Hottest Titles Streaming August 2023

No matter where you are right now, chances are it is HOT. To help you beat the heat, some of the best streaming services are serving up new seasons of popular series as well as new titles for you to check out before heading back to school or wherever it is you’re headed.

August features the return of fan favorites such as Billions and Reservation Dogs and the premiere of new series—the headliner of which is Star Wars: Ahsoka. Below is a complete list of some of this season’s hottest titles arriving over the next four weeks. Pickins might be gettin’ slim with this writers’ strike, but there’s still plenty to enjoy!

Apple TV Plus

Physical, Season 3 – Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) is back with the final season of this dark comedy that follows aerobic exercise guru Sheila, who is bulimic, as she deals with increased competition. This season, Sheila steps out of recovery to question if her judgmental inner hater was actually the key to her success. Joining Byrne is Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) as Kelly Kilmartin, a blonde who’s taking the crown that Sheila thought was hers. Expect things to spiral as they feature more anxiety and more rad-tastic 80’s outfits. Premieres Aug. 2.

FX on Hulu

Reservation Dogs, Season 3 – The hit Native American coming-of-age dramedy is back, also with its final season, to bid farewell to Native teens Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, of Bloody Hell), Elora (Devery Jacobs, of The Order TV series), Cheese (Lane Factor, of The Fabelmans), and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis, of Ghostbusters: Afterlife), whose ups and downs have induced belly-aching laughter and sobs full of tears. Last season saw the teens make it to California to honor dearly departed Daniel; this season, they’ll all head home to the reservation—except for Bear, who ventures off to find his own way. Premieres Aug. 2.

*If you missed my interview with Mose and Miko earlier this year (Lil Mike and Funny Bone), you can find that here.

Only Murders in the Building, Season 3 – This season at the Arconia, Charles (Steve Martin, of Father of the Bride), Mabel (Selena Gomez, of Spring Breakers), and Oliver (Martin Short, of Innerspace) find themselves wrapped up in a murder that’s all about the theater. Paul Rudd (Dinner for Shmucks) plays an actor who falls ill during a production that Oliver is directing and Charles co-stars in. And since the dearly departed was a smug guy, there are plenty of suspects. Also joining the season is Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada). Premieres Aug. 8.

Netflix

Painkiller – Man, oh man. These opioid crisis adaptations just keep on coming, and I suspect they will for a minute. This drama starring Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) tells the story of the origins and effects of the opioid epidemic that has ravaged hundreds of thousands of lives across America. Six episodes trace the creation and proliferation of OxyContin, the power wielded by the pharmaceutical industrial complex, the government’s failures, and the addictions that developed from the drug. The stellar cast also includes Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) and Taylor Kitsch (John Carter). Premieres Aug. 10.

Heart of Stone – Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) is back and still kicking ass. From The Old Guard producers, Gadot stars as Rachel Stone, a covert agent who is also part of an elite group called The Charter. They’re highly trained with no political or national ties, and their only goal is to keep the peace in a turbulent world. Rachel and The Charter are helped by an asset called The Heart, which has untold powers: Own the heart, own the world. If it gets into the wrong hands, death and destruction could follow. Premieres Aug. 11.

Showtime 

Billions, Season 7 – Axe is back, baby! At the end of Season 5, Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) was off to exile in Switzerland. Now, his return may give Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti, of Sideways) two formidable foes. The other is Mike Prince (Corey Stoll, of Midnight in Paris), who took over Axe’s hedge fund. Although he lost $3.5 billion when his black-box drives were taken, Prince saved enough face to still be in the running for president. Chuck is prepared to take him down — at whatever cost. Premieres Aug. 13, also on Paramount Plus.

HBO and Max

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Season 2 – I was wondering if we were going to get a second season, so I’m glad we are! The somewhat controversial biographical series may not have the support of key Lakers figures like Magic Johnson and Jerry West, but it’s hitting the court for another season anyway. This round takes place in the period just after the 1980 NBA Finals through to 1984. 

Owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly, of Step Brothers) is riding high after the changes he instituted led to a championship trophy. But winning comes with a new set of expectations and pressures, particularly on Magic (Quincy Isaiah, of A Black Lady Sketch Show) as his rivalry with nemesis Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small, of The Just) heats up. Premieres Aug. 6.

BS High – This documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of high school football team Bishop Sycamore, which pulled off one of the more notable sports scams you’re ever likely to hear about. The film delves into how this fake high school managed to deceive its way into a nationally televised game on ESPN in 2021. Premieres Aug. 23.

Disney Plus

Star Wars: Ahsoka -- Rosario Dawson’s (Rent) renegade Jedi gets full billing in this new series, which ties in not just The Mandalorian, but also the older Star Wars: Rebels and Clone Wars animated series. Ahsoka, a former trainee of Darth Vader is on the hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who disappeared at the end of Rebels with Ezra Bridger, another Jedi-in-training. Will the series bring with it the best of The Mandolorian and Andor? Only time will tell! Premieres Aug. 23.

Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. Email her at the_keeleybrooks@mixedaltmag.com.