Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Wondering what your favorite streaming services are adding to their offerings each month? Decider’s got you covered. Stay tuned for our reports on everything coming to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, Showtime,Starz, Sundance Now, and more, plus a look at the top titles from all of them.
With hundreds of titles hitting Netflix every month, it’s near impossible to know exactly what you’re getting into whenever you log in. There are B-movies and Academy Award-nominated pictures everywhere you turn, and with tons of categories and suggestions awaiting your perusal, it can be near-impossible to navigate these wild waters of streaming. That’s where we come in.
To help you get started, we pulled the most critically-acclaimed titles hitting the platform this August. Using their Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores, we’ve listed new documentaries like Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo and All These Sleepless Nights, family-friendly titles like Holes and Sing, and NBC’s breakout comedy of last season The Good Place, among a slew of others. These are the highest rated titles coming to Netflix this August – don’t hesitate. Get streaming!
'Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 100%
This fascinating, moving documentary gives an unprecedented look into the heart of the Apollo program at the wildly talented, hard-working Mission Control team who put a man on the moon and propelled us into the 21st century. Filled with stirring interviews and awe-inspiring archival footage, the seamless editing and visual effects come together to create something truly tremendous.
Stream Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo on Netflix
'AWOL'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 100%
A testament to the enduring power of indie filmmaking, AWOL follows Joey, a directionless young woman who visits an army recruiting office and seems to find a path for herself there. Just when she thinks she has it all figured out, however, she meets a woman named Rayna, and the two fall in love in a way that neither could have predicted. Authentic, compelling, and emotional, AWOL is a stunning, painful portrait of first love.
'Donald Cried'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 92%
This darkly funny flick follows Peter, a young Wall Street guy who returns home to Rhode Island after his grandmother passes – and becomes stranded after losing his wallet. Without anywhere else to turn, he enlists the help of his long lost childhood friend Donald, an eccentric fellow whose companionship evolves from a simple favor to a deep dive into their past. This bizarre twist on the buddy comedy and family reunion drama hints at a promising career ahead for director/writer/star Kris Avedisian, and it’s not to be missed.
'The Good Place': Season 1
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 90%
Kristen Bell and Ted Danson lead this surprisingly sharp NBC comedy that finds a woman named Eleanor (Bell) in ‘The Good Place’, a town where stand-up, good-behaving people go after they die. Unfortunately, Eleanor has no idea how she got there, because in her life, she was anything but good. Set on righting her wrongs to earn her spot in the Good Place, Eleanor enlists the help of her assigned soulmate to do all the good she can.
'Jackie Brown'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 87%
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, this crime thriller stars Pam Grier as the eponymous Jackie Brown, a middle-aged stewardess who finds herself in a sticky situation that could evidently benefit her on a massive level or see her wind up dead. The film is a quintessential Tarantino flick; intricate, funny, and gritty, it acts as a wonderful showcase for the magic Grier is capable of on screen.
'The Matrix'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 87%
Starring Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss, this wild sci-fi franchise kicks off when a computer hacker (Reeves) is contacted by elusive rebels who reveal the truth about his reality and how they must take down the people who control them. Totally iconic (and frequently parodied), this near-perfect action/sci-fi hybrid packs a punch with every viewing.
'The Founder'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 84%
It’s Michael Keaton‘s world and we’re just living in it, and it’s a damn shame that this top-notch biopic was such a flop at the box office. The flick chronicles the rise of McDonald’s via the smarts and strategies of businessman Ray Kroc (Keaton), who took matters into his own hands from founders Richard and Maurice McDonald (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch) and turned the fast food chain into the international phenomenon we know it as today.
'Innerspace'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 81%
This zany, wild sci-fi rom-com features an 80s dream cast; Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, and more tackle Joe Dante’s wacky tale of a scientifically-shrunk marine who finds himself floating around a hypochondriac’s body as he tries to evade the thieves who want the device that made him miniature. While his colleagues attempt to retrieve him, he stays protected inside his tiny submarine while thwarting the attempts of a technology smuggler to steal the chip.
'Holes'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 77%
Before Shia LaBeouf was stripping down and getting arrested, he was a squeaky-clean Disney star at the center of this wonderful family flick about a young man named Stanley Yelnats who is unfairly sentenced to what is essentially juvie in the desert for a crime he didn’t commit. These kids spend their days digging holes at the mercy of the ruthless warden (Sigourney Weaver), and as Stanley upsets the system, the truth about his past and why they’re all there begins to reveal itself. Funny, heartwarming, and surprisingly intense, Holes is enjoyable for all ages.
'Bad Santa'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 76%
Experience Christmas in August with this Santa who is definitely on the naughty list. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham, this dark comedy sees a con man put on Father Christmas’ suit while he bands together with his crew to pull off a particularly special scam during the holiday season.
'All These Sleepless Nights'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 74%
This riveting Polish documentary follows art school classmates Christopher and Michal as they attempt to preserve these youthful moments in their city as long as they can. This unique coming-of-age story reveals the enlightening, occasionally painful truths of these young people as they search for answers and try to shake the world awake as in an effort to get the most out of every single experience.
'Sing'
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 73%
Featuring the vocal talents of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, and more, this hilarious animated flick plunges us into a city full of animals where a theater owner throws a singing competition in an attempt to save his dying business. The contest brings out animals of all shapes and sizes with their own personal struggles, and they each learn something about themselves – and each other – in the process. Sing is the rare family film enjoyable for viewers of all ages.
