August bridges the gap between summer blockbusters and the holiday season with a mix of exciting, fun, and original releases—both in theaters and from the comfort of home. Among the big premieres this month: a sequel 22 years in the making, a fierce clash of worldwide drag, and a film that critics are calling one of the scariest movies of the year.
Whether you’re looking for comedy, romance, horror, or competition, August has it all. Here are our top picks for this month:
1. Freakier Friday
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return as mother and daughter Tess and Anna in this body-swap Disney comedy hoping to bank on millennial nostalgia of the popular 2003 movie Freaky Friday. To raise the stakes this time around—not one, not two, not three— but four characters are going to swap bodies as Anna’s daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter join the hijinx.
In cinemas August 6.
2. Materialists
If you’ve seen writer-director Celine Song’s Oscar-nominated film Past Lives (and if you haven’t, why not?), then you have to be excited for her follow-up. Starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, Materialists follows a matchmaker (Johnson) pursued by her struggling actor ex-boyfriend (Evans) and a wealthy financier (Pascal). If it’s anything like Past Lives, expect swoon-worthy scenes and heartbreaking moments.
In cinemas August 6.
3. Weapons
A whole classroom of children mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time in Zach Cregger’s terrifying and haunting new film about a community that deals with this bizarre, inexplicable event. Everyone’s eyes fall on Justine (Julia Garner), the teacher of the missing children. This is Cregger’s follow-up to the twisted and critically-acclaimed 2022 horror film Barbarian.
In cinemas August 6.
4. Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale
Get ready to rumble as Asian drag queens from all over the world compete for a crown in this spin-off of Drag Race Philippines. Hosted by Paolo Ballesteros and featuring a slate of crowned queens from across the world as guest judges (including Sasha Colby, Jimbo, and Alyssa Edwards), Slaysian Royale will pit five returning queens from the Philippines as they square off with All Stars from franchises set in the US, the UK, France, Belgium, Thailand, Canada, and Australia.
Streaming on WOW Presents Plus August 13.
5. One Hit Wonder
Khalil Ramos and Sue Ramirez lead this nostalgic Netflix Original rom-com written and directed by Marla Ancheta (Doll House). Set during the height of the 1990s OPM boom, it follows two aspiring singers—one convinced their shot at fame has come and gone, the other still holding on to hope. Together, they team up to create new music that might just bring them success, stardom, and possibly even love.
Streaming on Netflix August 21.
Get ready for romance, scares, fierce fashion, and the ultimate nostalgia trips as you watch these five titles this August. What are you most excited for this month?