For some, August is a slow time of year, and that certainly has been the case with our list of the best movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and other services. The first two weeks of August have only seen a few new releases hit the major streaming platforms, but there’s still plenty to catch up on.
This week, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck go full Boston in The Instigators on Apple TV+, while Peacock gets dramatic with The Bikeriders.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best movies on Max.
New movies to stream at a glance
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The Instigators2024 -
The Bikeriders2024
Apple TV+
The Instigators (2024)
48%
101m
Genre
Crime, Comedy
Stars
Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau
Directed by
Doug Liman
Watch on Apple TV+
Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, and BU alum Hong Chau all reunite in Boston for The Instigators, a hyperlocal heist movie that should appeal to more than just New Englanders. Rory (Damon) and Cobby (Affleck) are old friends who make an unlikely team when they decide to team up to rob a corrupt politician of ill-gained earnings. Unfortunately, everything goes wrong pretty much from the jump, forcing them to go on the run from the police, corrupt bureaucrats, and vengeful crime bosses. Their only lifeline is Rory’s therapist (Chau), whom they rope in to help them get away.
Fancy Dance (2024)
71%
91m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Ryan Begay
Directed by
Erica Tremblay
Watch on Apple TV+
Lily Gladstone stars in this Apple TV+ original as Jax, who has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) since her sister’s disappearance. Scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, every spare minute of Jax’s time goes into finding her sister and fighting Roki’s grandfather, Frank (Shea Whigham), for custody. When Jax finds a lead, she and Roki hit the road to scour the backcountry and still make it back in time for Roki’s upcoming powwow. But what starts as a search soon grows much deeper.
Peacock
The Bikeriders (2024)
70%
116m
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy
Directed by
Jeff Nichols
Watch on Peacock
Already, one of the best movies of the summer, The Bikeriders, is available to stream at home. In Beatnik-era Chicago, headstrong Kathy (Jodie Comer) is drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), a new member of the motorcycle club the Vandals. Led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy), the Vandals are evolving much like the country around it, devolving into a home of violence and crime. Benny is suddenly caught in the middle, forced to choose between Kathy and the club.
Abigail (2024)
62%
109m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir
Directed by
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Watch on Peacock
Craving a little horror this weekend? Then Abigail will fit the bill. When a group of criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of an underworld kingpin, they attempt to ransom her for $50 million. Planning to hold her overnight in an isolated mansion, the group thinks their payday is near. But as they start to turn up brutally murdered one by one, the remaining survivors realize Abigail (Alisha Weir) is no ordinary little girl.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
68%
107m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan
Directed by
Tom Gormican
Watch on Peacock
One of the odder comedies of recent years stars Nicolas Cage as … Nicolas Cage. This bizarre real-life-adjacent comedy stars Cage as a (presumably hyperbolic) version of himself who’s on the verge of financial ruin and feeling creatively unfulfilled. Desperate, he’s forced to accept a $1 million offer to attend superfan Javi’s (Fantastic Four‘s Pedro Pascal) birthday party. What he doesn’t know is that Javi is an arms dealer under investigation by the CIA, and they need someone on the inside. Enter Nic Cage.
Hulu
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
66%
145m
Genre
Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
Stars
Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand
Directed by
Wes Ball
Watch on Hulu
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes picks up several generations after Caesar’s reign over apes and humans. Apes are now the dominant species, having forced humans into living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader expands his empire, a new ape hero embarks on a harrowing journey of discovery that will force him to make choices that define the future for both apes and humans.
Sleeping Dogs (2024)
45%
112m
Genre
Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Drama
Stars
Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Marton Csokas
Directed by
Adam Cooper
Watch on Hulu
Russell Crowe stars as Roy Freeman, an ex-homicide detective with a fractured memory. When he’s dragged into a death row criminal case, Freeman is forced to piece together the evidence from a decade-old murder investigation that soon leads to a deeper conspiracy of buried secrets and betrayals.
