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Familiar faces dominate. On screens big and small in August. In addition to the return of favorite series like industry, Emily in Paris,holo Only murders in the building, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerand (sleepy) PachinkoTV welcomes the return of the troubled city's most committed security guard on Prime Video and a new comedy starring one of the NBA's best players on Peacock.
In theaters, you’ll find the return of a different kind of Avengers and an otherworldly threat. (Would you say the aliens have familiar or unfamiliar faces? Discuss that.) But those looking for something new won’t be disappointed either, thanks to a hip-hop biopic from Ireland, a cool smart house, and a new film from director M. Night Shyamalan that promises plenty of twists and turns. Still, the month begins in Gotham City. Read on for our guide to the best movies and shows to watch in August.
What to Watch: Movies & Shows August 2024
From theatrical releases to new series available to stream online, here's what should be on your radar in August 2024.
Batman: The Caped Crusader (Prime Video, August 1)
Bruce Timm, the driving force behind Batman: The Animated Series And other popular superhero series from the 90s and 2000s, reunite with The Dark Knight. Set in an alternate 1940s, the film offers new twists on classic characters while increasing the dark atmosphere and pitting Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) against criminals and a skeptical police force. Watch on Prime Video
patella (Theaters, August 2)
Belfast hip-hop group Niccap has gained fans and controversy for performing politically charged songs in Irish (speaking Irish is itself a political statement). The band’s origin story gets a somewhat fictionalized account in this raucous biopic, which was a hit at Sundance earlier this year. Get tickets on Fandango
trap (Theaters, August 2)
M. Night Shyamalan's latest film stars Josh Hartnett as a father attending a concert with his daughter. Irony: Well, there's a lot to be expected given the director. Get tickets on Fandango
Mr. Throwback (Peacock, August 8)
In the new series executive produced by David Caspi (happy endings), Adam Pally plays a sports memorabilia dealer struggling financially who may find a way to turn his luck around: with a little help from his childhood basketball teammate Steph Curry. Curry plays alongside SNLI am Nodim. Stream on Peacock
The instigators (Theatres and Apple TV+, August 9)
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck (who also co-wrote the screenplay) play a mismatched pair of Boston criminals who team up to pull off a heist. What could possibly go wrong? The answer seems to lie in a lot of Doug Liman's second film of the year (after Road house), which features everyone from Hong Chau to Ving Rhames in supporting roles. Stream with your Apple TV+ free trial
Border areas (Theaters, August 9)
A successful video game series since the release of the first part in 2009. Border areas Directed by Eli Roth, this film gets the big screen treatment. Like the series, it's a space Western that doesn't take itself too seriously while still adding more action. Cate Blanchett plays an outlaw who returns to her home planet, and she co-stars alongside Kevin Hart and the voice of Jack Black. Get tickets on Fandango
Cuckoo (Theaters, August 9)
tranceHunter Schafer plays a teenager who reluctantly moves to a strange German resort run by a very strange man, Mr. Koenig (Dan Stevens), in this bizarre thriller from director Tilman Singer. The strange events in the film follow the spirit of the bizarre European horror films of the 1960s and 1970s. Get tickets on Fandango
This is good (Theaters, August 9)
Another Sundance hit from India Donaldson, this low-key drama stars Lily Kollias as Sam, a teenage girl who happily goes on a camping trip with her father (James Le Gros) and his best friend (Danny McCarthy). Donaldson's first feature, it's already garnering praise for its direction and Kollias' performance. Get tickets on Fandango
girls (Netflix, August 14)
Directed by Natalie Ray and Angela Patton, this documentary follows the stories of four daughters and their incarcerated fathers as they prepare for a father-daughter dance. The film received widespread acclaim when it screened at festivals earlier this year and is one of the standout documentaries of the year. Streaming on Netflix
bad monkey (Apple TV+, August 14)
Bill Lawrence (Exfoliants, Ted LassoAdapted from Carl Hiaasen's 2013 novel about a former Florida police detective (Vince Vaughn) who stumbles into what appears to be a massive crime. It seems like a natural match for the sensibilities of the show's creator, source material writer, and star, who all have experience with wry comedy and quirky characters. The supporting cast playing these quirky characters includes Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Robert Delaney. Stream with your Apple TV+ free trial
Alien: Romulus (Theaters, August 16)
It takes place between events. alien And Aliensthe latest entry in alien The series stars Kylie Spani (Priscilla, Civil war), who plays one of a group of alien colonists who face, let's just say, an unexpected ordeal. Fede Alvarez (Don't breathe) directs. Get tickets on Fandango
blink twice (Theaters, August 23)
Speaking of visits to exotic locations that go wrong, Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut takes place on a billionaire’s private island where something strange seems to be going on behind the scenes. Kravitz has assembled an impressive cast for what promises to be a twisted thriller. Everyone from Channing Tatum to Haley Joel Osment to Geena Davis is expected to appear on the island. Get tickets on Fandango
the crow (Theaters, August 23)
James O'Barr's beloved graphic novel about a undead musician bent on revenge was first adapted over 30 years ago and inspired four sequels. This entry marks a new beginning, starring Bill Skarsgård and directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman). Get tickets on Fandango
Chaos (Netflix, August 29)
Created by Charlie Covell (the end of the damn world), this new comedy stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, a god who begins to worry that his night is coming to an end. He also joins Janet McTeer, David Thewles, Cliff Curtis, and others in the pantheon. Streaming on Netflix
scared (Theaters, August 30)
Smart homes make our lives easier, but what if they’re too smart? That’s the idea behind Chris Weitz’s horror film, starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston, who play parents who agree to test out a new AI assistant and soon regret their decision. Get tickets on Fandango
