FILMS
Top Picks
Magnolia – Netflix 8/1
Princess Cyd – Hulu 8/5
Mrs. Doubtfire – Disney+ 8/6
Homeroom – Hulu 8/12
Reminiscence – HBO Max 8/21
Annette – Prime 8/20
It feels like it’s been forever since Netflix added a bona fide classic from the 20th Century. But if you’ve never seen Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus of interconnected lives in Los Angeles, you’re missing out on a truly incredible experience.
Princess Cyd is one of the better LGBTQ movies of the last decade, and one of the better coming-of-age dramedies, too. It’s also got a positive portrayal of religious people to boot.
Mrs. Doubtfire is about the only thing worth watching on Disney+ this month if you’re not into Marvel or Star Wars. It’s still ridiculous, but Robin Williams sells every moment.
I’ve been anticipating Homeroom ever since it earned rave reviews at Sundance. This documentary follows students in Oakland’s public schools and their attempts to succeed when the deck is stacked against them.
Reminiscence certainly has potential to be an all-time boondoggle. But you bet your ass I’m excited for an original sci-fi movie with a sizable budget and extremely hot leads (Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson). The film, about a man searching for his missing wife, hails from Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy.
Finally, Annette looks to be one of the most daring and original films of the year. With a story and songs by Sparks, this musical is helmed by Leos Carax, creator of some of the most unique films ever made.
Recent Selections
Betrayal at Attica – HBO Max 8/1
Aftermath – Netflix 8/4
Sin Aliento – HBO Max 8/6
All My Life – HBO Max 8/7
Together Together – Hulu 8/10
La Diosa del Asfalto – Netflix 8/11
Held – Hulu 8/12
The Virtuoso – Hulu 8/12
Silo – Hulu 8/15
Godzilla vs. Kong – HBO Max 8/17
The Marijuana Conspiracy – Hulu 8/18
Blast Beat – Hulu 8/19
Jungleland – Hulu 8/19
Half Brothers – HBO Max 8/20
Killer Among Us – Prime 8/20
Reefa – HBO Max 8/20
The Courier – Prime 8/21
We Broke Up – Hulu 8/21
The Old Ways – Netflix 8/25
Really Love – Netflix 8/25
The River Runner – Netflix 8/25
The Water Man – Netflix 8/25
Feral State – Hulu 8/26
Love and Monsters – Hulu 8/26
Chaos Walking – Hulu 8/27
Cruella – Disney+ 8/27
Four Good Days – Hulu 8/28
Horizon Line – Hulu 8/29
Spell – Hulu 8/30
Originals
The Suicide Squad – HBO Max 8/5
The Swarm – Netflix 8/6
Val – Prime 8/6
Vivo – Netflix 8/6
The Kissing Booth 3 – Netflix 8/11
Out of My League – Netflix 8/18
The Secret Diary of an Exchange Student – Netflix 8/18
Sweet Girl – Netflix 8/20
He’s All That – Netflix 8/27
Vacation Friends – Hulu 8/27
NEW SHOWS & SPECIALS
Top Picks
Friday Night Lights (Complete Series) – Netflix 8/1
A Different World (Complete Series) – HBO Max 8/8
Reservation Dogs – Hulu 8/9
I don’t think I need to sell you on the greatness of Friday Night Lights. I think I just need to say, “Texas Forever.”
In the ’90s, there were Black-led comedies of all kinds on many networks. Nowadays, unless they’re created by Tyler Perry or Kenya Barris, they’re hard to find. A Different World, set at a fictional HBCU, was one of the best, and one I watched frequently in syndication as a kid. It’s still imbued with great jokes and characters, as well as sharp social commentary.
Reservation Dogs is one of my most anticipated shows of the summer. Produced by Taika Waititi, it’s set and filmed in rural Oklahoma with a mostly Native cast. It looks to have the same sense of place and elastic narrative as Atlanta.
