The Ultimate Guide to What to Watch on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max, and More in August 2025

Summer 2025 is closing out the way it started: with a relatively quiet TV premiere schedule. The good news is that August does in fact have more high-profile shows than the last few months, including the first half of Wednesday's second season (yes, you read that correctly — the rest drops in September), John Cena's Peacemaker Season 2, and the new series Alien: Earth. The Outlander prequel, Blood of My Blood, also premieres this month, as does Long Story Short, a new animated series from the creator of BoJack Horseman. Over on the streaming movies end, there's the Eddie Murphy-Pete Davidson action comedy The Pickup, the Netflix rom-com My Oxford Year, and animation icon Genndy Tartakovsky's Fixed.

Our guide to the best TV and streaming movies in August is divided into three sections: the best shows to watch this month, the best shows to watch by streaming service, and a calendar of TV highlights. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it below.

More: 

• The ultimate guide to what to watch in September
• The complete guide to summer TV
• The new TV shows coming this summer
• The most anticipated shows coming this summer
• All the renewed and canceled shows in August
• The ultimate guide to what to watch in July

The best shows to watch in August 

Chief of War (Aug. 1, Apple TV+)

When Jason Momoa takes on a passion project, he really commits. Momoa learned Olelo Hawai'i, the Hawaiian language, to star in Chief of War, a series he co-created and executive produced with Thomas Pa'a Sibbett; he also directed the finale. The show, which features a predominantly Polynesian cast, is a historical epic about the unification of Hawaii, following the warrior Ka'iana (Momoa) as he tries to unite the islands before Western colonization in the late 18th century. The stories behind the scenes are also worth digging into; previewing the series for GQ, Momoa and Sibbett discussed their unique casting process — including recruiting taro farmer Kaina Makua to play Kamehameha without an audition — and bringing in cultural advisors for every department. And for the record, Game of Thrones fans: Momoa says that learning Olelo Hawai'i was much harder than mastering Dothraki. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 (Aug. 6) 

Wednesday Season 2 is coming, and the excitement is very much alive for a show that's all about death — and Wednesday Addams' (Jenna Ortega) fascination with death. Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and executive produced by Tim Burton, the Netflix series is promising to return bigger and better, with new cast members including Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton, and Christopher Lloyd — and even an appearance by Lady Gaga as a legendary Nevermore teacher. -Kat Moon [Trailer] [Everything to know about Wednesday Season 2] 

Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Aug. 8, Starz)

How does the epic romance Outlander expand its franchise with a spin-off? With another epic romance, natch. The prequel Blood of My Blood, which isn't based on an existing Diana Gabaldon novel, follows the love stories of Jamie's and Claire's parents in the early 18th century Scottish Highlands and WWI England, respectively. And in case you thought time travel was limited just to the original series, think again. The trailer proves that jumping through time and space runs in the family. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Alien: Earth (Aug. 12, Hulu)

It was only a matter of time before the Alien franchise got the TV treatment. Alien: Earth, which is written and directed by Fargo's Noah Hawley, functions as a prequel to the first Alien film, chronicling what happens in the aftermath of the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-landing on Earth. Out of that research vessel comes a discovery that forces a group of tactical soldiers to contend with a dangerous threat. And if you know anything about the Alien movies, you probably have an idea of what that threat is. -Allison Picurro [Trailer] [Everything we know about Alien: Earth]

Butterfly (Aug. 13, Prime Video)

Daniel Dae Kim stars as a spy on the run in this adaptation of the 2015 graphic novel by Arash Amel and Marguerite Bennett. Kim's character finds himself pursued by an assassin after a choice he made years ago comes back to bite him in the behind. It was filmed in both South Korea and the United States, and is expected to feature dialogue in both Korean and English. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Aug. 20, Hulu)

Hulu's latest true-crime dramatization is tackling a familiar case. Created by This Is Us' K.J. Steinberg and executive produced by Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-episode limited series that follows Knox's wrongful conviction and its aftermath — exploring, in Steinberg's words, "the anatomy of bias." Tell Me Lies' Grace Van Patten stars as Knox, taking over for Margaret Qualley, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer] 

Hostage (Aug. 21)

