Whether you are into murder mysteries or romantic heartbreakers, August is filled with exciting streaming and cinema releases. From Wednesday to My Oxford Year, here's what to watch this month.
August 1
My Oxford Year, Netflix
Starring Sofia Carlson and Corey Mylchreest, My Oxford Year tells the story of an ambitious American student who travels to Oxford in England to fulfil her dreams, but an encounter with a charming local changes both their lives. This one is for the romantics.
Eyes of Wakanda, Disney+
Marvel Animation’s new action-adventure follows the brave Wakandan War Dogs of the secret organisation, the Hatut Zeraze, throughout history. In this globe-trotting story, they must carry out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artefacts lost to the world.
The Naked Gun, cinemas nationwide
Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), son of the iconic detective from the original franchise, steps into his father’s shoes as part of the Police Squad unit. When Police Squad is threatened with disbandment, Drebin Jr. is tasked with solving a complex murder tied to powerful tech mogul Richard Cane (played by Danny Huston) — all while trying to save the department and the world through a mix of absurd slapstick, mistaken identities, and rapid-fire visual gags. It also stars Pamela Anderson as Neeson’s love interest.
August 6
Wednesday, Season 2 Part 1, Netflix
The hit show filmed in Ireland and starring Jenna Ortega as the titular character returns for the first half of its second run. In this instalment, Wednesday Addams is back at her sophomore year at Nevermore Academy, continuing her race against time after experiencing a chilling premonition of her friend Enid Sinclair’s death, which she vows to prevent no matter the cost.
The Pickup, Prime Video
Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson team up as an unexpected duo in this fast-paced heist comedy. Murphy plays Russell, a straight-talking veteran, while Davidson’s Travis is jittery, impulsive and full of terrible ideas. Their usual armoured truck run takes a sharp turn when they’re ambushed by a gang led by Zoe (Keke Palmer), who, awkwardly, is also Travis’s former one-night stand.
Platonic, season 2, Apple TV
Like any long-term friendship, Platonic only gets more chaotic with time. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne return as Will and Sylvia, best friends doing their best (and often failing) to keep their lives from falling apart. Will is newly engaged to a high-powered tech CEO, while Sylvia has taken on the role of his wedding planner, all the while both navigate emotional breakdowns with their signature blend of brutal honesty, deflection and excessive drinking.
August 8
Freakier Friday, cinemas nationwide
A sequel to the classic Freaky Friday, Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis return as Anna and Tess Coleman, who have found a new rhythm in life. Anna has grown up with a daughter of her own, and Tess is enjoying a more relaxed stage of life. But when a mysterious twist of fate strikes again, another body swap is triggered, and this time, it’s not just between two people.
August 13
Love Is Blind: UK, Season 2
Season two of the hit reality TV show returns, and just like season one, participants get to know each other solely via soundproof pods, forming emotional connections before seeing one another. Couples get engaged unseen and later test their bond in the real world by moving in together and planning weddings while facing real-life pressures like family, job and finances. It’s always a must-watch.
Butterfly, Prime
Butterfly is a character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage. It’s centred on David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), an enigmatic, unpredictable former US intelligence operative living in South Korea, whose life is blown to pieces when the consequences of an impossible decision from his past come back to haunt him. He finds himself pursued by Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), a deadly, young agent assigned to kill him, and Caddis, the sinister spy organisation she works for.
August 14
Formerly known as She The People, part two of series one follows Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn), now the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, as she further navigates the intersection of politics, family and power.
August 15
Limitless: Live Better Now, Disney+
Chris Hemsworth takes on three epic challenges to explore science-backed ways to improve our health. He learns to drum for a brain-boosting, surprise stadium gig; climbs a frozen 600-foot wall to explore the benefits of breaking out of our comfort zones; and embraces brutal Special Forces pain training in South Korea, all to discover how we can live longer, better lives.
Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, Netflix
This documentary offers a candid behind the scenes look at the production of The Biggest Loser, once one of the most-watched shows in reality TV history. It interrogates the highs, lows and lasting impact of the show, from behind the glow of dramatic weight-loss transformations to the emotional and physical toll it imposed on participants.
Night Always Comes, Netflix
Vanessa Kirby plays Lynette, a flawed, yet determined, anti-heroine who embarks on a dangerous, one-night odyssey through Portland’s criminal underbelly in a desperate attempt to gather enough cash to keep her family from eviction. Based on the best-selling novel by Willy Vlautin.
August 20
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, Disney+
A limited series inspired by the story of how Amanda Knox was wrongfully convicted for the tragic murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and her journey to set herself free.
The Map That Leads to You, Prime Video
The Map That Leads to You follows Heather (Madelyn Cline), a young woman setting off on an adventure across Europe with her best friends before settling into her perfectly planned life. When she crosses paths with Jack (KJ Apa), a magnetic and mysterious stranger, their instant spark ignites an emotional journey neither of them expected.
August 21
Hostage, Netflix
In this action-packed political thriller, the British Prime Minister (Suranne Jones) goes head to head with the French President (Julie Delpy) and is forced to make an unimaginable decision. Fighting political pressures, with a husband held hostage and a country to defend, she’s left with nearly no choice – but she will not give in.
August 28
The Thursday Murder Club, Netflix
Starring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands. Based on Richard Osman’s bestselling novel.
My Life With the Walter Boys’ season 2, Netflix
Love-triangle drama is still very much alive for Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez) as she heads back to Silver Falls, Colorado, after a much-needed summer escape in New York City. My Life with the Walter Boys season 2 reunites viewers with Jackie, Cole (Noah LaLonde), Alex (Ashby Gentry), and the rest of the Walter crew, and it’s clear that time away hasn’t untangled the romantic tension she left behind. According to the Season 2 synopsis, Jackie comes home “determined to make amends with Alex and set boundaries with Cole while finding her place within the Walter family.”
August 29
The Roses, cinemas nationwide
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites. The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 classic film The War of the Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.
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