August has a lot in store for Netflix subscribers, from the much-awaited final season of Outer Banks to the return of Shane Gillis‘ comedy series Tires. While many titles will be making their way to Netflix in the coming months, some great movies and TV shows will also be leaving the service for various reasons. So, we compiled a list of all the must-see movies and TV shows for you to watch before they leave Netflix in August 2026.
American Gangster (August 1)
American Gangster is a biographical crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Steven Zaillian. Based on Mark Jacobson’s 2000 New York Magazine article The Return of Superfly, the 2007 film follows Frank, a powerful drug lord whose illegal empire comes crumbling down after a relentless cop begins to investigate him. American Gangster stars Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, and Armand Assante.
Borat (August 1)
Borat is a mockumentary dark comedy film directed by Larry Charles from a screenplay co-written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham, and Dan Mazer. The 2006 film follows Borat, a journalist from Kazakhstan, as he travels to the United States to make a documentary on the differences between their nations, but instead he discovers many similarities. Borat stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, and Pamela Anderson.
Chef (August 1)
Chef is a road trip comedy-drama film written and directed by Jon Favreau. The 2014 film follows Carl Casper, a celebrity chef who is fired after a public meltdown and decides to fix up a food truck, but during the process he grows closer to his ex-wife and son. Chef stars Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, and Bobby Cannavale.
Fletch (August 1)
Fletch is a comedy thriller film directed by Michael Ritchie from a screenplay by Andrew Bergman. Based on Gregory McDonald’s Fletch novels, the 1985 film follows investigative journalist Irwin Fletcher as he goes undercover to learn more about the drug trade, but things take a turn when a terminally ill millionaire offers him money to kill him. Fletch stars Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Richard Libertini, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Tim Matheson.
Home Improvement Seasons 1-8 (August 1)
Home Improvement is a sitcom series co-created by Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean, and Matt Williams. The ABC series follows the daily life of Tim Taylor, a TV show host with three rambunctious sons and a lovely wife as he tries to teach his sons about self-sufficiency. Home Improvement stars Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Earl Hindman, Taran Noah Smith, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Zachery Ty Bryan, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning.
Everest (August 1)
Everest is a biographical survival film directed by Baltasar Kormákur from a screenplay co-written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. Based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, the 2015 film follows two groups led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer as they attempt to scale Mountain Everest, but their lives are put in danger due to worsening weather conditions. Everest stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Ex Machina (August 1)
Ex Machina is a sci-fi thriller drama film written and directed by Alex Garland. The 2014 film follows Caleb Smith, a programmer who is invited by his CEO to work on an intelligent female humanoid robot at a remote island facility. He soon finds himself bonding with the robot after witnessing the cruel treatment it endures by the CEO. Ex Machina stars Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Oscar Isaac.
Hacksaw Ridge (August 1)
Hacksaw Ridge is an epic biographical war film directed by Mel Gibson from a screenplay co-written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight. Based on Terry Benedict’s 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector, the 2016 film is set during World War II, and it follows Private Desmond Doss, a medic who refuses to handle weapons because of his beliefs but wants to serve alongside his countrymen. Hacksaw Ridge stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, and Hugo Weaving.
Lucy (August 1)
Lucy is a sci-fi action film written and directed by Luc Besson. The 2014 film follows Lucy, a young woman who finds herself in a deadly situation after drug traders use her as a drug mule, but when the bag rips and drugs spill inside her, they give her unique abilities which she uses to get vengeance against the people who did this to her. Lucy stars Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, and Julian Rhind-Tutt.
Meet the Parents (August 1)
Meet the Parents is a romantic comedy film directed by Jay Roach from a screenplay co-written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg. Based on the 1992 film of the same name by Greg Gilenna and Mary Ruth Clarke, the 2000 film follows nurse Greg Focker as he visits his girlfriend’s parents but soon finds himself at the mercy of her overprotective father, Jack. Meet the Parents stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, James Rebhorn, and Owen Wilson.
Mississippi Grind (August 1)
Mississippi Grind is a comedy-drama film co-written and co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The 2015 film follows a gambling addict as he teams up with a charismatic gambler to go on a road trip to New Orleans during which they will play several high-stakes poker game. Mississippi Grind stars Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Sienna Miller, Lio Tipton, and Alfre Woodard.
Pretty Woman (August 1)
Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy film directed by Gary Marshall from a screenplay by J.F. Lawton. The 1990 film follows Vivian Ward, an escort who is hired by a wealthy man to accompany him to several business and social functions, but things take a turn as they begin to fall for each other. Pretty Woman stars Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, and Jason Alexander.
Splash (August 1)
Splash is a romantic fantasy comedy film directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay co-written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, and Bruce Jay Friedman. The 1984 film follows Allen, a young man who fell in love with a mermaid after she rescued him as a boy, and after being separated for years, they meet once again. Splash stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy, and John Candy.
The Secret Life of Pets (August 1)
The Secret Life of Pets is an animated comedy film directed by Chris Renaud from a screenplay co-written by Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, and Brian Lynch. The 2016 film is set in New York City and follows Max, a pet dog who is furious when his owner brings another dog into their home, but when they learn that their owner is in danger, they must work together to save them. The voice cast of The Secret Life of Pets includes Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, and Lake Bell.
There’s Something About Mary (August 1)
There’s Something About Mary is a romantic comedy film co-directed by the Farrelly brothers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ed Decter and John J. Strauss. The 1998 film follows Ted, a geek who hires a private detective to find his high school sweetheart, but his plans to get with her go awry when he realizes that he will have to compete with other men to get her. There’s Something About Mary stars Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans, and Chris Elliott.
Tootsie (August 1)
Tootsie is a satirical romantic comedy film directed by Sydney Pollack from a screenplay co-written by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal. The 1982 film follows Michael, a talented actor whose difficult personality makes it hard for him to get any work, but things change when he soon decides to adopt a female persona to get a job. Tootsie stars Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, and Charles Durning.
Fear the Walking Dead Seasons 1-8 (August 19)
Fear the Walking Dead is a zombie apocalypse horror drama series co-created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson. Based on Kirkman’s comic book series, the AMC spin-off series revolves around a dysfunctional family in Los Angeles as the zombie apocalypse brings about the end of civilization. Fear the Walking Dead stars Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Elizabeth Rodriguez, and Mercedes Mason.
A Discovery of Witches Seasons 1-3 (August 19)
A Discovery of Witches is a fantasy romance drama series created by Kate Brooke. Based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, the Sky Studios series follows Dana Bishop, a historian who discovers that she comes from a long line of witches, and she soon finds herself falling in love with Matthew Clairmont, an enigmatic vampire. A Discovery of Witches stars Matthew Goode, Teresa Palmer, Edward Bluemel, Louise Brealey, Aiysha Hart, and Owen Teale.
Ne Zha (August 21)
Ne Zha is a Chinese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Jiaozi. Based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin, the 2019 film follows Ne Zha, a rebellious outcast who studies diligently to become a great demon hunter, but when he discovers a prophecy about him that states that he will become the destroyer of the world, he transforms into his demon form. The English voice cast of Ne Zha includes Jordan Cole, Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Stephanie Sheh, Daniel Riordan, and Lexi Foley.
Venom: The Last Dance (August 25)
Venom: The Last Dance is a superhero action film written and directed by Kelly Marcel. The 2024 threequel film follows Eddie and Venom as they go on the run after being targeted by forces from Venom’s world as well as humans. Venom: The Last Dance stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, and Alanna Ubach.