The Nerd’s Watch: Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Streaming in August

Though a number of film theaters are again to full operate, the safer possibility for leisure stays streaming, and followers who select to remain dwelling and take benefit are consistently rewarded with tons of recent content material. At the begin of every month, most streamers—Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and HBO Max—perform a little shuffle, including new motion pictures and taking some away. io9 is right here that will help you slender down your decision-making.

Welcome to the Nerd’s Watch, our month-to-month column the place we curate essentially the most fascinating sci-fi, fantasy, and horror motion pictures (and tv exhibits) coming to the largest streaming providers. There is a number of new content material available for August 2021, so let’s get to it.

What’s coming to Netflix in August?

Available August 1

Beowulf – Though this was a part of Robert Zemeckis’ “Let’s make performance capture a thing” section, Beowulf is a star-studded, extremely entertaining retelling of the well-known epic poem.

Deep Blue Sea – Super good killer sharks. LL Cool J theme track. Samuel L. Jackson getting eaten early within the movie Psycho-style. What extra might you ask for?

Inception – We’ve coated this many instances however Inception might be Christopher Nolan’s finest film. It’s again on Netflix (in addition to HBO Max).

The Losers – If you mentioned “Oh, here’s a comic book adaptation starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, and Idris Elba in a story about a ragtag group of assassins” in 2021, folks would go nuts. But The Losers, which is strictly that, was about 11 years forward of its time.

Magnolia – Most of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia is about as grounded and dramatic as movies get. Very un-io9. But then, frogs rain from the sky and a movie about household, loss, and coincidence within the San Fernando Valley turns into one thing extra. Truly a masterpiece.

The Net – Joy is watching this Sandra Bullock thriller through which ordering a pizza on the web is handled like somebody cured a illness. Truly a product of that point within the Nineties proper earlier than the web took off. We have a pleasant Retro Review of it too.

Team America: World Police – Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s marionette epic a couple of workforce of elite troopers is filled with songs impressed by Rent and Pearl Harbor, and, in fact, montages. If you’ve by no means seen this film, and don’t offend simply, it’s a must to see it.

Available August 6

Vivo – Lin-Manuel Miranda stars in and produced this animated movie a couple of cute animal who goes on an enormous journey to ship a particular track. Zoe Saldana additionally supplies a voice on this movie that was imagined to go to theaters, however Netflix scooped it up. It ought to be fairly good.

Available August 23

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf — I’m the one particular person at io9 who doesn’t know something about The Witcher however I take it persons are in all probability enthusiastic about this model new anime? Will cash be tossed? You inform me.

What’s coming to Amazon in August?

Available August 1

Aliens – One of the best sequels ever simply celebrated its thirty fifth anniversary and we wrote all about it.

Anaconda – Like Deep Blue Sea above, that is a kind of motion pictures that doesn’t want a lot to promote it. Ice Cube. Jennifer Lopez. Big ass killer snake. Need extra? James Wan referenced it after we had been on the set of Conjuring 2. Read the story right here.

Attack the Block – One of the perfect sci-fi movies in latest reminiscence (in response to the web site you’re presently studying) is coming to streaming. A sequel is lastly within the works too so revisit this gem and prepare for extra alien killing. (Also on Hulu)

Elektra – Almost twenty years earlier than the primary Marvel Studios movie with a girl within the starring function, Marvel made a film with a girl within the starring function. No, Elektra starring Jennifer Garner isn’t a part of the MCU. Yes, it’s a by-product of Ben Affleck’s Daredevil. Yes, the character bought recast for the Netflix exhibits, however this movie continues to be part of historical past it doesn’t matter what.

Hook – Steven Spielberg’s Peter Pan sequel is a kind of very divisive movies from the Nineties. Some folks hate it, different folks adore it, and we sort of agree. There’s rather a lot to like and rather a lot to query. Time for a rewatch. Oh, and bear in mind the time we interviewed Rufio? That was superior.

Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3, Jaws: The Revenge – In 1975, a killer shark got here to film theaters and adjusted the complete trade. Then three sequels adopted, none of which come even near the perfection of the unique however hey, now you may get pleasure from a full-on Jaws marathon.

Knowing – Nicolas Cage stars on this twisty-turny movie a couple of younger baby who writes down numbers that line up with tragedies throughout historical past, and begins to foretell the longer term.

Predator, Predator 2 – Not feeling a killer shark marathon? How a couple of killer alien? The first two Predator motion pictures, each of that are good albeit totally different, are coming to Amazon, so you may cheer for Arnold Schwarzenegger for a bit, then Danny Glover for a bit after that.

Slither – Before he introduced us the Guardians of the Galaxy or The Suicide Squad, James Gunn was an up-and-coming filmmaker with a twisted humorousness. It comes throughout completely on this gross, humorous horror film about killer slugs.

Available August 13

Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time – Already successful in Japan, Hideaki Anno’s fourth and remaining movie within the Rebuild of Evangelion sequence will lastly be accessible to Neon Genesis Evangelion followers stateside.

What’s coming to Hulu in August?

Available August 1 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Francis Ford Coppola put togethera beautiful solid—Gary Oldman as Count Dracula, Winona Ryder as Mina Harker, Anthony Hopkins as Professor Abraham Van Helsing, and Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker—for this gothic retelling of the Dracula story which continues to achieve followers right now.

The Final Girls – If you’re within the temper for a horror film that’s type of within the mildew of Scream, in that it’s self-aware and intelligent but additionally kinda scary and funky, could we advocate this underrated 2015 gem?

First Knight – Did you actually make a King Arthur film prior to now 50 years if Sean Connery wasn’t King Arthur? Probably not, and this one goes full Nineties with Julia Ormond and Richard Gere too!