No one does thrillers quite like the British, which is why we're high on this tense-looking limited series. Hostage stars Suranne Jones as the prime minister, whose husband is taken hostage by bad guys, and further complicating things, the visiting French president is blackmailed, pitting the two leaders against each other in a fight to save their political careers, and possibly their own lives. This is a good chance to see why Jones, who has had some exposure in America thanks to HBO's Gentleman Jack, is so beloved in her native England. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Peacemaker Season 2 (Aug. 21, HBO Max)

Peacemaker fans are nothing if not patient. The last time we saw John Cena's titular antihero was in 2022 (unless you caught his brief cameo in James Gunn's Superman), but he and his gang of misfits are finally set to return in August. While Gunn has remained tight-lipped on details, we do know that the second season will connect Peacemaker to the new DC Universe. And while the first teaser does indeed show Chris auditioning for a new super-team run by Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), Season 2 remains linked to the defunct DC Extended Universe in at least one way: Peacemaker will be forced to atone for his murder of Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) in Gunn's The Suicide Squad when Flag's father, played by Frank Grillo, shows up to avenge his son. -Allison Picurro [Trailer] [Everything we know about Peacemaker Season 2]

Long Story Short (Aug. 22)

BoJack Horseman was one of the great TV shows of the past 10 years, which makes us especially excited about Raphael Bob-Waksberg's new animated series, Long Story Short. Netflix hasn't released many details about the series, but so far we know that the animated comedy (likely thing for Bob-Waksberg to make) will follow a family through the years, jumping around from childhood to adulthood and back again. The voice cast includes Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Nicole Byer, Dave Franco, and Ben Feldman. -Allison Picurro [Teaser] 

What's on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and more in August

Netflix's best new shows and movies in August

The second season of Wednesday is about to dominate the press cycle, so let's offer a little reprieve by focusing on the other notable new releases coming to Netflix in August. Fellow BoJack Horseman fans, clear your calendars on Aug. 22 for Long Story Short, the new animated comedy from BoJack creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg that follows a family throughout the years. Also coming in August is Hostage, a British limited series thriller about a prime minister (Suranne Jones) who must walk the fine line between family and politics when her husband is taken by terrorists, and the documentary The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, which goes deep into the 2019 incident that saw Smollett on trial for staging a hate crime. Here's our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix in August, plus everything coming to and leaving Netflix in August.

More on Netflix:

• The best shows on Netflix right now
• The best movies on Netflix right now

HBO Max's best new shows and movies in August

HBO Max only has one major TV premiere in August, but at least it's a good one: Peacemaker, the James Gunn-created, John Cena-starring superhero show, is finally coming back for its second season. Peacemaker dropped its first season in 2022, which might as well be a decade ago, though it returns at a particularly good time to be part of the newly revamped DC Universe, coming off the heels of Gunn's Superman. Also coming to HBO and HBO Max in August are a new stand-up special from Marc Maron, the HBO true crime docuseries The Yogurt Shop Murders, and the premieres of films like Final Destination Bloodlines and Freaky Tales, which stars a very eclectic cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Tom Hanks, and Normani. Here's our list of the best shows and movies on HBO Max in August, plus everything coming to HBO Max in August.

More on HBO Max:

• The best movies on HBO Max right now
• The best shows on HBO Max right now
• HBO Max review: Everything to know about the streaming service

Amazon Prime Video's best new shows and movies in August

Prime Video is finishing up the summer movie season with one last splashy film that it hopes will become a home box office hit. The Pickup stars Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson as mismatched armored car drivers who get pulled into a scheme to steal $60 million from a casino, and it checks all two boxes required of an action comedy: explosions and wisecracks. The better option in August is Daniel Dae Kim's action drama series Butterfly, which is adapted from a graphic novel and stars Kim as a spy whose past comes back to haunt him. There's also the final season of Greg Daniels' comedy Upload and the series premiere of the Terminal List spin-off Dark Wolf. Here's our list of the best shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video in August, plus everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in August. 

