The top new TV shows and movies on Netflix this week aren't all from Netflix. It's a relatively low-key week for Netflix originals. There's a new comedy special from the stand-up comedian Langston Kerman and the original movie "Incoming," which looks like a solid coming-of-age movie. There are also a few original documentaries, headlined by "Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" which follows 20 contestants in a year-long quest to form the next great pop music group.
But the real heavy hitters this week aren't from Netflix — they're from AMC.
Netflix is dropping a ton of AMC shows into its library of shows of movies, including the entire eight-season run of "Fear the Walking Dead." Netflix is also releasing the first season of AMC's "Interview with the Vampire" series and the first season of one of my favorite shows this year, "Monsieur Spade," alongside a few other AMC shows.
Here is a complete day-by-day rundown of what's new on Netflix this week. And for more picks check out this dark thriller on Netflix with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
New on Netflix this week: Top picks
'Fear the Walking Dead' seasons 1-8
"The Walking Dead" was a huge hit for AMC, spawning tons of zombie shows and movies after the first season took off in 2010. Five years later, it even spawned a major spin-off: "Fear the Walking Dead."
Starring Kim Dickens as Madison Clark, Cliff Curtis as Travis Manawa, Frank Dillane as Nick Clark, and Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark. the first three seasons of this show are a prequel to the flagship "The Walking Dead" series. It focuses on a family trying to survive the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. In season 4, the show gets a soft reboot, bringing in "The Walking Dead" character Morgan Jones (Lennie James) as a crossover character and making him the series lead for the rest of the show's eight seasons.
Watch now on Netflix
'Interview with the Vampire' season 1
Sometimes stylized as "Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire," this show has been a surprise hit for AMC. Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" had already been adapted into a 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt as Louis, a man turned into a vampire by a French vampire named Lestat (Tom Cruise). A TV show about the same characters seemed like retreading already-explored ground.
But the show received near-universal praise from critics through its first two seasons, arguably rendering the movie adaptation irrelevant. Even though the characters are the same — this time with Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac and Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt — the show explored themes of race, abuse and queerness in ways that the film largely avoided. If you want to watch one of the highest-rated horror shows out there, then you need to watch "Interview with the Vampire."
Watch now on Netflix
'Monsieur Spade' season 1
"Monsieur Spade" isn't one of the seven best shows I've watched this year, but it's close. Its first season is currently 12 out of 35 on my list of the new seasons of TV I've watched this year, and that's pretty darn good.
The AMC series stars Clive Owen as the titular Monsieur Spade aka private detective Sam Spade of "The Maltese Falcon" fame. Owen's portrayal of the character picks up about two decades after Humphrey Bogart's iconic portrayal of Spade in the 1941 classic, living in the French countryside town of Bozouls effectively in retirement. But men like Spade are never truly retired, and the private eye is forced into an international case of intrigue once a convent of nuns is murdered in quiet Bozouls. If you love a detective show, skip "True Detective: Night Country" and watch "Monsieur Spade" instead.
Watch now on Netflix
'Migration'
Zombie apocalypses and detective noir shows are great, but not exactly something you can show your young kids. Thankfully, Netflix has you covered on that front too, serving up one of last year's more popular animated movies.
"Migration" stars Kumail Nanjiani as Mack Mallard, the patriarch of a family of ducks living in a New England pond. Life is great until Mack's wife Pam (Elizabeth Banks) insists they migrate south to Jamaica for the winter. However, they don't even make it to Jamaica, Queens before disaster strikes. Don't worry though, despite a plot focused on a chaotic journey south, "Migration" is unabashedly a comedy, with a voice cast that includes Danny DeVito, Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key.
Watch now on Netflix
'Langston Kerman: Bad Poetry'
I first came across Langston Kerman's comedy listening to him as a guest on the podcast "Lovett or Leave it." But there's a chance you've already seen him act if you haven't seen his stand-up. He's appeared in shows like "Insecure" and "The Boys." In "Langston Kerman: Bad Poetry," he tackles parenting a top-tier baby, teaching mean teens, managing his mother-in-law's dating apps and more.
For some reason, Netflix didn't put up a trailer on YouTube for this comedy special. So I included a clip of Kerman's stand-up that I particularly enjoyed, which you can watch above.
Watch now on Netflix
'Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE'
"Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" follows 20 girls from around the globe as they look to form KATSEYE, which HYBE and Geffen Records are hoping will become the next great pop music group. If HYBE doesn't sound familiar to you, you might know it better as Big Hit Entertainment, the label responsible for forming BTS, one of the biggest entertainment acts of all time.
In this eight-episode docuseries, you'll see how HYBE's KPOP expertise and Geffen's industry success are combined into a training and development program that produces results. Will the series end with the creation of the next great musical act? Or do these contestants not have what it takes? You'll have to watch to find out.
