These are the Amazon Prime Video releases you need to know about this month.
Amazon Prime is constantly adding new TV shows and films to its platform. And, while this is great and all, it can leave us positively paralysed by choice when it comes to selecting something to watch over a weekend.
With that in mind, we’ve made a point of cherry-picking the very best from the many, many, many new titles on offer.
Here is just a small taste of all the goodness that you will be able to stream on Amazon Prime this August, including Cruel Summer, Annette, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Modern Love season two.
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And don’t worry: we’ll be sure to keep this list fully stocked and updated with all the must-see titles as and when they’re announced.
Val
“For over 40 years, Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood’s most mercurial and/or misunderstood actors has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video,” reads the synopsis for this intimate documentary.
“He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from 16mm home movies made with his brothers, to time spent in iconic roles for blockbuster movies like Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, and Batman Forever.
“This raw, wildly original and unflinching documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled, sometimes hilarious look at what it means to be an artist and a complex man.”
Val is available to stream from 6 August.
Cruel Summer
Cruel Summer takes place over three summers from 1993-1995 in a small Texas town when a “beautiful and popular” local teen called Kate (Olivia Holt) goes missing.
At the same time, a seemingly unrelated girl called Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia) goes from being an “awkward outlier” to the most popular girl in town. However, that doesn’t last long, as by the summer of 1995, she is the most despised person in America.
Cue a twisty-turny psychological thriller… one that’s guaranteed to keep viewers guessing long after the final episode airs.
Modern Love: Season 2
With a ridiculously starry cast, Modern Love: Season 2 promises to deliver the good when it comes to romance and drama.
“An old flame is reignited,” reads the synopsis. “There is a test of friends vs. lovers. A night girl navigates love with her day boy. A romance with an ex’s ex is on the cards. There’s a one-night stand, an impossible promise, and a ghost of a lost lover. And sexuality is explored.”
Modern Love: Season 2 is available to stream from 13 August.
Annette
Set in LA, Annette – which won critics’ hearts at Cannes this year – follows stand-up comedian Henry McHenry (Adam Driver) and his partner Ann Defrasnous (Marion Cotillard), an opera singer, as one of America’s most glamorous couples. But when their baby, Annette, is born with an exceptional destiny, their lives change forever.
Annette is available to stream from 20 August.
Nine Perfect Strangers
Adapted from Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name, Nine Perfect Strangers takes us to Tranquillum House, a remote health retreat run by a mysterious Russian woman named Masha (Nicole Kidman).
It is here that nine strangers, with very little in common, gather for a 10-day-long retreat, but, as you’ve probably guessed, their path to enlightenment doesn’t run smoothly. At all.
The first three episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers will launch on Amazon Prime Video on Friday 20 August. The remaining five episodes will be added weekly until the finale on Friday 24 September.
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So, what else is on Amazon Prime Video? Here’s our pick of the platform’s best releases from the past 12 months.
Horizon Line
In the mood for one seriously tense thriller? Then join Get Out’s Allison Williams in Horizon Line, which sees her play a woman who is a) trapped on a small plane with her ex-boyfriend, and b) forced to fly aforementioned plane to safety after the pilot suffers a heart attack.
Jolt
In this unusual thriller, Kate Beckinsale stars as a bouncer with an anger-management problem. And so, when someone she loves turns up dead, you better believe she embarks on a revenge-fuelled rampage. Stanley Tucci and Laverne Cox also star.
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Mother!
Weirdest horror of all time? Quite possibly, which is why you should watch this twisted tale about a young woman being rattled by a string of uninvited guests arriving at her burnt-out house.
Saint Maud
A disturbed young nurse becomes obsessed with a dying artist in this deeply unsettling horror from Morfydd Clark.
Dom: Season One
This eight-episode series sees a cop forced to go up against his own son when he becomes one of Rio de Janeiro’s most wanted criminals.
National Theatre series
If you fancy dipping into the likes of Fleabag, Hamlet, Frankenstein, and Ian McKellen On Stage, then you’re in luck; a whole host of National Theatre plays will be dropping on Prime Video this June.
Legally Blonde & Legally Blonde 2
How do we love thee, Reese Witherspoon? Dive into the Legally Blonde movies this month and see the actor transform into inspiring Harvard Law student (and 00s icon) Elle Woods once again.
The Mauritanian
There has been a great deal of awards buzz around this film, which sees defence attorney, her associate and a military prosecutor uncover a far-reaching conspiracy while investigating the case of a suspected 9/11 terrorist imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Dissident
This critically acclaimed documentary examines the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared shortly after entering Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.
