Best Movies Streaming in August 2026: Michael, Oppenheimer and More

The King of Pop is headed to streaming. “Michael,” the musical biopic that follows Michael Jackson’s career, will begin streaming on Starz on Aug. 10 after grossing $1 billion at the worldwide box office this spring to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, “Michael” chronicles Jackson’s rise to fame, covering his involvement in the Jackson 5 band with his brothers in the 1960s to his “Bad” tour in the late 1980s. Jackson is played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, and as a child by Juliano Valdi, both making their film debuts.

With Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” shattering box office expectations and heading to a $1 billion worldwide haul in movie theaters, now is the perfect time for his Oscar winner “Oppenheimer” to return to streaming on Peacock. The biographical drama earned $955 million at the worldwide box office in 2023 (a staggering haul for a three hour, R-rated biopic) and won seven Oscars, including best picture, director, actor for Cillian Murphy and supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. The drama was named the best film of 2023 by Variety critic Owen Gleiberman.

David Lowery’s “Mother Mary,” starring Anne Hathaway as a damaged pop star seeking to reclaim her glory, did not set the box office on fire for A24 earlier this year. The movie’s $2.9 million gross disappointed, although here’s hoping more moviegoers discover its wicked charms on streaming this month when it debuts on HBO Max. The movie follows Hathaway as a pop star who, after abandoning her tour due to an existential crisis, seeks out an old friend and fashion designer, Sam (a hypnotizing Michaela Coel), who helped craft her public persona. “Mother Mary” features original songs written by Jack Antonoff, Charli xcx and FKA Twigs, who also appears in the film.

“Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live)” will premiere Aug. 6 on Paramount+. The concert movie was released in theaters on May 8 and grossed $10 million in the United States and Canada, plus $27 million worldwide. Eilish co-directed alongside James Cameron. Filmed during Eilish’s shows on her sold-out headline tour, the project marks her third concert film. The performances were captured at two arenas: one in Manchester, England, and one in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kat Coiro’s romantic comedy “You, Me & Tuscany” arrives on Peacock this month after earning $22 million in theaters worldwide earlier this year. Halle Bailey stars as an aspiring chef who finds herself squatting in a Tuscan villa by posing as the owner’s fiancé. Then she falls in love with the owner’s relative, played by “Bridgerton” favorite Regé-Jean Page. Variety’s review was mixed, with praise for the performers but notes for the script: “‘You, Me & Tuscany’ passes the time painlessly enough, but it’s never quite the escape it wants to be: It’s packaged so familiarly and so cautiously, we hardly believe its celebration of free, restlessly wandering impulse.”

Disney revives one of its most classic franchises this month with the arrival of “Camp Rock 3,” which brings the Jonas Brothers back as the fictional band Connect 3 for a new story in which the group heads to the eponymous camp to find the opening act for their reunion tour. An official synopsis teases: “As campers vie for the chance to open for their favorite band, tensions rise and friendships are tested — leading to unexpected alliances, revelations and romances.”

Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut “Is God Is” was named one of the best movies of 2026 so far by Variety: “A marvelous writer, Harris is conversant in the languages of both ruthless exploitation cinema and radical feminist theatre, with filmmaking brio to match. Whatever she makes next, here’s hoping more attention is paid.” This “furiously visceral and caustically funny female revenge drama” centers on twin sisters (Tony winner Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) who seek revenge on the abusive father who wronged them. Sterling K. Brown, Janelle Monae and Vivica A. Fox co-star.

Wagner Moura and Greta Lee headline Netflix’s supernatural thriller “The Last House,” from director Louis Leterrier. The synopsis reads: “A family of four are suddenly sealed inside their home with no way out, and must work together to survive against both their dwindling resources and the mysterious, looming threat that is keeping them trapped.” Given the “trapped inside” vs. “outside threat” plot set up, don’t be surprised if “The Last House” becomes a Netflix blockbuster in the same vein as 2023’s “Leave the World Behind.”

Netflix’s crime thriller “The Whisper Man” is produced by “Avengers” duo Joe and Anthony Russo and based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. The synopsis reads: “When his 8-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as The Whisper Man.” The cast features Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Acston Luca Porto and Will Brill.

The latest collaboration between Netflix and Adam Sandler’s production company Happy Madison may surprise fans. Starring Sandler’s daughter Sunny opposite Melanie Lynskey and Max Greenfield, “Don’t Say Good Luck” is a coming-of-age comedy drama about a high school theater student whose pursuit to land the lead role in a musical is complicated by her mother’s illness. The movie comes from Julia Hart, the director behind “Miss Stevens,” “Fast Color,” “Stargirl” and “I’m Your Woman,” all of which are miles away from the juvenile humor that Sandler’s production company is known for churning out. 

Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers” stars Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel and centers on the children of a famous artist who hire a forger to complete some of his unfinished works so that they can increase their inheritance upon his death. The movie was named a Variety Critic’s Pick: “In what could have easily been a play, but is far more satisfying on screen, the two English actors attempt to outwit one another as an aging artist and the forger hired to complete a key project from his past.”

Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander and Jude Law team up in Olivier Assayas’ political thriller “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestseller of the same name. Law takes on the role of Vladimir Putin while Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a young artist-turned-TV producer who unexpectedly becomes Putin’s spin doctor in the early 1990s after the USSR’s collapse.

The Rupert Wyatt-directed epic “Desert Warrior” was an infamous box office flop this spring, but perhaps all the headlines over the movie’s theatrical demise will increase interest on streaming when it arrives on Hulu this month. The movie is the most expensive feature film to come out of the Middle East to date. “Desert Warrior” is set 1,500 years ago and picks up in the aftermath of emperor Kisra II (Ben Kingsley) ordering his subjects to surrender their daughters to serve as concubines. Princess Hind (Aiysha Hart) links up with a nameless bandit (Anthony Mackie) to avoid persecution as the duo is chased across the desert by the emperor’s bloodthirsty commander (Sharlto Copley).

The description for the Netflix original anime feature “The Ribbon Hero” reads: “Yuki Igarashi, regarded as one of the industry’s most versatile animators, directs the film. He first drew wide attention for the sophisticated animation he handled alone as key animator on the ending sequence of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Season 1. His directorial debut, Star Wars: Visions – Lop & Ochō,’ received high praise in Japan and abroad for its delicate storytelling and dynamic action scenes. ‘The Ribbon Hero’ marks Igarashi’s first time directing a feature-length film. Bringing together a team of highly skilled creators, the film depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world and brought to life through polished action.”

Renny Harlin’s “The Strangers” trilogy continues with a second installment that finds Maya (Madeline Petsch) wounded in a hospital, mourning the death of her fiancé at the end of 2024’s “Chapter 1.” But she can’t sit around healing for too long, as the three masked killers are almost immediately after her again. Instead of running, Maya eventually chooses to stand her ground and fight back.

Ben Wheatley teams up with Bob Odenkirk and “John Wick” screenwriter Derek Kolstad to helm “Normal,” an action comedy in which Odenkirk’s new sheriff finds himself in over his head when he starts investigating a botched bank robbery. Henry Winkler and Lena Headey also star in the movie. From Variety’s review: “‘Normal’ is pretty much exactly what you’d expect, just a lot more fun… the movie lets audiences think it’s going to be one thing for the first half-hour or so, then turns on a dime once the bank is robbed.”

From Amazon Prime Video: “Based on the beloved novel, ‘The Last Sunrise’ follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a college student with a chronic illness, on a summer escape to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria). As she unexpectedly falls for Julián (Fernando Lindez) and begins to embrace living in the moment, her worsening condition and long-hidden family secrets threaten to unravel everything before the summer ends.”

Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds play a married couple come undone during a trip to Amsterdam in drama thriller “Midwinter Break,” adapted from the 2017 novel of the same name by Bernard MacLaverty. From Variety’s review: “The director, Polly Findlay, presents her film in a fluid and fastidious prestige-teleplay-of-the-week way. She creates a generous space for her actors, who turn what might have been a rather staid movie — and still, at times, is — into a meticulous duet.”

The Blumhouse horror sequel “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” arrives on Netflix this month after debuting on Peacock earlier this year. Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Lail star in the horror feature from returning franchise director Emma Tammi. The movie earned $239 million at the worldwide box office last winter, good enough to put a third movie into development. 

Written, directed by and starring Aziz Ansari, “Good Fortune” follows Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), a well-meaning but inept angel who meddles in the lives of a struggling worker (Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen). Sandra Oh and Keke Palmer also star. The film marks Ansari’s feature directorial debut following his stint as the star and creator of Netflix’s “Master of None.” From Variety’s review: “The comedian borrows tropes from vintage studio movies — including meddling angels and ‘Freaky Friday’-style identity swaps — to make a timely critique of the gig economy.”

“Asphalt City” stars Tye Sheridan as Ollie Cross, a young paramedic in New York City who is mentored by Sean Penn’s more-experienced EMT. The two are forced to face extreme violence during their shifts, from blood-soaked gunshot wounds to disturbing scenes of domestic violence and life-threatening pregnancies, forcing Ollie to confront his beliefs about life and death. Legendary boxer Mike Tyson also stars in the film as Chief Burroughs, Sheridan and Penn’s superior officer.