Whether you are staying in, heading to the cinema or updating your playlists, August has plenty to offer. From buzzy homegrown films to long-awaited sequels and standout new albums, there's no shortage of fresh releases to keep you entertained this month.
Movies
Cork's northside meets slapstick LA in this round-up of August must-see films by Suzanne Keane.
The Naked Gun - In cinemas 1 August
Liam Neeson steps into the shoes of Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. in this reboot of the classic spoof cop franchise. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and produced by Seth MacFarlane, it's packed with slapstick gags and sight-based comedy, with Pamela Anderson co-starring as the sultry Beth. It’s silly, over-the-top and leans hard into the nostalgia.
Late Shift - In cinemas 1 August
A small film with big things to say, Late Shift is a gripping night-in-the-life hospital drama that follows nurse Floria (Leonie Benesch) as she battles through an increasingly frantic night on a Swiss ward. Faced with understaffing, burnout and a demanding patient load, Floria’s story is an eye-opener. If you liked Boiling Point, you’ll find plenty to admire here – from the tense pacing to one of the best performances of the year. A stark reminder of the global healthcare crisis, it closes with a chilling fact: the world will be short 13 million nurses by 2030.
Freakier Friday - In cinemas 8 August
Twenty years after they first swapped bodies, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back for another round – this time joined by a new generation of chaotic kids and confused parents. Directed by Nisha Ganatra, this sequel promises to deliver a mix of heartfelt moments and multigenerational mayhem.
Weapons - In cinemas 15 August
Jordan Peele produces this tense new thriller from writer-director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), which weaves together a series of unsettling, interconnected stories after a violent incident shakes a small US town. With Pedro Pascal leading an ensemble cast that also includes Renate Reinsve and Julia Garner, Weapons promises a chilling, slow-burn descent into dread.
Christy - In cinemas 29 August
Winner of Best Irish Feature at this year’s Galway Film Fleadh, Christy is a heartwarming and grounded debut from Cork’s Brendan Canty. It follows 17-year-old Christy as he’s forced to move in with his older brother on Cork’s working-class northside. As he finds his footing in a new community, the film explores belonging, family and identity with warmth and authenticity. The cast includes Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Chris Walley, Alison Oliver and members of The Kabin Crew – whose viral hit The Spark clocked over a billion views last year.
Television
New seasons, nostalgic throwbacks and a few surprises, Sarah McIntyre takes a look at the best of this month's small screen and streaming releases.
Mrs Brown's Boys, 9.35pm RTÉ One, 1 August
A brand new season of Mrs Brown's Boys kicks off on RTÉ One as Agnes and her gang return for more laughs, chaos and heartfelt moments. In the season five opener, Agnes accidentally becomes a podcast sensation, as Cathy is horrified to discover her parent accidentally hijacking her new online venture
The Best of The Late Late Show, 10.10pm RTÉ One, 1 August
The Late Late Show presents some highlights from the RTÉ One chat show, including when host Patrick Kielty was joined by Hollywood guests Christina Hendricks and Chris O'Dowd, and long-time friends Aidan Quinn and Colin Farrell.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Sky Documentaries & NOW, 3 August
Billy Joel: And So It Goes is a portrait of the life and music of American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. The documentary features never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews.
Wednesday, Netflix, 6 August
The first part of the highly-anticipated second season of the Netflix supernatural-comedy Wednesday lands on the streaming platform on 6 August, with the second part following on 3 September. The series, which was filmed in Ireland, sees Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), returning to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await. A description from the streamer reads: "Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery."
Alien: Earth, Disney+, 13 Aug
Noah Hawley's sci-fi horror series Alien: Earth, based on the Alien movie franchise, looks promising. Set in the year 2120, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. But the game is changed with a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness) - marking a new dawn in the race for immortality.
Love is Blind UK, season two, Netflix, 13 August
The first season of Love is Blind UK was a breath of fresh air when it launched last August, and now fans have a brand new season to look forward to. Hosted yet again by husband-and-wife duo Matt and Emma Willis, the dating show will see a new batch of UK and Ireland-based singletons on the hunt for love, in the most unconventional manner. Episodes 1-4 drop on 13 August, 5-8 land on 20 August and the 9-10 are released on 27 August.
Hostage, Netflix, 21 August
Well, this looks interesting. The always-excellent Suranne Jones (Vigil, Doctor Foster) stars in this new political thriller as UK Prime Minister Abigail Dalton. She is in a tense border standoff in a summit with the French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), when she gest word that her husband has been abducted. She faces the ultimate choice - give up her power and get her husband back, or refuse to negotiate and risk losing him.
