Whether you’re in the mood to watch an action comedy, chilling horror movie, or a potentially tear-jerking documentary, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our August streaming preview.
Here are our picks for the best movies and shows coming to UK streaming services in the days ahead…
August 14
Bad Monkey – Season 1
Vince Vaughn in Bad Monkey
Where to Stream: Apple TV+
Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancy, a former cop turned health inspector who is now living in the Florida Keys after being let go from his job at the Miami Police Department.
When tourists discover a human arm in the waters, Yancy suspects something fishy is going on. If he can prove murder, this might be his way of getting back on the Force. But according to the official synopsis for this new crime drama, he must first get past “a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.”
This 10-episode drama series, based on the book by Carl Hiaasen, also stars Michelle Monaghan, Zach Braff, and Rob Delaney.
Daughters (2024)
Netflix release their latest documentary- Daughters
Where to Stream: Netflix
‘Daughters,’ a moving documentary from directors Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, follows the lives of four girls as they prepare for a special Daddy-Daughter dance with their incarcerated fathers.
According to the official synopsis, the documentary “sheds light on the complexities of familial bonds strained by the unforgiving barriers of the criminal justice system.”
‘Daughters’ was picked up by Netflix after winning the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024. Described as a “moving portrait of empathy and forgiveness,” this documentary might just give you the urge to strengthen your connection to your beloved family members.
August 15
Jackpot (2024)
John Cena and Awkwafina star in Jackpot
Where to Stream: Prime Video
Bridesmaid director Paul Feig’s new film stars Awkwafina as Katie, a lucky lottery ticket winner living in LA. Well, ‘lucky’ might not be the best word to use. While winning the lottery would be a dream come true for most of us, this isn’t the case for Katie, as this comedy is set in the future where others are allowed to steal the ticket and claim the prize if they can kill the lottery winner by sundown.
Also in the cast is John Cena who stars as Noel, an amateur ‘jackpot protector,’ who joins forces with Katie to help her survive the day. Expect lots of ridiculous action sequences and some hopefully hilarious comedy in this promising new movie.
August 16
Robot Dreams (2023)
Robot Dreams – A story about an unlikely friendship…
Where to Stream: MUBI
Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Oscars, this Spanish-French co-production tells the story of a friendship between a lonely dog and a mail-order robot.
Over the course of the summer, the two unlikely friends become inseparable. But as the sunny season draws to an end, the two become separated after Robot become rusted and stuck on a now-closed beach. Will Dog find a way to save his friend?
This soulful and heart-warming film, which plays out without any dialogue, is one of the best animated features of recent years.
The Union (2024)
Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry star in The Union
Where to Stream: Netflix
Mark Wahlberg stars as Mike, a down-to-earth construction worker who is whisked off on a whirlwind adventure when his former high-school girlfriend Roxanne (Halle Berry) re-enters his life.
Roxanne is now a secret agent who works for the titular agency. She recruits Mike for a dangerous intelligence mission in Europe that, according to the synopsis, “thrusts them back together into a world of spies and high-speed car chases, with sparks flying along the way.”
Julian Farino (Florida Man) is at the helm of this thrilling new action movie that might make you check the job profiles of your old classmates to see if they have a more exciting day job than you do.
August 22
The Walking Dead: Dead City – Season 1
The Walking Dead’s latest spin off: Dead City drops in August
Where to Stream: NOW TV
This spin-off series to The Walking Dead follows Maggie and Negan as they venture into post-apocalyptic Manhattan in search of Hershel, Maggie’s son. The pair aren’t alone as they journey through the crumbling city streets, as around them are hordes of the undead who want them for their dinner.
It’s something of a surprise to see Maggie and Negan working together, considering Negan violently disposed of Maggie’s husband with an eye-poppingly brutal baseball bat. We wouldn’t have chosen him as our companion but as this series is partly focussed on Negan’s redemption arc, we guess he has a softer side that the show’s creators hope will make us warm to him.
August 23
Hell Hole (2024)
Shudder’s latest release – Hell Hole
Where to Stream: Shudder
John Adams and Toby Poser, the directors of Hellbound and Where the Devil Roams, turn their attention to the consequences of fracking in this bone-chilling horror.
Admittedly, this movie isn’t focused on the environmental damage that fracking can do. But in its story of a fracking crew who discover the body of a Napoleonic soldier that is host to a parasitic monster, it’s still a reminder that Mother Earth should be left alone.
August 27
Only Murders In The Building – Season 4
The gang are back for another season of podcasting detective work
Where to Stream: Disney+
Our favourite podcasting sleuths are back in this 10-episode series that has our heroes travelling to LA where a movie adaptation of their podcasts is being made. They don’t remain in Hollywood for very long, however, as there’s a murder to solve back at the Arconia, namely that of Sazz, Charles’s stunt double, who was killed at the end of Season 3.
Series regulars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are joined by a few returning faces this season, including Meryl Streep and Tina Fey, as well as newcomers Molly Shannon, Eugene Levy, and Eva Longoria.
August 29
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
Will it be another divisive trip to Middle Earth?
Where to Stream: Prime Video
Season 1 of this Middle Earth prequel divided critics upon its release, with some lauding it as the ‘One Show to Rule Them All’ and others cursing its existence and wanting to throw it into the fires of Mount Doom!
The second season takes us back to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age, where the evil Sauron plots to bind the people of Middle Earth to his sinister will via the creation of the ‘Rings of Power.’ This doesn’t bode well for those who stand in his way, including Galadriel, the ‘Lady of the Woods,’ who learned of Sauron’s villainous identity in the first season.
More Streaming Highlights
August 17
Nick Cave: This Much I Know To Be True – NOW TV
August 21
Bob Marley: One Love (2024) – Paramount+
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War (2024) – Netflix
August 22
Stags: Season 1 – Paramount+
August 23
The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (2024) – Disney+
August 29
KAOS: Season 1 – Netflix
Terminator Zero: Season 1 – Netflix
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