If you’re anything like me, you have no idea what to do when the Netflix home screen hits you in the face. You might also have five people in your living room staring at you until you pick something, so hopefully, this list will help you from getting blue in the face during those moments in the near future.
Heading into the second half of the summer, Netflix is set to release some classics alongside their original projects that many have been waiting anxiously for. Unlike July, which saw a lot of instant classics like E.T. enter the library, August has more sleeper or cult hits coming to the streaming giant. Here is a handpicked selection of some of the titles I am personally excited to see pop up on my watch list.
Here are a few of our must-stream movies and shows on Netflix in June, and don’t forget to check out the complete list of new additions below!
The Matrix (August 1st)
For some reason, I’m shocked that The Matrix series wasn’t already on Netflix, but it floors me that it finally will be this coming August. I’m not breaking new ground when I say that this series inspired an entire sub-genre of science fiction and action movies in the new millennium. The Wachowskis took everything they loved about kung fu and cyber-punk and molded it into a revolutionary film about reality and what we know about our own existence. The film stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a hacker who is thrust into a world outside his own and made aware of the fact that his whole life up until that point has been designed by sentient machines that use human body heat for energy. The film is often regarded as a masterpiece, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you no longer have an excuse.
The Addams Family (August 1st)
It may be a bit too early to talk about fall but one of the more lighthearted Halloween classics, The Addams Family, has a special place in my heart and is a much-needed addition to your Netflix queue. Full of charm, wit, and stellar performances from Christopher Lloyd and Raúl Juliá, this film was an instant classic for fans of the original and newcomers alike. The story revolves around an eclectic family of macabre aristocrats and the arrival of a man claiming to be their long lost Uncle Fester. The film holds up as a creepy yet comical experience and delivers a wonderful experience for both longtime fans and those who have never seen it. Nevertheless, no matter what impression you are left with, the movie will leave you snapping the theme song.
Small Soldiers (August 1st)
This may be because I am a huge fan of schlock, and because I owned the toys as a kid, but Small Soldiers was made in a midst of sponsor-driven kids movies that were given more of a budget then they knew what do with. In this case, however, the movie originally intended to sell toys to children was given a controversial PG-13 rating. The story follows sentient action figures that terrorize a suburban family while another faction of figures battles with the malicious American army toys. The film isn’t so much a piece of art as it is a great corny movie to riff on with friends on a Friday night. With such stars as David Cross and Phil Hartman, the movie itself goes widely underappreciated for being such a crazy derailment of the toy tie-in genre.
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Season 1 (August 4th)
This series has had a gigantic expansion as of late. What started as a low-budget comedy romp starring what would become many of America’s top performers, Wet Hot American Summer was met with polarizing reactions. As many stories ahead of their time do, however, the film went on to become a cult classic and Netflix green-lite a non-conventional prequel series nearly 15 years later. The franchise follows the exploits of Camp Counselors within Camp Firewood and the incredibly surreal consequences that follow their actions. The Netflix prequel was met with positive reviews and judging by the trailer, the sequel series looks set to follow in its footsteps. If you are a fan of actors like Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, and Elizabeth Banks, this series will blow you away with either waves of laughter or spasms of disgust.
Death Note (August 25th)
Amidst a gigantic struggle to adapt the giant of an anime franchise that is the original Death Note, we’ll be getting a tried-and-true American adaptation on Netflix within the next month. The show follows a high-schooler named Light who comes into ownership of a supernatural book that kills anyone whose full name is written inside. The series itself has been a massive success, which is part of the reason the adaptation exists, but this adaptation promises to bring the brand to a mainstream audience. The bottom line is if you haven’t given the original anime a shot, or if cartoons aren’t your thing but you love a good supernatural / killer drama, this will be a massive hit for you.
August 1
A Cinderella Story
Bad Santa
Cloud Atlas
Crematorium: Season 1
Everyone’s Hero
Funny Games (US)
Innerspace
Jackie Brown
Lord of War
Maz Jobrani: Immigrant
Nola Circus
Opening Night
Practical Magic
Sleepy Hollow
Small Soldiers
Surviving Escobar – Alias JJ: Season 1
The Addams Family
The Astronaut’s Wife
The Bomb
The Hollywood Masters: Season 1
The Last Mimzy
The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
The Number 23
The Royal House of Windsor: Season 1
The Truth About Alcohol
The Wedding Party
Tie The Knot
Who Gets the Dog?
Wild Wild West
August 2
Jab We Met
The Founder
August 3
Sing
The Invisible Guardian
August 4
Icarus
Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 3
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later: Season 1
August 5
Holes
August 8
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Season 7 Episode 1-13
August 9
Black Site Delta
August 10
Diary of an Exorcist – Zero
August 11
Atypical: Season 1
Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh: Season 3
Naked
True and The Rainbow Kingdom: Season 1
White Gold
August 13
Arthur and the Invisibles
Hot Property
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo
August 14
The Outcasts
Urban Hymn
August 15
Barbeque
Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo
21
A New Economy
All These Sleepless Nights
Donald Cried
Murderous Affair: Season 1
My Ex-Ex
The Sweet Life
August 16
Gold
August 18
Dinotrux: Season 5
Glitter Force Doki Doki: Season 1
I Am Sam
Marvel’s The Defenders: Season 1
What Happened to Monday
August 19
Hide and Seek
August 20
Camera Store
August 21
AWOL
Bad Rap
Beautiful Creatures
Gomorrah: Season 2
Unacknowledged
August 22
Lynne Koplitz: Hormonal Beast
Sadie’s Last Days on Earth
August 23
Feel Rich
August 25
Disjointed: Part 1
Death Note
DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 5
Once Upon a Time: Season 6
August 29
Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack
Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face
The Good Place: Season 1
August 31
Be Afraid
Kevin Charbonneau | Intern
