Every week, Netflix drops a bunch of new content for viewers to stream from TV and movie studios all over the world. Watching all of it would take you way too much time, so I decided to start my Friday by recommending three top picks for the weekend and week to come. Schedule your viewing around these shows and movies, and I’ll be watching along with you. This mid-August week sees a big chunk of the Fast & Furious franchise hit streaming, plus a distressing docuseries, and more. Here’s what you should check out.
This Week on Netflix: PCMag’s Picks
Fit For TV: The Reality Of The Biggest Loser (Aug. 15)
Humanity is still wrestling with the psychic damage reality television has done to our minds. One of the most morally unsettling shows was The Biggest Loser, where people competed to shed the most pounds before the finale. Of course, we all know that crash dieting rarely has long-term benefits, and the new docuseries Fit for TV goes deep into the lives of contestants, producers, and more.
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Director: Skye Borgman
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Genre: Documentary
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Rating: TV-14
The Fast & The Furious Series (Aug. 16)
Family is forever, and Netflix celebrates that by dropping the first seven Fast & the Furious movies all at once, plus the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off. It’s fun to watch this franchise change over time, from the relatively grounded street racing of the early installments to the absurd crash spectaculars and action setpieces that it’s become. These are the ultimate popcorn movies in many ways, perfect for shutting your brain off and going for a ride.
Hostage (Aug. 21)
The British are experts at tightly paced TV series, and the five episodes of Hostage look like a perfect choice for a week-long watch. Julie Delpy and Suranne Jones star as the Prime Ministers of France and England, respectively. When one’s husband is kidnapped and the other is blackmailed, the two must leverage official and unofficial power to make things right.
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Director: Isabelle Sieb, Amy Neil
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Cast: Suranne Jones, Julie Delpy, Lucian Msamati
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Genre: Thriller
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Rating: TV-MA
Netflix New TV Series and Show Releases This Week
August 15
The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies
Fatal Seduction – Season 2
Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser
August 18
CoComelon Lane – Season 5
Extant – Seasons 1-2
August 19
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys
Dinner Time Live With David Chang – Season 3
Titans: The Rise of Wall Street – Season 1
August 20
Fisk – Season 3
Rivers of Fate
August 21
Death Inc. – Season 3
Hostage
Netflix New Movie Releases This Week
August 15
Night Always Comes
August 16
The Fast and the Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Fast Five
Fast & Furious 6
Furious 7
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
August 21
The 355
Broke
Fall for Me
Gold Rush Gang
One Hit Wonder
Recommended by Our Editors
Netflix: What’s Leaving Soon
August 15
Ballers: Seasons 1-5
August 16
Baby Mama
Ouija: Origin of Evil
August 17
Thanksgiving
August 19
Gangs of London: Seasons 1-2
Into the Badlands: Seasons 1-3
Kevin Can F**k Himself: Seasons 1-2
Preacher: Seasons 1-4
Un-Real: Seasons 1-4
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live: Season 1
August 21
Kung Fu Panda 4
Watch: ‘Until Dawn’ movie’s first look has landed
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About K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
