Must-See New Release Movies at Australian Cinemas This August
Cinemas tends to go a little quiet in the depths of winter, but this August has a genuinely good spread on offer, from big-budget spectacle to something more intimate. Here’s what’s worth getting off the couch for this month.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in this highly anticipated new chapter, alongside Zendaya, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal and Florence Pugh. Released July 30, it’s still screening widely across Australian cinemas this August, and it’s the family-friendly, crowd-pleasing pick of the month if you want something the whole family can enjoy together.
One Night Only
A fresh, witty rom-com starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner as two strangers who cross paths in a fictionalised New York, on the one night of the year locals are given a pass for a no-strings encounter. Naturally, both are hoping for something more than a fling. Charming, funny, and exactly the kind of date-night or girls’-night pick that’s easy to love. In cinemas from August 7.
The Dog Stars
Ridley Scott directs this post-apocalyptic drama starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong, following survivors navigating a world reshaped by a devastating virus. Big names, big scale, and exactly the kind of film that deserves the cinema screen rather than waiting for streaming. In cinemas from August 27.
Cliffhanger
Pierce Brosnan and Lily James lead this remake, playing a father-daughter pair running a mountain chalet in the Dolomites, whose quiet life is upended when a rescue mission turns deadly. Tense, scenic, and a great option if you want a proper edge-of-your-seat thrill this month.
Savage House
Claire Foy and Richard E. Grant lead this darkly funny period piece, set in 18th-century England amid a pox outbreak and political unrest, following a status-obsessed couple whose ambitions spiral into scandal and chaos. A stylish, biting comedy of manners if you want something with real wit. In cinemas from August 6.
Super Troopers 3
The Broken Lizard crew are back for a third instalment, this time with Farva’s over-the-top Indian engagement spiralling into total chaos. Silly, raunchy, and exactly what it says on the tin if you’re a fan of the earlier films. In cinemas from August 6.
The Ice Cream Man
A horror comedy set in an idyllic summer town, where an ice cream man’s sweet treats turn into something far more sinister for the local kids. A fun pick if you’re after something a bit darker and tongue-in-cheek. In cinemas from August 6.
The Brink of War
Jeff Daniels and Jared Harris star as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in this tense historical drama, set over one high-stakes weekend at the height of the Cold War as the pair try to broker peace. A slower, more thoughtful watch if you want something with real weight to it. Confirmed for US release August 14; check with your local cinema for the Australian date.
Spa Weekend
A girls’ getaway comedy that’s exactly what it sounds like, and exactly what you want on a big screen with a group of friends. HOYTS is even running a dedicated Girls’ Night Out screening on August 19, which feels like the ideal way to see this one.
The Chronology of Water
Kristen Stewart makes her directorial debut with this festival favourite, an intimate, unconventional drama that’s been generating real buzz on the awards-season circuit. If you like your cinema a little more challenging and character-driven, this is the one to seek out at your local arthouse cinema.
Mutiny
Jason Statham is back in familiar territory with this new action thriller, for anyone after pure, no-frills entertainment and a proper popcorn night out.
