Back to school doesn’t mean you can’t watch movies, and August offers a solid selection of new streaming movies for every occasion. Below, we’ve put together a curated list of the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video this month, including hilarious comedies, indie gems, romantic comedies, and even a cult franchise available in full on Prime Video. There’s something for everyone, so fire up these movies or bookmark them for the perfect time.
Check out our picks for the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video in August 2024 below.
“Jackpot!”
Filmmaker Paul Feig has made some of the funniest comedies of the 21st century, from Bridesmaids to the wildly entertaining Spy, so Jackpot! is already on the radar. This Prime Video original has a high-stakes premise – Awkwafina plays a woman who wins the Los Angeles Grand Lottery, only to discover that the rules state that anyone who kills her before sunset can win the prize. John Cena co-stars in this action-packed fun.
Trilogies “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”
Just in time for the second season of Prime Video’s prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to premiere later this month, Amazon is now offering Peter Jackson’s complete Lord of the Rings saga to stream. The three Lord of the Rings films are considered one of the most astonishing cinematic achievements in history, winning a slew of Oscars between them and setting the bar for adaptations with high expectations. Jackson returned to direct The Hobbit prequel trilogy, and while the story should have been limited to two films according to the original plan and there’s computer animation overload throughout, there are some bright spots and it’s worth rewatching if you haven’t seen it since it first hit theaters.
“21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street”
If you’re in the mood for a comedy, make it a double feature: Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street and its sequel, 22 Jump Street. The first film is a meta version of the TV series, with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum playing two cops who go undercover at a high school, only to see their fortunes change as Hill’s character – who had trouble fitting in – is embraced by the cool kids, while Tatum’s jock vibes don’t mesh with that generation’s idea of ”cool.” The sequel, 22 Jump Street, moves the action to college and is one of the smartest self-referential sequels of all time, playing directly on the idea that most sequels just repeat the same things covered in the original film. Both films are hilarious.
“Looper” – translation for “Looper”
Before directing Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson first entered the realm of science fiction with his excellent 2012 thriller Looper. The film begins in the year 2044, where a 25-year-old man named Joe (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works for a crime syndicate that murders people sent back in time from 2074 to dispose of the bodies. But when his older self (played by Bruce Willis) shows up, he is faced with an existential dilemma. On top of that, Emily Blunt plays the mother of a child who may one day grow up to be one of the most evil people on the planet, and the two Joes – young and old – are in the same timeline. This is fascinating, thought-provoking science fiction.
“Adventureland”
The 2009 coming-of-age dramedy Adventureland is a somewhat underrated gem. Written and directed by Superbad director Greg Mottola, who came on the heels of that comedy’s huge success, it stars Jesse Eisenberg as a college graduate who is forced to take a job at a local theme park to pay for the damage he caused to the family car. While there, he befriends a co-worker, played by Kristen Stewart, and the two hit it off. The problem is, she’s dating an older man (played by Ryan Reynolds). Set in the 1980s, this film features a killer soundtrack, plenty of wistfulness, and spectacular performances from Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. It’s a smash hit.
“Emma.”
This 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma had the misfortune of being released in February, just before the pandemic. Filmmaker Autumn de Wilde’s interpretation is a lavish feast – visually arresting, colorful and stylish. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Emma in this adaptation with a slight detachment that is charming. Johnny Flynn is delightful as George and Mia Goth is able to shake off the gloom that surrounds so many of her roles for her sweet interpretation of Harriet. The great ensemble cast includes Josh O’Connor, Bill Nighy and Callum Turner.
“Psycho” (1960)
If you fancy getting ready for scary season early, why not start with one of the most iconic horror films of all time? Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho set the tone for many subsequent slasher films, but it’s still terrifying and shocking over 60 years later. Janet Leigh plays a woman who steals a briefcase full of cash from her employer and, during her escape, ends up in a seedy motel where she meets the mild-mannered Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). If by some miracle you don’t know what happens next, we won’t spoil it for you, but suffice it to say that this film breaks a lot of rules and has one of the best endings of all time.
