AS YOU’RE LIKELY aware, it’s fairly cold outside right now. We’re approaching the end of winter, and the end of binge-watch season, but even in its death throes the chill still has some bite to it. Meaning that before the season ends, you still have a plethora of excuses to use when looking for a reason to spend the night at home streaming your favourite series and films – “It’s too cold to go outside” typically works a treat.
To make the prospect of extra time on the couch even more tantalising, let us be the first to tell you that streaming platforms are due for a big month this August. If you want a laugh out loud comedy with a side of mystery, you’ll find it on Disney+ when a new season of Only Murders in the Building premieres. If the world of Lord of the Rings is more your style, the second season of Rings of Power is on its way to Amazon Prime. And if you’re an Attenborough nut, a new documentary narrated by the man himself is heading to Netflix.
The vast swaths of new content don’t make it easy for you though. The big hitters like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime are so packed with content that they make it difficult to discern what’s worth your time and what’s best left on the backburner – especially when you’re prone to indecision and are paying for the luxury of choice with subscriptions to multiple platforms.
Not to worry though, Esquire has you covered. To help you avoid being paralysed with indecision during a dreaded doomscroll, we’ve rounded up all the very best films and shows coming to streaming platforms in August 2024.
What’s new on Netflix in August?
August Netflix Highlight – The Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough
Another routine month where bucket loads of new content will hit Netflix is headlined by a documentary narrated by David Attenborough. At 98 years of age, there can’t be too many Attenborough docos left, so make the most of them while you can. In this one, Attenborough takes a break from showing us the world’s most incredible sights to focus on some spectacular sounds. Using advanced audio technology, The Secret World of Sound will reveal some of the rarest noises emitted from the animal kingdom. Volume all the way up for this.
Also on Netflix in August, Umbrella Academy is back for a fourth season, and it looks like this could be the beginning of the end for the beloved show about a group of eccentric superheroes – and that’s not just speculation; the last episode of the new season is literally titled ‘The Beginning of the End’. Lastly, in case you need a popcorn movie to pass the time, Mark Wahlberg’s The Union is a prime contender. In addition to Wahlberg, the film stars Halle Berry and JK Simmons as spies in a secret intelligence organisation. It should be a good time with plenty of action sequences, but don’t expect any Oscar buzz.
August 1
- Borderless Fog
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
- From Me to You: Kimi no Todoke, season 3
- Love Is Blind: Mexico
- Mad Men, seasons 1-7
- Mon Laferte, te amo
- Unstable, season 2
August 2
- Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli
- Rebel Moon: Part One: Director’s Cut
- Rebel Moon: Part Two: Director’s Cut
- Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
August 3
- The Holdovers
- Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats
August 5
- Gabby’s Dollhouse, season 10
August 6
- The Influencer
- Rising Impact, season 2
August 7
- Lolo and the Kid
- Love Is Blind: UK
- Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough
August 8
- Kingsman: The Secret Service
- Kingsman: The Golden Circle
- Shahmaran, season 2
- The Umbrella Academy, season 4
August 9
- Blue Ribbon Baking Championship
- Inside the Mind of a Dog
- Mission: Cross
- Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba
August 10
- Night Swim
August 11
- Romance in the House
August 13
- Matt Rife: Lucid – A Crowd Work Special
August 14
- Breathe
- Daughters
- Worst Ex Ever
August 15
- Backyard Wilderness
- Emily in Paris, season 4, part 1
- Lost, seasons 1-6
- The Other Woman
August 16
- Bank of Dave
- The Union
August 17
- Love Next Door
August 19
- CoComelon Lane, season 3
August 20
- Langston Kerman: Bad Poetry
- Terror Tuesday: Extreme
- Untold: The Murder of Air McNair
August 21
- The Accident
- Back to 15: Back to 18
- Nice Girls
- Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE
- Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War
August 22
- Baby Fever, season 2
- GG Precinct
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos: The Movie
- Secret Lives of Orangutans
August 23
- Incoming
- Tòkunbò
August 27
- Untold: Sign Stealer
August 28
- Untamed Royals
August 29
- Chastity High
- KAOS
- Represent, season 2
- TERMINATOR ZERO
August 30
- A-List to Playlist
- Breathless
- The Deliverance
- (Un)lucky Sisters
What’s new on Disney+ in August?
August Disney+ Highlight – Only Murders in the Building, season 4
A relatively soft month lies ahead for Disney+ in terms of new releases, but there’ll be a big one towards the end of it. The overtly saccharine and eminently popular Only Murders in the Building has a new season landing on August 27th. This time, our unlikely trio of podcasters have found themselves at the centre of attention, having their story adapted into a “major murder picture” – or a film, in other words. The main cast of Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin all return, along with Meryl Streep and a number of new characters played by Eva Longoria, Zach Galifinakis and Eugene Levy.
