Happy Friday and welcome to August 2025! With the new month now underway, Netflix has released a slew of fresh titles, thanks to new licensing deals with various distributors. Below, we’ll take you through some of the standout releases that just landed, along with a look at the most-watched content in the US over the past week. Let’s dive in.

Now that August 2025 has officially begun, it’s a great time to get acquainted with all the incoming titles. We’ve also just received a few new premiere dates, so be sure to check out our full release schedule to stay updated.

The Penguin Lessons (2024)
Rating: PG-13
Language: English
Genre: Drama
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Cast: Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Bruno Blas
Writer: Jeff Pope, Tom Michell
Runtime: 111 min

Over the past weekend, Netflix picked up this charming and heartfelt drama featuring British legend Steve Coogan and Game of Thrones’ Jonathan Pryce. Set amid Argentina’s political unrest in the late 1900s, the film follows a school teacher who finds new purpose in life after rescuing a lost penguin and forming a unique bond.

Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, critics praised the film for its touching story. The Herald Sun described it as “an utterly charming blend of light comedy and even lighter drama, offering a delightful twist on the classic story of a teacher rediscovering their purpose through an unlikely source of inspiration.”

Leanne (Season 1)
Number of episodes: 16
Rating: TV-14
Language: English
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Leanne Morgan, Kristen Johnston, Celia Weston, Blake Clark, Ryan Stiles, Graham Rogers, Hannah Pilkes

Netflix’s big series debut this week is Leanne, a classic multi-cam sitcom created by Leanne Morgan in partnership with comedy veteran Chuck Lorre—best known for hits like The Big Bang Theory and The Kominsky Method.

The series follows Leanne, whose life is turned upside down when her husband of 33 years leaves her. Faced with starting over during menopause and grandmotherhood, she leans on her family as she navigates this unexpected new chapter—gracefully, and with jello salad.

Many fans have been eager for Netflix to return to the traditional TV format with longer seasons. Leanne could be just the show to prove that point—featuring one of the highest episode counts in recent memory (outside of international shows). Watch it to the end to show Netflix there’s still a demand for this kind of release.

 

Varsity Blues (1999)
Rating: R
Language: English
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director: Brian Robbins
Cast: James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker
Writer: W. Peter Iliff
Runtime: 106 min / 1h 46m

Among the standout movies newly added on the first of the month is Varsity Blues, a cult favorite that recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Alongside it, Netflix has also brought back the Jurassic Park trilogy and animated hits from Illumination.

This teen sports drama defined an era, spotlighting the intense pressure of Texas high school football. When the star quarterback is injured, Jonathan "Mox" Moxon steps up—and his journey struck a chord with audiences. The film helped launch the careers of several actors, including the late Paul Walker, and it continues to resonate today.

List of New Releases on Netflix This Week

For a more detailed breakdown of each new title, visit our What’s New on Netflix hub. We’ve also added a new section noting when returning titles were last on Netflix.

49 New Movies Added This Week:
After the Sunset (2004) – PG-13 – English
American Pie (1999) – R – English
American Pie 2 (2001) – R – English
An Honest Life (2025) Netflix Original – TV-MA – Swedish
Anaconda (1997) – PG-13 – English
Clueless (1995) – PG-13 – English
Dazed and Confused (1993) – R – English
Despicable Me (2010) – PG – English
Despicable Me 2 (2013) – PG – English
Dusty Slay: Wet Heat (2025) Netflix Original – TV-14 – English
Everything About My Wife (2025) – TV-MA – Tagalog
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) – R – English
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – PG-13 – English
Groundhog Day (1993) – PG – English
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) – PG – English
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) – PG – English
Jurassic Park (1993) – PG-13 – English
Jurassic Park III (2001) – PG-13 – English
Megamind (2010) – PG – English
Mile 22 (2018) – R – English
Minions (2015) – PG – English
My Oxford Year (2025) Netflix Original – PG-13 – English
NASA+ Live on Netflix (2025 – LIVE) – TV-G – English
Radio (2003) – PG – English
Ride Along (2014) – PG-13 – English
Rush Hour (1998) – PG-13 – English
Rush Hour 2 (2001) – PG-13 – English
Rush Hour 3 (2007) – PG-13 – English
Scarecrow (2024) – TV-14 – Tagalog
She’s All That (1999) – PG-13 – English
Thammudu (2024) – TV-MA – Telugu
That’s My Boy (2012) – R – English
The 5th Wave (2016) – PG-13 – English
The Color Purple (2023) – PG-13 – English
The Departed (2006) – R – English
The English Patient (1996) – R – English
The Foreigner (2017) – R – English
The Husbands of Rosario (2018) – TV-MA – Filipino
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) – PG-13 – English
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) – PG-13 – English
The Penguin Lessons (2024) – PG-13 – English
The Rebound (2009) – R – English
The Wave (2015) – R – Norwegian
Thirteen (2003) – R – English
Untold (2025) – TV-MA – Tagalog
Varsity Blues (1999) – R – English
Weird Science (1985) – PG-13 – English
Wet Hot American Summer (2001) – R – English
Wyatt Earp (1994) – PG-13 – English