Best On Netflix

The 13 Best Movies & Shows Coming To Netflix: August 2018

By Claire Spellberg @c_spellberg

Published Aug. 2, 2018, 8:30 a.m. ET

collage of 'The Good Place', 'Million Dollar Baby',' and 'Lord of the Rings — Ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores!Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

*The Good Place*: Season 2
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 100%
There's a reason that *The Good Place* Season 2 has such a high Rotten Tomatoes score: it's pure perfection. Season 2 doesn't dwell on Michael's game-changing reveal; instead, it forges full-steam ahead, and the show reinvents itself one episode at a time. With its hilarious jokes, great cameos, and engaging plot points, *The Good Place* Season 2 is can't-miss TV. Season 2 hits just in time to watch Jason's beloved Jacksonville Jaguars lose another NFL title, so add it to your queue ASAP.
[Stream The Good Place: Season 2 on Netflix August 28]Colleen Hayes/NBC

**No Country For Old Men**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 93%
The Coen brothers' *No Country For Old Men* tells the story of a Texas sheriff, a Vietnam war veteran, and a hitman who spend their days locked in a cat-and-mouse game in the Texas desert. When Llewelyn Moss finds $2 million in an abandoned truck -- a drug deal gone wrong -- he can't believe his luck, but it's not long before an enigmatic killer begins hunting him. Will Moss get away with the money? Will the sheriff catch the hitman who's been terrorizing his town? Watch this Best Picture winner to find out.
[Stream No Country For Old Men on Netflix August 11]Everett Collection

**The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 91%
The first film in Peter Jackson's *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy, *Fellowship of the Ring* follows hobbit Frodo and his companions as they travel through Middle-earth in an attempt to destroy the One Ring. As the Fellowship travels towards Mount Doom in Mordor, the only place the ring can be destroyed, they encounter multiple enemies, including creatures sent by the evil Lord Sauron, who desperately wants the One Ring for his own sinister purposes. *Fellowship of the Ring* ushered in a new era of fantasy filmmaking, and it was handsomely rewarded for its efforts: the film came away with four Oscars and a Best Picture nod at the 2002 awards.
[Stream The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Netflix]©New Line Cinema/courtesy Everet

*The 100*: Season 5
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 91%
Season 5 of The CW's post-apocalyptic drama continues the saga of the 100, a group of teens who return to Earth after a devastating nuclear apocalypse wipes out the majority of the population. Season 5 jumps ahead six years after Season 4's nuclear reactor meltdown and focuses on the one remaining green spot on Earth, where Clarke and one of the Grounders have been living. The timeline may be different this time around, but Season 5 contains the same amount of drama, twisting story lines, and good-natured romance that fans of *The 100* have come to expect.
[Stream The 100 on Netflix August 15]©CW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

**Million Dollar Baby**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 90%
In *Million Dollar Baby* Hillary Swank shines as Maggie Fitzgerald, an aspiring boxer who turns to veteran trainer Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) for help in the ring. As Frankie turns Maggie into a legitimate contender, they begin to develop a strong connection, and by the end, each is able to change the other for the better. Like Maggie, Eastwood's film proved to be a huge success both critically and commercially, raking in over $216 million at the box office as well as Oscar wins for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
[Stream Million Dollar Baby on Netflix]©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

**Inequality For All**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 90%
This 2013 documentary explores the widening income gap between America's rich and poor and discusses the consequences of this inequality on American democracy and the U.S. economy. Throughout the film, UC Berkeley professor and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains these problems to a captive audience, and the doc illustrates his points with graphics, news footage, and archival interviews. If you're interested in America's social, political, or economic issues, *Inequality For All* is the ideal documentary for you.
[Stream Inequality For All on Netflix August 29]Courtesy Jacob Kornbluth

**Clerks**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 88%
*Clerks* tells the story of two store clerks, Dante and Randall, who generally ignore their customers in favor of hanging out with each other. The day-in-the-life comedy introduces viewers to a variety of different characters, including Jay and Silent Bob, director Kevin Smith's recurring drug dealer characters. The low-budget comedy launched Smith's career, so if you're a fan, why not check out the film that started it all?
[Stream Clerks on Netflix]©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

