August is shaping up to be another exciting month for film and television, with long-awaited returns, acclaimed festival favorites, and highly anticipated finales arriving on both the big and small screens. Whether you’re looking for absurd comedy, a treasure-hunting adventure, or pulse-pounding thrills, there’s plenty to add to your watchlist. Here are our top screen picks for August:
1. Ted Lasso Season 4
Get ready to believe once more. After a three-year break, everyone’s favorite fictional football coach is back to lead a whole new team. Jason Sudeikis reprises his role as the lovable Ted as he returns to the United Kingdom to coach AFC Richmond’s brand-new women’s football team, put together by Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) and Keeley (Juno Temple). Expect plenty of familiar faces from the first three Emmy-winning seasons, including Brett Goldstein’s grumpy Roy Kent.
Streaming on Apple TV August 5.
2. Call My Manager Season 1
Judy Ann Santos and Edu Manzano play hardworking but overworked talent managers in this local adaptation of the hit French comedy Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!). The series follows them as they navigate the wild world of local show business, from keeping their clients happy to securing a tricky deal for an international project. Like the French original, each episode features Filipino celebrities playing comedic and exaggerated versions of themselves. The guest list includes heavy hitters like Maricel Soriano, Janine Gutierrez, and Dolly de Leon.
Streaming on HBO Max August 13.
3. Outer Banks Season 5
The Pogues are back for one last ride, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In the fifth and final season of the hit teen drama, John B (Chase Stokes), Sarah (Madelyn Cline), and the rest of the treasure-hunting gang are still reeling from the (spoiler alert) murder of their friend JJ at the end of Season 4. Seeking to avenge their friend, the Pogues set out to track down JJ’s killer and reclaim the mystical treasure known as the Blue Crown. Legend says the Blue Crown has the power to bring people back from the dead, making this mission even more important.
Streaming on Netflix August 20.
4. Filipiñana
After winning a Special Jury Award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, director Rafael Manuel’s debut feature makes its way to local theaters as an SM Cinema exclusive this month. This dark comedy about class disparities and privilege follows a 17-year-old girl who uncovers the disturbing secrets hidden behind the scenes at an elite golf club. The film is also set to close the Cinemalaya Film Festival on August 16.
Premiering at Cinemalaya August 16; in SM Cinemas August 26.
5. Hope
From award-winning South Korean director Na Hong-jin (The Wailing) comes an action-packed sci-fi thriller about a local community ravaged by a mysterious creature. Korean actors Hwang Jung-min (Deliver Us from Evil), Zo In-sung (Moving), and Hoyeon (Squid Game) star alongside Michael Fassbender (The Killer), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), and Taylor Russell (Bones and All). The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
In theaters August 26.
Theaters will offer a mix of genres throughout August, including the dinosaur thriller The End of Oak Street starring Anne Hathaway (August 12), horror film Insidious: Out of the Further (August 19), and romantic comedy One Night Only (August 26). Also, support local cinema at the Cinemalaya Film Festival, which runs from August 6 to 16.
Over on TV and streaming, the new Ryan Murphy series The Shards premieres on August 5, while nostalgia-seekers can enjoy Camp Rock 3 on August 13. Superhero fans can also start watching Lanterns, a series based on DC’s Green Lantern Corps, on August 16.
From heartfelt comedies and acclaimed local cinema to edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventures, August has something for every film and TV fan. Whether you’re welcoming back beloved characters, saying goodbye to fan favorites, or discovering something new, there’s plenty to look forward to. Grab your favorite snacks and settle in.