Best movies on Sky Cinema in August 2024

A three-hour biopic about the father of the atomic bomb, J Robert Oppenheimer, doesn't exactly sound like the most exciting time – but it is in Christopher Nolan's hands.

Oppenheimer loses none of its power to captivate on the small screen. A thought-provoking, gripping and smart biopic led by a never-better Cillian Murphy.

It's only right that you pair Oppenheimer with Barbie to recreate 2023's biggest movie trend, Barbenheimer, although it's entirely up to you to decide which order to watch them in.

Greta Gerwig's joyous, inventive movie was cruelly robbed at the Oscars, but was deservedly 2023's biggest – and most surprising – movie. With an excellent Margot Robbie performance, it turned the doll into a profound exploration of what it means to be human.

Decades before Squid Game captivated us all, Battle Royale shocked viewers with a bleak and controversial fight to the death that is as potent as it was in 2000.

42 students are sent to a remote island and fitted with explosive collars that will kill them if they break the rules. The aim? To kill each other and be the lone survivor. It's the kind of movie that once watched is never forgotten.

The sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem, is also on Sky Cinema, but it's nowhere near as good.

The Matrix was the defining sci-fi movie of its generation, and there's no better way to mark its 25th anniversary than settling into a rewatch of the Wachowskis' masterpiece.

In a world where humanity is trapped in a simulated reality, computer programmer/hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves) uncovers the truth and joins Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in a rebellion against the machines.

Sky Cinema also has The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions if you want to rewatch the entire original trilogy (not The Matrix Resurrections though), but none of the sequels could ever live up to the first movie.

Shrek is coming back to cinemas July 2026 with a fifth movie, but if that's just too long to wait, you can go back to the beginning with the 2001 classic on Sky Cinema.

It remains as funny and clever as it was more than 20 years ago as Shrek (Mike Myers) finds his home overrun by annoying fairytale creatures who have been banished by Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow).

Sky Cinema also has Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third available to watch, as well as excellent spin-off sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

As we wait endlessly for Beyond the Spider-Verse, you can revisit the spectacular Spidey sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to soften the blow.

Expanding the world from Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales faces his deadliest threat yet in the form of the Spot, and also a group of multiversal Spider-People who might not always have the best intentions in mind.

If you need more Spidey action, Sky Cinema also has the entire Sam Raimi trilogy, as well as Tom Holland's sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home and the two Amazing Spider-Man movies.

Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back on the big screen in hit sequel Bad Boys: Ride or Die, so there's no better time to revisit where it all began with Bad Boys.

It's arguably still the high point of the entire series, perfectly blending Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's chemistry with Michael Bay's now-trademark Bayhem.

You can also double-bill it with the 2003 sequel Bad Boys II if one movie just isn't enough.

OK, so we've cheated a bit, but we couldn't just pick one of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy to highlight as all three movies are available to watch on Sky Cinema.

For many, The Dark Knight is the high point thanks to Heath Ledger's stunning performance, but that's not to dismiss Batman Begins or The Dark Knight Rises which both deliver blockbuster thrills with genuine substance.

If you need more Batman in your life, Sky Cinema also has The Lego Batman Movie for all the family, as well as Batman v Superman and Justice League.

Bridget Jones is coming back next year with the long-awaited fourth movie, so there's no better excuse to revisit the excellent Bridget Jones's Diary (not that we ever need an excuse).

Renée Zellweger overcame early scepticism to be a perfect Bridget and, sure, certain elements of the first movie have not aged well, but it's still consistently funny, relatable and sweet.

You can also watch the (rubbish) sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and (improved) third movie Bridget Jones's Baby on Sky Cinema to complete the set.

The Mummy turned 25 this year (yes, we do feel old), so treat yourself with a rewatch of the supremely entertaining and spooky blockbuster.

A remake of the classic Universal Monsters movie from 1932, it follows adventurer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) as he teams up with librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah) to take down revived high priest Imhotep.

You can also follow it up with The Mummy Returns, but maybe avoid The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor which is also on Sky Cinema.

Denis Villeneuve has an incredibly strong CV, including Dune: Part Two and Sicario, so it's saying something for Arrival that the 2016 sci-fi is his best movie.

On the surface, it's a simple story about two people trying to find a way to communicate with aliens who have arrived on Earth. But if you've watched it, you'll know it's a heartbreaking and challenging sci-fi that you won't be able to stop thinking about.

If you've seen Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, you can follow it up with Mad Max: Fury Road right now on Sky Cinema.

A two-hour chase movie that barely stops for fuel, its extraordinary set pieces astonish even on repeat viewing. Rarely has a movie made the most of Tom Hardy's ability to mesmerise with so little dialogue.

The original Mad Max movie is also available to watch on Sky Cinema if you're in the mood for more Wasteland carnage.

If you've watched MaXXXine this year, you can go back to where it all began in X prequel movie Pearl which sees Mia Goth deliver one of 2022's best performances.

The origin story is a totally different vibe to 70s slasher X, a Technicolor throwback centred on Pearl's desperation to be a star – and she'll do anything to make it in Hollywood.

Yes, we've cheated again, but you try to pick one movie out of Peter Jackson's near-flawless Lord of the Rings trilogy, with all three movies available to watch on Sky Cinema.

Unfortunately it is only the theatrical versions, so no Saruman death sequence here, but there's plenty to savour in each movie all the same. If you're looking to do nothing one day, just put them all on back-to-back and revel being back in Middle-earth.

24 years later, Ridley Scott has revisited his 2000 masterpiece for a sequel, Gladiator II, out in November, giving us all an excuse to watch Gladiator again – as if we needed one.

From iconic speeches to huge action set pieces, it made stars of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, as well as rightly dominating the Oscars with five wins.

You have until September 22, 2024 to watch it before it's removed. There's also plenty more from Ridley Scott to enjoy on Sky Cinema too, including Blade Runner and Black Hawk Down.

If you can handle hearing "I'll be right here" without becoming a blubbering mess, then ET: The Extra-Terrestrial is available to watch now on Sky Cinema.

Oft-imitated but never bettered, Steven Spielberg's ode to childhood wonder is as funny, affecting and magical as it ever was. It's no surprise that so many of today's filmmakers credit it for starting their interest in cinema.

There are other Spielberg classics to be found on Sky Cinema too, such as Jaws, Catch Me If You Can and Minority Report.