While summer usually means a steady stream of video game launches, we are often treated to a huge amount of promising new movies and TV series, and while June and July certainly lived up to that, August is clearly planning to do the same.
Before we get into this month’s Screen Time picks, a quick reminder: we based our picks on a UK release calendar, so be sure to check locally for accurate dates and listings.
Batman: Caped Crusader [Prime Video] – Aug. 1
The Dark Knight as many recognize him. Batman: Caped Crusader is an animated series coming to Prime Video in August that tells a version of Bruce Wayne’s story as it takes place in the 1940s. It features Hamish Linklater as the new voice for the famous character, taking over from the late Kevin Conroy, and will pit Bats against a variety of familiar antagonists, including Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Catwoman and more.
Harold and the purple crayon – Aug. 2
Zachary Levi is making all his childhood dreams come true. Harold and the Purple Crayon sees the Shazam! Star can draw anything in reality using a magical purple crayon. This family comedy film is all about one man discovering what it really takes to grow up and fit into the real world, and luckily he has Zooey Deschanel’s Terry to help him in this task.
The Umbrella Academy: Season 4 [Netflix] – Aug. 8
The final chapter of the Netflix comic book movie adaptation. In season 4 of The Umbrella Academy, the former child heroes are once again given the task of saving the world, but this time there is a huge catch: it seems they must first leave the world behind in order to save it. This final series of episodes will wrap up five years of storytelling and will no doubt include an explosive conclusion.
Fall – Aug. 9
M. Night Shyamalan is back in the director’s chair in August, directing the horror film Trap. In this film, Josh Hartnett plays the lead role of a father who must defend and protect his daughter at a pop concert that soon turns into something much more sinister and twisted. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you crossed Taylor Swift’s Eras Concert with The Purge, Trap is probably the end product.
The instigators [Apple TV+] – Aug. 9
August’s big Apple TV+ offering will feature Matt Damon and Casey Affleck on the run from the police after a failed robbery attempt. In The Instigators, the duo evade the law with the help of a therapist played by Hong Chau in a film by director Doug Liman, the same man behind Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity.
Borderlands – Aug. 9
For gamers around the world, this may be the biggest movie of the month. Eli Roth puts his own spin on Gearbox’s popular Borderlands series in a live-action effort starring Cate Blanchett as the Siren Lilith, Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Kreig, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis and Jack Black voicing Claptrap. Expect a chaotic and explosive action epic in this film adaptation on the big screen.
Jackpot! [Prime Video] – August 15
John Cena and Awkwafina team up this month for an action-comedy epic that debuts on Prime Video. Coming from director Paul Feig, Jackpot! is a film about a young woman who wins a new form of the lottery, one in which the main catch is that to bank the money, she must survive until sundown while being hunted by assassins. Enter Cena’s protective companion, a person employed to help Jackpot -winners survive the rest of the day.
Alien: Romulus – Aug. 16
The next chapter in the long-running Alien horror series. This film comes from director Fede Alvarez and sees a young cast of stars fighting for their lives in an isolated spacecraft far away from humanity. Alien: Romulus looks to be a return to terrifying form for the famed franchise, offering terrifying scares and tons of sci-fi body horror to boot.
The Union [Netflix] – Aug. 16
Netflix has recruited Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry for its next big action epic. The Union is a film about a down-to-earth construction worker who gets snared into the high-stakes world of international espionage, all after his high school sweetheart Roxanne comes back into his life. With JK Simmons also part of the cast, you can expect an intense and explosive offering in this film.
The Crow – Aug. 23
A remake few would have asked for, The Crow is a new take on the now iconic 1994 film starring Brandon Lee in the tragic lead role, with this version starring Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd as Eric Draven, a man given a second chance at life to track down the twisted individuals who brutally murdered his wife. Needless to say, this will not be a walk in the park, well…. Unless your local park is full of criminals and is a hotspot for murder.
Cuckoo – Aug. 23
Hunter Schäfer in one of her first major lead roles in cinema. Cuckoo is a horror film that follows a 17-year-old girl who, when she moves with her family to a strange resort, soon discovers that not everything is exactly what it seems. Starring Dan Stevens and Jessica Henwick, this film looks to be one of August’s must-see thrillers.
Incoming [Netflix] – August 23
Another great offering from Netflix. Incoming is a pure comedy film about a bunch of high school freshmen trying to shake off their stigmas and create a legendary name for themselves during their very first high school party. If you like movies like Superbad and have been waiting for a crazy and gross comedy for a while, this is definitely one to watch.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2 [Prime Video] – Aug. 29
The second season of Prime Video ‘s huge budget fantasy series set in Middle-earth. Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues after the events of season 1, where we meet Sauron for real for the first time and see the creation of Mordor as we know it. Needless to say, we can expect to see Galadriel and the rest of the gang put up one hell of a fight as they try to put an end to the Dark Lord’s grand ambitions.
And there we have it. Be sure to come back in a month when we take a look at what September 2024 has in store for movie and TV fans alike.