The week of August 18 to August 24, 2025, is set to be a monumental period for digital entertainment enthusiasts, with an impressive lineup of new films and TV show releases across leading Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. From highly anticipated superhero sagas to compelling true-crime documentaries and heartwarming family dramas, the streaming landscape is bustling with diverse content designed to captivate every viewer. Major services like Netflix, JioHotstar, ZEE5, Sony LIV, Prime Video, Sun NXT, Lionsgate Play, and Apple TV+ are rolling out a rich tapestry of genres, ensuring there’s something trending for everyone this week.
Superhero Spectacle and Reality TV Royalty
One of the most anticipated new releases is Peacemaker Season 2, set to premiere on JioHotstar in India on August 22, while US audiences can catch it on Max from August 21. John Cena returns as the titular anti-hero, Chris Smith, navigating the emotional fallout of his past actions within the newly revitalized DC Universe. The eight-episode series promises to delve deeper into Peacemaker’s psyche, with plotlines involving a mysterious portal to alternate dimensions and the vengeful pursuit by Rick Flag Sr., played by Frank Grillo. This show is expected to drop its first three episodes on premiere day, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly, keeping fans engaged for the next two months.
Reality TV News is dominated by the grand return of Bigg Boss Season 19 on JioHotstar and Colors TV, premiering on August 24. Salman Khan is back as the host for his sixteenth season, presiding over the show’s new theme, “Gharwalon Ki Sarkaar” (Housemates’ Government). This innovative concept grants housemates unprecedented authority over decisions, transforming the house into a dynamic arena of public opinion and strategy. Marking an evolution in the OTT era, episodes will stream first on JioHotstar, followed by a deferred telecast on Colors TV.
Diverse Cinematic Offerings
The movie landscape is equally vibrant, with a significant number of films making their digital debuts. Netflix is gearing up to host several significant titles, including the Tamil road-trip comedy thriller Maareesan, starring Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu, available from August 22. Directed by Sudheesh Sankar, the film, which had a theatrical run in July, follows a thief’s journey with an Alzheimer’s patient, featuring unexpected twists and turns. It will be available in multiple languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Also on Netflix this week is Maa, a mythological horror film releasing on August 22, starring Kajol and Ronit Roy, adding a supernatural dimension to the platform’s offerings.
Prime Video will host Thalaivan Thalaivii from August 22, a Tamil family comedy exploring the complexities of marital life starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen.
Compelling Dramas and Thrillers
Sony LIV brings the Hindi family drama Itti Si Khushi on August 18. Starring Sumbul Touqeer and Varun Badola, the show centers on a 21-year-old woman, Anvita, who steps into a maternal role for her younger siblings amidst family chaos caused by an absent, alcoholic father. This heartwarming narrative is inspired by international series like “Bizim Hikaye” and “Shameless”.
ZEE5 is set to release two significant titles on August 22. Aamar Boss, a Bengali film featuring Rakhee Gulzar and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, offers a unique workplace family drama where a boss’s mother opens an old-age crèche in the office, creating a blend of professional and personal dynamics. Additionally, ZEE5 will release Shodha, a Kannada thriller about a lawyer’s life spiraling when his missing wife unexpectedly reappears.
Lionsgate Play’s contribution to the week’s releases is Soothravakyam, a Malayalam crime mystery drama available from August 21. The film follows a police officer whose community-focused work takes a serious turn with a missing person investigation.
Gripping Documentaries and Action-Packed Additions
For fans of factual storytelling, JioHotstar introduces two compelling true-crime documentaries: Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror (August 19), a three-part series detailing a decade of relentless harassment faced by Samantha Stites, and The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (August 20), which dramatizes the controversial legal saga of Amanda Knox.
Netflix continues its strong documentary slate with America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, a sports documentary series chronicling the Dallas Cowboys under Jerry Jones’ ownership, available from August 19.
High-stakes thrills arrive with Eenie Meanie on JioHotstar, a heist thriller premiering on August 22. This movie sees a reformed teenage getaway driver drawn back into her dangerous past to rescue her ex-boyfriend. The film boasts an ensemble cast including Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, and Andy Garcia.
Further broadening the genre spectrum, Netflix will also drop Hostage on August 21, a political thriller miniseries about the British Prime Minister’s husband being kidnapped, and Bon Appetit, Your Majesty on August 23, a series about a chef navigating palace intrigues.
International and Specialized Content
Sun NXT contributes two titles on August 22: Kapata Nataka Sutradhari, a new-age political satire offering a light-hearted critique of societal biases, and Kolahalam. Apple TV+ joins the lineup with Invasion Season 3 on August 22, continuing its sci-fi narrative where humanity battles alien forces.
Rounding out the week’s offerings, Prime Video also features The Map That Leads To You on August 20, a romantic drama based on J.P. Monninger’s novel, and the competitive reality show 107: Road to a Million Season 2, a James Bond-themed challenge series available on JioHotstar and Lionsgate Play from August 22.
This week’s new releases present a rich and varied array of movie and TV content across major streaming platforms. From gripping thrillers to heartwarming dramas and highly anticipated seasonal returns, audiences have an abundance of choices for their viewing pleasure. The sheer volume and diversity underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of the OTT space, solidifying its role as a primary source of entertainment News and consumption.