August 2
- Elway to Marino
- Four Days in October
- Guru of Go
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- The Legend of Jimmy The Greek
- Muhammad and Larry
- Rodman: For Better or Worse
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, season 2 shorts
- Tommy
August 7
- FX’s A Teacher
- Grown-ish, season 6
- Science of Stupid, seasons 1-8
- ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series
- The Zone: Survival Mission, season 3
August 8
- Are You Sure?!
August 9
- Clotilda: The Return Home
- Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue
August 12
- Solar Opposites, season 6
August 14
- American Crime Story: Impeachment, season 3
- Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise
- Macross Dynamite 7
- The Tyrant
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, season 2
August 16
- Macross Fb7 Listen to My Song!
- Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me!
August 19
- OceanXplorers
August 20
- Muslim Matchmaker
August 21
- Betrayal: The Perfect Husband: A Father’s Secret, season 2
August 23
- The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat
August 27
- Only Murders in the Building, season 4
August 28
- The Incredible Pol Farm
What’s new on Stan in August?
August Stan Highlight – Critical Incident
Brand new Australian series Critical Incident will premiere on Stan on August 12th. It’s a gritty crime drama inspired by real-life experiences in the juvenile justice system that centres on a well-meaning cop and a troubled teenager. Their paths cross when they cause an accident during a chase through the Sydney suburb of Blacktown – oh yeah, you’ll be able to spot some familiar locations in this one as it was filmed all over Western Sydney. If you’re looking to test your faith in the justice system, this is worth a watch.
Queerstralia will also debut on Stan next month. It’s all about the untold history of Australia’s queer community. Featuring stories about “gay diggers, lesbian convict gangs and cross-dressing bushrangers”, it’ll doubtlessly be a colourful affair. Finally, we can’t forget the premiere of the third season of Bel Air on August 16th.
August 1
- The Trust
- Ingeborg Bachmann: Journey Into The Desert
August 2
- Shut Eye, seasons 1-2
August 3
- Stand By Me
- Blackbird
August 4
- Almost Famous
- I’m Your Man
August 5
- The Promise
- The Goddess of Fortune
August 6
- The TikTok Effect
- Seberg
August 7
- Anne Boleyn
August 8
- Nowhere Special
- Casanova’s Return
August 9
- The House Bunny
- Super Grover 2.0, season 1
- The Durrells, seasons 1-4
August 10
- Panic Room
- Fireman Sam, season 14
August 11
- White Riot
- Antoinette In The Cevennes
August 12
- Critical Incident
August 13
- Bandslam
- Heroic Losers
August 14
- Sorry We Missed You
- Fortunata (Lucky)
August 15
- Nature’s Great Divide, season 1
August 16
- Bel Air, season 3
- RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars
- The Devil’s Own
August 17
- Galveston
- Bob The Builder (Ready, Steady, Build!)
- Queerstralia
August 18
- The Fall of the House of Murdaugh
- For Your Consideration
August 19
- Traces, season 2
August 20
- Dragged Across Concrete
- If Only
August 21
- The Present
- Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel
- Never Gonna Snow Again
August 22
- What Men Want
- A Dog’s World
August 23
- Boarders
- Hook
- Hope Springs
August 24
- The Body Next Door
- Donnie Brasco
- Thomas and Friends: Race for Sodor Cup
August 25
- Farming
- Are You Lonesome Tonight?
August 26
- Wishlist
- A Hundred Flowers
August 28
- $9.99
- Octonauts: Marina Trench Adventure
August 29
- Sex, Knives and Liposuction
- A Friendly Tale
August 30
- Moonfall
- Carrie (2013)
August 31
- Hotel Transylvania
- Fabian: Going To The Dogs
What’s new on Amazon Prime Video in August?
August Amazon Prime Video Highlight – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, season 2
Amazon is betting big on Rings of Power, gifting the show a colossal budget and free rein to bring back Lord of the Rings fans by any means necessary. The series, which depicts the rise of the dark lord Sauron, is returning for its sophomore season in August, with Sauron now firmly positioned as a powerful figure and threatening to bring catastrophe to Middle Earth. Season one got better with each episode as every instalment picked up the pace. Expect season two to maintain that form with a blistering start.
August 1
- The Angry Birds Movie
- The Angry Birds Movie 2
- Batman: Caped Crusader, season 1
- Call Me By Your Name
- Influenced, season 1
- Love and Death
- The Lost City
August 2
- A Sacrifice
- Beacon 23, season 2
August 4
- The Circle
August 8
- One Fast Move
- The Mallorca Files, season 3
- The Shakedown
August 13
- The Hitman’s Bodyguard
- Rumour Has It
August 15
- Catch the Ghost, season 1
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Jackpot!
- Underworld: Awakening
- White House Down
August 16
- Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar
- WNBA: Phoenix Mercury at Chicago Sky
August 18
- Sicario
August 20
- Ferrari
- Overdrive
August 21
- Anyone But You
August 22
- My Mister
- WNBA: Dallas Wings at New York Liberty
August 23
- The Beekeeper
August 27
- No Gain, No Love
- While We’re Young
August 29
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, season 2
August 31
- Almost Famous
- The Da Vinci Code
What’s new on Binge in August?
