A ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel, ‘The Sandman,’ She-Hulk, and much more!
As August staggers upon us like Ben-Hur in the desert, sparkling new content offers a refreshing draught to frazzled parents, bored kids and all the rest of us just trying to guzzle as much high-quality VoD content as possible before the days shorten and streaming releases slow to a dribble before the holiday deluge. Teen viewers, never having lived through the purgatorial frustration of summer rerun season, are buzzing about new beach buddy mystery Surfside Girls, while Netflix’s Prey pits Indigenous warriors against an unstoppable intergalactic hunter stalking the Great Plains. With gripping documentaries like The Princess and Thirteen Lives, new-to-film superheroes like She-Hulk, and 90’s remakes galore, there’s plenty to love— so read on to discover what’s coming to your favorite streaming platforms this month. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The Sandman (Aug 5) – Neil Gaiman hit a goth goldmine in the 90’s when he retooled classic DC Comics character Sandman into a willowy, pale personification of subconscious fantasy and nightmare inspired by The Cure’s Robert Smith and Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy. In Netflix’s new drama adaptation, Sandman rules the underworld of human dreams until he’s captured and imprisoned by a cult for a century; after escaping, he must restore order to his kingdom for the sake of human psyches everywhere. Gaiman, who is notoriously protective of the iconic series, is executive producing and gushing about the show’s casting on Twitter: Tom Sturridge (Irma Vep) is Sandman, Gwendolyn Christie (Game of Thrones) is Lucifer, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Good Place) is Death, while Patton Oswalt will voice Matthew the Raven and Mark Hamill will be Merv the Pumpkinhead. Wake me when it’s over.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (Aug 5) – Nickelodeon’s animated film picks up where its prequel television series left off in 2020: two years after thwarting Shredder’s evil plans, a stranger from the future named Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) warns the turtles of a new alien threat, and Leonardo must lead the radical reptiles to save the world from the dreaded Krang. With a voice cast including Ben Schwartz, Omar Benson Miller, Brandon Mychal Smith and Josh Brener.
Never Have I Ever Season 3 (Aug 12) – The coming-of-age comedy series based on Mindy Kaling’s life as a teen is back with a juicy new chapter of Devi’s tumultuous love life. Now dating the popular Paxton, Devi’s life should be perfect – but she faces fresh pitfalls at school and gets thrown a romantic curveball when an intriguing stranger enters the picture. Netflix announced NHIE has been renewed for a fourth and final season, ending as the teens graduate. “Four seasons of a high school show felt like it made sense,” Kaling told Entertainment Tonight. “The actors get older and it starts looking insane that a 34-year-old is playing a 15-year-old.” Take notes, Duffer brothers.
Day Shift (Aug 12) – Jamie Foxx is an earnest blue-collar dad who works hard to make ends meet and provide for his 8-year-old daughter, but his scrappy pool cleaning gig is just camouflage for his real job: vampire hunting. He’s a low-wage ghoul-killer dealing with a jerk boss, rejected loan applications and a disappointed ex, fighting to making his kid’s life better by “cutting necks and cashing checks” as fellow Dracula hunter Snoop Dogg puts it. It’s a real grind. First-time director J.J. Perry draws on his background as stunt coordinator on F9: The Fast Saga and supervising stunt coordinator on John Wick 2, bringing hilarious fight choreography to one eye-popping scene in the trailer where Foxx pulverizes a grandmotherly vampire in a muumuu.
Ricardo Quevedo: Tomorrow Will Be Worse (Aug 2)
Visit Netflix for a full list of releases.
Reservation Dogs Season 2 (Aug 3) – The award-winning Taika Waititi series following the lives of four Indigenous teens on an Oklahoma rez is returning with a new season of vibrant dramedy. The kids split up after suffering a sudden loss, with Elora ditching Bear for California, Willie Jack desperate to undo what she believes is a curse on the town, and Cheese reuniting with his grandma, their loving, oddball community rallying around them as they grapple with a uniquely intersectional adolescence. With an all-Indigenous writer’s room, the show gained viewers as a bittersweet survey of the generational effects of colonization as it plays out in complex lives, building on “survival humor” and dreamlike elements to weave a compelling, original story.