Palm Springs
With a 95% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film straddles the sci-fi and romcom genres as it weaves a tale of two wedding guests who slowly begin falling for one another after finding themselves stuck in a time loop.
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Them: Covenant
Created by Little Marvin and executive produced by Lena Waithe, this controversial horror anthology series follows a Black family in the 1950s when they move from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighbourhood during the period known as The Great Migration.
Flashforward
After the entire world’s population blacks out for approximately 2 minutes, an elite FBI task force is formed to investigate what caused the global blackout.
Sound of Metal
In this Best Picture nominee, Riz Ahmed stars as a heavy-metal drummer whose life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.
Love Fraud
This four-part documentary follows the search for one man, Richard Scott Smith. Why? Well, because he has spent 20 years using the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love — conning them out of their money and dignity.
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The Breakfast Club
Starring Molly Ringwald, this John Hughes favourite sees five high school students, all with different mindsets, arrive at the school library on a sunny Saturday morning for detention. At first, they hate each other. Big time. As the hours drift by and they start to get to know one another, though, their egos fade, their preconceptions of one another prove false, and they slowly become something not unlike friends.
The Witches
The Witches, starring Anjelica Huston and Rowan Atkinson, is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book of the same name. And, yes, it terrified us as kids. Following Luke Eveshim and his grandma, Helga on holiday, it sees our young hero come face-to-face with a group of child-killing witches at a seaside resort. And the consequences of this are… well, pretty dire, quite frankly.
Argo
This utter doozy of a story takes us back to 1979, when militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, and take 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it’s just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them.
His plan? To pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his “film” crew, obviously.
Coming 2 America
This much-anticipated sequel sees newly-crownedKingAkeem (EddieMurphy) andhis trustedconfidanteSemmi (ArsenioHall) embarkonanall-newhilariousadventurethathasthem traversing the globe from their great African nation of Zamunda to the borough of Queens, New York – where it allbegan.
How To Be Single
After four years of college, Alice (Dakota Johnson) decides she needs a break from her long-term boyfriend Josh. Excited and ready for new challenges, the eager grad moves to New York to take a job as a paralegal. Helping her navigate her way through an unfamiliar city is Robin (Rebel Wilson), a fun-loving, wild co-worker who enjoys partying and one-night stands. With Robin as her freewheeling guide, Alice can now learn how to get free drinks, meet men and find out (drum roll, please) how to be single.
The Notebook
The Notebook has long been held up as one of the greatest romantic movies of our time. From the schmaltzy ending, to that sizzling kiss in the rain, the Nicholas Sparks drama is packed full of iconic scenes – and Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s performance has inspired a lot of fans to “love one another with all my heart and soul” over the years. So, yeah, we’re probably going to be streaming the hell out of it when it lands on Prime Video this month.
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The Stand
This nail-biting series, starring Whoopi Goldberg and James Marsden, is set in an not-so-distant future, where our world has been ravaged by a killer virus and its survivors find themselves locked in a struggle between good and evil.
Soulmates
Soulmates sends us rocketing 15 years into the future when science makes a discovery that changes the lives of everyone on the planet – a way to find your soulmate. All it takes is one simple test.
Bliss
In this sci-fi romance, Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek believe they are living in a simulated reality. When their newfound “Bliss” world begins to bleed into the “ugly” world, though, they must decide what’s real and where they truly belong.
Greenland
Starring Gerard Butler, Greenland is yet another disaster movie about a comet heading for Earth.
Escape From Pretoria
Daniel Radcliffe takes the lead in this drama as a man imprisoned for working on behalf of the African National Congress, who soon determines to escape from the notorious Pretoria Prison.
I Care A Lot
Rosamund Pike is back at her villainous best in I Care A Lot, which sees her star as a shady legal guardian. For years, she’s forced elderly people into care homes and stripped them of their cash. Her power is undeniable. But she soon finds herself in hot water when she tries to bilk a woman who has ties to a powerful gangster…
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This Is Us: Season 5
Kevin and Randall’s troubled relationship will also be explored in season five takes centre stage in the fifth season of This Is Us, as well as Rebecca’s ailing health and battle with dementia.
And don’t worry: the big-hearted drama won’t be skipping over the ups and (let’s face it, mostly) downs of 2020 when it returns, including Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Rental
The Rental sees two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying on them. And you can guess what happens next: their celebratory weekend trip turns into something far more sinister.
Essentially, it’s a horror film about an Airbnb stay gone wrong, as well-kept secrets are exposed and the four old friends come to see each other in a whole new light.
