August might be packed with new series and movies coming to Netflix, but as always, that means that we have to say goodbye to quite a few as well. While not every film on the way out is necessarily a loss - The Emoji Movie and Beverly Hills Chihuahua are two that most viewers are unlikely to miss - there are also some pretty phenomenal films that will no longer be streamable. Whether it is a true classic, a modern comedy, or even just a fun franchise, these are all the films that you won’t be able to watch on Netflix by the end of the month.
A Cinderella Story
This cute teen take on the classic fairy tale was so popular that it got not one, but two sequels… and all three are leaving Netflix this month. A Cinderella Story, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song, and Another Cinderella Story are all on the way out. So that means no more Hilary Duff as the sweet, hardworking California version of Cinderella. It may not be the most Oscar-worthy film on this list, but it’s worth a re-watch for nostalgia value, at least.
Leaving: Aug 1
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
This cult classic gonzo movie starring Johnny Depp has long appealed to those who wish that they had a job that actually facilitated a drug-fuelled trip into the desert for no real reason. This trippy, bizarre film is definitely one for fans of the strange and wonderful - even if Depp’s problematic nature may be a bit off-putting at this point in time.
Final Destination (1, 2, 3, 4)
This horror franchise is rare, in that it’s not a slasher, not a traditional thriller, and certainly not a comedy - instead, it follows a group of teens as they escape death… only to have it hunt them down, one by one.
Final Destination became such a classic, in fact, that it spawned a huge series of sequels, and this month Final Destination 2, Final Destination 3, and The Final Destination are also going to be leaving Netflix. The fifth film was not already on the streaming service, so anyone hoping to have a Final Destination marathon is going to be out of luck.
Good Will Hunting
Anyone who hasn’t seen Good Will Hunting has heard about it - and will good reason. Matt Damon stars as a Boston janitor who expects little out of life… until it is discovered that he is actually a secret math genius. Working with a court-ordered therapist (played by the incomparable Robin Williams), he starts to question everything he thought he knew about his place in the world. Touching, raw, and incredibly inspiring, Good Will Hunting is simply a stunning film that everyone should see.
Hot Fuzz
For something a whole lot lighter, look no further than Hot Fuzz, part of Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy. This installment centers on a hard-nosed police officer, sent to work in the suburbs because he is just so good that he is making his superiors look… bad. Of course, this sleepy town and his lazy partner are no match for a cop who just can’t help but fight crime - and he soon reveals a disturbing conspiracy. It’s a storyline with the potential to be truly horrifying, but in Wright’s capable hands, it’s utterly hilarious instead.
Zombieland
Everyone may be excited about the release of the long-awaited sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, but sadly, it’s no longer possible to watch the original Zombieland on Netflix. Another brilliant horror-comedy, this is possibly the funniest zombie apocalypse movie around (except, perhaps, that other Cornetto Trilogy offering, Shaun Of The Dead). From the search for Twinkies to Emma Stone as a brilliant badass, even if this film is leaving Netflix, at least we don’t have to wait too much longer for the next one to come out in theaters.
The Hurt Locker
Based on the wartime experiences of journalist Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker is one of the best films about the Iraq War, and received almost universal acclaim. Starring Jeremy Renner of Marvel Cinematic Universe fame, this film centers on the experiences of bomb disposal experts, and is sure to appeal to anyone who loves war epics.
Of course, as is to be expected, this is far from a relaxing watch, and it’s definitely one of the darkest on this list.
The Fifth Element
There’s a reason that The Fifth Element became a cult classic - multiple reasons, in fact. This brightly colored Luc Besson sci-fi flick has all the ingredients of a perfect film, and with Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovitch as the stars, it’s no wonder that so many fans still love it. Here, Bruce Willis is Korben Dallas, a retired military man who just wants a quiet life… but instead finds himself battling aliens, on radio talk shows, and fighting to save the world and (maybe) fall in love with quite literally the perfect woman.
Scarface
One of the great classics of the gangster movie genre, Scarface is the kind of film that any mafia-lover needs to watch at least once (if not once a year). The many iconic scenes and lines from Scarface have been parodied so many times that even if you missed it on this round of the Netflix machine, you’ll probably be able to quote it anyway.
No Country For Old Men
Winner of no fewer than four Oscars, there’s no denying that No Country For Old Men is a brilliant take on the crime thriller - and there’s still time for a re-watch before it leaves the streaming service on the eleventh of the month. Following a man who stumbles across a fortune and a pile of drugs, a killer who decides his victims’ fate with a coin flip, and a host of other compelling characters, this is definitely a film to put on the watch list before the end of the month.
Leaving: Aug 11
