Each month, loads of new films and TV shows are added to Netflix UK’s library. Critic Eliza Janssen presents her picks for titles worth watching. For the full list of everything arriving on the platform, scroll down.
Top Picks: TV
Heartstopper: Season 2 (August 3)
In her review of the first season of this sweet queer rom-com series, Lillian Crawford said that “Netflix might be able to get away with the show’s sexlessness at this stage in [the characters’] relationship, but it would be laughably implausible at the next.” Will we get a slightly more adult, risqué next chapter? It’s hard to tell as the friends-to-lovers arc for teens Charlie and Nick gets only more serious, but as Crawford also acknowledged, “if Heartstopper gives even one teenager the tools for exploring their sexual identity, then it’s worth celebrating.”
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (August 9)
Now is a great time to be a woman in the rap game. With mainstream stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B topping the charts alongside rising talents like Tierra Whack (my fave) and Ice Spice, there may be no better time to look back at the origins of women winning across the entire hip-hop genre. Queen Latifah is a real get as one of this docuseries’ primary talking heads, reminding us all of why she’s crowned queen with this quote from the trailer: “We will always be stronger together than we are apart. That’s just how it is”
One Piece (August 31)
Netflix have had pretty mixed results adapting beloved anime into live-action shows in the past: their Cowboy Bebop series was roundly hated by fans, and those who don’t know the anime weren’t really likely to give it a shot. Perhaps, with its slightly more family-friendly, yo-ho-ho pirate adventure plot, this anime adaptation has more of a chance at success. It’ll either be delightful or very uncanny and freakish to watch an IRL Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates who has the rubbery ability to flex and bend at will.
Top Picks: Movies + Specials
Paprika (August 1)
The imaginings of anime visionary Satoshi Kon have been ripped off by everyone from Nolan to Aronofsky, and this disturbing, dreamy feature should give you a good sense of why. It’s tough to understand on a plot level, but mind-bending visuals and a clattering, noisy score should keep you bewildered and engaged at once the whole way through. It centres on a young therapist who may be the only one who can stop a dream-machine from causing all hell to break loose (Inception who?). So hallucinatory, you might need a good nap afterwards…and have the wildest dreams you’ve ever experienced.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (August 3)
Based on the manga and anime of the same name, this zom-comedy sees a bored corporate drone finally grab life by the balls…right as a world-destroying zombie apocalypse hits. Akira’s spirit has slowly been crushed out of him after years at a dull job with a bullying boss, but the news that dead people are running rampant in the streets make him feel paradoxically more alive than ever. With 100 items on his list of cool stuff to do before he dies (which may be sooner than expected), the reinvigorated guy makes the best out of a very bad situation.
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah (August 25)
Adam Sandler has long been known as the type of guy to set a lazy comedy movie in a glorious holiday destination, seemingly just to give his pals a good break—and now his daughters, Sadie and Sunny Sandler, get a film of their very own thanks to their comedy legend dad. The coming-of-age comedy also reunites Sandler with his Uncut Gems co-star Idina Menzel, as parents trying to stop their kid’s teenage rite from spiralling into disaster. Hopefully it’s a tad less stressful than that movie, though…
All titles arriving on Netflix UK in August
August 1
Fatale
Fisk: Season 1
The Furnace
It’s Complicated
Non-Stop
Paprika
Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday
The River Wild
Terminator Genisys
Tiger 24
Trauma Center
Untold: Volume 3 (New episodes each week)
The Wife
August 2
Choona: Season 1
Lansky
Mark Cavendish: Never Enough
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
August 3
Head to Head
Heartstopper: Season 2
The Last Hours of Mario Biondo
The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
August 4
The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge
The Hunt for Veerappan
August 7
Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 8
August 8
Kountry Wayne: A Woman’s Prayer
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 2
Starstruck: Seasons 1-2
Zombieverse
August 9
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop
August 10
Ghosbusters: Afterlife
Mech Cadets
Painkiller
August 11
Down for Love
Heart of Stone
Saving Our Marriage: Season 1
August 13
Behind Your Touch
August 14
Ackley Bridge: Season 5
August 15
Ballers: Seasons 1-5
Eye of the Storm
Daredevil
The Founder
August 16
At Home With The Furys
DEPP V HEARD
The Chosen One
OMG! Oh My Girl
August 17
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Season 2
Halloween Kills
The Upshaws: Part 4
August 18
10 Days of a Bad Man
Carancho
Crane World
Elefante Blanco
Derry Girls: Season 3
Dogs Behaving (Very Badly)
Guns & Gulaabs
Mask Girl
The Monkey King
August 22
All the Queens Men
Copshop
LIGHTHOUSE: Season 1
Sonmore: A Queen With No Spades
August 23
The Devil Judge: Season 1
Squared Love Everlasting
August 24
Baki Hanma: Season 2 Part 4
Ragnarok: Season 3
Who Is Erin Carter?
August 25
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah
August 28
Princess Power: Season 2
August 31
Choose Love
One Piece
See also
* All new streaming movies & series