After We Collided
Based on the 2014 new adult fiction novel of the same name by Anna Todd, and the sequel to After, this romantic drama seesTessa find herself struggling with her complicated relationship with Hardin; she faces a dilemma that could change their lives forever.
One Night In Miami
Set on a fictional night in 1964, One Night in Miami follows a young, brash Cassius Clay as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center the new Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World.
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Sylvie’s Love
Tessa Thompson stars as the eponymous Sylvie in this romantic drama, which sees her character embark upon a summer romance with a saxophonist who takes a summer job at her father’s record store in Harlem. When they reconnect years later, though, they discover that their feelings for each other have not faded with the years.
Please note that all other titles on this list became available to stream on Amazon Prime Video before January 2021.
The Wilds
The Wilds – which has been described as being “part survival drama, part dystopic slumber party” – explores the past and present struggles of a group of young women from radically different backgrounds after an airplane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island.
Essentially, it’s very Lost meets Pretty Little Liars, and we’re into it.
Truth Seekers
Shaun Of The Dead stars Nick Frost and Simon Pegg are teaming up again for a hilarious tale of paranormal investigators called Truth Seekers.
Parasite
Parasite – as in, yes, Bong Joon-ho’s 2020 Oscars winner – isn’t just a comedy: it’s a powerful takedown of modern society, too. Because, as it examines the symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan, it forces us to confront our beliefs around wealth, greed, and class discrimination.
1917
Set during World War I, 1917 follows two British soldiers as they receive seemingly impossible orders: to cross over into enemy territory and deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades.
Savage x Fenty Vol 2
The Savage x Fenty fashion show will feature dancing, performance art, celebrities, and musical numbers, as well as Rihanna’s Fall 2020 line.
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The Craft (2020)
Assemble your coven, because Zoe Lister-Jones’ reboot of 90s classic The Craft is coming to Amazon Prime – and just in time for Halloween, too!
“A remake of the 1996 supernatural teen thriller,” reads the official synopsis. “When starting at a new school, Hannah befriends Tabby, Lourdes, and Frankie and quickly becomes the fourth member of their Clique. Hannah soon learns that she somehow brings great power to the quartet.”
Starring Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone, and Zoey Luna as our bewitching quartet, it’s worth noting that the reboot is produced by horror movie giant Blumhouse Productions, which means it has the potential to be a little spookier than the original.
The Boys: Season 2
The old adage “never meet your heroes” feels all too relevant when it comes to Amazon Prime’s The Boys (aka one of the streaming platform’s best TV shows to date).
Based on the 2006-12 comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the satirical series plunges us headfirst into a world in which superheroes dominate the culture, their stories told in films and their faces plastered all over merchandise.
The first season, of course, ended on a cliffhanger. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) – aka the leader of the show’s eponymous band of vigilantes waging war against corrupt corporate-owned superhero team The Seven – was dumped on the doorstep of his wife.
As in, yeah, the wife he believed to be dead. Interesting, huh?
In season two, the fight is even more brutal as so-called super terrorists enter the fray, and sensitive real-world issues are tackled head-on.
Don’t worry, though: the show may be darker and grittier, but it remains as hilarious as ever, too.
You can find out more about The Boys here.
Bend It Like Beckham
We all know the story: Jess (Parminder Nagra) bends the rules so that she can achieve her dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Despite her obvious skills on the pitch, though, her traditional parents refuse to even consider it and want her to hang up her football boots, find a nice boy and learn to cook.
Essentially, feel-good fun – with starring turns from Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, too.
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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Look, we know what you’re thinking: how could this ever compare to the original Jumanji?
Well, we’re here to tell you that this adventure film – starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black – is every bit as fun as the classic we all know and love.
And, better still, it gives the story a modern twist as four students are drawn to the jungle world of Jumanji via a magical video game.
Will they finish the game and return to the real world? Or will they remain trapped as their avatars forever?
Bombshell
Charlize Theron produces – and stars in – Bombshell’s recount of the Fox News scandal in which numerous female staffers accused Roger Ailes of sexual harassment and misconduct.
Theron stars as divisive Conservative high-profile anchor Megyn Kelly. Nicole Kidman, meanwhile, is Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America who was bumped off a primetime slot when she dared to address the sexism at the establishment and sues Ailes himself for sexual harassment. Then there is Margot Robbie’s Kayla, aka the only one of the three women who is not an actual person but a combination of real women who spoke up.
Fancy learning more about the Oscar-nominated film? You can read Stylist’s review of Bombshell here.