Watch on Netflix starting August 21
'Incoming'
Whether "Dazed and Confused," "Superbad" or "Booksmart," the coming-of-age movie is an excellent genre filled with great movies. And each generation tends to latch onto at least one as their own — being born in the early 90s, for me it's "Superbad." For Gen Z, Netflix is probably hoping that "Incoming" will be that such movie.
"Incoming" stars Mason Thames, Raphael Alejandro, Bardia Seiri and Ramon Reed as high school students Benj Nielsen, Connor, Danah 'Koosh' Koushani and Eddie. This movie follows them as they try and make it through their first-ever high school party. Watch it on Netflix this week to see if they can successfully navigate a crazy night of mayhem and debauchery.
Watch on Netflix starting August 23
Everything new on Netflix: Aug 19-25
AUGUST 19
"CoComelon Lane" season 3 (Netflix family)
The Melon Patch Academy kids want to surprise their teacher Ms. Appleberry with a special musical! But can the show go on when plans unexpectedly change?
- "A Discovery of Witches" seasons 1-3
- "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches" season 1
- "Dark Winds" seasons 1-2
- "Fear the Walking Dead" seasons 1-8
- "Gangs of London" seasons 1-2
- "Interview with the Vampire" season 1
- "Into the Badlands" seasons 1-3
- "Kevin Can F**k Himself" Seasons 1-2
- "Migration"
- "Monsieur Spade" season 1
- "Preacher" seasons 1-4
- "That Dirty Black Bag" season 1
- "The Terror" season 1
- "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" season 1
- "UnREAL" seasons 1-4
AUGUST 20
"Langston Kerman: Bad Poetry" (Netflix comedy special)
Comedian Langston Kerman talks parenting a top-tier baby, teaching mean teens and managing his mother-in-law's dating apps in this hilarious special.
"Terror Tuesday: Extreme" (TH) (Netflix series)
Inspired by the Thai horror radio show "Angkhan Khlumpong," this series presents eight stories based on real-life experiences shared by listeners.
"Untold: The Murder of Air McNair" (Netflix documentary)
This documentary tracks the rise of legendary NFL quarterback Steve McNair and the perplexing details surrounding his shocking murder in 2009.
AUGUST 21
"The Accident" (MX) (Netflix series)
When a birthday party takes a tragic turn, its ripples shatter a close-knit, wealthy community — tearing families, friendships and hearts apart.
"Back to 15: Back to 18" (BR) (Netflix series)
After a photoblog glitch, Anita is transported to 2009 and must navigate university life while realizing she's not the only time traveler in town.
"Nice Girls" (FR) (Netflix film)
A vengeful cop with a big personality and a German detective with opposing methods team up to save Nice from disaster in this female-led buddy film.
"Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" (Netflix documentary)
The series follows 20 contestants from around the world over a year-long journey as they compete to become KATSEYE, a one-of-a-kind global girl group formed using KPOP methodologies. With unprecedented access, unfolding over eight episodes, the result is a compelling portrayal of the road to international stardom, including insight into the unique training and development program developed by HYBE and Geffen Records.
"Wyatt Earp and The Cowboy War" (Netflix documentary)
The legendary feud between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton unfolds through vivid reenactments in this gritty docudrama about the gunfight that defined an era.
AUGUST 22
"Baby Fever" season 2 (DK) (Netflix series)
Fertility doctor Nana tries to balance life as a single mother with the complicated web of lies she has spun — but the past catches up to her.
"GG Precinct" (TW) (Netflix series)
Facing a trail of murders staged as chilling word games, a rookie police captain and a goofy detective race to solve a serial killer's deadly puzzles.
"Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie" (JP) (Netflix anime)
One by one, Sailor Moon’s friends and loved ones are targeted by a formidable new enemy who threatens to destroy everything and rule over the cosmos.
"Secret Lives of Orangutans" (GB) (Netflix documentary)
Follow a multi-generational orangutan family through their treetop triumphs and travails in this immersive documentary Narrated by David Attenborough.
AUGUST 23
"Incoming" (Netflix film)
Their first week of high school. The biggest party of the year. Mistakes will be made as four teenage boys navigate a night of mayhem and debauchery.
"Tòkunbọ̀" (NG) (Netflix film)
An ex-car smuggler is given three hours to deliver a government official's daughter to her captor — or else his family will suffer the consequences.
Leaving Netflix This Week
Leaving 8/22/24
"Everything Everywhere All at Once"
Leaving 8/23/24
"Marcel the Shell with Shoes On"
Leaving 8/24/24
"Berlin Syndrome"
