It's almost fall TV season, but before that really kicks off in earnest, Netflix is refilling its streaming shelves with loads of new shows and adding plenty of movies all throughout the month of September 2021. So whether you're looking for something to watch as a placeholder before TV favorites like Grey's Anatomy, The Bachelorette, and All American return later in the fall, or you're looking for something new to check out, there will be plenty of options all month long. And we're talking for the whole family, too.
This year, summer has felt extra long and humid. So we've spent a whole lot of time sitting inside watching Netflix with the air conditioning on blast and consequently, we've worked our way through a ton of content. Needless to say, we're ready. We especially can't wait for new seasons of some of our favorite Netflix original series — including Nailed It! and Lucifer — and some of the really exciting new movies that are being added.
As usual, everything coming to Netflix in September will be a mix of brand-new content and some older shows and movies that have either never been on the streaming service before or are returning for an encore. Keep reading to find out the best of what's headed to Netflix next month.
'House Party'
Coming to Netflix: September 1
The 1990 film House Party makes this list simply for its nostalgia factor. Kid and Play were '90s icons in the Black community, and this movie is so full of cultural references from the decade that it'll take you straight back to your childhood. It's about two teenagers who plan an epic party, but when one of them gets grounded, the night turns disastrous. And don't forget to keep an eye out for Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell, who were both in House Party two years before they starred together in the hit sitcom Martin.
'How To Be a Cowboy'
Coming to Netflix: September 1
If you're really into docu-style reality TV, you'll want to check out Netflix's new series How To Be a Cowboy. It follows host Dale Brisby, who is the ranch manager at Radiator Ranch in Newcastle, Texas, as he uses his quirky personality and social media skills to share the cowboy way of life with the masses.
'Afterlife of the Party'
Coming to Netflix: September 2
Starring Victoria Justice, Afterlife of the Party is a new Netflix original comedy about a young woman who dies while partying during her birthday weekend — only she's sent back from the afterlife to fix her mistakes. We've actually seen a cheesy Christmas movie starring Christina Milian and Ashley Benson called Christmas Cupid with the same premise, but honestly, it's just good fun that you don't have to think too much about.
'Q-Force'
Coming to Netflix: September 2
This new Netflix animated series, starring Sean Hayes, Patti Harrison, Gary Cole, Wanda Sykes, and Laurie Metcalf, has to be one of the streamer's most quirky and least-expected offerings of the entire year. It's a cartoon about a group of LGBTQ superheroes and their incredible crime-fighting adventures. This one is for the grown-ups, though, so be sure not to switch it on when the littles are around.
'Money Heist' Season 5
Coming to Netflix: September 3
The first part of season five of Money Heist, the Netflix original series out of Spain about a group of thieves attempting to the pull off the biggest heist their country has ever seen, is being released in September. Season five will be the series' last, so there's no better time to start binge watching.
'Sharkdog'
Coming to Netflix: September 3
If we know one thing about little children, it's that they often love dogs — and sharks. This animated series is about a boy pining for a puppy who gets much more than he bargained for when he ends up with a pet that's part shark and part dog. It's ludicrous, but perfect afterschool fodder for tired kids.
'Worth'
Coming to Netflix: September 3
Starring Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Tate Donovan, and Stanley Tucci, the Netflix original film Worth is a biopic about Washington, DC, lawyer Kenneth Feinberg's struggles to help the victims of the 9/11 attacks. It's bound to stir up a lot of emotions, so be sure to have tissues — and maybe a glass of wine — at the ready.
'Kid Cosmic' Season 2
Coming to Netflix: September 7
Season two of Kid Cosmic, another Netflix original animated series that debuted in February 2021, will be released at the beginning of the month. The series is about a boy with big ambitions of being a hero. Much to his delight, he finds "cosmic stones of power" that actually end up giving him superpowers.
