As someone who adores films, I try to watch as many as possible, but at the very least a couple a week. This month I have banked more films that I would like to admit, so it felt only right to share my favourites of August. There’s a newly released rom-com in there, a classic from 2001 and a Cannes Film Festival award-winning romantic dramedy.
Cinema is truly hotting up ahead of Oscar season, so I’d encourage everyone to get out and support their local cinemas as the weather starts to take a turn. Here are my highlights of the month of August.
Materialists (2025)
Materialists is a 2025 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Celine Song, who formerly directed popular movie Past Lives. The film stars Chris Evans, Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland, and Louisa Jacobson alongside Pascal and Johnson. Materialists is set against the backdrop of New York City’s luxury-driven dating culture, and it follows a love triangle between a matchmaker, her aspiring actor ex-boyfriend, and a charming millionaire. I absolutely loved this film, it felt like the most accuarte depiction of modern day dating that I had seen in a while, mixed with the classic rom-com moments that have been lacking in cinema as of late. Since I watched it earlier this week and it has stayed with me ever since, a must watch.
Y tu mamá también (2001)
Y tu mamá también (which is Spanish for “And Your Mother Too”) is a Mexican coming-of-age comedy drama road film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who co-wrote the script with his brother Carlos. Cuarón directed the third Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azkaban. I’ve been waiting to watch this one for a while, and it did not disappoint. It has a unique style of portrayal, exploring sexuality and politics, while using a narrator throughout to explain who each character is and the political landscape of Mexico in 1999. The film is visually stunning and has a very real storyline that resonates with many. It stars Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, and Diego Luna, who depict their roles with style and ease. If you haven’t watched this incredible movie, do it.
The Worst Person in the World (2021)
The Worst Person in the World is a romantic dramedy film directed by Joachim Trier, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eskil Vogt. It is the third film in the director’s Oslo trilogy, following Reprise (2006) and Oslo (2011). I thought this film was beautiful. It had me in a trance from start to finish and I was taken aback by its stark depiction of the realities of relationships in this day and age. It follows a young woman as she naviagates what she wants out of life, flitting between careers and relationships, in an attempt to better undertsand who she is. I felt like I was watching a modern classic, and it has definitely become one of my favourites.