More on Prime Video: 

• The best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video right now
• The best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now
• Amazon Prime Video pricing, channels, and deals

Hulu's best new shows and movies in August

At Hulu headquarters, no one can hear you scream. But they might just go ahead and assume you're screaming if you tune in for Alien: Earth. Noah Hawley's hotly anticipated FX series, a prequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror classic, isn't just Hulu's biggest title premiering in August — it's this summer's biggest new TV blockbuster by a long shot. Start stocking up on popcorn now. Still, you aren't out of luck if aliens aren't your thing. Hulu's August offerings also include the King of the Hill revival; Necaxa, a docuseries from Eva Longoria and the Welcome to Wrexham team about Longoria's attempt to revitalize a Mexican football club; and plenty of true crime, most notably the new limited series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. Here's our list of the best shows and movies on Hulu in August, plus everything coming to Hulu in August.

More on Hulu: 

• The best TV shows on Hulu right now
• The best movies on Hulu right now
• How much does Hulu cost? Plans, pricing, channels, and more

Peacock's new shows and movies in August

You know the old saying: Summer isn't over until the last Love Island spin-off wraps up its season on Peacock. The streamer is keeping its hottest reality franchise alive as far into August as possible, with new episodes of Love Island: Beyond the Villa premiering each Thursday throughout the month, leading up to the Aug. 28 finale. And if you're missing this summer's Love Island USA cast, you can also catch up with their lives beyond the villa when the Season 7 reunion premieres on Aug. 25. Your dream date! Cute. Here's our list of everything coming to Peacock in August.

More on Peacock:

• The best movies on Peacock right now
• The best shows on Peacock right now

Paramount+'s new shows and movies in August

Paramount is all over the news recently — mergers! legal settlements! company talent critical of those mergers and settlements! — but it certainly won't make any headlines for Paramount+'s new releases in August, which are incredibly light, to say the least. Case in point: Paramount+ is touting two little-known films — 2024's The Friend, starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, and 2022's The Infernal Machine, starring Guy Pearce — as highlights, along with a new season of Jersey Shore Family Vacation. C'mon Taylor Sheridan, why are you slacking? Here's our list of everything coming to Paramount+ in August.

More on Paramount+:

• The best shows on Paramount+ right now
• How to get a Paramount+ free trial and deals

Tubi's new shows and movies in August

Tubi's August slate of new TV shows and movies includes a rarity: a cable TV show that Tubi saved from cancellation. The limited series comedy Demascus, which was originally slated to premiere on AMC back in 2023, will now see the light of day on Tubi beginning Aug. 7. The series stars Okieriete Onaodowan as a man who undergoes experimental therapy using reality-bending technology. Here's our list of everything coming to Tubi in August.

More on streaming:

• The best shows and movies on Apple TV+ right now
• The best shows on Disney+ right now
• The best movies on Disney+ right now

August TV calendar highlights

Friday, Aug. 1
Chief of War (Season 1, Apple TV+)
Eyes of Wakanda (Season 1, Disney+)
My Oxford Year (Film, Netflix)

Sunday, Aug. 3
The Yogurt Shop Murders (Docuseries, HBO)

Monday, Aug. 4
King of the Hill (Season 14, Hulu)

Wednesday, Aug. 6
The Pickup (Film, Prime Video)
Platonic (Season 2, Apple TV+)
Wednesday (Season 2 Part 1, Netflix)

Thursday, Aug. 7
Demascus (Limited Series, Tubi)
Necaxa (Docuseries, FXX/Hulu)

Friday, Aug. 8
Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Season 1, Starz)

Tuesday, Aug. 12
Alien: Earth (Season 1, Hulu)

Wednesday, Aug. 13
Butterfly (Season 1, Prime Video)
Fixed (Film, Netflix)

Friday, Aug. 15
Night Always Comes (Film, Netflix)
The Rainmaker (Season 1, USA/Peacock)

Wednesday, Aug. 20
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Limited Series, Hulu)

Thursday, Aug. 21
Hostage (Season 1, Netflix)
Peacemaker (Season 2, HBO Max)

Friday, Aug. 22
Long Story Short (Season 1, Netflix)
The Truth About Jussie Smollett? (Documentary, Netflix)

Monday, Aug. 25
Upload (Season 4, Prime Video)

Wednesday, Aug. 27
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf (Season 1, Prime Video)

Thursday, Aug. 28
My Life With the Walter Boys (Season 2, Netflix)
The Thursday Murder Club (Film, Netflix)