new netflix shows and movies august 2021
Cover Here are the Netflix shows and movies to watch this August 2021 (Photo: Courtesy of Netflix)

Looking for new shows and movies to watch on Netflix this August 2021? Read our favourite picks and add them to your watchlist

With Singapore’s unpredictable weather—one day sunny, the next day rainy—it’s best to stay indoors sometimes. But I’m sure we’ve grown weary of staying indoors since we’ve been doing that for almost two years now in lockdown or in quarantine. Netflix has always come to our rescue to keep us entertained.

This August, Netflix is boasting a stellar lineup of movies and series to watch. There's an exciting amount of mystery and action titles with Beckett and Clickbait but lighter stories such as Vivo and K-drama Hometown Cha-cha-cha are not to be missed as well. Keep reading to find out what this month has in store for you.

Didn't get to read our latest round-up? You can still catch up on the shows and movies released from June to July 2021.

See also: Emmys 2021: 9 Nominated Shows to Watch on Netflix

1. Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified

It's one of the most intriguing mysteries that we never seem to get tired of—aliens. Claims of extraterrestrial encounters have long been dismissed but this Netflix series explores those who still believe their existence, not as a maybe but a certainty.

Release date: August 3

See also: Who are the Billionaires in the Space Race?

2. Vivo

This new animated musical adventure follows Vivo, a musically gifted kinkajou (a rainforest “honey bear”) as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to deliver a song to his cherished owner’s long-lost love. If you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda—the Tonys, Grammys and Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of Hamilton and In the Heights—then this one is for you. It features all-new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda who also voices the one-of-a-kind kinkajou.

Release date: August 6

See also: 8 Kids’ Series on Netflix That Your Children Should Watch

3. In Search of the Frog Boys: Season One

Tatler Asia
new netflix shows and movies august 2021
Above Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

If you love mysteries and crime documentaries then be sure to put In Search of the Frog Boys on your watchlist. This documentary looks into unanswered questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of five boys in South Korea. Their remains were found 11 years later but no one knows how they died.

Release date: August 6

See also: The Best Crime Documentaries to Watch on Netflix Now

4. Brand New Cherry Flavour

This horror and mystery series follows an aspiring director in ’90s Los Angeles to make her movie but soon finds herself tumbling down a mind-altering journey of supernatural revenge. Based on the eponymous novel by Todd Grimson, the limited series stars Alita: Battle Angel’s Rosa Salazar, Being John Malkovich’s Catherine Keener, The Good Place’s Manny Jacinto and more.

Release date: August 13

See also: 5 Thai Horror Films on Netflix That Will Absolutely Terrify You

5. Beckett

After a tragic car accident in Greece, American tourist Beckett (John David Washington) finds himself the target of a manhunt. He's forced to run for his life and desperately need to get across the country to seek help at the American Embassy. But tensions escalate as authorities close in, the political unrest mounts and Beckett finds himself woven into a conspiracy.

Release date: August 13

6. Sweet Girl

See Aquaman—I mean, Jason Momoa—in this family action movie. Momoa plays devoted family man Ray Cooper, who vows justice against the pharmaceutical company that pulled a potentially life-saving drug from the market which causes his wife to die from cancer. As he searches for the truth, a deadly counter puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Isabel Merced) in harm’s way. The quest for revenge becomes a mission to protect the only remaining family he has.

Release date: August 20

7. The Chair

Comedy series The Chair tells the story of Dr Kim Ji-yoon (Sandra Oh) who's the new head of the English department at the prestigious Pembroke University. But she’s soon faced with a new set of challenges as the first woman to lead the department and as one of the few staff members of colour at the university.

Game of Thrones’ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss serve as executive producers so many might be hesitant to check this out but Sandra Oh herself sits as a producer so that’s some plus points if you’re over the fence whether to check this short series out. It only has six episodes, 30 minutes each—making it an easy watch.

Release date: August 20

See also: Emmys 2021: Meet 8 Asians Who Have Made History

8. Clickbait

Another exciting watch this summer is Clickbait which follows another devoted father, Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier) who mysteriously and suddenly disappears one day. Shortly after, a video appears on the Internet of a badly beaten Nick holding a card that says, “I abuse women. At 5 million views, I die’. Is it a threat? Or is it a confession? More importantly, will people watch the video?

Release date: August 25

9. Hometown Cha-cha-cha

Hometown Cha-cha-cha is the new addition to Netflix's monthly K-drama roaster. Set in the seaside town of Gongjin, the romantic drama will depict a back-and-forth, up-and-down yet heartwarming love story between two people from two completely different walks of life—sophisticated city girl Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and seaside villager Su-sik (Kim Seon-ho).

Helmed by Oh My Ghost and Tomorrow With You (which also starred Shin) director Yu Je-won, Hometown Cha-cha-cha will be tugging at our heartstrings this August.

Release date: August 28

See also: The Best New Korean Dramas to Watch in 2021

Here’s the full schedule of everything coming to Netflix in August 2021:

5 August:

Titoudao

A girl born to a poor family rises up the ranks of Chinese street opera performers to become a wayang star.

6 August:

Vivo

A music-loving kinkajou embarks on a thrilling journey from Havana to Miami to fulfil his destiny and deliver a love song for an old friend.

The Swarm

A single mother breeds locusts as high-protein food, but has trouble getting them to reproduce—until she finds they have a taste for blood.

Last Madame

A woman returns to Singapore to claim her inheritance: a former brothel owned by her great-grandmother, whose life involved sex, intrigue and murder.

