The best new TV shows and movies we watched in August, 2024.

When the weekend is finally here, it's time to kick back, relax and watch the best new TV show or film. We're pop culture fiends, after all!

But, with an endless supply of epic new TV shows, movies, documentaries and more to choose from, deciding what to watch this weekend is harder than ever. That's where we step in! 

It's literally our job to know what's good and what everyone is talking about. And that's why, every single week our team of Entertainment Experts share their must-watch pick for the weekend.

From a feel-good comedy, to a highly anticipated thriller, here are our top picks of what to watch in August.

What to watch in August, according to Mamamia's entertainment experts.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is star-studded and action-packed. Image: Prime Video.

I'm known for recommending crazy action movies (sue me), but when I saw this one pop up on my Prime Video account and then saw who starred in it—I immediately said yes. 

The cast features Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchon (you might know him from Reacher), Alex Pettyfer (remember him from Wild Child? lol) and Henry Golding (of Crazy Rich Asians fame).

It's set during World War II, where British prime minister Winston Churchill and other military higher ups devise a plan to steal and blow up a fleet of Hitler's vessels on the Spanish-controlled island Fernando Po.

They decide to employ a group of unconventional (and very attractive) men to carry out this top secret mission. At first I thought it was wayyy too over the top action-y until I saw the end credits and found out it was based on a true story. The story is literally unbelievable. 

Recommended by Em Vernem, Content Producer and co-host of The Spill.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is now streaming on Prime Video.

Trap

Josh Hartnett is creepy as anything in Trap. Image: Warner Bros.

Any time M. Night Shyamalan releases something new, it's appointment viewing. Trap is no different and this time, he's teamed up with Josh Hartnett, yes that absolute hunk of a man who occupied all of our daydreams in the '00s. 

Trap is a psychological thriller with a difference: it’s set at a pop concert. Oh no! The story follows Cooper (played by Josh Hartnett), a notorious serial killer known as ‘The Butcher’ who attends a concert of pop star Lady Raven with his teenage daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue), but with any Shymalan feature, all is not what it seems. 

This could have been a pretty straightforward thriller but Hartnett truly elevates it all with his career-best performance. Who would have thought someone so hot and sexy could play a creep so well? That’s called range.

Recommended by Tara Watson, Senior Entertainment Producer.

Trap is in cinemas now.

The Fabulous Four

The Fab Four: Susan, Megan, Sheryl and Bette. Image: Southpaw Entertainment.

I'm a fan of any movie with that certain "je ne sais quoi" that would lead my mother to watch it on a cosy Sunday afternoon. 

Under the Tuscan Sun, It's Complicated, First Wives Club: these Sunday staples all slap. And now there's a new film to add to the roster of movies I watch with my mum. It’s called The Fabulous Four.

The cast of The Fabulous Four is stacked. And how could you go wrong with a group of actors like this?

As an Abbott Elementary fan, I'm thrilled to see Sheryl Lee Ralph in more projects. And I'm always on board for a movie starring Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon or Megan Mullally. A movie starring all four of these gals? I’m seated. The movie theatre employees are asking me to leave but I'm simply too seated.

The Fabulous Four is about three lifelong friends who travel to Florida to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their college girlfriend. While there are some "she's an old cat lady" tropes we could all do without, there's still fun to be had.

We're doing coastal vibes, one of the ladies has launched a TikTok career, there's a bunch of — shock horror — older women talking about vibrators, and some truly bananas outfits to gawk at. Is it going to win an Academy Award? No. But will you have fun? Yes. 

Recommended by Tina Burke, Entertainment Editor.

The Fabulous Four is in cinemas now.

Still not sure what you want to watch? See our recommendations for all the best sports movies to watch right now.

We're here to tell you all the best new TV shows and movies to watch, every single week. 

This week, there's a new blockbuster in cinemas, the return of a fan-favourite comedy, and some seriously delicious reality TV. If you're not sure what to watch this weekend, we have you covered.

It Ends With Us

Recommended by Tara Watson, Senior Entertainment Producer.

It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively. Image: IMDB.

There was a lot of controversy and expectations around the anticipated adaption of Colleen Hoover's biggest novel, It Ends With Us, and I was pleasantly surprised by the final film.

Like the bestselling book, the movie follows Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who escapes her abusive childhood only to find herself dating and then married to a man who has parallels with her violent father.

Domestic violence is a delicate subject to tackle at the best of times, let alone in a big budget movie, but I think for the most part, they pulled it off. 

But aside from the tougher subjects the film grapples with, it’s just an enjoyable and thought-provoking movie. The writing is sharp and original, Lively has never been more charming, the soundtrack is elite and there’s genuine chemistry between all the characters. 

It Ends With Us is in cinemas now.

The Umbrella Academy, Season 4

Recommended by Em Vernem, Content Producer and co-host of The Spill.

The cast of The Umbrella Academy. Image: Netflix.

I am so excited for this weekend watch because I feel like I've been waiting for this latest season of the Umbrella Academy for years (and I have).

If you haven’t watched this series, now is a great time to start because the latest season is the final one. I am very jealous you get to watch the whole thing in one go. 

It follows the lives of 7 people born from different women around the world, all born on the same day in 1989. They all have superpowers and so billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves adopts them to train them up as a superhero team that will one day save the world. 

Each season is brilliant and this final one has left me on the edge of my seat with every single episode.

The Umbrella Academy, Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.

FBOY Island, Season 2

Recommended by Tina Burke, Entertainment Editor.

Abbie Chatfield returns to host FBOY Island Season 2. Image: Binge.

Looking for a guilty pleasure watch? Look no further than FBOY Island Season 2, which just dropped on Binge. 

