The Best TV Shows & Movies Coming To Netflix In August 2018

The summer season is winding down, but please don't feel the urge to rush outside and take part in outdoor activities. Instead, stay inside and stream all this stuff on Netflix. Next month, Netflix is offering a wide variety of that hot content you crave, including The Aviator, Constantine, The Lord of the Rings, The Informant!, The Good Place season 2, and more.  Check out the best new TV shows and movies coming to Netflix in August 2018.

Martin Scorsese tackles the early life of controversial weirdo Howard Hughes in this brilliant, stylish drama. Leonardo DiCaprio is quite good as Hughes, a cocky billionaire who slowly begins losing his mind. But the real standout is Cate Blanchett, who steals the show playing Katharine Hepburn. As The Aviator travels through time from Hollywood in the early 1920s up through the 1940s, Scorsese and cinematographer Robert Richardson keep changing up the visual and lighting techniques, to make each era of the film pop with distinction. This is one of Scorsese's best 21st century movies, and definitely should've won him an Oscar (but didn't).

I know fans of the Hellblazer comic hate the movie adaptation Constantine. I, however, have never read the comic. So as far as I'm concerned, Constantine rules. The film is moody horror-noir, and features a super-cool Keanu Reeves smoking cigarettes and battling demons. Also on hand: Tilda Swinton, playing an androgynous angel Gabriel and wearing some dope suits, and Peter Stormare as a very over-the-top Lucifer. Again, if you're a huge fan of the comic and hate how unfaithful this flick is, you have my sympathy. But I also think if you can distance yourself from that disdain, you'll be rewarded with one surprisingly entertaining flick.

I'm a little salty (as the kids say) that this won't be the superior "Extended Edition", but it'll do. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring kicked-off one of the best movie trilogies of all time, but you already knew that. This movie still holds up – it remains magical, and alive. The world Peter Jackson creates here feels 100% real, and lived-in. Unlike, say, those Hobbit movies, which are just cartoon junk. Do I need to recount the story for this movie here for you? You know the deal, right? A bunch of wee folk, an old man, a beautiful guy, a ruggedly handsome ranger, and Sean Bean all band together to toss a hunk of metal into a volcano. Things don't go according to plan.

I feel like a lot of people forgot The Informant!, and that's a shame, because the movie is hilarious. Steven Soderbergh directs this film, based on a true story, about a hapless man (Matt Damon) who turns whistleblower against his company. The problem is, Damon's character is a bit...unstable. And the information he's feeding the FBI might not be on the level. The end-result is a strange, funny, ultimately tragic tale. It's not Soderbergh's best film, but like all Soderbergh films, it's inherently watchable.

Holy mother forking shirt balls, The Good Place season 2 is hitting Netflix next month. If you have yet to catch-up on this brilliant, surprising, hilarious show, you have plenty of time to binge the first season. I don't want to say too much, because if you haven't seen the series, there are a ton of twists awaiting you. Here's all you need to know: a group of dead people wake up in an idyllic afterlife, AKA The Good Place, and have to learn to navigate the rules and regulations. The first season of The Good Place was great, but season 2 is when the show really hit its stride, primarily because the series had to essentially reboot itself after the shocking season 1 finale. This is another one of those Michael Schur shows, like Parks and Rec and Brooklyn-99, that makes you feel good as you watch it.

August 1

Batman Begins

Chernobyl Diaries

Clerks

Constantine

Dreamcatcher

Edge of Fear

Eraser

Gran Torino

House of Deadly Secrets

Los tiempos de Pablo Escobar: Season 1

Million Dollar Baby

No Reservations

Once in a Lifetime Sessions with Moby

Once in a Lifetime Sessions with Nile Rodgers

Once in a Lifetime Sessions with Noel Gallagher

Once in a Lifetime Sessions with TLC

P.S. I Love You

Secretariat

Silverado

Steel Magnolias

Stripes

Switched– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

High schooler Ayumi's perfect world evaporates when her envious classmate Zenko somehow steals her body, her boyfriend and her life.

