7 Best Movies To Watch Before They Leave Netflix in August 2024 (2024)

Are you looking for some midsummer movie marathons? This August, Netflix has a lot of exciting new projects in store, but at the same time, many interesting titles are making their last call. The streaming network is adding another edition of their Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection with some of the most popular and iconic films of the 90s. But, before you dive into the new titles, why not take a glance at the ones that will be leaving the streamer forever? From award-winning, critically acclaimed titles to fan-favorite comedies, check out our handpicked list of the best movies leaving Netflix this July for an entertainment-packed summer.

*The article lists the actual date/day of removal which means the last day to watch the title is the day before. For e.g., if a movie is leaving on Aug 1, the last day to watch would be on July 31.

Read more about what's streaming on Netflix:

• The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
• The Best Netflix Shows and Original Series to Watch Right Now
• The Best Comedies on Netflix Right Now

'The Woman King'

This historical epic saga is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Old Guard) and written by Dana Stevens from a story by actor-producer Maria Bello. Inspired by the West African kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Benin), The Woman King tells the story of the kingdom’s all-female warrior clan, the Agojie, and how they saved their kingdom from enemies in the 1820s, under the leadership of their fierce general. In one of her career-best performances, Viola Davis (Fences) leads the cast as Nanisca, the invincible general of the Agojie who trains her regiment to fight off Portuguese slave traders. Her portrayal of the gritty but sensitive and emotionally nuanced army leader won her several awards and nominations, with Thuso Mbedu’s role of the rookie warrior, Nawi, becoming her breakout performance.

A historical war drama, The Woman King is largely rooted in the truths of war, freedom, and brutality, remarkably depicted through the film’s narrative and awe-inspiring visuals. The Woman King earned widespread popularity and a glowing reception for Davis and Mbedu's performances and has been compared to other historical epics like Braveheart and Gladiator.

The Woman King

810

PG-13

Historical

Action

Adventure

The Woman King is a historical action/drama film about the Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful nation with an elite warrior force known as the Agojie. The core events follow Nanisca, general of an all-female military unit, and Nawi, an ambitious recruit, who together fight enemies who violated their honor, enslaved their people, and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for. Nanisca will prepare her soldiers for a war against the Oyo, another nation that has aligned itself with a group of European slave traders. In addition, Nanisca will seek to free her enslaved people from the Oyo.

Release Date

September 16, 2022

Director

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast

Viola Davis , Thuso Mbedu , Lashana Lynch , Sheila Atim , Hero Fiennes Tiffin , John Boyega

Runtime

135 minutes

Writers

Dana Stevens , Maria Bello

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Watch on Netflix

'Paddington'

British filmmaker Paul King (Wonka) wrote and directed this 2014 live-action comedy, based on the eponymous children's book character created by Michael Bond. Paddington follows the titular anthropomorphic bear who moves from the deep forest of Peru to the streets of London. After he is adopted by the Brown family, Paddington learns to navigate life in the big city, bonding with his new family and having new adventures. Ben Whishaw voices Paddington Bear, amid a stacked cast that includes Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi and Academy Award-winner Nicole Kidman. A heartwarming family film, Paddington was well-received on its release and was both a commercial and critical success, with King earning two BAFTA nominations for his story and screenplay. The film led to a sequel, Paddington 2, released in 2017, with King returning to write and direct, and Wishaw reprising his voice role. A third movie, Paddington in Peru, is set to release in November 2024, with Wishaw returning as Paddington, along with Emily Mortimer, Olivia Colman, and Antonio Banderas joining the cast.

Paddington

PG

Comedy

Adventure

Animation

Family

Release Date

November 24, 2014

Director

Paul King

Cast

Tim Downie , Madeleine Worrall , Lottie Steer , Geoffrey Palmer , Theresa Watson , Imelda Staunton

Runtime

95

Main Genre

Comedy

Writers

Paul King , Hamish McColl , Michael Bond

Studio

TWC-Dimension

Tagline

The Adventure is About to Begin

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'Dumb and Dumber To'

A sequel to the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber, this 2014 film is the third film in the franchise, directed and written by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their roles from the 1994 film and return as the titular friends, Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. Set 20 years after the events of the first film, Dumb and Dumber To follows Harry and Llyod, two dimwitted adult friends who set out on a cross-country road trip to look for Harry’s daughter who got adopted nearly 30 years ago. The rest of the film’s ensemble cast includes the likes of Rob Riggle and Kathleen Turner with Bill Murray appearing in a cameo. With the 1994 film now in the streamer’s Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection, you can watch both films back-to-back for complete context.

Dumb and Dumber To

PG-13

Comedy

Release Date

November 12, 2014

Director

Bobby Farrelly , Peter Farrelly

Cast

Jim Carrey , Jeff Daniels , Rob Riggle , Laurie Holden , Rachel Melvin , Steve Tom

Runtime

110

Main Genre

Comedy

Writers

Sean Anders , Mike Cerrone , Bobby Farrelly , Peter Farrelly , John Morris , Bennett Yellin

Tagline

Dumbing soon.