'The Circle' Season 3
Coming to Netflix: September 8
The Circle is a Netflix original reality competition series that took the world by storm when it first came out in 2020, and now it's back for a third season. The premise is that contestants who are isolated in an apartment together (but largely hidden from each other) use a purpose-built social media platform called "the Circle" as their only means of communicating with each other in their attempt to win a $100,000 prize.
'Kate'
Coming to Netflix: September 10
A new Netflix original action-thriller starring Woody Harrelson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kate is the story of a brilliant young female assassin who has just 24 hours to retaliate against her own murderer before she dies. Mind-bending, we know, and that's exactly why we have to watch it.
'Lucifer' Season 6
Coming to Netflix: September 10
The sixth and final season of the cult-favorite TV series Lucifer will be streaming on Netflix this September. For those who haven't seen it, the show is about the devil leaving hell and deciding to live in Los Angeles when he grows weary of his circumstances. In an unexpected twist, he winds up working with the LAPD to solve crimes.
'Pokémon Master Journey: the Series' Part 1
Coming to Netflix: September 10
Your kids will likely be thrilled to know that more new Pokémon is landing on Netflix this month, too. The streamer now has the exclusive rights to the Pokémon Master Journey series, and part one will premiere on September 10, so be prepared to hear lots of Pikachu in the house this fall.
'Prey'
Coming to Netflix: September 10
Horror fans should definitely check out the independent film Prey. It tells the story a group of friends who heads into the snowy woods for a hike and end up in a dangerous situation and on the run from a mysterious shooter who for some unknown reason seems intent on catching and killing them.
'The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals'
Coming to Netflix: September 14
This show is so new and so obscure that it might not have crept into your Netflix home screen yet, but it is so much fun to watch for anyone who suffers from wanderlust. In it, three friends get to choose from some of the most incredible vacation rentals homes in various destinations around the world, and spend a few days in each, enjoying unique —and often high-end — amenities.
'You vs. Wild: Out Cold'
Coming to Netflix: September 14
Bear Grylls has done well for himself once again with the Netflix original series You vs. Wild, which is an interactive show created for wannabe survivalists of all ages who get to make crucial survival decisions as they watch the show. The second installment is out this September.
'Nailed It!' Season 6
Coming to Netflix: September 15
We are absolutely obsessed with Nailed It! This cakewreck-style reality baking competition is heading into its sixth season. The series is hosted by the hilarious comedian Nicole Byer and features two judges (one of them the famous pastry chef Jacques Torres), along with a different guest judge each episode. It's messy, ridiculous, and so, so addictive.
'Nightbooks'
Coming to Netflix: September 15
Krysten Ritter and Good Girls' Lydia Jewett star in the upcoming Netflix original film Nightbooks, a spooky movie about a young boy with a penchant for scary stories who winds up being captured by a witch and held captive in her swanky New York City apartment. Though it may be a bit much for really young kids, this is one you can likely enjoy with your teens and even preteens.
'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'
Coming to Netflix: September 16
The He-Man reboot is one to watch if you want to bond with your kids over something you enjoyed during your own childhood. It was produced by Netflix and offers up a new take on the classic cartoon about the hero who invokes the power of Grayskull to defend the people of his realm.
'Sex Education' Season 3
Coming to Netflix: September 17
This quirky Netflix original series' third season is coming out in September. It's about a high school student who decides to team up with a friend and use what he's learned from his sex therapist mom to set up a secret sex education clinic at school in the hopes of boosting his social status.
'Dear White People' Season 4
Coming to Netflix: September 22
The fourth and last season of Dear White People is finally here. The series is a half-hour dramedy that chronicles the experiences of a group of Black students attending a mostly white Ivy League university, all while grappling with various forms of discrimination.
'Ada Twist, Scientist'
Coming to Netflix: September 28
We are so excited about this one! The Obamas' production company has developed a TV adaptation of the whimsical picture book Ada Twist, Scientist by author Andrea Beaty, and they've paired up with Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee to do it. It's about a curious 8-year-old girl whose constant questions drive her family crazy. But her inquisitive nature leads her to some incredibly fun and interesting scientific experiments.
