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A documentary of Lebanon's tragic August 4 port blast, the final season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and a feel-good animation about love and music: these are only a few of what UAE viewers can expect to come to their small screens throughout August.
Here we take a look at 16 of the best new series, seasons and films that are coming out this month on streaming platforms Netflix, Starzplay, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and OSN Streaming.
‘Beirut Blast: The Story of Warehouse 12’
Release date: August 4
Platform: OSN Streaming
This new documentary will air exclusively on OSN Streaming and recounts the Beirut port blast, a year after it happened. It’s told through 30 interviews and footage of the event and aftermath. We find out from protagonists where they were, what happened to them, their family and friends, and what happened next.
‘Cooking with Paris’
Release date: August 4
Platform: Netflix
She popularised the catchphrase "that's hot" more than two decades ago, and now Paris Hilton will soon revive it while in the kitchen for her new TV cooking series. Following on from the viral sensation of her YouTube video, Cooking with Paris, in which she cooked a lasagne without the flair of a celebrity chef, Hilton has been tapped by Netflix to create a series documenting her off-beat kitchen antics.
"She's turning the traditional cooking show upside down," says Netflix . "She's not a trained chef and she's not trying to be. With the help of her celebrity friends, she navigates new ingredients, new recipes and exotic kitchen appliances. Inspired by her viral YouTube video, Paris will take us from the grocery store to the finished table spread – and she might actually learn her way around the kitchen.”
‘Navarasa’
Release date: August 6
Platform: Netflix
The nine episodes of this Tamil-language anthology will represent anger, compassion, courage, disgust, fear, laughter, love, peace and wonder – the human emotions evoked during the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. Navarasa is created by director Mani Ratnam in collaboration with filmmaker Jayendra Panchapakesan.
'Mr Corman'
Release date: August 6
Platform: Apple TV+
This darkly funny new series follows the days and nights of Josh Corman, a musician at heart but fifth-grade teacher by trade. He's split from his fiance, and has a school buddy move in. And while he knows he still has plenty to be thankful for, Corman struggles with anxiety, loneliness and self doubt. It's a relatable comedy-drama written, directed, produced by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt that's likely to appeal to the new generation of 30-somethings.
‘Vivo’
Release date: August 6
Platform: Netflix
This animated musical adventure features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, the award-winning composer of Broadway shows Hamilton and In the Heights. It follows a kinkajou, or rainforest "honey bear", voiced by Miranda, who spends his days playing music to crowds in a lively square with his owner Andres (voiced by Buena Vista Social Club’s Juan de Marcos). When Andres receives a letter from Marta Sandoval (played by Gloria Estefan), inviting her old partner to reconnect, Vivo decides to make sure she hears a love song Andres had hidden all these years.
‘Animal Kingdom’, season 5
Release date: August 8
Platform: OSN Streaming
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Just after its US debut, the fifth season of this series comes to the UAE. It centres on Joshua J Cody, 17, who moves in with relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mothers dies of a drug overdose. His grandmother heads a clan, and soon he gets involved with his cousins and their criminal activities.
‘The Kissing Booth 3’
Release date: August 11
Platform: Netflix
The third instalment of this beloved romcom series takes place the summer before Elle heads to college, and she’s trying to find an answer to the hardest question she’s ever faced: should she move cross country with boyfriend Noah or keep her lifelong promise to go to college with best friend Lee? Either way, someone’s heart is about to get broken.
‘AlRawabi School for Girls’
Release date: August 12
Platform: Netflix
Netflix’s second Arabic Original series tells the story of a bullied high school girl who gathers a group of outcasts to plot the perfect revenge to get back at their tormentors. “The fictional world of AlRawabi is filled with drama and secrets and shares the challenges that girls face during this critical stage in their lives,” Netflix says.
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’
Release date: August 13
Platform: OSN Streaming
The day after it airs in the US, the final season of beloved cop comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine comes to the UAE. After a delay because of the pandemic, loveable NYPD colleagues Jake, Amy, Rosa, Holy, Charles, Terry, Hitchcock and Scully are all back for “one last ride”, as they pick up where they left off in season seven.
'Coda'
Release date: August 13
Platform: Apple TV+
In this Sundance Grand Jury Prize Award-winning film Ruby, 17, is the only hearing member of a deaf family, or a Coda, child of deaf adults. She acts as an interpreter for her parents, working on the family's struggling fishing boat every day before school. When she joins her high school choir club, however, she discovers her gift for singing and finds herself torn between family duties and her own dreams.
‘Heels’
Release date: August 15
Platform: Starzplay
This drama series follows two rival brothers, one a ring heel (aka villain) and the other a hero (or “face”), who grapple over their father’s wrestling promotion business after he dies. All the while, they’re also vying for national attention from small-town Georgia.
'Nine Perfect Strangers'
Release date: August 20
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
This eight-part drama series starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy is based on The New York Times bestselling book Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Filmed in Australia, it's set at a boutique health and wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. Nine strangers embark on a 10-day retreat, but they've no idea what's about to hit them.
The first three episodes will premiere on August 20, with the rest to be released weekly thereafter.
‘Sweet Girl’
Release date: August 20
Platform: Netflix
In this new action thriller, Jason Mamoa plays a grieving family man, Ray Cooper, who is out to get revenge against Big Pharma after they pulled potentially life-saving drugs from the market and his wife (Adria Arjona) dies from cancer. In his search for the truth, Ray and his daughter Rachel (Isabela Merced) are put in harm’s way, and his quest for vengeance turns into a mission in protection.
‘The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf’
Release date: August 23
Platform: Netflix
This much-anticipated 2D South Korean-American anime film is a spin-off from Netflix series The Witcher, and focuses on the origin story of Gerald’s mentor Vesemir, a young witcher who delights in slaying monsters. But when a dangerous new power rises on the Continent, he learns some jobs are about more than just money.
‘American Horror Story: Double Feature’
Release date: August 26
Platform: OSN Streaming
The 10th season of American Horror Story will air on OSN Streaming in the UAE one day after its global premiere. It’s divided into two parts: one by the sea, the other by the sand, Red Tide and Death Valley. Not much is known about the plot, other than what we’ve gleaned from a very creepy and mysterious promo that seems to star aliens. There will be 10 new episodes, each being released every Thursday.
‘He’s All That’
Release date: August 27
Platform: Netflix
This gender-swapped reimagining of 1999 teen classic She’s All That sees TikTok star Addison Rae make her acting debut. It follows an influencer who accepts a challenge to turn the school’s biggest nerd, played by Tanner Buchanan (Cobra Kai, Designated Survivor), into prom king.
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