We’re hoping we’ll be too busy sipping chilled rosé on the beach to catch any of this month’s biggest new releases. But should the heatwave induce some much-needed, at-home respite, then at least we can rely on the sofa for support. Flick on the TV to laugh with comedians Mo Gilligan and Ricky Gervais; count on a documentary about Novak Djokovic to bring the drama; and trust a riveting new show on the most majestic big cats to pull on the heart strings. So sit back, relax, and pass us the popcorn.

Sterling Point, Prime Video

Release date: 5 August 2026

Meet 17-year-old Annie Jacobson – a New Yorker living with her twin brother and loving adoptive father while navigating the usual wins and woes of adolescence. Her life is, from the outside, extremely normal until she inherits her mysterious grandfather’s island in Canada. From the moment she discovers this new side to a family she never knew existed, she becomes drawn into a web of complicated lies, unexpected sisterhood and a legacy she doesn’t know what to do with. Produced by Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley, we’re expecting great things. 

Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy, Netflix

Release date: 5 August 2026

Imagine eating fried chicken all day everyday for a whole month. Happily, you don’t have to just imagine it; you can watch British comedian Mo Gilligan do just that as he tours the UK and US on a fried chicken diet to uncover the cultural and societal history of the fast food, and the industry behind it. Tracking the origins of fried chicken to the current impact chicken farming is having on our planet, think of this as an offshoot of Super Size Me with a distinctly British sensibility. 

Ricky Gervais' Alley Cats, Netflix

Release date: 7 August 2026

Ricky Gervais fans are in luck this August as the comedian launches his adult animated comedy based on feral cats (yes, you read that right). Spanning six episodes and starring the voices of Gervais himself, Diane Morgan and Tom Basden, outrageous mishaps and wild adventures are inevitable as this group of chaotic kittens run amok on the streets. 

Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, Prime Video

Release date: 20 August 2026

With 24 Grand Slam titles – the most in men’s history – an Olympic gold medal, and a record 428 weeks as world No. 1, Novak Djokovic has not only changed the tennis game, but set the bar for professional sport standards. Fresh from his run at Wimbledon, Prime Video has gained exclusive behind-the-scenes access to his intense training regime, tournament preparations and family life to create a new film that offers an unprecedented look at Djokovic's world. Featuring interviews with Djokovic himself, his wife Jelena, his family, and leading figures from the world of tennis – including Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, and Jim Courier – this is a rare chance to meet the champion on and off the court. 

Lion, Disney+

Release date: 20 August 2026

More than four years ago, Disney+ and National Geographic announced they were teaming up with the brains behind The Mandalorian and The Lion King, Jon Favreau, to produce a fresh new look at the most majestic big cats: lions. The product of years’ worth of footage and countless expeditions tracking these mammals, the new show will highlight the challenges these creatures face in the wild via a single group of cat characters. With a score by Hans Zimmer, who wrote the music for the original Lion King, this is set to be a riveting ride. 

Read more: The 10 best TV shows of 2026