Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Wondering what your favorite streaming services are adding to their offerings each month? Decider’s got you covered. Stay tuned for our reports on everything coming to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, Showtime, STARZ, Sundance Now, Shudder, Acorn TV, BritBox, and Tribeca Shortlist.
The first of the month may not mean much on the surface, but when you realize it means that hundreds of new titles are heading to your favorite streaming platforms, things get a whole lot more exciting! This September, the big four – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO – are adding some of the best movies and shows in recent memory. With original series, classic hits, and indie gems just waiting for you to stream, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s where we come in.
As the titles roll in, we’ve sorted through the plethora of movies, shows, specials, and more to find you the most-anticipated, highest-rated, and all-around buzz-worthy content worth your time. Whether you’re looking for your next dark drama binge, comedy escape, or toe-tapping musical, something that strikes your fancy awaits you on any one of these services. Here are the best movies and shows heading to your favorite platforms this September.
NETFLIX
Narcos: Season 3 *Netflix Original
The third season of Netflix’s smash hit series explores a post-Pablo Escobar world and dives deep into the seedy underbelly of the Cali Cartel, a group much more deceptively sinister than anything we’ve seen yet on Narcos. With new characters in the mix and a helluva lot of blow to traffic, the wildly compelling series continues to seamlessly integrate historical events with fictional developments and keep us on our toes with every scene.
[Stream Narcos: Season 3 on Netflix]
Little Evil *Netflix Original
Adam Scott stars in this comedic spin on horror flicks like The Omen as a man who unwittingly becomes stepfather to a young boy who may be the Antichrist. Things all seem to be going swimmingly when he marries the woman of his dreams (Evangeline Lilly), but as he tries to bond with his young stepson, the possibility that this kid is probably the epitome of all evil starts to seem pretty realistic. Bitingly funny, gory, and tons of fun, Little Evil is another horror-comedy home run for Scott.
[Stream Little Evil on Netflix]
BoJack Horseman: Season 4 *Netflix Original
Get excited to get depressed, because your favorite washed-up, has-been sitcom horse of the 90s is back for a whole new season. In Season 4, the acclaimed Netflix animated series is better than ever; BoJack dives into a nuanced depiction of depression, substance abuse, and varying relationships between characters. The ever-impressive BoJack Horseman is one of Netflix’s finest shows – and its latest installment only further supports that claim.
[Stream BoJack Horseman: Season 4 on Netflix September 8]
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
This tale as old as time is made new again with a cast of fresh faces, beautiful visuals, and stunning orchestrations. Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor, and a slew of other A-listers, this live action adaptation of the classic Disney musical will have you tapping your toes and singing along with every scene (and maybe even tearing up at the nostalgic romance of it all!)
[Stream Beauty and the Beast on Netflix September 19]
American Vandal: Season 1 *Netflix Original
Self-aware humor is some of the best there is, and true-crime satire American Vandal shows that Netflix knows itself better than we might think. The series follows the aftermath of a highly-dramatized high school prank involving vandalizing twenty-seven faculty cars with phallic images and the repercussions of this “crime”. Biting, cringeworthy, and wholly hilarious, American Vandal shows that Netflix knows exactly how to poke fun at itself.
[Stream American Vandal: Season 1 on Netflix September 15]
HULU
Full House: Complete Series
Joining the TGIHulu lineup that’s truly changing the game for the streaming platform, every episode of Full House will be available alongside Family Matters, Step by Step, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, and Perfect Strangers. 90s kids, rejoice – you’ll soon have plenty of one-on-one time with Uncle Jesse again and no excuse to ever leave your (full) house.
[Stream Full House on Hulu September 29]
Adventure Time: Season 8
The eighth season of Cartoon Network’s hit series is finally available to you cord-cutters, and you better get excited. Finn the Human and Jake the Dog are back for more ADVENTURES this time around, and the subtly brilliant writing beneath the series continues as the animated duo rights wrongs, battles evil, and explores the unknown.
[Stream Adventure Time on Hulu September 2]
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Directed by Jonathan Demme, this Academy Award-winning thriller stars Anthony Hopkins as serial killer/cannibal Hannibal Lecter alongside Jodie Foster as FBI cadet Clarice Starling. Starling is enlisted by the FBI to use Hannibal’s nuanced, disturbing mind to apprehend a serial killer currently on a spree, and the rest is history. Disciplined, eerie, and brilliant, this tense flick is close to perfect.
[Stream The Silence of the Lambs on Hulu]
The Mindy Project: Season 6 *Hulu Original
Mindy Kaling & Co. return for a final season of the hit Hulu comedy this month, and with guest stars like Reese Witherspoon set to appear, it’s bound to be a helluva send-off. The last season will see Mindy experiencing married life and confronting what the reality of these hopes and dreams really mean for her, and all the complications in other relationships that come with it.