8 August:

Long Long Time Ago 4: The Diam Diam Era 2

During the 1988 general election, Ah Kun, Osman and Shamugam form an opposition party and their political antics soon entangle their families.

9 August:

Shaman King

Medium Yoh Asakura enters a battle tournament held every 500 years, competing with other shamans in a bid to become the all-powerful Shaman King.

Wet Season

A Mandarin language teacher and her student form a profound, complicated bond that may upend their lives.

11 August:

The Kissing Booth 3

It’s the summer before Elle heads to college, and she’s facing the hardest decision of her life: whether to move across the country with her dreamy boyfriend Noah or fulfill her lifelong promise to go to college with her BFF Lee. Whose heart will Elle break?

12 August:

Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild

In a world where humans and fearsome monsters live in an uneasy balance, young hunter Aiden fights to save his village from destruction by a dragon.

13 August:

Beckett

Following a tragic car accident in Greece, Beckett, an American tourist, finds himself at the centre of a dangerous political conspiracy—and on the run for his life.

Gone For Good

Ten years after losing the two people he loved most, a man finds himself plunged into another dizzying mystery when his girlfriend suddenly vanishes.

17 August:

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Season 5

The drama ramps up, accusations fly, and two new housewives enter the scene sporting established acting credentials: Eileen Davidson and Lisa Rinna.

Keeping Up With the Kardashians: Season 5

The Kardashians return as Khloé and basketball star Lamar Odom celebrate their first anniversary, while Kourtney and Scott try for another baby.

18 August:

Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes

British serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.

20 August:

Sweet Girl

Devoted family man Ray Cooper, vows justice against the pharmaceutical company responsible for pulling a potentially life saving drug from the market just before his wife (Adria Arjona) dies from cancer. But when his search for the truth leads to a deadly encounter that puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Isabela Merced) in harm’s way, Ray’s mission turns into a quest for vengeance in order to protect the only family he has left. Sweet Girl is directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza and stars Justin Bartha, Amy Brenneman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Raza Jaffrey, Lex Scott Davis and Michael Raymond-James.

The Loud House

As the middle child and only boy in the large Loud family, Lincoln struggles to feel special, but this all changes when the family travels to Scotland.

The Chair

At a major university, the first woman of colour to become chair tries to meet the dizzying demands and high expectations of a failing English department.

23 August:

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

The world of “The Witcher” expands in this 2D anime film that explores a powerful new threat facing the Continent.

25 August:

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed

The never-before-seen story behind the prolific landscape artist and host of The Joy of Painting, Bob Ross.

26 August:

Edens Zero

Aboard the Edens Zero, a lonely boy with the ability to control gravity embarks on an adventure to meet the fabled space goddess known as Mother.

27 August:

He’s All That

He’s All That reimagines the original plot of the 1999 teen classic She’s All That. The contemporary story follows an influencer (Addison Rae) who accepts a challenge to turn the school’s biggest loser (Tanner Buchanan) into prom king.

I Heart Arlo

Optimistic Arlo and his eclectic group of pals learn how to live together in a community, where everyone has their own idea of what's fun.

28 August:

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

At a crossroads, a woman moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman intent on helping his neighbours.

31 August:

Sparking Joy

Global organization icon and author Marie Kondo is back to help people transform their homes while transforming their lives in surprising and emotional ways in the new Netflix series, Sparking Joy.  Marie takes  her life changing method a step further to help three deserving businesses organise their workplace along with an emotional tidy up of one employee's life whether it's in the home, work, personal life and/or relationships. Viewers will also step into Marie’s home to meet her family and get a glimpse into how she tidies up her daily life!

Good Girls: Season 4

Under the watchful eye of the Feds, Beth, Ruby and Annie consider the perks and pitfalls of their work—all while Dean and Stan do the same.

Untold

From the creators of Wild Wild Country, comes a five-part docuseries event that brings fresh eyes to epic tales from the wide world of sports. From tennis to boxing to basketball, these stories aren’t the ones you’ve heard before, even if you think you have. Premiering weekly, each film kicks off at a pivotal moment—the big fight, the Olympics, the playoffs—and then delves deep into what happened beyond the headlines, as told by those who lived it, to reveal the grit, resilience, heartbreak, triumph, violence, comedy and pathos beneath the sweat. Weekly August premieres include: 

10 August:

Untold: Malice at the Palace

Directed by Floyd Russ (Zion) and featuring never-before-seen footage, the famous Pacers-Pistons brawl is unraveled by those who lived it. 

17 August:

Untold: Deal with the Devil

Directed by Laura Brownson (The Rachel Divide, Lemon), boxer Christy Martin opens up about her battles in and out of the ring. 

24 August:

Untold: Caitlyn Jenner

Directed by Crystal Moselle (Betty, The Wolfpack) and told with an extraordinary collection of never-before-seen archival footage, including reels of newly discovered Olympic footage and home videos from the Jenner family, Caitlyn Jenner traces her life with new insight from winning gold to making the decision to transition to her relationship with her children.

31 August:

Untold: Crime and Penalties

Directed by Chapman Way and Maclain Way, Untold reveals the story of a misfit band of hockey players known as the Trashers, who were taking orders from the teenage son of an alleged mob boss.

Coming soon:

D.P. 

After he’s taken under the wing of an eccentric corporal, a young Korean serviceman’s morality is tested as he tracks down deserters.

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