Website

http://www.dumblr.com

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, aka The Daniels, Everything Everywhere All at Once is an absurdist comedy-drama film that explores fantasy, sci-fi, and self-discovery on an epic scale. The story follows Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant struggling with her family’s financial status. While being audited by the IRS, Evelyn has uncanny experiences that take her on a fantastical adventure across parallel universes where she connects with other versions of herself. Everything Everywhere All at Once uses stunning visuals to explore significant subjects like absurdism, surrealism, depression, generational trauma, and Asian-American identity. The film is said to be inspired by the children’s book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, and the video game Everything, with Wong Kar-wai and philosopher Mary-Jane Rubenstein cited as influences. Michelle Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu star as the central characters, Evelyn and her daughter, Joe Wang, respectively, in brilliant performances. With 11 nominations and seven wins, Everything Everywhere All at Once made history at the 95th Academy Awards, with Yeoh becoming the first Asian woman to be nominated for and win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and the first Malaysian to win an Academy Award.

Everything Everywhere All at Once

R

Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

Drama

A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.

Release Date

March 25, 2022

Director

Daniel Kwan , Daniel Scheinert

Cast

Jenny Slate , Michelle Yeoh , jamie lee curtis , Ke Huy Quan

Runtime

139 minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

Studio

AGBO, Hotdog Hands, Ley Line Entertainment

Watch on Netflix

'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On'

If you are looking for something endearing, then Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is sure to make your heart melt. It’s also poignant and profound in its narrative. The live-action/stop-motion animated mockumentary is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, in his feature directorial debut. The film is based on the 2010 short film trilogy of the same name by Fleischer Camp and Jenny Slate and serves as both a prequel and sequel to the series. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On follows the titular anthropomorphic seashell, voiced by Slate. The film, similar to the original short films, follows Marcel who wants to explore the world and find his family. Fleischer Camp also features in the film as Dean, a fictionalized version of himself who helps Marcel in his quest. The mockumentary also features comedians like Andy Richter, Nathan Fielder, Jessi Klein, and Conan O’Brien. Premiered in 2021, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On had a glowing reception from fans and critics alike, winning several Annie Awards and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

PG

Animation

Release Date

September 1, 2021

Director

Dean Fleischer-Camp

Cast

Jenny Slate , Isabella Rossellini , Dean Fleischer-Camp , Thomas Mann , Rosa Salazar , Lesley Stahl

Runtime

90

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Dean Fleischer-Camp , Elisabeth Holm , Nick Paley , Jenny Slate

Watch on Netflix

'Berlin Syndrome'

This 2017 psychological horror thriller is directed by Australian filmmaker, Cate Shortland, best known for directing Somersault and MCU’s Black Widow. Based on the 2012 eponymous novel by Melanie Joosten, Berlin Syndrome follows a young Australian backpacker and photographer, Clare, who travels to Germany and meets the attractive local English teacher, Andi. After a passionate night together, Clare wakes up to find herself taken hostage by her lover and finds desperate ways to free herself. The film’s title is a reference to Stockholm syndrome, where the hostage tends to develop an attachment to their captors. While Berlin Syndrome does have moments of Clara’s weakness, she does not suffer from Stockholm syndrome and is determined to escape. With a gripping narrative and tension-filled moments, Berlin Syndrome is a thrilling film about dangerous obsession, sex, violence, and metamorphosis. The psychological thriller earned highly positive reviews from critics, who praised the film’s atmosphere and Teresa Palmer’s performance as Clare.

Berlin Syndrome

R

Thriller

Horror

Mystery

Release Date

May 16, 2017

Director

Cate Shortland

Cast

Teresa Palmer , Max Riemelt , Matthias Habich , Kristina Kostiv , Peter Young , Lucie Aron

Runtime

116 minutes

Main Genre

Thriller

Writers

Shaun Grant , Melanie Joosten

Website

http://www.curzonartificialeye.com/berlin-syndrome/

Watch on Netflix

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

If you have been missing Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, then you now have a chance to watch the entire trilogy before they leave Netflix this August. Released between 2002 and 2007, the films star Tobey Maguire as the titular superhero, with Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, and Rosemary Harris also reprising their roles for all three films. Based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's eponymous Marvel Comics, 2002’s Spider-Man serves as the superhero’s origin story and follows Peter Parker, an average, withdrawn high-school kid who gets bitten by a genetically engineered spider and transforms into a superhero. While fighting crime in New York City, Peter also faces his first dangerous nemesis, Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). In Spider-Man 2, Peter continues his superhero role while navigating his existential crisis and stopping his new nemesis, Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) from recreating a lethal experiment. In Spider-Man 3, Peter faces his biggest and the most complex threat, when he is psychologically bonded with an alien symbiote, while he deals with a strained love life and seeks revenge from Uncle Ben’s killer, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church).

Spider-Man (2002)

PG-13

superheroes

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

After being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.

Release Date

May 3, 2002

Director

Sam Raimi

Cast

Tobey Maguire , Kirsten Dunst , Willem Dafoe , James Franco , Cliff Robertson , Rosemary Harris , J.K. Simmons , Joe Manganiello

Runtime

121 minutes

Main Genre

superheroes

Writers

Stan Lee , Steve Ditko , David Koepp

Watch on Netflix