And August will be a big one for HBO Max in particular, as the newly minted streaming platform will be adding dozens of new movies throughout the month—with most of those options coming on the first day of the month.
This article will highlight ten great picks from the August lineup. Then at the end of the article, you will find every new movie coming to HBO Max during August and what dates those movies will premiere.
While everyone else is waiting for the next Avenger movie, I’m over here itching for the next addition to Richard Linklater’s Before series. Every nine years, Linklater and his two leads, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, come together to continue the epic love story between Jesse and Celine. These first two movies in this series—Before Sunrise and Before Sunset—are absolutely delights.
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
To this day, one of the absolutely most over-hated and underrated directors in the Hollywood system has been John Stockwell. Many critics like to paint his movies as bland and ordinary—but my god, they are anything but! And Blue Crush is a great example. Few movies have ever captured oceanside life and surfing more beautifully.
Blue Crush will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
This 1997 sci-fi drama from Robert Zemeckis has a pretty loyal following, but never quite broke into the zeitgeist like it should have. Fronted by Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey, this strange film (adapted from a Carl Sagan novel) follows a scientist (played by Foster) who attempts to decipher a strange message from the depths of outer space.
Contact will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
I’m always blown away when somebody hasn’t seen House Party. This movie I saw a million times as a kid never gets old! This 1990 comedy follows a teenager named Christopher (played by Christopher Reid) who desperately wants to attend the high school party of the year—but then he gets grounded. After he sneaks out of the house to attend the party, his night becomes one for the books.
House Party will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
This comedy didn’t make a ton of noise in 1997 when it released, but has built itself quite the reputation ever since. How to Be a Player centers on a young man named Dray who—despite having a girlfriend—just cannot seem to stop being a player. So his sister arranges for all of his lady friends to come together and teach him a lesson.
How to Be a Player will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
Jojo Rabbit probably had the quietest year of all the Best Picture nominees at the 92nd Academy Awards. From the mind of Taika Waititi—who directed Thor: Ragnarok in 2017—Jojo Rabbit pulled in an impressive $90.3 million at the box office in 2019, easily making it the biggest addition to Hulu’s lineup this month. The movie follows a young German boy who grapples with his blind nationalism in the midst of World War II.
Jojo Rabbit will be available to stream on HBO Max on August XXX.
Man, there was nothing like a Steven Soderbergh movie in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The director had devised a beautiful formula that took incredibly heavy subject matter and turned it into an adult cartoon. And one of his most entertaining efforts was Ocean’s Eleven, which follows a wacky array of criminals who rob a casino.
Ocean’s Eleven will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
Darren Aronofsky would of course become famous for his dramatic efforts like Black Swan, The Wrestler and Noah. But back in the day before anybody knew who he was, Aronofsky made a little indie flick called Pi. Revered by many, this film follows a numbers whiz who is stunted by psychological delusions of paranoia and debilitating headaches.
Pi will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
Nicholas Ray would go on to make so many beautiful movies throughout his career: Rebel Without a Cause, Johnny Guitar, Bigger Than Life. But before any of them, he kicked off his film career with the highly influential They Live By Night. The movie follows a young teenager named Bowie who was wrongfully convicted of murder. He breaks out of prison and eventually meets up with a woman named Keechie who goes on the run with him.
They Live By Night will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
Of all the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers pairings, Top Hat may be the most infectious and endearing film the duo ever starred in—and could have very well have been the height of dance/musical films from the early days of Hollywood. The movie centers on a wealthy woman (played by Rogers) on a holiday who mistakenly believes Jerry (played by Astaire) is another woman’s husband.
Top Hat will be available to stream on HBO Max on August 1.
I host a podcast called Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West. I run the Colossus Movie Club, where I make movie recommendations each week. I’ve covered
I host a podcast called Watching the Throne: A Lyrical Analysis of Kanye West. I run the Colossus Movie Club, where I make movie recommendations each week. I’ve covered several film festivals, including Toronto and Sundance.