What to watch on Netflix, Disney+,  Amazon Prime Video, Neon, and DocPlay in August

As the year rattles towards its conclusion, there's no sign of the streaming services letting their foot off the pedal in terms of great stuff to watch.

Here's some of the best of what to watch on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Neon, and DocPlay in August 2021.

The Dissident (DocPlay, August 5)

The Dissident, from Academy Award-winning director Bryan Fogel, is a documentary thriller that plays out at the highest levels of power as it exposes the labyrinth of deceit behind Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul. Offering a wealth of never-before-seen footage and unprecedented access to those closest to the story—including Khashoggi’s fiancé Hatice Cengiz, Turkish police and prosecutors, and the young Saudi dissident Khashoggi was working with

A story of money, tyranny and technology run amok. Every bit of evidence points directly at Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has stopped at nothing to suppress the story around the world.

A powerful, frightening look at an international cover up that illustrates that in today’s world, no one who goes against powerful forces is truly safe. 

VAL (Amazon Prime Video, August 6)

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. 

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.

Cruel Summer (Amazon Prime Video, August 6)

Cruel Summer is an unconventional 10 part series that takes place over three summers in the 90s when a beautiful and popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America. Each episode is told from alternating POVs. 

What If....? (Disney+, August 11)

What If…? flips the script on the MCU, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways. Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles. 

Star Trek: Lower Decks S2 (Amazon Prime Video, August 13)

Your favourite scrappy undergods of the U.S.S. Cerritos returns with exciting new adventures in the

second season of animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. 

Developed by Emmy Award-winner Mike mad McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites) and featuring the voices of Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome, along with cameos from Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and more.

Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes (Netflix, August 18)

British serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell. The serial killer returned to the spotlight recently with the David Tennant-led drama series.

Nine Perfect Strangers (Amazon Prime Video, August 20)

From best-selling author Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies) based on a novel by the same name, Nine Perfect Strangers takes place at a retreat at health and wellness resort Tranquillum House which promises total transformation.

In this eight-part limited series, nine stressed city dwellers with vastly different backgrounds are keen to drop their literal and mental baggage. Their issues are very different, but Masha Dmitrichenko, the resort director (played by Nicole Kidman), is convinced that her unconventional interventions – the details of which the guests are largely unaware – will successfully cure them.

As the ten-day programme progresses, led with her aides Yao (Manny Jacinto) and Delilah (Tiffany Boone), Masha’s methods tip from unconventional to downright dangerous....

Cinema Toast (Neon, August 21)

This anthology series pieces together footage from public domain movies to tell new and unique stories.
Weird and baffling, but surreal and entertaining, the voice talent is the show's drawcard - and its out there ethos from the Duplass Brothers production makes it something different.

Clickbait (Netflix, August 25)

In this thriller series, eight different points of view provide tantalising clues to the perpetrator of a gruesome crime fuelled by social media.

Twin Peaks S1 (August 26, Neon)

Still the best, the original series of David Lynch's slice of smalltown weirdness makes a welcome return to the small screen streaming world. Head back to a time when cherry pie, damn fine coffee and a smalltown murder gripped the TV-viewing world and the watercooler.

This is essential TV - no matter how many times you've seen it.

James & Isey (August 26, DocPlay)

A Northland Celebration of Life and Aroha like no other.

Genuine New Zealand treasures Isey and James invite us into their lives in the week leading up to Isey’s 100th birthday. Florian Habicht, the director of Kaikohe Demolition, captures a Northland celebration of life and aroha like no other in a documentary that has swept the New Zealand box office and become one of the highest grossing docos of all time.

Cruella (August 27, Disney +)

Disney’s Cruella follows the early days of one of cinema’s most notorious and notoriously fashionable villains. During the 1970s London punk rock revolution, a young grifter (Emma Stone), transforms herself into the raucous, revenge-bent Cruella de Vil. 

A punky, spunky blast on the iconic villain, Emma Stone owns this origin tale from beginning to end.

Only Murders in the Building (August 31, Star)

Starring Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Only Murders In The Building follows three strangers who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one as they investigate the mysterious death of a neighbour in their New York City apartment building.