Prey (Aug 5) – 300 years before Dutch, Dillon and Mac weedwhacked a whole jungle with automatic weapons to kill the Predator, the alien sport hunter was stalking the American Great Plains for game—but one brave Comanche Nation girl is determined to save her warrior tribe from becoming its next trophy. She faces harsh wilderness, invading colonizers and one ultra-evolved space bully with her wits, courage and a mean axe throw. The supercharged spinoff of the 1987 sci-fi hit stars the remarkable Amber Midthunder from Legion, Dane DiLiegro as the Predator, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat, Dakota Beavers, and Julian Black Antelope.
This Fool Season 1 (Aug 12) – Based on the life and stand-up material of comic Chris Estrada, the series follows Julio Lopez, a kind-hearted dude with a nonconfrontational streak that’s led to a safe but messy life: living with his mom and abuela, he works at a gang rehabilitation nonprofit so he doesn’t have to deal with his own problems. His boundaries are regularly trampled by neighbors, family and his on-again-off-again girlfriend who dips in and out to borrow his car. The series follows Lopez as he attempts to overcome codependency, improve his community and navigate working-class life in South Central L.A. Also starring Frankie Quiñones (El Chicano), Laura Patalano (Gentefied), Michelle Ortiz (MADtv), Julia Vera (Elena of Avalor) and Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos).
Mike (Aug 25) – The 8-episode limited series dives into the wild career and cyclonic life of heavyweight champ Mike Tyson (played by Trevante Rhodes) – from his rollercoaster childhood to his glittering career to the scandals and crimes that ended it, and how Tyson still figures largely in popular consciousness to this day. Created by I, Tonya screenwriter Steven Rogers and also starring Harvey Keitel as Tyson’s coach Cus D’Amato, Hulu bills the series as an examination of race, class, misogyny, fame, and the ways in which a watching world shaped Tyson’s life.
Children of the Underground, complete season 1 (Aug 13)
Legacy: The True Story of the L.A. Lakers (Aug 15)
Visit Hulu for a full list of releases.
Thirteen Lives (Aug 5) – Ron Howard puts his filmmaking heft behind the unprecedented 2018 rescue of thirteen boys trapped in a flooded cave system in Thailand, capturing the scope of the massive multinational effort that gripped the world in real time. A team of elite divers (Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, Paul Gleeson) join with Thai military forces in the daring attempt, which involved drugging the boys and ferrying them through a mile and a half of pitch-black flooded crawlspaces. The story is so compelling it can’t really be messed up, but Howard’s work capably paces the story’s urgency and humanity.
A League of Their Own Season 1 (Aug 12) – The next 90’s tale up to bat for the serial remake treatment, Abbi Jacobson’s spinoff series offers a closer look at the unsinkable Rockford Peaches from the Penny Marshall hit – through the lens of sexism, sexuality and race. The eight-episode series about the first women’s professional baseball league founded during WWII will riff on the original film while expanding its scope with new stories about overlooked women finding a place for themselves in a changing world. Starring Jacobson, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Kelly McCormack, Priscilla Delgado, Chanté Adams and D’arcy Carden, and Rosie O’Donnell cameos as a bartender.
Samaritan (Aug 26) – The postmodern box office loves a flawed, reluctant superhero with a dark past and a morally ambiguous view of humanity (Hellboy, Deadpool, Hancock, The Boys). Sylvester Stallone joins the club as a superhero who’s presumed dead after an epic battle 25 years ago; he’s laying low as a garbage collector until a young neighbor (Javon Walton, Euphoria) discovers his powers and tries to coax him back into the good guy game as their city descends into criminal mayhem. But is Stallone the hero– or the bad guy who really did defeat Samaritan and steal his identity?