Returning as host, Abbie Chatfield introduces the audience to three new single women looking to find their match. But first, they must sort through the "F Boys" and "nice guys" they meet.

Abbie says the show encourages women to think critically about the dating world, assessing with a keen eye. 

"We're always questioning these men and I'm constantly saying things like 'how incredibly f**king rude was that' and I'm encouraged to do it," she told Mamamia.

If you're after some good old fashioned fun... and by old fashioned, I mean modern and silly... then you can't look further than FBOY Island. 

FBOY Island Season 1 and 2 are now streaming on Binge.

Thank God You're Here, Season 6

Recommended by Em Vernem, Content Producer and co-host of The Spill.

Thank God You're Here returns to our screens. Image: Channel 10.

I have a local recco this week. Since I've bought myself one of those old fashion TV things, I've never been more obsessed with watching things 24/7. 

On Wednesday I tuned into the first episode of the latest season of Thank God You're Here. It takes a lot for improv comedy to make me giggle out loud, and with this first episode I was cry-laughing. The bar is high, starting with one of the best lineups I’ve seen: Anne Edmunds, Sam Pang, Hamish Blake and Frankie McNair. Adam Hills was the host with Celia Pacquola returning as host. 

The scene set-ups were hilarious, there was a surprise celebrity guest and I feel like the Australian Improv landscape has reached a whole new level. 

Thank God You're Here, Season 6 is now airing on Channel 10. You can stream episodes on 10Play.

Emily In Paris Season 4: Part One

Recommended by Tina Burke, Entertainment Editor.

Emily and Mindy are back! Image: Netflix.

Emily Cooper you menace, it's good to have you back! Our favourite American in Paris has returned to our screens at last, with all of her classic outfits, positive vibes and inability to read the room. 

Season 4 has been divided into two parts, with Part One dropping August 15 and Part Two dropping on September 12. And the first few episodes are every bit as good as you want them to be.

The love triangle between Emily, Gabriel and Alfie continues to take centre stage. Meanwhile Camille is still pregnant with Gabriel's baby, but she's also in a love triangle with Sofia. Mindy is still trying to make a career out of singing while also juggling billionaire boyfriend Nicolas. Sylvie is still there with her cutting one-liners. The chaos is endless, but the drama and plot twists are truly delectable this time around. 

Emily In Paris Season 4: Part One is now streaming on Netflix.

Critical Incident

Recommended by Tara Watson, Senior Entertainment Producer.

Critical Incident on Stan.

The latest Stan Original series, Critical Incident tells the story of Senior Constable Zilficar 'Zil' Ahmed (played by Akshay Khanna) and explores how things go terribly wrong when he makes one fatal mistake.

Following a long night on patrol, Zil chases an assumed suspect down a busy peak-hour train platform at Blacktown Railway Station, when he accidentally knocks a commuter who falls onto the tracks and is struck by the oncoming train. But it turns out the person he was pursuing, wasn't the real suspect. 

I won't give away more, but if you're in the mood for an intriguing drama then this is the one for you.

Critical Incident is now streaming on Stan.

What to watch this weekend, according to Mamamia's entertainment experts.

Jackpot.

Recommended by Em Vernem, Content Producer and co-host of The Spill.

John Cena and Awkwafina in Jackpot. Image: Prime Video.

I have a new comedy action film I want to recommend- it's called Jackpot, and it stars Awkwafina, John Cena and Simu Liu. The best way I can describe it is it's like The Purge if The Purge didn’t take itself so seriously. 

It's set in California where they do things a bit differently. They have a monthly lottery where you sign up to take part. If you win the lottery… everyone else in Los Angeles has 24 hours to kill you. The first person to kill you gets your winnings. 

It is so bizarre, so funny and Awkwafina and John Cena have surprisingly amazing chemistry. 

Jackpot is now streaming on Prime Video.

Chimp Crazy.

Recommended by Tara Watson, Senior Entertainment Producer.

Chimp Crazy is the docuseries people are loving. Image: Binge.

I'm not overstating this: Chimp Crazy is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Don’t get it twisted: it’s deeply cooked. This four-part series from the makers of Tiger King is one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen, as it examines how women have historically positioned themselves as surrogate mothers to chimpanzees. 

The woman at the centre of the show is Tonia Haddix, an exotic animal broker with a passion for apes, especially one former Hollywood chimp, Tonka. What begins as a run-of-the-mill animal rights documentary pivots in an unexpected way. I won’t say too much more as it's best to watch this with no expectations. Strap in for a wild ride. 

Chimp Crazy is now streaming on Binge. 

Blink Twice.

Recommended by Laura Brodnik, Head of Entertainment and co-host of The Spill.

Blink Twice stars Channing Tatum.

Blink Twice is a new thriller co-written and directed by Zoë Kravitz and starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, and Adria Arjona.

The movie tells the story of Frida (Ackie), a cocktail waitress struggling to pay her rent. Then one night she and her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) ditch their waitress uniforms and sneak into the fancy party they were serving at.

This is where the duo meets charming billionaire tech mogul Slater King (Tatum), who quickly whisks them away to his tropical private island for a never-ending bender of a holiday with a group of equally fabulous and interesting characters.

At first, the island seems like the most idyllic and exciting location until Frida begins to realise the horrifying truth about what's really going on there. 

Blink Twice is a wildly entertaining movie, with a twist that will keep you engrossed until the very end and a slew of standout performances led by the incredible Naomi Ackie.

I highly recommend experiencing it in a cinema and just be aware the movie contains depictions of violence—including sexual violence.

You can read Laura Brodnik's full review of Blink Twice here.

Blink Twice is in cinemas now. 

Still not sure what to watch? Check out all the movies and TV shows we recommended in August.

Feature Image: Warner Bros.

For more new TV and movie recommendations, listen to The Spill.