The Aviator

The Golden Compass

The Informant!

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

August 2

Emelie

August 3

Brij Mohan Amar Rahe– NETFLIX FILM

Faking his death to escape the realities of his uneventful life worked out well for Brij Mohan — until he was sentenced to death for his own murder.

Cocaine Coast– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

In 1980s Galicia, Spain, a young fisherman becomes a prosperous cocaine smuggler by providing Latin American suppliers with a European entry point.

Dinotrux Supercharged: Season 3– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Whether by land, air or sea, the Dinotrux tackle some of their biggest builds ever while facing the double threat of brothers D-Structs and D-Stroy.

I AM A KILLER– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

In this true-crime series, history's most notorious killers recount their stories from their points of view in their own chilling words.

Like Father– NETFLIX FILM

After she's left at the altar, a workaholic executive ends up on her honeymoon cruise with her estranged father. Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer star.

Marching Orders– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Follow the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats as they fight to keep their spots on the field, memorize routines, balance their academic careers, and maintain their social lives.

August 4

Flavors of Youth: International Version– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Memories in a bowl of steaming noodles, a fading beauty finding her way and a bittersweet first love — all in these stories of city life in China.

Mr. Sunshine (Streaming Every Saturday)– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

A young boy who ends up in the U.S. after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo incident returns to Korea at a historical turning point and falls for a noblewoman.

On Children– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

These uncanny tales reveal a world where individuals face the tragic consequences of social pressure, parental oppression and family dysfunction.

August 5

Paid in Full

August 9

Perdida– NETFLIX FILM

A policewoman whose childhood friend disappeared in Patagonia years ago starts a new search to find answers, and soon finds her own life in danger.

The Originals: Season 5

August 10

72 Dangerous Animals: Asia– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

From fangs to claws to venomous stings, they all wield deadly weapons. But which creature will be crowned the fiercest of all?

Afflicted– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Baffling symptoms. Controversial diagnoses. Costly treatments. Seven people with chronic illnesses search for answers — and relief.

All About the Washingtons– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Hip-hop icon Rev. Run stars opposite wife Justine in this scripted comedy about one couple's attempts at balancing work, romance and family chaos.

Demetri Martin: The Overthinker– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

With his signature one-liners and drawings, Demetri Martin muses on doughnut holes, dogs, sports bars, the alphabet's most aggressive letters and more

Insatiable– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

In this darkly comic series, a disgraced civil lawyer turned beauty pageant coach takes on a vengeful, bullied teenager as his client.

La casa de las flores– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

The outward perfection of a family-run flower business hides a dark side rife with dysfunctional secrets in this darkly humorous comedy series.

Million Pound Menu– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Next-generation restaurateurs get the chance to open their own pop-up eateries to impress the paying public — and a panel of discerning investors.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society– NETFLIX FILM

A writer bonds with the eccentric residents of Guernsey when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the WWII German occupation.

The Package– NETFLIX FILM

When five teens go on a spring break camping trip, an unfortunate accident sets off a race against time to save their friend's most prized possession.

The Ponysitters Club– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

A young horse enthusiast teams up with her best friends to rescue and rehabilitate animals on her family's beloved ranch.

Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 7– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

After saving Shiro and defeating Lotor, the Paladins are finally able to set a course for Earth. After a perilous journey, they discover that their home planet is not how they left it.

Zion– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Born without legs and stuck in foster care for years, teenager Zion Clark hopes to overcome his circumstances and become a competitive wrestler.

August 11

No Country for Old Men

August 13

Alexander: The Ultimate Cut

Splash and Bubbles: Season 2

The Nut Job

August 15

Adventures in Public School

Hostiles

The 100: Season 5

August 16

Evan Almighty

Wish I Was Here

August 17

Disenchantment– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

This animated series from Matt Groening follows the misadventures of a hard-drinking princess, her feisty elf companion and her personal demon.

