Can you believe that August has arrived? These include favorites like Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Alex Garlands' cerebral sci-fi debut Ex Machina, Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog, and more.
Here are 15 of the greatest streaming movies set to be released in August 2022.
Belle
Belle goes into search of the Dragon in search of a fresh start following the death of her mother. The Dragon is a monstrous being that she knows nothing about.
This stunning tale of Beauty and the Beast in the digital age is Hosodas' most popular film to date.
Belle is now available to stream on HBO Max.
Constantine
This pre-DC Universe DC film is a very strange neo-noir, featuring pre-John Wick Keanu Reeves as a very nasty John Constantine. Made very much in the style of an old detective thriller (but with supernatural elements), Constantine is a campy fun time with a great cast (Reeves is joined by Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, and Peter Stormare, among others) and more than a few silly visual gags.
Constantine is now available for Netflix streaming.
Ex Machina
Caleb, a young programmer who gets the chance to meet Nathan, an obscure tech CEO, at his luxurious and isolated compound, becomes the key participant in Nathans latest project: a Turing test to measure Ava (Alicia Vikander), an advanced humanoid robot. Ex Machina is a stunning, slow-burn sci-fi thriller that has easily ranked as one of the greatest sci-fi films of the 2010s. Toussaint Egan
Ex Machina is now available on HBO Max.
Face/Off
Face/Off is a delightfully over-the-top 90s action film that follows John Woos' third Hollywood film (following Hard Target and Broken Arrow) that feels like he really got to use the muscles that make a John Woo film a John Woo film.
Sean Archer, an FBI agent, was murdered by Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), a terrorist who planned to kill Archer. In his quest for vengeance, Archer undergoes an experimental face transplant, becoming Troy. Of course, Troy does the same in return, becoming Archer.
When they wrote the script for Face/Off, Mike Werb and Michael Colleary considered Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I can see it, but im glad we got it.
Face/Off is now available on Paramount Plus and Prime Video for streaming.
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Ghost Dog, a hitman (Forest Whitaker) who sees himself as a modern-day samurai, lives by the code in Hagakure (also known as The Book of the Samurai) and is mysterious even to those he works with. When Ghost Dog is hired to kill a gangster but leaves an innocent bystander alive, a hit is placed on his life.
Whitaker is outstanding in his leading role, and Jarmusch's script and direction are perfect. But Ghost Dog is a marvellous film because of the soundtrack, the first soundtrack produced by the RZA. PV
HBO Max has made Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai available for streaming.
Locke
Locke, a contained thriller shot entirely in a car, follows construction man Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) as he drives from Birmingham to London the night before a big project. Locke learns that the woman he is having an affair with is about to have their baby. As he drives across the country, he juggles phone calls with business associates and family members.
Locke is now available for HBO Max subscribers to stream.
Man on Fire
Man on Fire, a 2004 film starring Denzel Washington as a former CIA agent turned bodyguard for a 9-year-old girl in Mexico City, is an electrifying experience. With a blistering performance from Harry Gregson-Williams and Lisa Gerrard, intense action and violence, and an achingly beautiful denouement, it's an electrifying experience.
On Peacock, Man on Fire is available to stream.
The One
Jet Li plays many, many versions of himself in this 2001 film from James Wong (Final Destination). The narrative follows a homicidal serial killer traveling across the multiverse to kill all other versions of himself, and the group of people who are attempting to prevent him from accomplishing his goal.
Back to the Jet Lis. First you have our main characters protagonist Gabe Law, a police officer, and antagonist Gabriel Yulaw, the previously mentioned homicidal serial killer. Then there's Yu Fook Law (Rastafari Jet Li), Swen Law (surfer Jet Li), Seth Law (Jet Li with long hair), and so many more.
The One has a great fun setup, but also a special set of skills that Lis lacks. Lis personal action director Corey Yuen (Yes, Madam) displays his acrobatic ability with a dynamic energy, particularly in the moments when Li kicks people in midair like soccer balls. Also, Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham (with an American accent and a mostly full head of hair!)
The One is now available for HBO Max subscribers.
Prey
Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) has released the latest installment in the Predator series, which takes the sci-fi villain and places him in 18th-century America. Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young woman teased by the men in her village for her desire to be a hunter, is the only one who perceives this imminent danger.
From our analysis:
Prey is a film about a young lady on a collision course with a cool skull dude. The other members of the Narus tribe are there to naysay and/or become Predator fodder. A late-arriving band of fur traders also offers up some huntable bodies.
On Hulu, Prey is now available to stream.
Sam Raimis Spider-Man Trilogy
Three of the greatest Marvel movies ever released are now available on Netflix and Hulu. Yes, I said three.
Weve talked about Sam Raimi's latest Marvel film and the follow-up Spider-Man films at Polygon about his love of his original Spider-Man trilogy. With a great cast with great villainous performances, and a strong moral center, it's tough to beat.
The first two films, which are both excellent, are worth lauding, but Id like to take a moment to praise the third one. It's messy, yes, but in a really fascinating way (if you can get past the third act or all of the Topher Grace as Venom stuff). Much of this film is about Peter being a very disgruntled boyfriend to Mary-Jane, and that's why I'd encourage you to give it another go.
The Sam Raimis Spider-Man trilogy is now available on Netflix and Hulu.
Thief
The late, great James Caan (The Godfather) plays Frank, an ex-con and professional safecracker who is attempting to make a living off of his recent heist, which results in him having to accept an assignment from the Mob in order to get a job.
Thief is now available for download on Prime Video.
Uncut Gems
The Safdies (Good Time) 2019 film isn't just one of the best thrillers you can watch at home, but it's also one of the finest basketball films. Here, playoff basketball is transformed into a literal life-and-death situation; Uncut Gems is, simply put, a jewel of a film.
On Peacock, Uncut Gems is available to stream.
Under the Skin
Under the Skin is a stone-cold stunner, and it's a beautifully paced slow-burn thriller from the master Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast).
From our list of the greatest films of the 2010s:
Under the Skin, Jonathan Glazer's existential sci-fi horror film about an alien who takes men for reasons that are opaque and painful, but which is also dark and intense, is a grim short story with chilling implications. (Oh, and shout-out to Micah Levis' piercing icy score.)
Under the Skin is now available on HBO Max for viewing.
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