The Best Movies & Shows Coming to Netflix in August

Netflix may be battling it out with a surprisingly strong summer at the movies, but there’s still plenty worth staying home for this August. From twisty thrillers and true-crime-inspired stories to soccer documentaries and big-budget historical epics, here are the releases worth adding to your watchlist.

Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy (2026) — August 5

Comedian Mo Gilligan takes on an extreme food experiment, eating nothing but fried chicken for 28 days while exploring the cultural, economic and social forces behind its popularity. Expect plenty of fast food, plenty of questions and, probably, a serious craving for chicken.

The Last House (2026) — August 7

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this mysterious sci-fi thriller about a family trapped inside their own home by an unexplained external force. With a simple but intriguing premise and a strong cast, it’s shaping up to be an easy pick for a Friday-night thriller.

Mourinho (2026) — August 11

Football’s most controversial manager gets the documentary treatment in this three-part series. José Mourinho revisits his rise to dominance through interviews with himself, legendary managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, and former players including John Terry, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Gladiator II (2024) — August 12

Paul Mescal leads Ridley Scott’s massive sequel to the original Gladiator. Expect gladiatorial battles, political drama, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and an absolutely bonkers naval battle inside the Colosseum. It may not replace the original, but it makes for very entertaining home viewing.

The Whisper Man (2026) — August 28

Robert De Niro returns as a retired detective pulled back into a case when a serial killer he once captured appears to be active again. Adam Scott plays his estranged son, whose young child is abducted, turning the investigation into something deeply personal. Based on Alex North’s bestselling thriller, it’s a classic crime mystery with plenty of suspense.