Netflix Officially Confirms Intense Psychological Thriller Where James McAvoy Plays 24 Characters

Netflix is about to get a lot creepier. M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, the 2016 psychological thriller that let James McAvoy loose as a man with 23 personalities (and a terrifying 24th waiting to break out), is officially making its way to the streaming giant on October 1, 2026, in the US.

At the moment, the movie is streaming on Peacock. That makes perfect sense, since Split is a Universal Pictures release and Peacock is NBCUniversal’s own streaming home. However, its time there is running out, as the film will only stay on Peacock until the end of September.

There is another option for fans who want to watch it right now. Split is currently available to stream for free, with ads, on YouTube. That said, there is no word on whether it will stay there or quietly disappear before it lands on Netflix.

James McAvoy’s Split Comes to Netflix in October

Mark your calendars, because Split arrives on Netflix on October 1. It is part of a big wave of titles hitting the platform on the first day of the month, and honestly, the timing could not be better.

October is spooky season, the time of year when viewers go looking for anything that will keep them up at night. Netflix clearly knows this, as its October lineup is loaded with horror and thriller favorites. Split fits right into that mood, even though its scares come less from ghosts and gore and more from the fear of being trapped with someone you simply cannot predict.

The story follows three teenage girls, Anya Taylor-Joy‘s Casey, Haley Lu Richardson‘s Claire, and Jessica Sula’s Marcia, who are kidnapped after a birthday party and locked inside a windowless underground room. Their captor is Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder who has 23 different personalities living inside him.

Some of them seem harmless, some are strict, and some are downright disturbing. As the girls desperately look for a way out, they slowly learn that Kevin’s personalities are preparing for the arrival of a 24th identity known as “The Beast.” And once he shows up, escaping might no longer be an option.

James McAvoy’s Menacing Performance Makes It a Must-Watch Thriller

James McAvoy in a still from Split | Credits: Universal Pictures

If there is one big reason to add Split to your watchlist, it is James McAvoy. The actor does not lean on fancy costumes or heavy makeup to jump between Kevin’s identities. Instead, he changes everything else, from his voice, his posture, and his facial expressions to the way he moves.

One moment he is Hedwig, a playful nine-year-old boy. The next, he is the prim and proper Miss Patricia or the cold and controlling Dennis. Many fans still call it the best work of his career, and it is hard to argue with them.

Anya Taylor-Joy deserves plenty of credit too. Years before The Queen’s Gambit made her a household name, she held her own opposite McAvoy as Casey, a quiet but sharp girl who relies on her instincts to stay alive.

M. Night Shyamalan keeps the tension tight from start to finish, turning the film into a gripping game of cat and mouse. Audiences loved it as well. Made on a budget of around $9 million, Split went on to earn roughly $278 million worldwide.

With its famous ending, which ties the film to Unbreakable and sets up Glass, it’s a thriller that is well worth a watch this Halloween season.

Are you excited to rewatch Split on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!