It is time, once again, for the monthly streaming service shuffle. Great movies are filtering in and out of the various streaming services this August as distribution agreements expire and shift. Netflix is highly favored this August, gaining iconic titles such as Clueless and Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. However, equally great films will be filtering out of the virtual Netflix shelves this upcoming month.
This is the last chance to catch several of the streamer’s top titles before they scurry off to other platforms—chiefly Disney+— or fade into the virtual no-man’s land before finding a new home. Romcoms appear to be on the chopping block this month, as nine such films leave Netflix in August. Splash, There’s Something About Mary, and Jennifer Lopez’s Marry Me are just a few of the comedy romances making their exit.
Though no genre is spared this month, several dramas and comedies, as well as a popular superhero trilogy, will also be departing. As we approach perhaps the hottest month of a blistering summer, it may be the perfect moment for a well-timed movie marathon. Netflix subscribers would be wise to check some of these must-see movies off of their watch lists before they all leave on August 1.
Atonement (2007)
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Fans of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice (2005) should check out Atonement. Wright’s 2007 film is another period romance based on a novel and starring the ever-talented Keira Knightley as the romantic lead. Atonement is not quite as highly rated, with 83% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to Pride & Prejudice’s 87%. Still, it features Wright’s grand directorial style, another gorgeous score by Dario Marianelli, and a reliably mesmerizing performance from Knightley.
Based on Ian McEwan’s novel of the same name, Atonement follows the tumultuous lives and love of Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) in England during World War II. The couple’s grand romance winds through the years and ends with a plot twist. The luxurious film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
During a devastating WWII battle, combat medic Desmond Doss pulled wounded soldiers to safety from the front lines, saving between 50 and 75 men. Doss did this without the protection of a gun, which he refused to carry for religious reasons (via NPR).
Andrew Garfield beautifully portrays Doss’s act of heroism in the Mel Gibson-directed Hacksaw Ridge. The sweeping narrative is structured in two acts—à la Full Metal Jacket—with training and historical context in the first half and combat in the second. The film hits its stride with the war action, featuring Gibson’s classic themes of violence and valor.
Hacksaw Ridge received six Academy Award nominations and won for editing and sound mixing. The epic has a solid 7/10 from Screen Rant and 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a particularly impressive 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Borat (2006)
Borat is a game-changing mockumentary-style comedy from 2006. Directed by Larry Charles, the film stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a fictional Kazakh journalist reporting on the United States. However, there is a twist. Those involved in the film do not realize it is a satire.
Perfect for fans of cringe humor, the antics go off the rails as Cohen improvises with non-actors unaware that the outrageous interviewer is playing a character. Though tough to watch at times, Borat is ultimately considered a piece of comedy genius and Cohen’s best movie of all time. Borat boasts a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong 8/10 from Screen Rant. After viewers have watched, or re-watched, Borat on Netflix, those interested in the sequel, 2020’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, must turn to Prime Video.
Ex Machina (2015)
Writer-director Alex Garland ambitiously envisioned the dangers posed by AI and advanced robotics 11 years ago. The 28 Days Later writer made his grand directorial debut in 2015 with Ex Machina. In the poignant sci-fi film, an advanced robot is paired with a human to measure her ability to understand and exhibit human-like behavior. However, the robot’s intelligence quickly outpaces that of her creators and testers.
Ex Machina received critical and popular praise upon its release, and has since grown in relevance and accuracy. The wise film boasts a strong 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and a near-perfect 9/10 from Screen Rant. It received two Academy Award nominations and won for its stunning visual effects.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Pretty Woman is the quintessential ‘90s romcom, and a pinnacle of the genre at large. The feel-good film features all the comedy, drama, and heart-melting romance that its genre calls for. The standard working-class girl and wealthy man plot line feels somehow excitingly fresh in Pretty Woman. The chemistry is also palpable between romance-movie mainstays Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in this classic feature. Of the two actors’ many romcoms, Pretty Woman is the clear frontrunner.
While the feature is not highly decorated or critically acclaimed—which is standard for a genre movie—its cultural impact speaks for itself. Directed by Garry Marshall, Pretty Woman is endlessly rewatchable and quotable over 35 years after its release. For this, Screen Rant awards Pretty Woman a perfect 10/10 rating.
The Proposal (2009)
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds’ 2009 romcom stands out as one of the funniest films in the saturated genre. In The Proposal, Bullock plays Reynolds’ tough boss who forces him into a green-card marriage. However, the plan goes astray when this uptight boss visits her faux beau’s family in Alaska.
The Proposal is directed by Anne Fletcher, the choreographer and director behind Step Up (2006). While Fletcher’s Bullock-Reynolds feature has the requisite romance, it shines in its humor. The film is worth watching for Bullock and Betty White’s hilarious “Get Low” fire dance scene alone.
While The Proposal is not critically acclaimed—with a dismal 45% on Rotten Tomatoes—it is an effective romance comedy and a favorite among audiences. Interested Netflix subscribers will need to commit to a viewing quickly.
Tootsie (1982)
Tootsie is a unique romcom with a lot to say. In the seminal comedy, Dustin Hoffman plays an out-of-work actor who dresses in drag to land a role on a soap opera. His plan is complicated when he falls for one of the female actors (Jessica Lange).
The narrative dives into matters of sexual harassment and the treatment of women in the workplace. Tootsie is a deftly written and thematically rich comedy that remains effective even 44 years after its release. The film had an uneasy production, passing through several writers and producers before landing with Columbia Pictures (via Criterion). However, it was an immediate success following its release— earning 10 Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. Ultimately, Lange took home the movie’s sole Oscar for her supporting performance.
Mississippi Grind (2015)
Mississippi Grind is a unique hidden gem from A24. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn, the drama sees a gambling addict take his new acquaintance on a road trip to a high-stakes poker game—believing him to be a good-luck charm. It is a unique take on the well-trodden road trip movie sub-genre.
The independent film was under-seen during its short theatrical run, bringing a mere $130,541 to the U.S. box office. However, it is a worthwhile film waiting to find a wider audience on streaming. The quirky drama is well-liked among critics, with a strong 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. A New York Times review of the film deemed it a return to the character-driven dramas of the 1970s—delivering a strong, lived narrative.
Spider-Man (2002–2007)
The Spider-Man franchise is a hot commodity at the moment, with Tom Holland’s Brand-New Day swinging into theaters this Friday, July 31. While the Spider-Man franchise is nearly exclusively streaming on Disney+, Netflix also hosts the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, though not for long.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy is considered the best of the modern live-action adaptations by some franchise fanatics. Whether or not all audiences agree, it undeniably features some of the best franchise moments and performances. Maguire performs a perfectly nerdy Peter Parker, and Willem Dafoe is iconic as the goolish Green Goblin. These films also feature the legendary upside-down kiss.
The Raimi trilogy will still be on Disney+ and Hulu—for bundle subscribers. However, for folks without a Disney+ subscription, now is the time for a Raimi Spider-Man marathon.
Labyrinth (1986)
The Labyrinth is an absolutely fascinating film. It is a kids’ movie-musical written by Monty Python‘s Terry Jones, directed by Muppets creator Jim Henson, and starring rockstar David Bowie. The feverish film follows a teenage girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must embark on an epic quest through a vast labyrinth to save her little brother from the Goblin King. Connelly and Bowie are among the few human actors in the story, largely populated by Henson’s puppets.
Labyrinth is strange and surprisingly scary for a kids’ movie. However, it is also a uniquely creative artistic triumph. The film is not a critical darling, with a mild 64% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Labyrinth has become a cult favorite among viewers and boasts an 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.