Can you smell it? It's the scent of a new month approaching, and with it, August brings us another few weeks packed with new movies and TV shows to watch at home.
This week's must-watch list focuses on four of the world's best streaming services, and three of them (Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV Plus) are arriving with a couple of new releases each. If you're subscribed to one or more of the three aforementioned services, you're sure to get your fill of the month in the coming days. But if not, you might be tempted by a new HBO documentary that recently premiered on Max.
But we digress. Here are the seven best new movies and series to watch during the first weekend of August. Enjoy!
The Umbrella Academy season 4 (Netflix)
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“Now come all to this tragic event…” Ah, there's no song like My Chemical Romance's “The End” to announce the beginning of, well, the end of a popular Netflix series. And that's exactly the tune that plays in The Umbrella Academy Official trailer for season 4 before the final episode of one of Netflix's best shows.
That's how it is, The Umbrella Academy rides off into the sunset this weekend after four seasons of varying quality. So is its fourth and final installment worth watching? I suspect the “Brellis” of the world will be tuning in anyway, if only to see how the superhero series ends. If you want to get a sense of whether it’s a spectacular conclusion to the hit show’s five-year run, check out my spoiler-free review of The Umbrella Academy Season 4. Oh, and if you've already watched it all in one go, I'm sure you have some big questions that need answering, so read my article explaining The Umbrella Academy The Season 4 finale will unravel those lingering mysteries.
Tom Power, Senior Entertainment Reporter
Love is Blind (UK) (Netflix)
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As a fan of reality TV, when I first heard in March 2024 that Love is blind I was heading to the UK and was very excited. Love is blind It’s one of my top guilty pleasures on Netflix and I was hooked as soon as the first season aired in 2020, though I found that the more recent seasons failed to keep me captivated. That’s why I have high hopes that the UK version will breathe new life into the show with some fresh relationship drama and heated confrontations.
In this social experiment, single men and women talk to each other in pods without seeing each other. They then meet for the first time when they agree to commit to each other based on their conversations alone. At the end of the show, we'll see if they say yes or no at the altar. Whether you think love is blind or not, one thing is for sure: this outrageous version of a dating show is addictive with all its tears, tantrums, and triangles.
Grace Morris, entertainment writer
The Instigators (Apple TV Plus)
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While Apple TV Plus is widely regarded as a sci-fi TV show utopia, I'm looking forward to seeing Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in the new buddy comedy movie. The instigators. Damon and Affleck play Rory and Cobby, unlikely partners who team up to pull off a heist.
Apple TV Plus always hits the nail on the head when it comes to high-quality content (read our guide to the best Apple TV Plus movies for proof), so I’m intrigued to see the streaming service dip its toe into the uncharted waters of comedy thrillers – and I’m sure it will definitely pay off!
Grace Morris, entertainment writer
Yo Gabba GabbaEarth! (Apple TV Plus)
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Yo Gabba Gabba Land! is Apple’s latest offering for the whole family, making it perfect if you need to entertain the kids over the weekend. In this series, adorable characters Muno, Foofa, Plex, Brobee and Toodee, and magician Kammy Kam combine early childhood milestones with popular music and games.
It's colorful, fun and age-appropriate. If it looks familiar, that's because it's a remake of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning original series. Hello Gabba Gabba! which can be viewed on YouTube. There are over 1000 videos featuring songs and special guests like Jack Black! Any to add to our guide to the best Apple TV Plus shows? Don’t rule it out.
Lucy Buglass, Senior Entertainment Writer
Industry Season 3 (Max)
It's been two years since we last saw the young graduates working at the fictional London investment firm Pierpoint & Co. Industry, Also known as one of Max's best shows, But it won't be long before Season 3 of the HBO drama begins. House of the Dragon season 2 The show will air in primetime on Max on Sunday, August 11. You can expect all of the show's main characters to return, including Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), Harper (Myha'la), and Eric (Ken Leung), along with new faces too, the most important of which is Kit Harrington (game of Thrones) Who will replace Season 2's eccentric billionaire character, Jesse Bloom, as the new CEO of a green tech company?
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two seasons of this fast-paced, stylish series, especially for its bravery in tackling a topic that would leave most people with their eyes glazed over. It's akin to financial drama Billions but aimed at a younger audience who likes to watch shows like Euphoria, So you can expect to find references to real Wall Street stories that made headlines in recent years, such as the GameStop short squeeze, mixed in with plenty of wildness. Now, say it with me: “buy when the price drops, short the Vix, and…” Well, you know the rest now (or better yet, go find out if you don’t).
Amelia Schwanke, Senior Entertainment Editor
Overall: Who killed Lyric and Elizabeth? (Max)
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If you need a new true crime series to watch, Taken together: Who killed Lyric and Elizabeth? is a three-part docuseries that focuses on the disturbing double kidnapping of two cousins who disappeared in Iowa in 2012. The shocking story is brought to life by first-time filmmaker and former news photographer who worked on the case, Dylan Sire.
I am not familiar with this case, so I am interested to see it, especially considering that someone who knows the case well directed the docuseries. The bodies of both children were found 24 miles from their hometown, and as of 2024, the case remains open and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation continues to review leads and possible clues.
Lucy Buglass, Senior Entertainment Writer
The Mallorca Files season 3 (Prime Video)
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If you've been checking out the list of everything new on Prime Video in August 2024, then you've probably noticed that the light-hearted crime drama Mallorca Archives has returned to Amazon's main streaming service today (August 8). Unlike the other two returning series on this list, the show is more of a quirky, comforting show, so don't expect to see a dark, gritty crime series like Fulfillment of duty either Blue lightsIn fact, you won't find much debauchery here (switch to Max to see Industry if you're looking for something a little more tense).
I haven't seen the previous two seasons of the series, which don't have scores on Rotten Tomatoes so you won't find it on our list of the best Prime Video series, but looking at the sparse amount of reviews online, it was received relatively well with many noting that it's one of the BBC's most popular daytime series. Looking at the trailer, I think one of the biggest draws is its stunning sunny Spanish backdrop, which is what I never tire of seeing in movies like The Talented Mr. Ripley (not the Netflix neo-noir TV adaptation).
Amelia Schwanke, Senior Entertainment Editor
For more streaming recommendations, check out our guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Disney Plus, the best movies on Paramount Plus, and the best shows on Hulu.
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