Some people spend their days arguing over the merits of Netflix, but the rest of us are too busy enjoying new movies, engaging series, and fun specials. It’s just one more way to re-watch the movies we already love and find new ones to cherish, and this month sees some of both hitting the service.
The complete list of movies and shows hitting (and leaving) Netflix this month — August 2019 — is below, but first I’m going to highlight a few that stand apart from the bunch.
Netflix Pick of the Month
1982’s The Dark Crystal remains a favorite for many of us who saw it in theaters as kids, but it doesn’t seem to have aged well with today’s viewers. It’s too dark, too slow, too whatever… but that’s a load of bullshit. To each their own, I guess, but for me the film retains its power and stands apart from today’s norm of excess CG and loud noises. A follow-up has long been rumored, and to be honest I feared it expecting a sequel to fall into the trap of modern-day kiddie fare (ie the CG and loudness mentioned above), but the trailer for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance [Netflix Original] looks to prove my concerns unfounded. Sure there are CG assists, but the bulk of the magic looks to be old-fashioned puppetry with all of our favorite characters and species returning. It looks gorgeous to boot,, so color me excited knowing that it hits Netflix starting August 30th.
Fun with David Fincher
It’s been five years since David Fincher has gifted film fans with a new movie, and while that’s some straight-up bullshit we’ve at least had some television work to soften the wait. Mindhunter is a smart, wholly engrossing look into the creation of the FBI’s behavioral Science division in the 1970s — watch the trailer for season 1 above if you’re still on the fence — and while Fincher only directed some of the episodes his fingerprints are all over the series. Mindhunter’s second season arrives on the 16th with episodes once again directed by Fincher, Carl Franklin, and Andrew Dominik. Netflix even sweetens the pot this month by adding Panic Room on the 1st, and if you act fast, you should probably re-watch Zodiac before it leaves the service on 8/6.
Enjoy Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood? Watch This!
Quentin Tarantino’s 10th film is currently playing in theaters and is easily among his most entertaining and affectionate creations. I’m of the opinion that his best remains Inglourious Basterds, but many fans would make a case for Jackie Brown at the top of his filmography. I’m correct, obviously, but that doesn’t take away from this Pam Grier-led gem in the slightest. It hits town on the 1st, and it comes highly recommended.
Watch It Before It’s “Gone”
The complete list of movies and shows leaving Netflix this month is below, but allow me to point you towards a film you may have missed. Beautiful Creatures (2013) is disappearing from the service on 8/21, and I really can’t recommend enough that you give it a spin. It’s a rare YA adaptation that delivers in every way with character, wit, performances, production design, and a compelling narrative. The film unfortunately tanked at the box-office meaning we were cheated out of sequels, but it stands as a fantastically entertaining genre romance.
The Complete List
August 1st
Are We Done Yet?
Boyka: Undisputed
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Groundhog Day
Horns
Jackie Brown
Jupiter Ascending
Now and Then
Panic Room
Rocky
Rocky II
Rocky III
Rocky IV
Rocky V
Sex and the City: The Movie
Something’s Gotta Give
The Bank Job
The House Bunny
The Sinner: Julian
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
August 2nd
Ask the StoryBots – Season 3 [Netflix Family]
Basketball or Nothing [Netflix Original]
Dear White People – Volume 3 [Netflix Original]
Derry Girls – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
Otherhood [Netflix Film]
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power – Season 3 [Netflix Family]
August 4th
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj – Volume 4 [Netflix Original]
August 5th
Enter the Anime [Netflix Original]
No Good Nick – Part 2 [Netflix Family]
August 6th
Screwball
Sebastian Maniscalco: Why Would You Do That
August 8th
Dollar [Netflix Original]
Jane the Virgin – Season 5
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
The Naked Director [Netflix Original]
Wu Assassins [Netflix Original]
August 9th
Cable Girls – Season 4 [Netflix Original]
The Family [Netflix Original]
GLOW – Season 3 [Netflix Original]
The InBESTigators [Netflix Family]
iZombie – Season 5
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling [Netflix Family]
Sintonia [Netflix Original]
Spirit Riding Free: Pony Tales [Netflix Family]
Tiny House Nation – Volume 1
August 13th
Knightfall – Season 2
Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready [Netflix Original]
August 14th
The 100 – Season 6
August 15th
Cannon Busters [Netflix Anime]
August 16th
45rpm [Netflix Original]
Apache: La vida de Carlos Tevez [Netflix Original]
Better Than Us [Netflix Original]
Diagnosis [Netflix Original]
Frontera verde [Netflix Original]
Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus [Netflix Family]
The Little Switzerland [Netflix Film]
Mindhunter – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
QB1: Beyond the Lights – Season 1 [Netflix Original]
Selfless
Sextuplets [Netflix Film]
Super Monsters Back to School [Netflix Family]
Victim Number 8 [Netflix Original]
August 17th
The Punisher (2004)
August 20th
Gangs of New York
Simon Amstell: Set Free [Netflix Original]
August 21st
American Factory [Netflix Original]
Hyperdrive [Netflix Original]
August 22nd
Love Alarm [Netflix Original]
August 23rd
El Pepe: Una vida suprema [Netflix Original]
Hero Mask – Part 2 [Netflix Anime]
Rust Valley Restorers [Netflix Original]
August 27th
Million Pound Menu – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
Trolls! The Beat Goes On – Season 7 [Netflix Family]
August 28th
Droppin’ Cash – Season 2 [Netflix Original]
August 29th
Falling Inn Love [Netflix Film]
Kardec [Netflix Film]
Workin’ Moms – Season 3 [Netflix Original]
August 30th
The A List [Netflix Original]
Carole & Tuesday [Netflix Anime]
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance [Netflix Original]
Le Grande Classe [Netflix Film]
Locked Up – Season 3
Mighty Little Bheem – Season 2 [Netflix Family]
Styling Hollywood [Netflix Original]
True and the Rainbow Kingdom: Wild Wild Yetis [Netflix Family]
Un bandido honrado [Netflix Original]
August 31st
Luo Bao Bei – Season 1
LEAVING 8/1
A Cinderella Story
A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song
Another Cinderella Story
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Chuggington: Season 1-5
Death in Paradise: Season 1-7
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Final Destination
Final Destination 2
Final Destination 3
Good Will Hunting
Gosford Park
Hairspray (1988)
Hairspray (2007)
Hot Fuzz
Just Friends
Legion
Poltergeist
Scarface
Secretariat
The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect 2
The Da Vinci Code
The Fifth Element
The Final Destination
The Hurt Locker
The Master
The Village
W.
World War II in Colour
World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel: S1
Zombieland
LEAVING 8/2
The Founder
LEAVING 8/5
Mothers and Daughters
Slow TV: Collection
LEAVING 8/6
Love, Rosie
Zodiac
LEAVING 8/8
The Emoji Movie
LEAVING 8/11
No Country for Old Men
LEAVING 8/14
The Royals: Season 1
LEAVING 8/15
World War Two: 1942 and Hitler’s Soft Underbelly: Season 1
LEAVING 8/16
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
LEAVING 8/20
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
LEAVING 8/21
Beautiful Creatures
LEAVING 8/28
Wind River
LEAVING 8/30
Burnt
LEAVING 8/31
Straw Dogs