Vehicular Viewing: New on Streaming for August 2020
If the late-summer heat drives you indoors next month, at least you won’t lack for new movies and television shows to stream. August promises a solid lineup of fresh content for car lovers and gearheads on major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. Read on to learn about a few of the upcoming month’s streaming highlights.
The Total Truck Package: Catch up with the advanced, capable 2020 GMC Sierra 1500
Movies
Batman (1989)
This groundbreaking superhero flick has been overshadowed a bit by Christopher Nolan’s more recent takes on Batman, but it’s still a great watch. Built on a Chevy Impala chassis, this film’s Batmobile is quite a bit sleeker and sportier than the fearsome versions seen in movies like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. (HBO Max, 8/1)
Mad Max (1979)
The Mad Max saga has gotten increasingly dystopian, elaborate and action-packed since the title character first got behind the wheel of his iconic Ford Interceptor, but it all started with this lean, mean revenge thriller set in a world that isn’t so far from our own. (Netflix, 8/1)
Nightcrawler (2014)
A sleazy videographer prowls the streets and freeways of Los Angeles in search of sensationalist footage he can sell to local TV stations — and when his slimy methods start to pay off, he replaces his beat-up Toyota Tercel with a flashy Dodge Challenger. (Netflix, 8/10)
SUV Showdown: Should you choose the GMC Acadia or the Ford Explorer?
Quantum of Solace (2008)
This bizarrely titled movie isn’t one of the better-loved entries in the James Bond series, but it does boast a variety of eye-catching rides like an Aston Martin DBS, an Alfa Romeo 156, and a Range Rover Sport. (Hulu, 8/31)
Queen & Slim (2019)
This thought-provoking road movie, which follows a young Black couple on the run from the police, abounds with interesting vehicles and compelling car-set scenes. The vehicular star is a gorgeous blue 1972 Pontiac Catalina, but the film also makes great use of models like the Ford F-350, the Honda Accord, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 wagon. (HBO Max, 8/22)
They Live by Night (1948)
If you’re in the mood for an old-school noir movie, it’s hard to do better than They Live by Night. This tale of doomed lovers hunted by the law features beautiful black-and-white cinematography and a series of now-classic rides like the Buick Special, the Cadillac Series 62 convertible, and the Plymouth Special De Luxe. (HBO Max, 8/1)
Television
Bitchin’ Rides: season 1
This reality series about a team of Salt Lake City vehicle rebuilders has been around for six seasons, and now you can catch the first one on Amazon. (Amazon, 8/1)
Ice Road Truckers: season 1
In some far-flung regions of Canada and Alaska, the only truck routes available are dangerous roads carved out of iced-over rivers and lakes. This reality show follows the courageous drivers who dare to make the journey. (Amazon, 8/1)
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.