite fan favourites , a clear draw for long-time viewers. With shows spread across platforms, consider a short subscription trial or staggered viewing to avoid subscription fatigue. Each streamer is leaning into event programming to keep viewers tuning back weekly.

Reality, competition and genre mash-ups for every taste

Reality TV gets a season refresh: HGTV’s A Very Haunted Renovation mixes design with spooky stakes, hosted by Anna Camp, and King of Drag returns on Revry to spotlight drag kings and nonbinary performers reimagining masculinity. If you prefer social strategy, NBC and Peacock’s The Traitors: New Blood brings deception and psychological play to the table. These shows are lighter viewing in theory, but often deliver surprising emotion, fierce creativity, and the sort of watercooler moments that make watching with friends more fun.

How to choose what to watch this month

Start by mood rather than platform. Want chills? Pick American Horror Story or Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. Craving authenticity and history? Schedule Barbara Forever. Need something communal and playful? Queue King of Drag or Strictly Come Dancing. If you’re on a budget, prioritise theatrical dates for films you won’t want to miss on a small screen, then catch weekly TV with free trials or ad-supported tiers. And don’t be shy about sampling episodes , many of these shows reward a second evening.

It’s a neatly packed month of queer storytelling , mix a fright with a documentary and a drag showdown, and you’ve got a September schedule that’s as varied as it is satisfying.

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