August 2026’s Best Streaming Titles: Reacher, Ted Lasso, Lanterns, Jurassic Park, Knight Rider

Dr. Buckaroo Banzai is many things: physicist, neurosurgeon, test pilot, rock star. He’ll need all of those talents, as well as his brave comrades in the Hong Kong Cavaliers, to save Earth from the evil Red Lectroids, who’ve been trapped in the 8th dimension by the Black Lectroids of Planet 10. If any part of that description sounds like the best movie ever, then you’ve probably already watched this multiple times. If you haven’t, then you’re in for a treat: Buckaroo Banzai is cult cinema par excellence.

Featuring cinema’s most infamous wood chipper scene, the Coen brothers’ Fargo is yet another twisted moral tale told with a sense of humor as black as the film’s wintry setting is white. When a hapless car salesman (played to perfection by William H. Macy) contracts with a couple of goons to hold his wife for ransom, he sets in a motion a twisted tragicomedy of errors that pulls in one of the Coens’ noblest and purest heroes, police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand).

I don’t mean this as an insult, but Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is worth watching for the visuals alone. Of course, it has an emotional storyline, as an astronaut is forced to leave his family in order to find a new home for humanity. And Hans Zimmer’s score has become increasingly iconic. But the film’s visuals are simply jaw-dropping. Fun fact: Nolan worked with theoretical physicist Kip Thorne to make the black hole effects as realistic as possible, which ultimately advanced the scientific understanding of black holes and led to the publishing of several scientific papers on the topic.

I was a college freshman when Pulp Fiction arrived in theaters, and it was everywhere. Tarantino’s twisty, twisted morality play about hitmen, gangsters, drug addicts, boxers, and a mysterious briefcase blew everyone away with its snappy dialog, retro aesthetic, and celebrated performances (including John Travolta in a career-resurrecting performance). The diner conversation between Jules and Vincent is one of my favorite movie scenes of all time (read my review).

This 1990 western stars Tom Selleck as Matthew Quigley, an American sharpshooter who’s hired by an Australian land baron (Alan Rickman). But when he learns that he’s been hired to kill the indigenous Aboriginal population, Quigley refuses and instead, opts to use his deadly skills to take on the baron and his men. Quigley Down Under also stars Laura San Giacomo and Ben Mendelsohn.

On its surface, RoboCop seems like a pretty straightforward action/sci-fi movie: dedicated cop gets gunned down by vicious thugs and is reborn as an unstoppable cybernetic enforcer. But this being a Paul Verhoeven movie, it’s no surprise that RoboCop also packs a darkly satirical edge that skewers corporate greed.

Even after you know the big twist, The Usual Suspects is still a fun noir film to watch due to powerhouse performances from Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, and of course, Kevin Spacey. But if you don’t know the big twist, then you’re in for a treat. And once you’ve seen the twist, you’re going to want to rewatch it, just to see how the film put everything together leading up to that sublime “A ha!” moment.

The latest season of Reacher adapts 2009’s Gone Tomorrow, and finds Reacher embroiled in a mystery after witnessing a woman commit suicide on the New York subway. Of course, that shocking event turns out to be something far more sinister and convoluted, and eventually, Reacher’s just going to have to start punching bad guys in the face — and I can’t wait to watch him do it.

Everyone’s favorite soccer coach is back for another season of warm-hearted humanism. By the end of season three, Lasso had returned back to the States, but in season four, he’s back in the UK. Only this time, he’s coaching the Lady Greyhounds, a second-division women’s team. Although much of the series’ cast won’t be returning — sorry, no more Jamie Tartt — it’s safe to say that we’ll see another colorful cast of characters out there on the pitch.

Adapted from Blake Crouch’s best-selling 2016 novel, Dark Matter’s first season found physicist Jason Dessen trying to desperately get back to his family after a version of him from another universe took over his life. In the second season, Dessen must try and save the entire multiverse from another one of his doppelgangers even as his beloved family starts to fall apart.

Michael Winterbottom’s film explores the Manchester music scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s, and in particular, the rise of the influential Factory Records label, which was home to such iconic acts as Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, and Happy Mondays. Steve Coogan stars as Factory founder Tony Wilson, whose unorthodox approaches create a vibrant music scene while, at the same, threaten to undermine it. 24 Hour Party People consistently breaks the fourth wall, making for a very unique — and meta — experience.

The devout Salieri has dedicated his life to becoming a great composer, only to be upstaged by the young and rebellious Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — who immediately becomes his great rival. Based on Peter Shaffer’s play, Amadeus may play fast and loose with the historical facts of Mozart’s life, but it also delivers a fascinating story about art, faith, and artistic struggles. Since its release 1984, when it received numerous accolades and awards (including “Best Picture” and “Best Director” at the Oscars), Amadeus has come to be recognized as one of the greatest movies of all time.

