Neon continues to bring in a convoy of quality shows and films. See our handpicked highlights below followed by the full release schedule.
Top picks: TV
Mrs. Davis (August 2)
I’m a big fan of this nutty sci-fi comedy, starring the ever-expressive Betty Gilpin as a nun deadset on destroying the mysterious AI force that has seemingly optimised humanity into a state of peace. The all-knowing entity is of course a metaphor for all kinds of faith, and Jesus Christ himself turns out to be a major player in the miniseries’ drama. And romance. And what you really need to know is that there’s a lot going on, from Vatican-sponsored sneaker commercials to diving into a whale’s stomach acid to David Arquette as Gilpin’s magician father who either died or ~*magically*~ disappeared. Just start with the pilot and have faith.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: Season 2 (August 8)
Blending drama, comedy, and sporting history, this well-reviewed HBO series is back to chronicle LA’s beloved Lakers right up to the 1984 finals—and the killer rematch between team star Magic Johnson and his rival Larry Bird. James Nokise had a ball watching season one last year: “There are paralleled family dynamics, multi-million dollar egos, and the fate of a city’s fans at stake. Throw in a healthy amount of Ted Lasso-ish male archetype deconstruction, and the show strikes a captivating chord.”
Billions: Season 7 (August 13)
It’s the seventh and final season of this high-finance, high-tension drama series, and Damian Lewis’s rogue hedge-fund manager Bobby “Axe” Axelrod is back to say goodbye after a well-timed escape to Switzerland for season six. The always-great Paul Giamatti has been a steady hand at the tiller since then, but Axe’s return should bring things together for an explosive finale—just how many more career-destroying, account-emptying secrets about this nasty batch of rich folks can possibly be outed?
Top picks: Movies
Babylon (August 8)
Damien Chazelle’s caricature of Hollywood’s evolution from talkies to the Golden Age is a mess. But! It’s a glittering, addictively entertaining mess, with some jaw-dropping scenes and big characters that actually befit the debauchery of the era in a strange way. Look at that picture of Tobey Maguire up top! He totally steals the waning final act of the movie! Babylon is long and unwieldy, but I promise you’ll have a blast while watching, with plenty of hefty, questionably-conveyed themes of race, gender and power to bitch about afterwards.
M3GAN (August 12)
Meet your new bestie: she can do TikTok dances, sing Sia’s “Titanium” as a beautiful bedtime lullaby, and sprint at your enemies on all fours before shoving them in front of a speeding truck! This instantly memed horror film from Blumhouse more than lived up to its hype, even if its PG-rating means the scares are never too unbearably intense or gory. Allison Williams is an all-timer terrible parent when she lets her newly-orphaned niece bond with the artificially intelligent doll, played by multiple talented child actors.
Dunkirk (August 13)
If you’re on a bit of a Christopher Nolan kick after checking out Oppenheimer in cinemas this month, the director’s tense, time-fragmenting war picture is a great pick. I always feel that Nolan is better at directing period stories rather than fantastical sci-fi films: his wildest visions for movies about space and dreams land pretty flat for me (hmm, more guys in suits, how novel), whereas when he’s given the solid ground of historical fact, he’s paradoxically more creative. That blend of cinematic spectacle with tough wartime reality makes both this and his newest film a solid double-feature.
Everything Coming to Neon this August
August 1
The Lost King
Metal Monsters: The Righteous Redeemer
August 2
47 Ronin
Mrs. Davis: Miniseries
August 3
The Hollow Crown
The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses
A Simple Favour
August 4
Last Call
Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Resident Evil: Retribution
August 5
Peter Rabbit
Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love
August 6
A Quiet Place
August 7
Mercury Rising
August 8
Babylon
Tad the Lost Emperor and the Emerald Tablet
Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty
August 9
Dublin Narcos
Mr Peabody and Sherman
August 10
Ghosts of Beirut
August 11
Night School
Rapsh!t: Season 2
August 12
M3GAN
August 13
Billions: Season 7
Dunkirk
August 14
Go!
Men In Kilts: Season 2
August 15
Celebrity Ex On The Beach: Seasons 1-2
The Lincoln Lawyer
August 16
Brutal Lives: Mo’ui Faingata’a: Seasons 1-2
Eagle Vs Shark
August 17
Waco: The Aftermath
August 19
The Lego Batman Movie
The Lego Ninjago Movie
August 20
Atomic Blonde
August 22
Teen Mom: Family Reunion
August 23
Constantine
Swiping America
August 24
Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre
August 25
Nancy Drew: Season 4
August 26
The Amazing Maurice
Fisherman’s Friends
Fisherman’s Friends 2: One and All
August 27
Ray
August 28
Jailhouse Rock
August 29
Horrible Bosses
Horrible Bosses 2
August 30
My Dead Ex
August 31
The Last Airbender