[Stream The Mindy Project on Hulu]
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
This Disney favorite may have left Netflix, but luckily, it’s found a new home on Hulu for the time being. Savor the last days of summer with this delightful, Hawaii-set animated movie that sees a young girl befriend an absurdly adorable (and slightly terrifying) little blue alien and fight for the ohana (family) that means so much to her.
[Stream Lilo & Stitch on Hulu September 5]
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Before Ryan Gosling was singing and dancing his heart out in La La Land, he was falling in love with a doll from the Internet in Lars and the Real Girl. This unique dramedy features one of Gosling’s most moving, believable performances as a delusional young man who seeks a meaningful relationship with a sex doll who finds himself supported by the rest of his peers due to his sweet nature. Don’t let the summary scare you off – this remarkably original film is a must-see.
[Stream Lars and the Real Girl on Prime Video]
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn star as die-hard womanizers who live for the thrill of hitting up lonely wedding-goers and suddenly find their routine up in the air when one of them falls in love with the charming Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams). Crass, funny, and endlessly rewatchable, it couldn’t be a better time to have Wedding Crashers back on streaming. Take your mind off the doom and gloom of the real-life wedding season and watch this duo crash some celebrations of matrimony instead!
[Stream Wedding Crashers on Prime Video]
One Mississippi: Season 2 *Amazon Original
Tig Notaro‘s semi-autobiographical dark comedy series returns for a second season and sees Tig with her stepfather and brother ready for a fresh start in their Biloxi home. Tig gets back into the radio biz but soon finds that her opinions may be a little too polarizing for local listeners. Better than ever in its sophomore season and timelier than it should be, One Mississippi is a happy surprise of a series that more than deserves a spot in your queue.
[Stream One Mississippi: Season 2 on Prime Video September 8]
An American Werewolf in London
Just in time for fall, this classic horror comedy flick is primed and ready to scare you outta your wits. Two American college students on a walking tour of England are attacked by a werewolf and the survivor of the incident returns to London, but something’s… different. The lone survivor soon realizes that he’s taken on the attributes of his supernatural assailant, and he unwittingly goes on rampages around the city. Brilliantly bonkers in the best way, An American Werewolf in London is a must-see.
[Stream An American Werewolf in London on Prime Video September 15]
Transparent: Season 4 *Amazon Original
Amazon’s award-winning series returns for a fourth season and finds the Pfeffermans on a whole new journey. Jeffrey Tambor continues his stunning turn as transgender woman Maura opposite a stellar cast featuring Judith Light, Amy Landecker, Gaby Hoffmann, Kathryn Hahn, Jay Duplass, and more. In season 4, the family discovers new, startling things about their history as they visit Israel, dig deep into their own identities, and explore their relationships with one another along the way. Moving, funny, and so well-written it’s almost hard to believe, Transparent is arguably the best series Amazon has to offer.
[Stream Transparent: Season 4 on Prime Video September 22]
HBO
The Deuce *HBO Original
Vinyl may have flopped, but that hasn’t stopped HBO from trying to tackle the steamy 1970s all over again (except instead of music, we’re taking a deep dive into the porn scene). Created by the minds behind The Wire, the New York-set drama stars James Franco as twins alongside an all-star cast and explores the expansion of the porn industry, the drug crisis, and rise of HIV/AIDS. Let’s hope this trip to the 70s fares better than its predecessors.
Hidden Figures (2016)
This Oscar-nominated biographical drama tells the little-heard incredible story of the African American female mathematicians employed by NASA during the Space Race who played a crucial role in advancing the United States’ progress. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, and a slew of other big stars, the smart, moving, inspiring film should be required viewing for all.
[Stream Hidden Figures on HBO September 9]
La La Land (2016)
The almost-Best Picture winner from this year’s Oscars stars Best Actress winner Emma Stone opposite frequent screen-partner (and Best Actor nominee) Ryan Gosling and is bound to have you humming its tunes for weeks after. The Los Angeles-set musical tells the story of Mia and Sebastian, two young, struggling artists who fall in love and are forced to choose between their dreams and each other. A beautiful tribute to the colorful musicals of eras past, this unique, enchanting film tells a love story that few flicks dare to.
[Stream La La Land on HBO September 16]
Scarface (1983)
Brian De Palma‘s classic crime film should be in everyone’s cinematic repertoire, but if you’ve never seen it, now’s the perfect time. Starring Al Pacino as Cuban refugee-turned-drug kingpin Tony Montana, the Miami-set flick’s tale of greed, violence, and deception is one whose influence still rings true in the genre today. An added bonus for first-time viewers? You’ll finally understand all those one-liners and references popping up in everything.
Why Him?
If you can’t get enough James Franco, you’re in luck this month. Starring Franco, Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston, and a handful of other seriously funny folks, this uproarious comedy features Franco as a kooky Silicon Valley type whose girlfriend’s father (Cranston) takes an intense disliking to him that grows even stronger when he learns he’s going to pop the question. Why Him? is full of memorable moments, but more than anything, it’s just fun. Turn your nose down and enjoy this bonkers, broad comedy. You’ll be glad you did.