After their mother is wooed by a charismatic preacher, her two young children soon realize that he’s up to no good and only searching for their father’s buried treasure. What follows is a truly remarkable film, filled with chilling performances — especially Robert Mitchum as the evil preacher and Lillian Gish as the children’s only hope — and striking, dreamlike visuals that imbue the film with a fairy tale-ish vibe (read my review).

Over the course of two seasons, Star Wars: Visions presented us with some very interesting animated takes on the Star Wars galaxy. One of the most acclaimed was “The Ninth Jedi,” which chronicles a Force-sensitive girl’s efforts to stay ahead of the Sith, and it serves as the basis for The Ninth Jedi’s eight episodes. Anime fans will note that the series is directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by Production I.G, the man and studio behind the excellent Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex series.

The Double Deuce is the rowdiest bar around, filled with violence and corruption, and it’s going to take a special man to bring things under control. Enter Dalton, whose as quick with a roundhouse kick as he is a nugget of Zen wisdom. Forget about Dirty Dancing. Road House is Patrick Swayze’s most iconic performance, and I’m pretty sure Andy Dwyer would agree with me (read my review).

Before he directed a string of the best sci-fi films in recent memory, including the recent Dune films, Denis Villeneuve directed this taut action thriller about an FBI agent (Emily Blunt) who teams up with the CIA to bring down a violent Mexican drug cartel. Upon its release in 2015, the film was widely praised, and nominated for several Oscars. The film also stars Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Daniel Kaluuya, and was the screenwriting debut of Taylor Sheridan, who would later go on to create Yellowstone.

Based on Stephen King’s The Body novella from 1982, this coming of age drama stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell as a group of best friends who set out on a journey that will forever change their lives. King has called Stand by Me his favorite adaptation of any of his works, which is high praise indeed.

Aaron Pierre, who killed it in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, stars as John Stewart, a new recruit into the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar police organization. Unfortunately, his mentor, John Stewart (played by Kyle Chandler) doesn’t really seem to want him to succeed. Which proves potentially deadly when the pair investigate a murder with extraterrestrial implications. The live-action series is part of DC’s newly revamped DCU alongside Creature Commandos and James Gunn’s Superman.

Scientists figure out a way to clone extinct dinosaurs, and the first thing they do? Why, create an amusement park on a remote island, of course. What can go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out, and it’s up to some paleontologists and Jeff Goldblum’s chaos mathematician to find a way to survive when life, uh, finds a way. Jurassic Park is a summer blockbuster in the best way possible.

Released at the height of Will Smith’s box office dominance in the ’90s, Men in Black stars Smith as the latest recruit of a shadowy organization that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. Paired with a veteran agent (played with cranky glee by Tommy Lee Jones), he must prevent an alien menace from destroying the world. Men in Black is topnotch Hollywood blockbuster entertainment, filled with sci-fi action, imaginative alien designs, and most importantly, Smith and Jones’ wise-cracking comedy chemistry.

2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog was, to be perfectly honest, far more enjoyable than it probably had any right to be. After the titular groundhog escapes to Earth from his own planet, he does his best to live in secret and under the radar. But when his super speed catches the eye of an evil scientist — played by Jim Carrey in all of his scene-chewing glory — he must use his powers to protect his new friends. The first Sonic movie was successful enough to inspire a sequel in 2022, and a third one’s on its way.

For his followup to 2001’s Donnie Darko, writer/director Richard Kelly created the even more bizarre Southland Tales. Set in a post-WW3 America where everyone is under surveillance, a film star, an Iraq War veteran, Neo-Marxist revolutionaries, and a whole lot more get mixed up in alternate realities and timelines. At times, Kelly’s film defies description and confused audiences and critics alike upon its release in 2006.

Keanu Reeves officially became an action movie star in this thriller about a SWAT officer (Reeves) trying to stop a mad bomber (Dennis Hopper) threatening the Los Angeles. When the bomber’s latest ploy is a bus that will explode if it slows down below 50 miles/hour, Reeves must find a way to stop him and save the passengers. Thanks to its strong performances, taut set pieces, and thrilling twists, Speed was one of 1994’s most successful movies, commercially and critically, and its status has only grown over time (read my review).

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this sci-fi thriller about a family who find themselves sealed inside their house with no possible exit. As their resources begin to dwindle, they grow increasingly desperate to escape even as they discover that some horrific force might be awaiting them outside. The Last House is directed by Louis Leterrier, who first came to fame on the strength of action films like The Transporter and Unleashed.

After a young child is abducted, a man reconnects with his estranged police detective father in order to track him down. The two soon discover that this abduction bears a striking similarity to a decades-old case involving a convicted serial killer. The Whisper Man is directed by James Ashcroft and stars Adam Scott, Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Keaton.

Over the years, news of a Blade Runner sequel has always been met with trepidation and skepticism. However, Blade Runner 2049 was about as perfect a sequel as fans could’ve hoped for. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 may not reach the original’s mythic-ness, but it’s certainly of a piece thanks to its contemplative pacing, gorgeous effects and world-building, and a storyline that builds on the original’s themes.

