Christian Bale in American Psycho (2000) (Image: Lions Gate Films)
Every month Netflix refreshes its library, bringing in new favourites while removing older titles. For film fans, that means keeping a close eye on what’s about to disappear – and some gems are set to leave us this August.
From Oscar-winning epics to crowd-pleasing musicals and nail-biting action, here are 12 of the most notable titles departing Netflix in August, along with when they’ll vanish from the streaming service.
Final Destination series
Leaving August 2
The Final Destination films redefined the horror genre with their inventive “death as a character” premise. In particular, the first and third entries stand out for their creative set pieces and memorable moments of tension.
Though often outrageous, the franchise has maintained a cult following for its unique spin on slasher conventions – making it one to watch if you enjoy your horror with a twist.
Scene from Final Destination 5 (Image: Warner Bros.)
‘71
Leaving August 4
Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, ‘71 is a taut, gripping thriller following a young British soldier (Jack O’Connell) accidentally abandoned by his unit during a riot in Belfast.
Directed by Yann Demange, the film was praised for its unflinching realism and edge-of-your-seat pacing, earning BAFTA nominations and strong critical acclaim.
A History of Violence
Leaving August 6
David Cronenberg trades in his usual body-horror style for a deeply psychological take on violence in this 2005 crime drama, in which Viggo Mortensen stars as a small-town man whose heroic act attracts unwanted attention, unravelling a dark past.
Nominated for two Academy Awards, A History of Violence is considered one of Cronenberg’s finest works and a sharp examination of identity, morality and the legacy of brutality.
Scene from History of Violence (2005) (Image: New Line Cinema)
American Psycho
Leaving August 9
Christian Bale’s chilling turn as Patrick Bateman helped make American Psycho stand out as one of the most memorable films of the early 2000s. Adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial novel, it’s a razor-sharp critique of consumerism and excess disguised as a violent thriller.
Bale’s unsettling performance has since become memorable in pop culture, in a film that’s a must-watch for anyone interested in cinema that blends satire with psychological horror.
Escape from Alcatraz
Leaving August 9
This 1979 classic sees Clint Eastwood take on the true story of Frank Morris, the man who masterminded one of the most famous prison escapes in American history.
Directed by Don Siegel, Escape from Alcatraz is as tense as it is atmospheric, offering a compelling look at the ingenuity and determination required to break out of the supposedly inescapable prison.
The Hunger Games series
Leaving August 9
Katniss Everdeen’s fight against the Capitol is one of the defining blockbuster stories of the 2010s. Across four films, Jennifer Lawrence brought Suzanne Collins’ dystopian world to life, balancing thrilling set pieces with an emotional exploration of rebellion and survival.
The Hunger Games franchise became a cultural phenomenon on release, inspiring countless young adult adaptations and earning a place in pop culture history.
Jennifer Lawrence stars as ‘Katniss Everdeen’ in the Hunger Games series (Image: Murray Close)
The Mule
Leaving August 11
In this late-career effort, Clint Eastwood stars and directs as an elderly horticulturist who becomes a drug courier for a Mexican cartel.
Loosely based on a true story, The Mule combines Eastwood’s understated style with an unexpectedly tender meditation on ageing, family and redemption.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Leaving August 14
The third entry in the Keanu Reeves-led action saga takes its stunning choreography and world-building to new heights.
Parabellum sees Wick on the run from an army of assassins, delivering some of the franchise’s most inventive and jaw-dropping action sequences.
Gladiator
Leaving August 15
Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning historical epic remains one of the most beloved films of its kind. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus, a Roman general turned gladiator, in a sweeping tale of revenge, honour and survival.
Gladiator took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and helped revitalise the swords-and-sandals genre for a new generation. With its grand visuals, iconic score by Hans Zimmer, and 2025 sequel, it’s as relevant today as it was at its release.
Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe in Gladiator (Image: United International Pictures)
The Theory of Everything
Leaving August 15
This moving biopic explores the life of world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, portrayed by Eddie Redmayne in an Academy Award-winning performance.
Directed by James Marsh, the film traces Hawking’s extraordinary achievements alongside his personal struggles with motor neurone disease, offering a poignant look at resilience and love.
Beetlejuice
Leaving August 18
Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic combines horror, comedy and fantasy in a way only he can. Beetlejuice follows a recently deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who enlist a mischievous “bio-exorcist” (Michael Keaton) to reclaim their home.
Its gothic visual style, memorable characters and bizarre humour have made it a fan favourite – even getting a long-awaited sequel starring Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder.
Grease
Leaving August 18
Few musicals are as memorable as Grease. Released in 1978, the film became a cultural phenomenon, thanks to its catchy soundtrack and the chemistry between John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
From ‘You’re the One That I Want’ to ‘Summer Nights’, its songs remain timeless singalongs, and its depiction of 1950s youth culture now offers a glimpse of the past to newer audiences of all ages.
Olivia Newton John and John Travolta in Grease (Image: Getty Images)
Full list:
1st Aug
- Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018)
2nd Aug
- Aloevera (2020)
- Elevator Baby (2019)
- Final Destination (2000)
- Final Destination 2 (2003)
- Final Destination 3 (2006)
- Final Destination 5 (2011)
- Shaka Inkosi YamaKhosi (2021)
3rd Aug
- Never Give Up (2022)
- The Set Up (2019)
4th Aug
- ’71 (2014)
- Lockdown (2021)
- Love Is War (2019)
- Nairobby (2021)
5th Aug
- A Man Apart (2003)
- DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
- Norbit (2007)
- Sugar Rush (2019)
6th Aug
- A History of Violence (2005)
- Demolition Man (1993)
- Ever After High (2016)
- Gods of Egypt (2016)
- Up North (2018)
7th Aug
8th Aug
- Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Merry Men 2: Another Mission (2019)
- Peter Rabbit (2018)
9th Aug
- American Psycho (2000)
- Chef (2014)
- Coming from Insanity (2019)
- Conan the Barbarian (2011)
- Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
- How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
- Love Again (2023)
- What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)
10th Aug
- Horizon Line (2021)
- The Vendor (2018)
11th Aug
- The Mule (2018)
- The Razz Guy (2021)
- The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai (2017)
12th Aug
- Greenleaf (2020)
- Lara and the Beat (2018)
13th Aug
- Early Man (2018)
- Jared Freid: 37 & Single (2023)
- Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019)
- Out of Thin Air (2017)
14th Aug
- 30 Minutes or Less (2011)
- 4th Republic (2019)
- The Bank Job (2008)
- The Choice (2016)
- From Prada to Nada (2011)
- The Great Debaters (2007)
- Happy! (2019)
- John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
- Learn to Swim (2021)
- Long Shot (2019)
- Lost (2010)
- Model (2020)
- Mother Goose Club (2016)
- Slender Man (2018)
- The Stepfather (2009)
- Summer Playlist (2025)
- U.S. Marshals (1998)
15th Aug
- Gladiator (2000)
- Lagos Real Fake Life (2018)
- Million Yen Women (1,000,000 yen no Onnatachi ) (2017)
- The Secret Garden (1993)
- The Theory of Everything (2014)
- White Boy (2017)
16th Aug
- Anchor Baby (2010)
- Bad Day for the Cut (2017)
- Renfield (2023)
- Victim Number 8 (2018)
- The Whole Truth (2016)
17th Aug
- Babylon (2014)
- Light in the Dark (2019)
18th Aug
- Beetlejuice (1988)
- Dwindle (2021)
- Grease (1978)
- It’s Her Day (2016)
- You Can Do It Dear! (2022)
19th Aug
20th Aug
- The Ice Cream Wars (2022)
- Something in the Water (2024)
- To Leslie (2022)
- Trust Me (2019)
21st Aug