7 Must-See Movies Leaving Netflix This Month — Stream Them Before They’re Gone

Start with American Gangster, Ridley Scott ’s gritty Harlem epic where Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas builds a Vietnam War–era drug empire while Russell Crowe’s straight‑arrow detective Richie Roberts closes in. Written by Steven Zaillian, it ’s stacked with familiar faces — Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding Jr., John Ortiz, Ted Levine, Lymari Nadal, Armand Assante, John Hawkes and RZA — and it still plays like a bruising cat‑and‑mouse.

These titles leave Netflix in the U.S. at the end of August.

Last‑chance lineup

• American Gangster (2007) — Scott and Zaillian turn the Frank Lucas saga into a muscular crime drama: a Harlem kingpin smuggles narcotics during the Vietnam War, and a tireless Jersey cop makes it his mission to stop him. With Washington and Crowe leading a deep ensemble, it’s a heavyweight crime watch.
• Ex Machina (2015) — Alex Garland’s directorial debut traps a young programmer (Domhnall Gleeson) inside the secluded lab of a mercurial tech CEO (Oscar Isaac) to test a humanoid AI ( Alicia Vikander). Garland also wrote the screenplay, which drew wide acclaim and multiple award nominations — and the ending still chills.
• Atonement (2007) — Based on Ian McEwan’s novel, this sweeping period drama follows how one lie shatters lives across decades. Starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai, the film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and earned six more nominations, including Best Picture.
• Hacksaw Ridge (2016) — Directed by Mel Gibson and based on the 2004 doc The Conscientious Objector, the film tells the true story of WWII medic Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who refused to carry a weapon and became a hero anyway. Written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, with Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn , Ryan Corr, Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh.
• Chef ( 2014) — Jon Favreau writes, directs and stars as a burned‑out chef who quits a high‑end gig to launch a food truck with his young son and best friend. It’s a sunny road‑trip comedy with Sofía Vergara, Scarlett Johansson , John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Amy Sedaris and a scene‑stealing cameo from Robert Downey Jr.
• There’s Something About Mary (1998 ) — The Farrelly brothers ’ chaotic rom‑com sends hapless Ted (Ben Stiller) to Miami to reconnect with his high‑school dream girl (Cameron Diaz) — only to find a swarm of rivals (including his own private eye). Matt Dillon and Lee Evans round out the mayhem.
• Tootsie (1982) — In Sydney Pollack’s classic, struggling actor Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman) reinvents himself as “Dorothy Michaels” to land a soap‑opera role and becomes an unlikely TV sensation. The disguise complicates everything — especially when he falls for a co‑star — alongside Jessica Lange and Teri Garr.

All seven are streaming now on Netflix in the U.S. and are slated to exit at the end of August.