Music
From Kingfishr's new album to the return of the planet's premiere pop princess Sabrina Carpenter, August is a busy month for new music releases. Alan Corr rounds up the highlights.
Cian Ducrot - Little Dreaming, 1 August
He’s already won a Grammy as co-writer of SZA’s hit Saturn and now the lad from Passage West releases his second album, Little Dreaming. Apparently, he wrote over 100 songs for the new release before paring it down to 16 tracks influenced by Seventies and Eighties stars such as Elton John, Michael Jackson and Queen.
Jonas Brothers - Greetings From Your Hometown, 8 August
Swoon! The Yank pop rock bros are back! We’ve already heard the singles Love Me to Heaven and No Time to Talk, which neatly nodded to those other pop siblings - The Bee Gees. And there’s more - Joe, Nick and the one called Kevin will also star in their very own Christmas movie, called A Very Jonas Christmas, and there’s a live album, too - Live from the O2 London.
The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers, 8 August
The thirteenth (!!) studio album from the US guitar boogie blues rockers sees them work with songwriter/producer Rick Nowels, Daniel Tashian and Scott Storch. As drummer Patrick Carney says, "We wanted to go straight to the source - into the room with people known for their songwriting."
Tom Grennan - Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn't
He may be from London but his dad is from Ballycumber. In fact, Tom has 'OY' (that’s the car reg for Offaly) tattooed across his knuckles. Grennan has become the acceptable face of the emotional male singer-songwriter boom and the Irish have taken him to our hearts over the past few years. We reckon it’s that voice. Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn't Want to Be is his fourth studio album and he’s been mentioning George Michael, Prince, and Freddie Mercury as influences on his new songs. Album tracks include Full Attention, Shadowboxing, Shadows on the Ceiling, and Diamond.
Alison Goldfrapp - Flux, 15 August
Flux is second studio solo album from the mercurial and mysterious Alison Goldfrapp and it’s being hyped as "some of her most undeniable pop hooks since Goldfrapp’s iconic album Supernature as well as her most poignantly vulnerable songwriting to date." Tracks include Sound & Light, Reverberotic, and UltraSky.
Maroon 5 - Love Is Like, 15 August
They haven’t gone away, you know! Love Is Like is the new album from the deadly dull US pop rock act led by the in no way annoying Adam Levine. It features guest appearances from Thai rapper and singer Lisa, Lil Wayne, and Sexyy Red. Music for people who don’t like music.
Kingfishr - Halcyon, 22 August
Having just returned to No 1 with their break-out hit Killeagh and selling out every barn in Ireland, Ireland’s fastest rising band release their new album Halcyon on 22 August. Expect the Big Music - big choruses, big voices and lots of banjo. We’ve heard it and it’s a leap forward for the Limerick and Tipp lads. Think Dermot Kennedy busking with Mumfords. This will be BIG.
Deftones - Private Music, 22 August
The "Radiohead of metal" deliver their tenth album, Private Music, on 22 August and it’s already been trailblazed by new single, My Mind Is A Mountain. Sacramento’s finest recorded the new opus in various locations in California including Malibu and Joshua Tree as well as Nashville. The new album features new tracks such as Ecdysis, Infinite Source and Milk Of The Madonna and sees an already powerful act set to grow in stature and popularity.
CMAT - Euro-Country, 26 August
She razed Glastonbury and delivered a punchy takedown of Celtic Tiger complacency on her recent single and now Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is set for world domination with her third album, Euro-Country. The new album was recorded in New York and co-produced by long-time collaborator Oli Deakin and CMAT herself.
Euro-Country tackles big themes, including personal reflections on economics, identity and grief. Superstardom seems certain and how can she go wrong with new song titles such as Billy Byrne From Ballybrack, The Leader Of The Pigeon Convoy, The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station, Lord, Let That Tesla Crash, and Janis Joplining.
Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend, 29 August
There’s already been a lot of pearl clutching over the controversial cover art for Sabrina’s seventh album, with some suggesting it appeals to the male gaze and others claiming it challenges misogynistic expectations of women. Either way, the planet's premiere pop princess has released an alternate cover, which she described as "approved by God". Perhaps some people haven’t quite rumbled just how subversive Sabrina really is. She’s namechecked Donna Summer, ABBA and Dolly Parton as influences on her new songs and lead single, Manchild, has already been an Irish No 1 hit. There’s plenty more where that came from on tracks like We Almost Broke Up Last Night, When Did You Get Hot?, and Don't Worry I'll Make You Worry.
For more movies news click here