August Binge Highlight – Mr. Bigstuff
In Mr. Bigstuff, two estranged brothers find themselves back under the same roof, forced to readjust to life together. The situation quickly unravels from there. One of the brothers is an alpha male battling a drug addiction, the other, a do-gooder who’s set to be married in a few short months. At its basest level, Mr. Bigstuff is an irreverent comedy, but it also explores some deeper themes like brotherhood and what it means to be a man.
August 1
- Mr. Bigstuff
- ER, seasons 1-15
- Please Like Me, seasons 1-4
- Munch, season 2
- Swamp People, season 15
- Paradise, season 2
- Surgeons: A Matter Of Life Or Death
- A Tale Of Two Thieves
- Emmerdale
- Coronation Street
- EastEnders
- Strange Way Of Life
- Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein
- Raid On Rommel
- The Rawhide Years
August 2
- Pawn Stars Do America, season 2
- Police Strike Force, season 1
- Swamp People: Serpent Invasion, season 4
- Hurst: The First And Only,
- Instant Family
- The River
August 3
- The Holdovers
- Migration
August 4
- WWE Summerslam 2024
- Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
- Daddy’s Home
- Daddy’s Home 2
August 5
- FBOY Island Australia, season 2
- Secrets Of The Queen’s Coronation
- The Great War
- See No Evil, season 7
- Grantchester, season 8
- Origin
August 6
- Taskmaster New Zealand, season 5
- Charles & The Women Who Could Have Been Queen
- The Postman Always Rings Twice
August 7
- Edward Viii: Britain’s Traitor King
- Fergie and Meghan: Inconvenient Royals
- Murder On The Blackpool Express
August 8
- Mr. Throwback
- Catherine: Our Queen In Waiting
- Russia’s Wars
- Swamp Mysteries With Troy Landry, season 2
- Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth
- Madame Webb
August 9
- Married To A Psychopath
August 10
- Night Swim
August 12
- Industry, season 3
- Abandoned Americana, season 2
August 13
- The Ark, season 2
- Emergency Helicopter Medics, season 2
August 14
- Gogglebox Australia, season 20
- Prince Albert: A Victorian Hero Revealed
- Death on the Tyne
August 15
- Grace Kelly: The Missing Millions
August 16
- How Disney Built The World
August 19
- Chimp Crazy
- The Great Canadian Bake Off, season 7
- Extraordinary Extensions, season 2
- Ancient Engineering, season 2
- Antiques Road Trip, season 26
- All New Traffic Cops, season 11
August 21
- Sell This House, season 11
- Myths: Greatest Mysteries Of Humanity season 3
- Pawn Stars: Best Of, season 4
- Dial M For Middlesbrough
- The Passenger
August 22
- The Great Pottery Throwdown, season 7
- Dance Moms Epic Showdowns
August 23
- Ultimate Wedding Planner
August 24
- The Killer
August 26
- Masterchef, season 20
- Grand Designs UK, season 21
August 27
- The Chelsea Detective
- Heathrow, season 8
August 29
- Adult Material
- Secret Weapons of World War II
August 30
- Police Code Zero: Office Under Attack
What’s new on Apple TV+ in August?
August Apple TV+ Highlight – Bad Monkey
It’s a huge month over on Apple TV+, where the Vince Vaughn-led Bad Monkey will make its long-awaited premiere. Vaughn plays a restaurant inspector who must return to his old ways as a detective after a tourist discovers a severed arm in Southern Florida. Assuredly, a monkey is involved somehow. We’re just not sure how it services the plot yet though.
Elsewhere on Apple TV+, Cowboy Cartel is a soon to be released documentary series about a rookie FBI agent who uncovered a Mexican cartel’s money laundering operation embedded in American horse racing. Last of all, The Instigators brings together Matt Damon and Casey Affleck as reluctant partners in crime who must evade police and bureaucracy after a heist gone wrong.
August 2
- Cowboy Cartel
August 9
- The Instigators
August 14
- Bad Monkey
August 22
- Pachinko, season 2
August 30
- K-Pop Idols
I’m short on time, what should I watch in August to keep up with the zeitgeist?
We get it. Time is thin and the streaming commitments are coming thick and fast. To ensure you’re keeping up with next month’s Stranger Things or Squid Game (read: the shows everyone’s talking about), this is our list of recommended must-watch films and series.
- Cowboy Cartel, Apple TV+, August 2nd
- Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough, Netflix, August 7th
- Umbrella Academy season 4, Netflix, August 8th
- The Instigators, Apple TV+, August 9th
- Critical Incident, Stan, August 12th
- Bad Monkey, Apple TV+, August 14th
- Queerstralia, Stan, August 17th
- Only Murders in the Building season 4, Disney+, August 27th
- Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power season 2, Amazon Prime, August 29th
Related:
Baby Reindeer and the lure of the binge-watch
How Travis Jeffery got ripped for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