**The Aviator**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 87%
Martin Scorsese's biopic documents the life of Howard Hughes, the young millionaire turned airplane aficionado. After Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) finds success in Hollywood, he develops a passion for flying, and he founds an airline and risks his life testing planes around the world. Hughes' passion is evident, but not everyone is so enamored of him: he quickly makes enemies in the industry who are willing to do whatever it takes to bring him down.
[Stream The Aviator on Netflix]Miramax Films

**Stripes**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 86%
When John Winger (Bill Murray), a loser with no prospects, recruits his best friend Russell (Harold Ramis) to join the Army with him, the two quickly find themselves in over their heads. The buddy comedy gets increasingly ridiculous from there, as John and Russell soon find themselves in Europe completing a mission far beyond their skill level. The 1981 film grossed an impressive $85 million at the box office, and while it may not have won an Oscar, it's still a prime Bill Murray flick.
[Stream Stripes on Netflix]©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

**Batman Begins**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 84%
The first film in the *Dark Knight* trilogy, *Batman Begins* gives fans a rebooted look at Batman's origin story. After Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) parents are brutally murdered, the orphaned millionaire devotes his life to fighting crime, and with the help of butler Alfred Pennyworth and Wayne Industries exec Lucius Fox, the job comes with a total makeover. *Batman Begins* didn't reach the same level of fame as its sequel, *The Dark Knight*, but it serves as a valuable addition to the *Batman* canon and is therefore very worth the watch.
[Stream Batman Begins on Netflix]©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

**Gran Torino**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 80%
Clint Eastwood makes another appearance on this list with *Gran Torino*, a searing drama about a man coming to terms with his own prejudices. Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, an agin Korean War veteran who catches his young neighbor attempting to steal his prized Ford Gran Torino. At first, Kowalski just wants to teach the young boy a lesson, but in the process, he develops a relationship with the boy that forces him to face his most painful memories and deep-seated biases.
[Stream Gran Torino on Netflix]©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

**The Informant!**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 79%
In Steven Soderbergh's biographical crime comedy *The Informant*, Matt Damon stars as Mark Whitacre, a corporate rising star who blows the whistle on his company's corrupt practices. He begins working with the FBI, but things quickly go downhill when the feds learn that Whitacre isn't the saint he's made himself out to be. As Whitacre begins weaving a complicated web of lies and conspiracies, the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, leaving everyone at risk of exposure.
[Stream The Informant! on Netflix]©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

John Michael Higgins and Andrea Martin in 'Great News' — *Great News*: Season 1
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 75%
Tina Fey's sitcom *Great News* didn't deserve to be cancelled after Season 2, but now that Season 1 is coming to Netflix, at least a new group of fans will be able to embrace the NBC series. The show follows an up-and-coming television news producer, Katie, whose job gets infinitely harder when the station gets a new intern: her mom. As Katie deals with everyday job stress on top of her new familial obligations, her life threatens to spin out of control, and it's up to her coworkers and mom to pick up the pieces.
[Stream Great News: Season 1 on Netflix August 23]Jordin Althaus/NBC

Every month, your favorite streaming platforms add hundreds of new titles to their already-packed libraries, and sometimes, sifting through all this great content can feel a little overwhelming. How do you decide what’s worth streaming and what’s worth skipping? Here at Decider, we understand that climbing the Peak TV mountain can feel a little daunting, so we’re here to help you on your streaming journey. We investigated all the titles hitting Netflix this August and found the highest-rated content coming your way this month.

This August, Netflix is giving you plenty of excuses to stay inside and avoid the heat. The platform is adding Oscar-winning films like No Country For Old Men, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and Million Dollar Baby, comedy classics including Stripes and Clerks, and box office behemoths like Batman Begins. If you’re looking to binge watch your way through a series, Netflix has you covered, as well: The Good Place Season 2, The 100 Season 5, and Great News Season 1 are all calling your name. Interested in something a little more educational? The award-winning documentary Inequality For All is also hitting the platform this month. With critically-acclaimed titles like these hitting Netflix this August, your queue will be good to go until Labor Day.

Are you ready to enjoy the cream of the streaming crop? Here are the 13 highest-rated movies and shows coming to Netflix this August, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores.

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