The Animal Kingdom (2023)
69%
127m
Genre
Science Fiction, Adventure, Drama
Stars
Romain Duris, Paul Kircher, Adèle Exarchopoulos
Directed by
Thomas Cailley
Watch on Hulu
In the French sci-fi film The Animal Kingdom, mutations in human genetics have caused some people to transform into hybrid creatures. When his wife is affected by this mysterious condition and joins a contingent disappearing into a nearby forest, François (Roman Duris) joins forces with his son, Emile (Paul Kircher), and a local police officer (Adèle Exarchopoulos) to find her.
Origin (2023)
75%
141m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts
Directed by
Ava DuVernay
Watch on Hulu
Inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winner Isabel Wilkerson’s New York Times bestseller, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Ava DuVernay’s Origin stars The Color Purple actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as a woman grappling with personal tragedy. To make sense of it all, Isabel (Ellis-Taylor) sets out on a global journey of investigation and discovery, fully aware of the colossal scope of the book she intends to craft along the way.
Brats (2024)
65%
92m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore
Directed by
Andrew McCarthy
Watch on Hulu
Andrew McCarthy’s documentary examines the Brat Pack, the group of teen actors who began to take over Hollywood in the 1980s. But when a New York Magazine cover story dubs them the Brat Pack in 1985, Emilio Estevez, Jon Cryer, Lea Thompson, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, and Demi Moore soon find themselves losing control over their careers and their lives. Nearly 40 years later, McCarthy reconnects the various members of the Brat Pack to reflect on their legacies together.
Netflix
Tarot (2024)
36%
92m
Genre
Horror
Stars
Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika
Directed by
Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Watch on Netflix
It may be a familiar story — a group of friends recklessly violates the rules of a sacred game of the occult — but Tarot is a fun one for those who enjoy a good jump scare. After unknowingly unleashing an unspeakable evil trapped within a set of cursed tarot cards, one by one, the friend group comes face to face with each of their fates.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
46%
115m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon
Directed by
Gil Kenan
Watch on Netflix
The second film in the new generation of Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, finds the Spengler family returning to the iconic New York City firehouse to team up with the original Ghostbusters. They’ve been hard at work developing a top-secret research lab to level up busting, but when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, everyone has to get on their game to avoid an Ice Age.
Wicked Little Letters (2024)
58%
100m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Stars
Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan
Directed by
Thea Sharrock
Watch on Netflix
Based on a true story, Wicked Little Letters is set in a 1920s English seaside town as two neighbors face off. Conservative local Edith Swan (Secret Invasion‘s Olivia Colman) and Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley) cannot stand each other. And when Edith and other residents begin receiving letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, Edith rallies the town to charge Rose with the crime. The letters soon lead to a national uproar and an investigation led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) that exonerates Rose.
The Teachers' Lounge (2023)
82%
98m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Leonie Benesch, Eva Löbau, Michael Klammer
Directed by
İlker Çatak
Watch on Netflix
This German drama was one of the country’s most acclaimed films of 2023. Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is an idealistic young teacher working her first job at a middle school. She has a relaxed rapport with the students, who all adore her. But that rapport is put under the microscope when a series of thefts occur at the school, and administrators, parents, students, and other teachers all begin flinging accusations against one another. As Carla tries to mediate and be rational, she continues to lose control over the situation.
Land of Bad (2024)
57%
113m
Genre
Action, Thriller, War
Stars
Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth
Directed by
William Eubank
Watch on Netflix
Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth star in the forgotten 2024 action-packed thriller Land of Bad, which is set in a 48-hour window. Up against the clock, Air Force drone pilot Reaper (Crowe) calls on all of his skills to save a Special Forces team trapped in the South Philippines. He’s joined by extractors Cpt. Sugar (Milo Ventimiglia) and Sgt. Abel (Luke Hemsworth), and Air Force officer Kinney (Liam Hemsworth). But when the team is ambushed, Reaper becomes the only lifeline for Kinney as an eye in the sky.
