What better way to round out summer than by enjoying a few movie marathons and binge-watching sessions on Netflix. We all know that at this point it's likely way too hot and buggy to spend much time outside, so Netflix's August lineup is going to come in clutch over the next few weeks. We're mostly interested in the movies that the streamer is adding, but there are also a few TV series we'd like to check out. There definitely won't be a shortage of viewing options, and we can't wait to start watching.
This month, there are even a couple of films for kids coming to Netflix, including an animated feature from Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda and a new season of one of our new favorite preschool shows. Beyond that, viewers can expect some long-awaited new movies to hit the streamer in August, along with a number of old favorites we might not have seen in a while.
So crank up the AC, grab your favorite cool drink and some snacks, and get ready to enjoy some carefree entertainment as you wait out the last of summer's scorching hot days. We've done the legwork for you, so all you have to do is sit back and watch the best of what's coming to Netflix this August.
'30 Rock'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Because we could watch NBC's 30 Rock, starring Tina Fey, every single day. It's like that favorite old hoodie that feels like a warm hug every time you slip it on. The show will always be able to make us laugh until the world feels like a better place.
'Catch Me If You Can'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
This 2002 Leonardo DiCaprio film is about the manipulative and cunning Frank Abagnale Jr., who at just 17 years old became the most successful bank robber in the US. The film tells the story of one CIA agent's mission to catch Frank, who seems to evade him at every turn.
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Yep, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is coming to Netflix, and we can't think of the last time — if ever — we've seen it on the streamer. This '80s classic is the perfect film to revisit this summer for some nostalgic fun. The story, of course, follows a high school senior on his last cut day before graduation, and it is totally definitive of the era in every way.
'Inception'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Another excellent Leonardo DiCaprio flick, the Oscar-winning Inception also features performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, and a slew of other huge stars. It's the mind-bending tale of a thief who uses dream-sharing technology to steal ideas rather than items, but eventually he finds himself tasked with using the technology for something quite a bit trickier.
'Magnolia'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Tom Cruise was absolutely at his prime back in 1999, and he decided it was time to take some risks with the film Magnolia. Also starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore, the Oscar-nominated film is about a group of people looking for meaning in their lives as they navigate love and betrayals.
'My Girl' & 'My Girl 2'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
My Girl and its sequel will land on Netflix on the first of the month, so have the tissues ready. Starring Veep's Anna Chlumsky, the films are both essentially coming-of-age tales about the main character, Vada, who loses both her best friend and her mother. The losses define her life and lead her to profound self-discovery.
'Pineapple Express'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Although James Franco and Seth Rogan's bromance is on the outs at the moment thanks to sexual misconduct charges against James, the two made a genius comedy team in 2008's Pineapple Express. The stoner flick is about a pothead who ends up on the run after he witnesses his dealer's boss murder someone.
'Seabiscuit'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Elizabeth Banks, the 2003 film Seabiscuit was nominated for seven Academy Awards. It takes place during the Great Depression and chronicles the story of an underweight race horse whose success uplifts the entire country — and gives his scrappy jockey a fresh start in life.
'Lincoln Lawyer'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
This 2011 film features an all-star cast including Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, Michael Peña, and many others. It's about a low-down lawyer who conducts business out of his Lincoln Continental. Used to defending petty criminals, he nabs a job defending a rich kid from Beverly Hills and ends up faced with a moral dilemma when he suspects the new client is guilty of multiple crimes.
'The Losers'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, and Idris Elba, the Losers is about a group of CIA special forces operatives who are abandoned and left for dead by their superiors. The survivors end up banding together in an attempt to get revenge.
'The Machinist'
Coming to Netflix: August 1
Christian Bale delivers one of his most disturbing performances in 2004's The Machinist. He reportedly lost more than 60 pounds for the role, in which he plays a factory worker suffering from such severe insomnia that it affects his mental health. Eventually he ends up accidentally injuring a coworker, sending him on a downward spiral.
'Aftermath'
Coming to Netflix: August 4
Starring Twilight actress Ashley Greene, Aftermath is a new horror film about a young couple struggling with their relationship who decide to buy a house for a great deal. The home has a sinister past, but they take the deal anyway and end up in a very dark situation.
'Vivo'
Coming to Netflix: August 6
Vivo is the latest from In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, and his first effort at an animated film. It's the story of an adorable capucin monkey who makes a journey from Cuba to Miami in the hopes of achieving his lifelong dream of performing on the stage.
'Bake Squad'
Coming to Netflix: August 11
Bake Squad is a new Netflix original reality cooking competition executive produced by Milk Bar's Christina Tosi, who is also known for her role as a judge on MasterChef Junior. In each of the eight episodes, four professional bakers compete to have their confection served at a different special occasion.
'Gabby's Dollhouse'
Coming to Netflix: August 10
Gabby's Dollhouse is an adorable original series for preschoolers that debuted earlier in 2021. The second season will land in August with 10 new episodes, and Gabby will continue her fun adventures through her magical dollhouse full of mini-worlds and super-cute kitten characters.
'The Kissing Booth 3'
Coming to Netflix: August 11
Haven't we all been waiting for this for, like, the entire past year?! The Kissing Booth 3 is finally here. The last film in the hugely popular teen romance trilogy will see Elle and her friends spend their last summer together before heading off to college. And of course, we'll get to find out which school — and boy — she chooses.
'Beckett'
Coming to Netflix: August 13
Starring John David Washington and Alicia Vikander, Beckett is a new Netflix original about an American tourist who suffers a tragic accident while vacationing in Greece and somehow ends up embroiled in a political conspiracy. As the story unfolds, he goes on the run to escape what he believes will be certain death.
'Sweet Girl'
Coming to Netflix: August 20
Starring Jason Momoa, Sweet Girl is another new Netflix original. It's an action flick about a man who vows to avenge his wife by bringing down the heads of the pharmaceutical company responsible for her death. But he must do so while keeping his daughter — the only family he has left — out of harm's way.
'The Loud House'
Coming to Netflix: August 20
Based on the Nickelodeon cartoon series of the same name, the Loud House movie will see Lincoln Loud and his family, including his 10 sisters, travel across the Atlantic to Scotland, where they discover they have royal blood. Fans of the series are sure to be excited about its release.
'Motel Makeover'
Coming to Netflix: August 25
Who doesn't love a good transformation show? If you're a fan of shows like Hotel Impossible and Restaurant Makeover, you should definitely check out the new reality series Motel Makeover. It follows two friends and business partners who decide to buy a rundown old motel in Ontario and totally revamp it in the face of various challenges.
'Open Your Eyes'
Coming to Netflix: August 25
In this new teen thriller, a high schooler suffers a terrible accident and ends up with amnesia. In an attempt to get her life back, she enrolls in a memory disorders center, but she soon becomes unsure about its treatment methods. This one is definitely a must-watch for anyone who loves their thrillers in short, hour-long bursts.
'He's All That'
Coming to Netflix: August 27
We've been hearing about this remake of the 1999 film She's All That (starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr.) for what feels like the longest time. He's All That is a gender-swapped version starring Cobra Kai's Tanner Buchanan and TikTok influencer Addison Rae. We hear Kourtney Kardashian also makes a cameo.