In Equilibrium, a totalitarian government has outlawed emotions in order to prevent humanity from succumbing to its worst impulses. It’s a corny premise, but Christian Bale brings gravitas to his “tortured lawman” role and the movie’s efficient plot, slick style, and modest scale makes it a fun dystopic ride. Special credit goes to the movie’s martial arts-influenced approach to gun fights, aka “gun kata,” which adds an interesting wrinkle to the many action sequences.

Sandra Bullock stars in this sci-fi thriller as Dr. Ryan Stone, an astronaut who suddenly finds herself stranded in space after a freak accident destroys the Space Shuttle. Utilizing award-winning visual effects to communicate Stone’s impossible situation, Alfonso Cuarón’s film was one of 2013’s most critically and commercially successful films.

I’ll admit, I had very low expectations for The Lego Movie when it was originally announced. But I need not have worried: The Lego Movie turned out to be way more delightful, inventive, and affecting than I could’ve expected. When a lowly Lego guy named Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt) finds himself in possession of a powerful relic, he’s drawn into a conflict between freedom fighters and an evil overlord that will completely change his view of the world. The Lego Movie also features the voice talents of Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, Will Ferrell, and Morgan Freeman (to name a few).

Spike Jonze’s fantastical adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s best-selling children’s book follows the adventures of Max, a young boy who runs away and ends up on an island of monsters after an argument with his mom. Filled with Jonze’s imaginative visuals and remarkable special effects, Where the Wild Things Are truly looks like nothing else. The movie was a box office failure when it was released in 2009, and launched some debates concerning its appropriate-ness for children, but it appeared on numerous “best of” lists by the year’s end.

Tim Burton is, to put it mildly, an eccentric director. But Big Fish finds him channelling those eccentricities into one of his most straightforward and charming movies, about a man who discovers that there might be some truth to all of his father’s tall tales. Both of Burton’s parents died in the years leading up to his work on Big Fish, which almost certainly informs its storyline and gives it some emotional heft.

The third film in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars” trilogy, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly finds three gunslingers — Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach — racing against time and each other to find a hidden cache of Confederate gold in the midst of the Civil War. Leone’s film was notable for its striking cinematography and stylized violence, as well as Ennio Morricone’s iconic theme. Although critics initially dismissed it upon its release in 1966, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly is now considered one of the greatest films of all time, and the definitive spaghetti Western (read my review).

One of the greatest westerns ever made. Gary Cooper’s straight-arrow sheriff is set to retire with his lovely new bride when he learns that a vicious outlaw gang is arriving in town at noon. His attempts to form a posse to meet the gang all fail, so he must face them all by himself. High Noon is the quintessential “man against the world” film, and features one of the most iconic shots in film history. It was also quite controversial in its day, and seen by many as a response to the Hollywood communist blacklisting that occurred in the ’40s and ’50s.

One of the all-time great ’80s series, Knight Rider follows the adventures of Michael Knight, a former cop, and his talking car companion, KITT, as they traverse the nation righting wrongs and meting out justice. The series made David Hasselhoff a star, but everyone knows that Knight Rider’s real star was KITT, an artificially intelligent and nigh-indestructible Pontiac Trans Am. The series ran for four seasons in the early-to-mid ’80s and was followed by several sequels and spin-offs.

Danny Madigan loves action movies, and in particular, the movies featuring L.A. super-cop Jack Slater. But fiction suddenly becomes reality when Danny is sucked into Jack Slater’s world and inexplicably made his partner. Released in 1993, Last Action Hero was a box office bomb compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, due in part to being released the week after Jurassic Park, but also because audiences probably weren’t prepared for its ultra-meta humor and over-the-top parody of action movie clichés. But Last Action Hero has since developed a cult following.

On the one hand, The Last Boy Scout is a nihilistic, misanthrophic, and violent film with almost no redeeming qualities. On the other hand, it’s an awful lot of fun to watch, as Bruce Willis’ jaded private eye and Damon Wayans’ disgraced football player make for an interesting dynamic while taking on corrupt politicians. There’s something almost gleeful about the film’s cynicism, which is elevated by the atmospheric, noir-ish direction and cinematography.

One of the great buddy cop movies. No, scratch that… Lethal Weapon is the buddy cop movie. Written by Shane Black and directed by Richard Donner, this movie has it all: a by-the-books officer close to retirement, his new partner (who happens to be unhinged), a crazy conspiracy that pushes them to the edge of the law and beyond. Basically, it created the template for all buddy cop movies to follow… and it’s still the best one ever.

Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star opposite each other in this thriller about a hitman who squares off against his future self as they both search for a powerful psychic who could alter the future. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, Looper injects some clever new twists into the tried and true time travel formula. Johnson previously worked with Gordon-Levitt in 2005’s Brick.

On paper, the combination of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker seems terrible, or at the very least, terribly annoying. But in Rush Hour, the two became a surprisingly effective comedic duo as they race to save the kidnapped daughter of a Chinese dignitary with a combination of fast talking and martial arts mayhem.