It’s a new month, and that means a fresh batch of movies is landing on Netflix this August. The beginning of every month sees most streamers dump a bunch of content from their library, while adding new movies and shows. This churn is inevitable, and it’s both the best and worst part of the modern streaming experience. Netflix is certainly no different.
The streaming giant will jettison a fraction of its catalog at the end of July, but is making up for it with a pretty sizable roster of new additions throughout August. The headlining attractions this month are the returns of some of Netflix’s most popular original series, like Outer Banks and My Life with the Walter Boys. Shows have always been Netflix’s bread and butter, but the movies shouldn’t be overlooked.
August will see the arrival of dozens of films from various eras of movie history. While these films might not be literally new, they are new to the platform. There’s a wide variety of movies set to drop throughout the month, and most genres are represented in Netflix’s latest content upload. As is often the case, it’s difficult to keep track of everything new hitting the streamer this month.
This list compiles the best new arrivals, and selects a handful of movies that should not be missed when they come to Netflix. The picks range from classics to modern gems, and even a few overlooked movies make it on the list too. While this isn’t a comprehensive rundown, it does highlight the strongest content Netflix is offering in August.
Clueless (1995) – August 1st
Perhaps the defining teen movie of the 1990s, Clueless is one of the first new movies to hit Netflix this August. The plot concerns a ditzy teen who fancies herself a matchmaker, but is shocked when one of her social creations becomes more popular than her. Amy Heckerling’s razor-sharp comedy works on so many levels.
Clueless is a deft spoof of teen cliches, while embracing the over-the-top fun of the genre. The ensemble cast is stellar, and it has a cozy nostalgic vibe that makes it perfect for a streaming rewatch. Even if you’ve seen the movie a dozen times, there are little moments that just get funnier with each viewing.
The Fast And The Furious (2001) – August 1st
It’s hard to believe how far the Fast & Furious franchise has come in the last 25 years, and revisiting the original installment is like a window into the past. An undercover cop infiltrates a group of street racers in order to bring down a dangerous criminal organization. Unlike later films in the series, The Fast and the Furious is surprisingly grounded and subdued.
The 2001 release is jam-packed with early Aughts cheese, but that doesn’t detract from the legitimately exciting action sequences. There’s a lot of heart to The Fast and the Furious, and it does deserve a spot among the other great action flicks from the period. Several of the movies from the franchise land on Netflix on the first of the month, but the original is the one most worth seeing.
Field of Dreams (1989) – August 1st
August 1st will see the addition of one of the best baseball movies of all time to Netflix catalog. In Field of Dreams, an Iowa farmer hears a mysterious command to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield, and it attracts the spirits of some of the game’s best players. For those with an idealistic view of the sport of baseball, Field of Dreams is the perfect movie experience.
The film is a rich exploration of hope and memory, and it goes much deeper than America’s pastime. The Kevin Costner vehicle is one of several baseball flicks to star the movie icon, but it is arguably his best effort in the genre. It’s a classic film inside and out, and a must-watch for sports fans and non-fans alike.
Marie Antoinette (2006) – August 1st
Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette remains a divisive movie 20 years after its debut, but the anachronistic historical flick is becoming a classic. The vibrant retelling of the main character’s life blends modern sensibilities with the exaggerated style of the 19th century. Contemporary pop music blends seamlessly with the largesse of the French royalty during a particularly hedonistic period.
Anchored by a strong performance from Kirsten Dunst, the film finds the humanity inside the main character without totally glorifying her ilk. It’s playful, weird, and undeniably entertaining from beginning to end. The Oscar winner is a nice substitute for Bridgerton fans who like a particular brand of anachronistic storytelling.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) – August 1st
Speaking of Oscar winners, Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty is coming to Netflix in August too. The thriller concerns the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the operative who helped discover his location after a decade-long manhunt. As with most Bigelow projects, Zero Dark Thirty succeeds on both the large and small scale.
On a large scale, it’s a gripping encapsulation of one of history’s greatest manhunts. On a small scale, it dives deep into the characters and explores the psychology of their mission. Zero Dark Thirty is undoubtedly one of the best movies of the 21st century, and the Best Picture nominee deserves continued praise all these years later. It’s a political thriller, but it is also a drama with a lot of soul.
Speed (1994) – August 1st
The ’90s is known for its bombastic action films, and Speed is a classic over-the-top thrill ride. An ex-cop rigs a Los Angeles city bus with a bomb that will blow if the bus falls below 50 MPH, and a heroic officer must team with a brave passenger to save the day. Though the premise is somewhat goofy, Speed makes the most of its own exaggerated tone.
The action sequences are first-rate, and the performances from stars like Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and Dennis Hopper are just hammy enough to sell the concept. Even though the movie was made to be seen on the biggest screen possible, the Jan de Bont blockbuster is a must-watch for action fans with a Netflix subscription.
Eighth Grade (2018) – August 3rd
The coming-of-age genre has struggled to keep up with the rapidly-changing realities of modern teens, but Eighth Grade is a poignant and incisive exception. A 13-year-old girl suffers from the typical anxieties of adolescence, but tries to improve her social standing during the final weeks of middle school. Comedian Bo Burnham wrote and directed the A24 release, and his directorial debut is surprisingly mature.
There is a cringe-inducing reality to Eighth Grade that makes it a tough watch at times, but cathartic all the same. Elsie Fisher is a natural in the leading role, and the ensemble feels like real kids and not a sanitized Hollywood version of youth. The movie’s commentary about social media is powerful without feeling too preachy. Nearly a decade later, the indie flick deserves more love.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) – August 15th
Stieg Larsson’s books are quintessential Scandinavian noir, and David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo imports the stories for an American audience. A disgraced journalist is hired to solve a murder case from four decades earlier, and he gets help from a strange woman with a dark past. Similar to Fincher’s Mindhunter and Zodiac, the director has a knack for cynical crime dramas.
Though The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo moves at an almost glacial pace, the slow burn is worth the wait. It’s a visual feast with a genuinely gripping and twisty storyline. The movie failed to launch an American franchise, but it is still one of David Fincher’s best recent efforts. The movie lands on Netflix at the middle point of August, but it’s worth the wait.
The Shallows (2016) – August 15th
Sharks have been one of the most consistent foils in the history of cinema, and The Shallows pits man against the ocean’s fiercest predator. A grieving medical student goes on a solo surfing trip, but is left stranded on a remote rock outcropping after she’s attacked by a great white shark. The tense thriller has a simple premise that is executed perfectly.
As a scenario film, The Shallows wastes absolutely no time getting to the meat of the story. Blake Lively does a lot of heavy lifting and spends most of the film alone, but The Shallows never feels boring or repetitive. It isn’t as over-the-top as other shark movies, but offers a more realistic approach to the age-old tale.
M3GAN (2022) – August 24th
Coming to Netflix near the end of August, M3GAN is a modern horror gem that will fit in perfectly with the rest of the streamer’s catalog. A toy designer creates an AI companion doll for her orphaned niece, but M3GAN takes her job as protector a little too seriously. As expected, the movie embraces the campy fun of its concept.
With a handful of memes spawning from the film, M3GAN is a tongue-in-cheek romp that is definitely more funny than it is scary. Nevertheless, it’s a great horror film for newbies and those who are a bit more sensitive to scares. Horror is a consistent winner on Netflix, and M3GAN is one of the few horror flicks to embrace the 2020s.
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Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph