10 Great Movies Coming To Netflix This Week

The first day of each month is a glorious one, as it’s when our favorite streaming platforms add a host of new movies to their digital libraries. And this week is especially exciting for Netflix
NFLX
, as the world’s most popular streamer is adding a wave of great films.

But how to choose between all of the great new movies that will be added to Netflix this week? For this list, I’ll choose ten movies I really enjoy. Then, at the end of the article, you’ll find the entire list of movies that will be added to Netflix on August 1.

Anaconda

I really miss the kind of blockbuster that was exclusive to Hollywood in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. These kind of big, dumb, fun thrillers that relied on mysterious monsters lurking on the horizon always made for great entertainment—and Anaconda was one of the absolute best. Anaconda is full of great performances (from players like Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube and Jon Voight) and goofy thrills that make for a fun night at the movies.

Barbershop

Is there a better soundtrack than the one that belongs to Barbershop? Marvin Gaye, Ginuwine, Ghostface Killah, B2K—I mean, what a crazy lineup. And the film captures the foot-tapping energy of those songs, as Barbershop sets up in a small barbershop that’s constantly full of interesting, entertaining (and hilarious) conversations that keep you hooked for the film’s entire runtime.

Children of the Sea

Anime movies and television series are currently experiencing a fruitful time—and Children of the Sea is one of the most notable standouts. This wonderful adventure film follows a teenager who’s drawn to an aquarium where she believes she saw a ghost. She decides to investigate the situation after banding up with a mysterious pair of brothers.

Glory

Perhaps no Oscar was more well-deserved than Denzel Washington’s Best Supporting Actor award for Glory. This epic film was one of the best war movies of the late 20th Century, as its packed full of gripping performances and beautiful cinematography. Glory will make you wonder what happened to the war genre over the years.

Grease

Ah, Grease. If you have never seen it, then now is the time to fix that. And if you have seen it…well, I guess it’s time to watch it again? This hip musical is endlessly watchable and offers up pure sugary entertainment from start to finish. Grease is more than a movie—it has become a (well-deserved) staple of American culture.

Magic Mike

No joke: one of my absolute favorite movies ever is Magic Mike XXL. But I also love the original film that kicked off the series—a movie that has a completely different and captivating energy than the second. Steven Soderbergh’s colorful drama looks gorgeous and offers up some beautifully choreographed dance sequences. Magic Mike is just as great today as it was eight years ago.

Not Another Teen Movie

Here’s a movie I saw way back in the day and didn’t really enjoy. Not Another Teen Movie is the kind film I would have never given a second chance—until a friend forced me to rewatch it recently. And I have to say: this movie nails it. Not Another Teen Movie doesn’t try to be anything more than a wacky spoof of high school movies, and it pulls off that formula hilariously with flying colors.

Possession

Netflix doesn’t add a lot of older horror films to its lineup. So when I saw that Possession was coming to the streaming service, my eyes lit up. I absolutely love this classic from Polish director Andrzej Żuławski, who (in my opinion) created one of the strangest, most unpredictable horror flicks of the 1980s. Possession follows a woman whose exhibiting increasingly neurotic behavior—for reasons I won’t reveal. Honestly, it’s better if you just watch it instead.

Wildlife

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of those actors where no matter what the project is…I know I have to see it. And Wildlife belongs on that list. Directed by Paul Dano and starring Carey Mulligan, this captivating 2018 indie drama centers on an out-of-control forest fire. After Gyllenhaal’s character goes to fight the fire, he forces Mulligan’s character and her son to fend for themselves.

Zathura

The 2000s were a glorious time for family-friendly movies that owned a whimsical sense of adventure. Zathura was surely one of the standouts from the decade, employing up-and-coming actors like Josh Hutcherson and Kristen Stewart, as well as established actors like Dax Shepard and Tim Robbins, to create a transcendently fun experience. Zathura is a 21st Century take on Jumanji, as the movie follows three young siblings who play a space-themed board game that comes to life.