Magic for Humans– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

From baffling people on the street to orchestrating elaborate tricks, Justin Willman blends good-natured magic with grown-up laughs.

Pinky Malinky– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Pinky Malinky sees the bright side of everything, including being born a hot dog. With his BFFs in tow, this little wiener takes a bite out of life.

Spirit Riding Free: Season 6– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Lucky and the PALs canter into more adventures with a new chapter of the Frontier Fillies. With each new challenge, Lucky, Spirit and the PALs work together as they run wild and live free.

Stay Here– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Designer Genevieve Gorder and real estate expert Peter Lorimer show property owners how to turn their short-term rentals into moneymaking showstoppers.

The Motive– NETFLIX FILM

An aspiring writer with no imagination seeks inspiration for his novel by manipulating the lives of his neighbors so that he can write about them.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before– NETFLIX FILM

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control when her secret letters to every boy she's ever fallen for are mysteriously mailed out.

Ultraviolet– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

In this offbeat crime series, an online community of amateur sleuths uses an unconventional mashup of high-tech and low-tech methods to solve cases.

August 19

The Investigator: A British Crime Story: Season 2– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

No body. A condemned husband. A daughter desperate for the truth. The closer you look, the stranger it gets.

August 21

Year One

August 23

Deadwind– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Just months after a tragic loss, detective Sofia Karppi investigates the murder of a woman with ties to a Helsinki construction company.

Follow This– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Follow the reporters at BuzzFeed as they probe topics ranging from quirky internet crazes to safe injection spaces for opioid users.

Great News: Season 1

August 24

Ask the StoryBots: Season 2– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

How do ears hear — and why can't I eat dessert all the time? The StoryBots tackle these and other tough questions in an all-new season of asks.

Bert Kreischer: Secret Time– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Comedian Bert Kreischer is ready to take his shirt off and "party hardy" with his debut Netflix Original stand-up special, Bert Kreischer: Secret Time. Considered one of the best storytellers of his generation, Bert regales the audience at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia with stories about zip-lining with his family, his daughter practicing softball with an imaginary ball, and upstaging ex-NBA player Ralph Sampson at a childhood basketball camp.

Ghoul– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

A newly minted military interrogator arrives at a covert detention center to discover that some of the terrorists held there are not of this world.

The After Party– NETFLIX FILM

When an aspiring rapper goes viral for all the wrong reasons, he thinks his career is over. But when his best friend gets them into a wild NYC after party, he gets one more chance to make the impossible happen.

The Innocents– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

When a teenage couple runs away to be together, the extraordinary gift they possess unleashes powerful forces intent on dividing them forever.

Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 3– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

As the trolls turn a new enemy into a friend, Poppy trains Branch in "hair-jitsu," Smidge woos a crush and DJ Suki learns to throw the best party ever.

Young & Hungry: Season 5

August 28

The Good Place: Season 2

August 29

Inequality for All

August 31

Inside the Criminal Mind– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Explore the psychological machinations and immoral behavior that define the most nefarious types of criminals.

Ozark: Season 2– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

The Byrdes face danger from every side as the cartel, the Snells and the Langmores all threaten to bring down the new life they've built in the Ozarks.

Paradise PD– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

From "Brickleberry" creators Roger Black and Waco O'Guin comes this adult animated comedy about a backwater Southern-fried police department.

The Comedy Lineup: Part 2– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

A cadre of promising up-and-coming comedians delivers a rapid fire series of stand-up performances.

The Laws of Thermodynamics– NETFLIX FILM

Jilted by his girlfriend, a man likens his lack of luck in love to the laws of thermodynamics in this documentary-like romantic comedy.

Ultimate Beastmaster: Survival of the Fittest– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

An inspirational group of new contestants who have overcome significant adversity come together to take on the world's toughest obstacle course.

Undercover Law– NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Undercover agent Amelia returns from the jungle with unsettling video footage, sparking a new operation. Arrested drug mule Alejandra is offered a deal.