The Grudge – The 2004 remake about an unspeakable evil that made moaning and clicking endlessly terrifying.

I Know What You Did Last Summer – The quintessential Nineties scorching folks solid (Hewitt, Gellar, Phillipe, Prinze) bought collectively for this Scream knockoff a couple of man {that a} bunch of children suppose they mistakenly killed. But they’re sorely mistaken. There’s an Amazon TV sequence coming quickly, by the way in which.

Mad Max – The movie that began all of it. The first in George Miller’s post-apocalyptic saga starring Mel Gibson, that includes a number of leather-based and vehicles.

My Bloody Valentine – Not to be mistaken with the inferior remake from a number of a long time later, that is the 1981 unique slasher movie that didn’t fairly hit Halloween or Friday the thirteenth standing however continues to be fairly nice.

Watchmen – Before the HBO TV present or Zack Snyder tackled extra conventional superheroes, he tailored the legendary, subversive Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons comedian with surprisingly stable outcomes.

Available August 26

Love and Monsters – One of 2020’s unseen gems, this Dylan O’Brien journey movie options a number of love and monsters, as marketed, and has many followers within the individuals who caught it final 12 months. And now it’s streaming, destined for much more.

Available August 27

Chaos Walking – Hopefully you didn’t go to a theater to see this Daisy Ridley-Tom Holland misfire of a sci-fi motion movie, as a result of for those who didn’t, you’ll get to look at it on Hulu quickly. It’s not not price watching without cost, is the perfect factor we are able to say. Read our evaluate right here.

What’s coming to Disney+ in August?

Available August 11

What If…? – WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and now, What If…? Marvel Studios’ newest Disney+ present debuts August 11 with new episodes every Wednesday. The animated present takes traditional tales from the movies and modifications one or two issues to see what would occur. Also, it ties into the multiverse that’s slowly constructing.

Available August 20

Eragon – Disney+ continues to learn from the corporate’s acquisition of Fox by including this would-be fantasy franchise-starter primarily based on the favored novel sequence by Christopher Paolini. It’s full of magic and dragons and all that.

Available August 25

Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian – Wait, didn’t this already occur? Yes, after Mandalorian season two completed, there was a full Disney Gallery episode about it. But one factor was not talked about, and that was the stunning reveal of Luke Skywalker coming to save lots of Grogu (née Baby Yoda). Now, a complete new episode has been created to discover that and solely that.

Available August 27

Cruella – If you missed it in theaters, and didn’t pay $30 for it with Premier Access, this live-action Disney prequel to 101 Dalmatians will quickly be a part of the total service. And it’s completely price watching. Divisive, however significantly better than you’re anticipating.

What’s coming to HBO Max in August?

Available August 1

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl – Last 12 months, a Netflix movie referred to as We Can Be Heroes was tremendous well-liked for about 35 seconds. It was a sequel to this film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, type of within the mildew of Spy Kids, however with extra superheroes.

Constantine – As the years transfer on, this Keanu Reeves DC adaptation continues to achieve followers who didn’t fairly get on board with the daring, darkish adaptation from director Francis Lawrence when it was initially launched in 2005.

Freejack – In the far-off way forward for *checks notes* 2009, Mick Jagger, Anthony Hopkins, and Emilio Estevez star on this sci-fi thriller about folks from the longer term stealing folks from the previous to make use of their our bodies.

Last Action Hero – At the time of its launch, many joked about this Arnold Schwarzenegger movie the place he performs an film motion star come to life. But the meta-cleverness of its premise was actually forward of its time and right now it enjoys far more reverence.

Popeye – Robert Altman, Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, and a complete lot of spinach. A traditional.

Red – Though director Robert Schwentke didn’t fairly hit a house run together with his newest movie, Snake Eyes, this star-studded comedian guide adaptation about secret towards who’re “Retired” and “Extremely Dangerous” is definitely fairly first rate.

Scary Movie – Spoof comedies have been happening for many years, from the Zucker Brothers and Mel Brooks, to Abbott and Costello and past. But for the 2000s, Scary Movie set the bar for offensive, tremendous dumb comedies primarily based on well-liked motion pictures. The franchise itself is all around the map however this primary movie is powerful.

Spawn – Eleven years earlier than Christopher Nolan modified the sport with The Dark Night, Todd McFarlane’s traditional Image Comics character bought his personal darkish comedian adaptation. Spawn isn’t a very good comedian guide film nevertheless it’s not terrible both. A worthy stream.

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo – I haven’t seen this specific Teen Titans movie however the ones I’ve have seen have been nice so I’m guessing this one is price a shot.

Available August 5

The Suicide Squad – James Gunn’s model new DC workforce up film is hitting theaters and HBO Max on the identical day. It’s actually humorous and gory and if you’ve seen the trailers, you recognize precisely what to anticipate.

Available August 14

Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III– Take a visit to Isla Nublar with the primary three movies within the Jurassic Park franchise. Universal movies, on the Warner Bros. service. Streaming is bizarre. But hey, you’ve bought one masterpiece, one largely disappointing sequel, and one very dangerous sequel. What might go mistaken?

Available August 17

Godzilla vs. Kong – Did you miss Godzilla vs. Kong when it was on Max earlier this 12 months or in theaters? Well, now it’s again, accessible to all.

Available August 20

Reminiscence – August’s second massive theatrical/HBO Max launch is that this Lisa Joy (Westworld) sci-fi movie starring Hugh Jackman as a person who can allow you to relive your reminiscences. It all goes mistaken when he meets up with a mysterious character performed by Rebecca Ferguson.

Available August 22

San Andreas – The Rock saves his household through the destruction of the West Coast of the United States on this massive, dumb, type of enjoyable motion movie. Maybe attempt Jungle Cruise as a substitute?

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