Max (formerly HBO and HBO Max)
Knox Goes Away (2024)
54%
114m
Genre
Thriller, Crime
Stars
Michael Keaton, Al Pacino, Marcia Gay Harden
Directed by
Michael Keaton
Watch on HBO Max
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s Michael Keaton directs and stars in Knox Goes Away as hitman John Knox, attempting to make demands after a dementia diagnosis. With the help of his friend, Xavier (Al Pacino), Knox races against the police and his own deteriorating mind to save his estranged son (James Marsden) from one of his biggest mistakes while he still can.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
77%
104m
Genre
Crime, Romance, Thriller
Stars
Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian, Ed Harris
Directed by
Rose Glass
Watch on max
Kristen Stewart and Twisters actress Katy O’Brian star in the steamy romantic thriller Love Lies Bleeding, which follows reclusive gym manager, Lou (Stewart), who falls hard for bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian) when she stops in town on the way to a major show in Las Vegas. When Lou follows Jackie, though, violence tags along her as both women are dragged into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
Faye (2024)
94m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Faye Dunaway, Liam Dunaway O'Neill, Mark Harris
Directed by
Laurent Bouzereau
Watch on max
This Max Original documentary goes one-on-one with legendary actress Faye Dunaway as she discusses the ups and downs of her storied career. Reflecting on classic (and not-so-classic) roles in Bonnie & Clyde, Chinatown, Network, and more, Dunaway examines her struggles with bipolar disorder and how the intensity of the characters she played has had a lasting impact on the real her.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
47%
115m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Stars
Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens
Directed by
Adam Wingard
Watch on max
One of 2024’s biggest blockbusters to date, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire furthers the epic Titan warfare as Kong and Godzilla are forced to team up to challenge a newly discovered threat hidden within our world. Further revealing the mysteries of Skull Island and Titan history, The New Empire sees Kong and Godzilla enter into an existential battle that once again ties humanity’s fate with their own.
Problemista (2024)
Julio Torres wrote, directed, and stars in Problemista, an A24 release about Alejandro (Torres), an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador who relocates to New York City. Struggling to bring attention to his unusual ideas and his work visa close to expiring, a job assisting art world outcast Elizabeth (The Killer‘s Tilda Swinton) becomes his only hope to stay in the country and chase his dream.
Shudder
Humane (2024)
58%
93m
Genre
Thriller, Horror, Science Fiction
Stars
Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Sebastian Chacon
Directed by
Caitlin Cronenberg
Watch on Shudder
After a global environmental collapse, humanity has been forced to shed 20% of its population practically overnight. When a father (Peter Gallagher) informs his family of his plan to enlist in the government’s euthanasia plan, family dinner goes off the rails with escalating consequences.
Arcadian (2024)
57%
92m
Genre
Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror
Stars
Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins
Directed by
Benjamin Brewer
Watch on Shudder
Arcadian takes place in a not-so-distant postapocalyptic future. In this decimated world, Paul (Longlegs‘ Nicolas Cage) and his sons, Joseph and Thomas (Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins), are free to live peacefully by die. But when the sun goes down, nightmarish creatures awaken to terrorize the family and threaten their survival. When Thomas doesn’t return home one day, Paul and Joseph are forced to venture beyond the safety of their fortified farm to find him.
Amazon Prime Video
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black (2024)
143m
Genre
Drama, Thriller
Stars
Meagan Good, Debbi Morgan, Cory Hardrict
Directed by
Tyler Perry
Watch on Amazon
Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict star in this steamy Amazon Original thriller from Tyler Perry. When her husband, Dallas (Hardrict), abandons their marriage, Ava (Good) refuses to relent. But the more she presses and examines the marriage, the more she discovers Dallas’ bad behavior has long sabotaged their ability to connect.
Space Cadet (2024)
110m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Emma Roberts, Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu
Directed by
Liz W. Garcia
Watch on Amazon
Madame Web‘s Emma Roberts stars in this rom-com as Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, a Florida girl who has always dreamed of going to space. So when a doctored application gets her into NASA’s ultracompetitive astronaut training program, she’s determined to make the cut. Unfortunately, she’s in way over her head and it will take everything she can muster to make it to space before her cover is blown.
The Idea of You (2024)
77%
116m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Music
Stars
Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin
Directed by
Michael Showalter
Watch on Amazon
The hot new romantic comedy on the streamers, The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway (Eileen) as Solène, a 40-year-old single mother chaperoning her teenage daughter’s trip to Coachella. But when she meets 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the leader singer of the planet’s hottest boy band, an unexpected and very real semi-intergenerational relationship emerges.
