Check out Eliza Janssen’s highlights of what’s coming to Netflix New Zealand soon, followed by the full release schedule.
Top Picks: TV
Heartstopper: Season 2 (August 3)
In her review of the first season of this sweet queer rom-com series, Lillian Crawford said that “Netflix might be able to get away with the show’s sexlessness at this stage in [the characters’] relationship, but it would be laughably implausible at the next.” Will we get a slightly more adult, risqué next chapter? It’s hard to tell as the friends-to-lovers arc for teens Charlie and Nick gets only more serious, but as Crawford also acknowledged, “if Heartstopper gives even one teenager the tools for exploring their sexual identity, then it’s worth celebrating.”
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (August 9)
Now is a great time to be a woman in the rap game. With mainstream stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B topping the charts alongside rising talents like Tierra Whack (my fave) and Ice Spice, there may be no better time to look back at the origins of women winning across the entire hip-hop genre. Queen Latifah is a real get as one of this docuseries’ primary talking heads, reminding us all of why she’s crowned queen with this quote from the trailer: “We will always be stronger together than we are apart. That’s just how it is”
One Piece (August 31)
Netflix have had pretty mixed results adapting beloved anime into live-action shows in the past: their Cowboy Bebop series was roundly hated by fans, and those who don’t know the anime weren’t really likely to give it a shot. Perhaps, with its slightly more family-friendly, yo-ho-ho pirate adventure plot, this anime adaptation has more of a chance at success. It’ll either be delightful or very uncanny and freakish to watch an IRL Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates who has the rubbery ability to flex and bend at will.
Top Picks: Movies + Specials
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (August 4)
Based on the manga and anime of the same name, this zom-comedy sees a bored corporate drone finally grab life by the balls…right as a world-destroying zombie apocalypse hits. Akira’s spirit has slowly been crushed out of him after years at a dull job with a bullying boss, but the news that dead people are running rampant in the streets make him feel paradoxically more alive than ever. With 100 items on his list of cool stuff to do before he dies (which may be sooner than expected), the reinvigorated guy makes the best out of a very bad situation.
Grease (August 15)
Greta Gerwig recently described this seminal movie-musical as a big influence on her blockbuster Barbie: “it’s a musical about the 50s, made in the 70s, starring people in their 30s.” There’s certainly something daggy about the film, but it gets enough moments right to make generation after generation wanna come back to handjive one last time: the ecstatic dance sequences, Stockard Channing’s snarling performance as bad girl Rizzo (the only character with any dimension, IMO), and the late great Olivia Newton-John at her very sweetest. Tell me about it, stud.
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah (August 25)
Adam Sandler has long been known as the type of guy to set a lazy comedy movie in a glorious holiday destination, seemingly just to give his pals a good break—and now his daughters, Sadie and Sunny Sandler, get a film of their very own thanks to their comedy legend dad. The coming-of-age comedy also reunites Sandler with his Uncut Gems co-star Idina Menzel, as parents trying to stop their kid’s teenage rite from spiralling into disaster. Hopefully it’s a tad less stressful than that movie, though…
All titles arriving on Netflix New Zealand in August
August 1
Call Me By Your Name
Fisk: Season 1
Untold: Volume 3 (New episodes each week)
August 2
Mark Cavendish: Never Enough
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth about Your Food
Scream
Soulcatcher
August 3
Heartstopper: Season 2
The Last Hours of Mario Biondo
The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2
Head to Head
August 4
The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge
Fatal Seduction: Volume 2
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
August 7
Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 8
August 8
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 2
Zombieverse
August 9
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop
August 10
Marry My Dead Body
Mech Cadets
Painkiller
August 11
Down for Love
Heart of Stone
August 13
Behind Your Touch
August 15
Grease
Jared Freid: 37 and Single
Suicide Squad
August 16
At Home With The Furys
DEPP V HEARD
The Chosen One
August 17
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Season 2
The Upshaws: Part 4
August 18
10 Days of a Bad Man
Love, Sex and 30 Candles
Mask Girl
The Monkey King
August 21
Blood Diamond
August 22
LIGHTHOUSE
August 23
Squared Love Everlasting
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2
August 24
Baki Hanma: Season 2 Part 4
Destined With You
Ragnarok: Season 3
Who Is Erin Carter?
August 25
Killer Book Club
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah
August 26
Gone Girl
August 30
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
Miss Adrenaline: A Tale of Twins
August 31
Choose Love
Karate Sheep: Season 2
One Piece
Coming Soon
Guns & Gulaabs
Risqué Business: Taiwan