All or Nothing: Arsenal (Aug 4)
Making the Cut Season 3 (Aug 19)
Visit Amazon Prime for a full list of releases.
Sweet Life: Los Angeles Season 2 (Aug 4) – The second season of Sweet Life: Los Angeles mixes business with friendship in four new episodes of the acclaimed unscripted series, following a group of young friends in Los Angeles as they chase their dreams and support each other in new career goals, changing relationships and fresh drama. Executive produced by Issa Rae, who took inspiration from BET reality show Baldwin Hills and Vanderpump Rules, Sweet Life celebrates Black culture and friendship while exploring the challenges of both.
The Princess (Aug 13) – The gripping new Princess Diana documentary uses found archival footage to string together a “chilling and remarkable” (Indiewire) narrative of her tormented marriage and the unhealthy obsession of an enormous monarchy media machine that elevated her as the people’s princess, picked apart her frailties, hounded her post-divorce as a monstrous traitor to the throne, and ultimately chased her to her death. The synopsis adds, “Turning the camera back on ourselves, the film illuminates the profound impact she had and how the public’s attitude to the monarchy was, and still is, shaped by these events.”
House of the Dragon (Aug 21) – The long-awaited prequel series follows the boiling intrigues behind the Targaryen civil war, 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Princess Rhaenyra battles her scheming stepbrothers, the clan’s traditionalists, and her uncle Daemon in her claim to the Iron Throne, seeking to bring a “new order” as the other houses take advantage of the infighting to vie for their own positions of power. Co-creator George R.R. Martin teased a “visceral, dark” show with stunning battles, avaricious rulers driven by lust, and a world ruled by the eponymous dragons.
House of Ho Season 2 (Aug 25) – Following the smash success of Crazy Rich Asians, spinoffs like Netflix’s Singapore Social and Bling Empire captivated viewers who craved the extravagance of wealthy Asian-American families without the vacant plasticity of the Kardashians. HBO Max’s riff on the trend offers a little more dimension by delving into the dynamics behind some of the conflict: a loveless show marriage, gender constraints, and parental dependence play out in the lap of luxury with surprising empathy – and plenty of outrageous moments. In the second season of House of Ho, three generations of an affluent Vietnamese-American family continue to bring the drama and excess while living the high life in Houston.
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions (Aug 9)
Visit HBO Max for a full list of releases.
I Am Groot (Aug 10) – Like the Minions properties and Ice Age shorts, animation studios are finding success with adorably nonverbal characters who shine within well-crafted visual stories. A new collection of five animated shorts follows everyone’s favorite sassy lil’ twig from Guardians of the Galaxy as Baby Groot grows up in a series of galactic adventures. Vin Diesel will continue to voice the rambunctious branch and Bradley Cooper will reprise his role as Rocket Raccoon. Guardians director James Gunn revealed that very little voice editing is done to achieve Baby Groot’s pipsqueak pitch: “It’s mostly just Vin’s voice. He’s able to speak in a much higher register than he normally does.”
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (Aug 17) – The muscled MCU heroine finally gets top billing in her very own 9 episode comedy series starring Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) as Jennifer Walters, a single lawyer turned superhero after being accidentally dosed with the Hulk’s blood. The reluctant career gal must come to terms with her new powers with the help of the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and tangles with villains Titania (Jameela Jamil) and Abomination (Tim Roth). MCU regulars Supreme Sorcerer (Benedict Wong) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox) will also return to the series. The lighthearted comedy is expected to have lots of Easter eggs and fourth-wall-breaking, with Maslany calling it “a real goof.”
Andor (Aug 31) – The prequel to Star Wars spin-off Rogue One follows spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna, also executive producing) on his dangerous path to become a rebel hero as the tyrannical Empire tightens its grip on its citizens. Set in the five years leading up to the events of Rogue One, the nail-biting thriller follows the early days of the rebellion with a refreshing absence of chilly space scenes, staying grounded on gritty character development and terrestrial-looking locations. Fans are already buzzing about the storyline’s potential since producer and showrunner Tony Gilroy drew praise for rewriting and re-editing Rogue One out of its own disastrous production. Also starring Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, Kyle Soller and Fiona Shaw.
LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation (Aug 5)
Visit Disney+ for a full list of releases.
Five Days at Memorial (Aug 12) – Based on the terrifying true story of survival during Hurricane Katrina, the limited series investigates several mysterious patient deaths during a 5-day hospital power outage and takes a searing look at the inevitable breakdown of New Orleans’s faulty emergency medical systems. Thousands were trapped in deteriorating conditions, with a triage system that meant critically ill patients who couldn’t be evacuated would be left to die a slow death. Were they mercy killings, homicides, or simply casualties of a brutal storm? Vera Farmiga is a devoted doctor who falls under scrutiny for her actions during the crisis, and Cornelius Smith Jr, Molly Hager, Cherry Jones, and Adepero Oduye also star. This month, HBO is also offering a gripping documentary called Katrina Babies from New Orleans filmmaker Edward Buckles, who gathered stories from his peers about the hurricane’s aftermath and its lasting impact on his community.
Surfside Girls Series Premiere (Aug 19) – Surf’s up for teen adventure as beach buddies Sam (Miya Cech) and Jade (YaYa Gosselin) go on a time-hopping hunt for cursed treasure, exploring the rich history of California cultures along the way. Based on the best-selling graphic novel series by Kim Dwinell, the best friends play to their respective strengths to investigate a 200-year-old pirate mystery in their sleepy beach town while dealing with crushes and middle school drama. It’s as bubbly and catchable as the perfect summer wave.
See Season 3 (Aug 26) – The final installment of the futuristic Jason Momoa series centers on the blind survivors of a deadly global virus and their tribal leader Baba Voss (Momoa), who goes on the warpath to protect his adopted daughters who were born with the heretical and forbidden gift of long-dormant sight. One year after defeating his brother Edo (Dave Bautista) and retreating to the forest, Voss is forced to return to society when a scientist invents a devastating sighted weapon that threatens the fate of humanity. Developed by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and featuring a large cast and crew of blind and low-sighted people, See also stars Alfre Woodard, Sylvia Hoeks, Hera Hilmar and Yadira Guevara-Prip.
Black Bird series finale (Aug 5)
The Snoopy Show Season 2 continued (Aug 5)
Visit Apple TV+ for a full list of releases.
Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head (Aug 4) – MTV’s animated slackers are back and reaching new lows in the resurrected series based on the iconic 90’s show. Mike Judge hasn’t missed a beat, even if Beavis is a little gravelly these days; the teen stooges have updated their gags to roasting Tik Tok videos and destroying farmer’s markets, but the bonehead pratfalls, pointless destruction and crass misadventures remain timeless. A first episode teaser shows Beavis obeying orders from a flaming alley dumpster and pooping in a sarcophagus—and the return of golden-hearted hippie teacher Mr. Van Driessen. Paramount+ is also showing full-length movies Beavis and Butthead Do America, Beavis and Butthead Do the Universe, and Seasons 3 and 5 of the original series
Orphan: First Kill (Aug 19) – Julia Stiles already dealt with a very bad child in the 2006 remake of The Omen; and while she didn’t survive that encounter, here’s hoping she fares better against the child from hell in the prequel to the 2009 film Orphan. After escaping from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther assumes a fake identity as the missing child of wealthy parents and travels to America. But mom Tricia (Stiles) knows something is off, and tensions escalate into horrifying violence when she vows to protect her family at any cost.
South Park 25th Anniversary concert special (Aug 9)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Aug 25)
Visit Paramount+ for a full list of releases.
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Rachel Llewellyn is a saucy media mercenary who's worked at Curve Magazine and Girlfriends Magazine in San Francisco, and ghost-edited two noir novels. She's also translated academic material, written corporate website content, taught adult school, and produced morning television news. Rachel lives in Bakersfield, California, where she hikes with her dog and pushes paper in the government sector.
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