Originals
Pray Away – Netflix 8/3
Shiny_Flakes: The Teenage Drug Lord – Netflix 8/3
Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified – Netflix 8/3
Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami – Netflix 8/4
Control Z (Season 2) – Netflix 8/4
Car Masters: Rust to Riches (Season 1) – Netflix 8/4
Cooking with Paris – Netflix 8/4
Short Circuit (Season 2) – Disney+ 8/4
Marvel Studios Legends – Disney+ 8/4
Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy – Netflix 8/5
Hit & Run – Netflix 8/6
Madagascar: A Little Wild (Season 4) – Hulu 8/6
Navarasa – Netflix 8/6
S.O.Z. (Season 1) – Prime 8/6
Shaman King – Netflix 8/9
Gabby’s Dollhouse (Season 2) – Netflix 8/10
Hard Knocks (Season 16) – HBO Max 8/10
UNTOLD: Malice at the Palace – Netflix 8/10
Bake Squad – Netflix 8/11
Misha and the Wolves – Netflix 8/11
What If…? – Disney+ 8/11
AlRawabi School for Girls – Netflix 8/12
The Hype – HBO Max 8/12
Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild – Netflix 8/12
Titans (Season 3) – HBO Max 8/12
Brand New Cherry Flavor – Netflix 8/13
Evangelion 3.0 + 1.01: Thrice upon a Time – Prime 8/13
Fast & Furious Spy Racers: South Pacific (Season 5) – Netflix 8/13
Gone for Good – Netflix 8/13
The Kingdom – Netflix 8/13
Modern Love (Season 2) – Prime 8/13
Valeria (Season 2) – Netflix 8/13
Hard (Season 3) – HBO Max 8/16
Go! Go! Cory Carson (Season 5) – Netflix 8/17
UNTOLD: Deal with the Devil – Netflix 8/17
The Defeated – Netflix 8/18
Diary of a Future President (Season 2) – Disney+ 8/18
Growing Up Animal – Disney+ 8/18
Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes – Netflix 8/18
Nine Perfect Strangers – Hulu 8/18
Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground – HBO Max 8/19
Looney Tunes Cartoons: Back to School Special – HBO Max 8/19
Sweet Life: Los Angeles – HBO Max 8/19
The Chair – Netflix 8/20
Everything Will Be Fine – Netflix 8/20
The Loud House Movie – Netflix 8/20
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf – Netflix 8/23
Oggy Oggy – Netflix 8/24
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – HBO Max 8/24
UNTOLD: Caitlyn Jenner – Netflix 8/24
Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed – Netflix 8/25
Clickbait – Netflix 8/25
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian – Disney+ 8/25
John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer – Netflix 8/25
Motel Makeover – Netflix 8/25
Open Your Eyes – Netflix 8/25
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes – Netflix 8/25
Edens Zero – Netflix 8/26
Family Reunion (Part 4) – Netflix 8/26
The Other Two (Season 2) – HBO Max 8/26
Disney Princess Remixed: An Ultimate Princess Celebration – Disney+ 8/27
I Heart Arlo – Netflix 8/27
Pete the Cat: Back to School Operetta – Prime 8/27
Titletown High – Netflix 8/27
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha – Netflix 8/28
Only Murders in the Building – Hulu 8/31
Sparking Joy – Netflix 8/31
UNTOLD: Crime and Penalties – Netflix 8/31
OLD SHOWS
Addison (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Bannan (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Be Cool, Scooby Doo (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
The Bridge (Danish/Swedish Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Chesapeake Shores (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Delicious (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Dirt Every Day (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Frankie Drake Mysteries (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
The French Chef with Julia Child (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Hamilton’s Pharmacopia (Season 3) – Hulu 8/1
Here We Go Again (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
How the Earth Was Made (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
In Their Own Words (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
The Nordic Murders (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Sea Raiders (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Winners of the West (Season 1) – Prime 8/1
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (Complete Series) – HBO Max 8/3
America’s Funniest Home Videos: Animal Edition (Season 1) – Disney+ 8/4
American Masters: Inventing David Geffen – Netflix 8/4
The Devil You Know (Seasons 1-2) – Hulu 8/4
Fancy Nancy (Season 2) – Disney+ 8/4
Breaking Bobby Bones (Season 1) – Disney+ 8/11
The Chicken Squad (Season 1, Part 1) – Disney+ 8/11
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables (Season 2, Part 1) – Disney+ 8/11
Mother Goose Club (Seasons 3-4) – Netflix 8/15
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Season 1) – Netflix 8/15
Winx Club (Season 6) – Netflix 8/15
Top Gear (Season 29) – HBO Max 8/16
The Owl House (Season 2, Part 1) – Disney+ 8/18
Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet (Season 9) – Disney+ 8/18
Life Below Zero: Next Generation (Seasons 1-2) – Disney+ 8/18
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy – HBO Max 8/24
Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER (Season 9) – Disney+ 8/25
Gigantosaurus (Season 2) – Disney+ 8/25
Lincoln: Divided We Stand – HBO Max 8/25
Tayo the Little Bus (Season 4) – Netflix 8/25
Wicked Tuna (Season 10, Part 1) – Disney+ 8/25
Bread Barbershop (Season 2) – Netflix 8/28
COMEDY SPECIALS
Top Pick
Lokillo: Nothing’s the Same – Netflix 8/12
This socially distanced show from this Colombian comedian features a lot of intricate wordplay, which is right up my alley.
Other Specials
Phil Wang: Philly Philly Wang Wang – Netflix 8/10
Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is – HBO Max 8/19