Música (2024)
91m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Music
Stars
Camila Mendes, Rudy Mancuso, J.B. Smoove
Directed by
Rudy Mancuso
Watch on Amazon
Rudy (Rudy Mancuso) is continually plagued by the music in his head and the uncertainty of his future. As a Brazilian man in Newark, New Jersey, he’s trying to balance love, family, and culture — sometimes more successfully than others. Camila Mendes and JB Smoove also star in this Amazon Original.
Road House (2024)
58%
121m
Genre
Action, Thriller
Stars
Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen
Directed by
Doug Liman
Watch on Amazon
Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor square off in the Prime Original remake of the Patrick Swayze cult classic, Road House. Gyllenhaal plays Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter trying to escape his dark past and violent reputation. When he’s spotted by Frankie (Jessica Williams), the owner of a notoriously dangerous and rowdy roadhouse in the Florida Keys, she brings him in to help defend her business from a violent gang set on destroying her bar at the command of crime boss Brandt (Billy Magnussen). Dalton makes quick work of Brandy’s five-man crew, but when Brandt calls in a gun-for-hire, Knox (McGregor), the stakes and bloodshed ratchet up.
Disney+
Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
62%
129m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Daisy Ridley, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham
Directed by
Joachim Rønning
Watch on Disney+
Born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905, Trudy Ederle (Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘s Daisey Ridley) became one of the most decorated woman swimmers of her time. Through the steadfast support of her sister and trainers, Ederle fought against the patriarchy to win Olympic gold on her way to the ultimate feat: Becoming the first woman to swim the 21-mile gauntlet of the English Channel.
Jim Henson Idea Man (2024)
65%
108m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz
Directed by
Ron Howard
Watch on Disney+
Jim Henson is history’s most renowned and beloved puppeteer, and this Ron Howard-directed documentary delves deep into the mind of the creative visionary. From Henson’s early days of puppeteering on local TV to Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond, Jim Henson Idea Man uses Henson’s personal archives for an insightful look into the mind of a complex, deeply imaginative man.
The Beach Boys (2024)
113m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine
Directed by
Frank Marshall, Thom Zimny
Watch on Disney+
Frank Marshall directs this Disney+ original documentary about the legendary band and their iconic sound. From humble family beginnings to superstardom, The Beach Boys uses never-before-seen archival footage and new interviews with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, and other music business luminaries to tell the story of this band that continues to captivate listeners to this day. God only knows why you’d pass up watching this entertaining docuseries about one of America’s greatest bands.
Paramount+
IF (2024)
46%
104m
Genre
Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski
Directed by
John Krasinski
Watch on Paramount+
John Krasinski wrote, directed, and stars (sort of) in this family-friendly fantasy about a little girl who discovers she can see everyone’s imaginary friends. Bea (Cailey Fleming) is not one to take this newfound responsibility lightly, and with the help of Cal (Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Ryan Reynolds), she embarks on a journey to reconnect all the forgotten imaginary friends with their kids — some of whom are now grown-up.
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
43%
104m
Genre
Music, History, Drama
Stars
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton
Directed by
Reinaldo Marcus Green
Watch on Paramount+
Celebrate the music of reggae icon and social justice activist Bob Marley! The story of Marley (Secret Invasion‘s Kingsley Ben-Adir) from underground aspiring artist on the island nation of Jamaica to captivating the entire world with his revolutionary sound and protest music, Bob Marley: One Love is a biopic for all music lovers.
MGM+
Challengers (2024)
132m
Genre
Romance, Drama
Stars
Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor
Directed by
Luca Guadagnino
Watch on mgm+
Who knew a great movie could be made out of tennis games and complicated love triangles? Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is not only one of 2024’s best movies, but it’s also one of the most purely enjoyable experiences out there. Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis wunderkind who know coaches her pro husband Art’s career, which has hit a lull. When an old rival of Art’s, and an old flame of Tashi’s, sweeps back into their lives, will he change their game both on and off the court? Challengers is sexy without being graphic and sporty without being needing to know too much about tennis to follow along. It also gives Zendaya, and co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’ Connor, a chance to showcase their impressive acting and irresistible charisma.