War Of The Worlds
Coming to Amazon Prime on 12 September, this sci-fi film follows dockworker Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) as he struggles to build a positive relationship with his two children, Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin).
When his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), drops them off at Ferrier’s house, it seems as though it will be just another tension-filled weekend.
However, when electromagnetic pulses of lightning strike the area, the strange event turns out to be the beginning of an alien invasion, and Ferrier must now protect his children as they seek refuge.
Utopia
This Amazon Prime series – helmed by Gone Girl’s Gillian Flynn – follows a group of die-hard comic fans, who meet online and bond over their obsession with a seemingly fictional comic called (you guessed it) ‘Utopia’.
However, it’s not long before they wind up unearthing hidden meanings within the comic book’s pages, predicting threats to humanity. And these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world.
Cue the group embarking on a high-stakes adventure, bringing them face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde, who joins them on their mission to save the world… or so they assume.
Oh yeah: Hyde is harbouring a deep secret of her own. Gulp.
You can find out more about Utopia – coming to Amazon Prime on 25 September – here.
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Hanna: Season 2
Based on Joe Wright’s 2011 action film starring Saoirse Ronan, the first season of Amazon Prime Video’s Hanna proved extraordinarily popular with fans of the streaming platform.
For those who don’t know the story already, the show focuses on an enigmatic teenager, Hanna (Esmé Creed-Miles), who has been raised in total seclusion in the remote woods of Eastern Europe. Hidden between the trees, she spent her entire young life training to fight those who hunt her and her mercenary father, Erik Heller (Joel Kinnaman).
Why? Well, in season one, we saw her survivalist skills put to the test when rogue CIA operative, Marissa Wiegler (Mireille Enos) stumbled into her woodland hideaway. As in, the very same Marissa who once worked with Erik to create an army of genetically-weaponised girls (dubbed the Utrax Regenesis).
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That’s right: Erik isn’t Hanna’s biological father. Once upon a time, when he was still the main recruiter of pregnant mothers for the programme, he met and fell in love with Hanna’s mother. Tragically, she died while they escaped trying to protect Hanna as a baby, leaving him to raise the little girl alone in the Polish wilderness. Phew.
Season two of Hanna is predicted to pick up where the first left off: Erik injured, Hanna on the run from the operatives who seek to destroy her. However, many believe it will also heavily focus on Hanna’s ‘sisters’ and their progress as trainees within the programme, too.
Watch the trailer for yourself below:
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
We all know and love the story of Toula, a Greek woman trying to come to terms with her heritage, who falls in love with a non-Greek man, and has to convince her family to accept him.
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Unraveling Athena
Directed by Francis Amat, this documentary – which took four years to make – explores the lives and experiences of some of the world’s most extraordinary female athletes, charting their journey from small child with a large racket, to ranked player, to WTA number one in the world, and beyond.
Featuring contributions from more than 20 number one ranked tennis players, expect to see interviews with international superstars such as Billie Jean King, Martina Hingis, Tracy Austin, Evonne Goolagong, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova.
Together, these women paint an inspiring tale of perseverance, and provide not just a unique insight into the mind of the professional athlete, but a single, unified narrative of modern-day sporting heroics, too.
Absentia: Season 3
In season three, heroine Emily Byrne (Stana Katic) is serving out the final days of her FBI suspension . But, when an international criminal case hits too close to home, she is forced to join forces with her ex-husband, special agent Nick Durand (Patrick Heusinger) in a bid to confront the larger conspiracy brewing.
How To Build A Girl
How To Build A Girl – based on Caitlin Moran’s non-fiction memoir of the same name – introduces us to Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein), a young Wolverhampton local who’s struggling to get to grips with the “incredible unfolding” that comes with puberty. We see her figure out what to call her vagina, teach herself about masturbation, battle her raging hormones and navigate all the usual issues that come with being a teenage girl.
Desperate to get out of her home town and make a name for herself, she eventually moves to London, where she reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde, a fast-talking lady sex-adventurer and music critic. Gaining notoriety as an enfant terrible, she has finally figured out how to build a girl – but is this the girl she wanted to build?
You can find out everything there is to know about this star-studded film here. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer for yourself below:
Knives Out
The Thrombey family is gathered at their rural compound when a murder most foul takes place. Who is the guilty party? And will they get away with it? Director Rian Johnson’s new film assembles an all star cast including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette and Ana de Armas to investigate.
Read our review of this excellent movie here.
Main image: Starzplay/Amazon Prime/New Line Cinema
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