Netflix may be far from the only choice when it comes to streaming these days (and it shows in the number of subscribers leaving the service), but it’s still the big daddy of streamable viewing - and while other companies are allowing fans a greater choice in what to watch, Netflix continues to ramp up the original content to bridge the gap. July saw the end of one of the first big Netflix Original hits: Orange Is The New Black, and now August sees the return of some of the newer Original series, like Glow and Dear White People. These are joined by plenty of great comedies and classic films, and we’ve got the best of the new content for you to enjoy.
Four Weddings And A Funeral
Hulu has just released a new series based on this classic ‘94 rom com, but Netflix is where you will find the original. Starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, this movie takes a group of friends through (you guessed it) several weddings - and one much sadder occasion - as they talk about love, life, and everything we’ve come to expect from romantic comedies. Some of the film may be a bit dated at this point (and the clothing most certainly is), but Four Weddings And A Funeral is still worth a re-watch.
Arriving: August 1
Horns
Daniel Radcliffe stars in this unusual horror story, in which a man wakes up with literal horns on his head… and a new superpower - the ability to make people confess to the terrible things that they have done. Having lost his girlfriend (and as the prime suspect in the case), he decides to use this power to try and figure out what happened that night. A blend of horror, comedy, and a murder mystery, Horns is an interesting take on the genre that horror (and Harry Potter) fans will likely enjoy.
Rocky (1-5)
In need of a little underdog inspiration? Netflix has you covered with a Rocky movie marathon, sure to inspire anyone to get back to the gym, follow their dreams… or just run up a lot of stairs. Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV and Rocky V are all joining Netflix this month. Sadly, the more recent additions to the franchise (Rocky Balboa, Creed, and Creed 2) are not available to stream, but five out of eight ain’t bad. Get ready for classic action and inspiration with these - even if you just watch the original.
To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar
This cult classic is the perfect watch for anyone who has already binged the latest season of Queer Eye and is missing RuPaul’s Drag Race. Known as one of the iconic LGBTQ films of the ’90s (and very similar to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), it centers on three New York drag queens on a road trip through the US.
While it’s certainly not all fun and fluff, and there are aspects that would be handled very differently today, it remains a cult classic, and a whole lot of sparkly fun. Plus, it stars Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo as the queens themselves.
Dear White People (Season 3)
Another Netflix Original, Dear White People made headlines when it was first released as some viewers were unhappy about such a Black-focused series with this title. It’s an outrage that would no doubt make lead character Samantha White (Logan Browning) extremely happy, as this college radio host loves to tell it like it is, whether her white classmates like it or not. She’s not the only fascinating addition to the show, however. Dear White People switches focus from character to character, exploring multiple different experiences as a Black student, from different backgrounds, and with very different goals.
Arriving: August 2
Derry Girls (Season 2)
This hilarious Irish comedy enjoyed a brilliant first season, and the second looks like it will be just as funny. Set in Northern Ireland in the ’90s, during the Troubles. The political tension is only the background, though, as this group of Catholic schoolgirls have far more pressing concerns - like what to wear, who to date, and how to get through one of the most awkward times in life without going completely bonkers.
Glow (Season 3)
The Glamorous Ladies Of Wrestling are back for a third season, and this time, the ladies are headed to Vegas! After their television show was canceled, they were offered a different kind of show, but that doesn’t mean that everything is sunshine and rainbows.
Instead, the women are still struggling with their own personal issues, relationships, and mistakes, and the third season may have changed location, but it will keep the magic of the show alive.
Arriving: August 9
Gangs of New York
Nominated for a whopping ten Oscars, Gangs of New York is a definite must-watch. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the film takes place in the 1860s in New York, as Catholic/Protestant tensions in Five Points explodes. The film was twenty years in the making, and while it’s not perfectly historically accurate, it’s phenomenally moving, and the kind of film that everyone should se at least once.
Arriving: August 20
Working Moms (Season 3)
Back to comedy, with this Canadian series about the highs and lows of motherhood. Workin’ Moms looks at the lives of a mommy-and-me style group, whether the moms are working mothers trying to balance the world’s expectations of them or stay-at-home moms feeling the pressure of not doing enough. Previous seasons have looked at post-partum depression and other more serious topics as well as some of the lighter moments, and although it will appeal most to those with kids of their own, childfree viewers may still find something to love in the friendships, romances, and work issues in these women’s lives.
Arriving: August 29
The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance
Jim Henson’s 1982 puppet-animated film gets a new lease of life in this prequel series that will send viewers back to his world. Set long before the events of the original Dark Crystal, Age Of Resistance is about a group of Gelflings leading a rebellion against the Skeksis. If that makes no sense to you, you can also check out the original film on Netflix, and have a Dark Crystal marathon in a single day.
Arriving: August 30
