What are you going to be watching in September? We round up everything coming to streaming services this month, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, Neon and TVNZ+.
The biggies
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (on Amazon Prime Video from September 2)
It’s nice to see this little known fantasy novel series get an outing a little streaming service like Amazon Prime Video! But in all seriousness, this is probably the most highly anticipated new series of the year. For those who aren’t aware, it’s actually not adapted from the famous novels, but some of the side material that makes up the Lord of the Rings canon – it’s set 2,000 years before Bilbo even places an errant eye on the One Ring. In saying that, you’ll spot a few familiar names, and more than a few familiar locales, given it was shot here. Watch out for my review, coming this week. / Sam Brooks
Heartbreak High (on Netflix from September 14)
The kids from Heartley High ruled our screens in the mid 90s, and the acclaimed Australian drama about a multicultural group of Sydney friends (which is also on Netflix) still stands up today. This month, Netflix revives the show for the current generation, and while the cast is new, the premise is the same: a bunch of of hormonal youths at Hartley High struggle to fit in as they deal with issues like sex, drugs and heartbreak. Starring none other than New Zealand’s own Rachel House, the new Heartbreak High looks like a mix of Sex Education and Never Have I Ever, with added ‘Straya. / Tara Ward
The Handmaid’s Tale (season 5 on Neon weekly from September 15)
This show is the dystopian gift that kept on giving, but last season, we finally saw our hero June catch a break. She got out of Gilead, reconciled with her family and prepared for the Waterfords to go to jail – but now it seems like June’s Canadian happy-ever-after is in doubt. Will Nick and Lawrence protect June from Gilead’s wrath? Can Luke reconcile with a woman hell-bent on revenge, and will June ever get a chance to catch-up on all the good TV she missed? The season five trailer suggests no on all counts, and like Aunt Lydia on a treadmill, I’m pumped. / TW
Reservation Dogs (season 2 on Disney+ from September 7)
From my review of this excellent show last year: “Chances are if you’re tuning into Reservation Dogs, it’s purely because of the name Taika Waititi being attached, and there’s nothing wrong with that – but also, check out Sterlin Harjo’s films, he’s bloody brilliant. For me, the value of Reservation Dogs is twofold. One part is what the bulk of the audience will get out of it: an excellently made, thoughtful introduction to a culture that might have otherwise been a mystery.” / SB
The notables
Andor (on Disney+ from September 21)
Did you love Rogue One and wish that Star Wars went down a grittier, more realistic path? Well, Andor looks set to fulfil your very specific taste in Star Wars content. The series, which has already been renewed for a second season, starts five years before Rogue One, and follows the birth of the Rebel Alliance as it builds into being a proper opponent for the Galactic Empire. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) returns as the Han Solo-esque figure who becomes a revolutionary and eventually joins the Rebellion. For some reason, Mon Mothma also returns. / SB
Waiata Anthems (season two on TVNZ+ from September 5)
This informative, super-engaging docuseries returns with a new set of uplifting stories of musicians’ discovery of and relationship to te ao Māori through waiata. This season finds global superstars Lorde and Tim Finn alongside new voices Mikey Dam and Paige as they work with Māori language experts to re-record their songs, but also recount their own relationship to the culture of this land, sharing their experiences of fear and discovery along the way. / SB
Life by Ella (on Apple TV from September 2)
This new family-friendly series tells the story of Ella, a young teenager who recently finished cancer treatment and who is determined to tackle life with a new sense of purpose. While she’s keen to do all the normal things kids do, she’s also challenging her fears and inspiring her friends to do the same. An uplifting, heartwarming watch for all the young people in your life. / TW
The Twelve (on TVNZ+ from September 6)
Sam Neill stars in this Australian remake of a Belgian courtroom drama that centres on a murder trial taking place without a body. Neill plays a defence lawyer who must convince the jury of his client’s innocence in a highly traumatic case, and as we learn more about the lives of the twelve jurors, it seems that agreeing on a verdict won’t be easy. Look, when has Sam Neill ever made a bad TV show? The answer is never, and The Twelve promises to keep viewers guessing until the very end. / TW
The movies
Blonde (on Netflix from September 28)
Honestly, I have no idea what we’re in for with this one. This isn’t a straight biopic of Marilyn Monroe (played here by Ana de Armas), but instead an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ very loose retelling of the Hollywood icon’s life, which she has repeatedly stressed should not be read as biography. It’s been adapted before, as a middling mini-series back in 2001, but with Andrew Dominik (Killing Me Softly) and a confirmed NC-17 rating for graphic sexual content, this one sounds very, very different. / SB
Dune (on Neon from September 2)
The fact I’m about to recommend you watch Dune on a TV when it absolutely should be watched in IMAX hurts me. And yet, you should still definitely watch Dune. Denis Villeneuve’s starry sci-fi adaptation gave me one of the best film-watching experiences of 2021 – and despite its overinflated runtime I went back and watched it two more times. It’s got a giant space worm and lots of hot people running about in the sand: literally what more could you want from the movies. / Stewart Sowman-Lund
Hocus Pocus 2 (on Disney+ from September 30)
What more do you need to know? It’s a sequel to the 90s classic Hocus Pocus, with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker returning! If this is your thing, you’re already refreshing your Disney+ app to see if it’s there. / SB
The rest
Netflix
September 1
Off the Hook
Devil in Ohio
Love in the Villa
Fenced In
Samurai Rabbit: The Usage Chronicles: Season 2
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure STONE OCEAN: Episodes 13-24
Playing Beatie Bow
The Efficiency Expert
September 2
Dated and Related
You’re Nothing Special
Fakes
Buy My House
Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives: Season 2
The Festival of Troubadours
Ivy + Bean
Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had To Go
Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance
September 3
Little Women
September 5
Once Upon a Small Town
Cocomelon: Season 6
Bee and PuppyCat
Rick and Morty: Season 6
September 6
Diorama
Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy
Rodrigo Marques: King of Uncouth
Untold: The Race of the Century
Get Smart with Money
September 7
Chef’s Table: Pizza
Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer
September 8
Entrapped
The Anthrax Attacks
September 9
Cobra Kai: Season 5
Merli. Sapere Aude: Season 2
Narco-Saints
End of the Road
No Limit
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
September 12
Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 3
September 13
Jo Koy: Live from the Los Angeles Forum
September 14
The Lørenskog Disappearance
Heartbreak High
Broad Peak
The Catholic School
Sins of Our Mother
September 15
Lisa Pereira: Adulting
Terim
Dogs in Space: Season 2
September 16
Santo
Fate: The Winx Saga: Season 2
The Brave Ones
Love is Blind: After the Altar: Season 2
Do Revenge
I Used to Be Famous
Jogi
Mirror, Mirror
Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard
Go Dog Go: Season 3
Drifting Home
September 20
Patton Oswalt: We All Scream
September 21
Iron Chef Mexico
Designing Miami
The Perfumier
The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist
Fortune Seller: A TV SCAM
September 22
Snabba Cash: Season 2
Thai Cave Rescue
The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone
Karma’s World: Season 4
September 23
The Girls at the Back
Jamtara – Sabka Number Ayega: Season 2
ATHENA
A Jazzman’s Blues
Lou
Pokemon: The Arceus Chronicles
September 24
Dynasty: Season 5
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy
September 26
A Trip to Infinity
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark: Chapter 2
September 27
Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy
September 28
Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 6
Too Hot to Handle: Brazil: Season 2
Blonde
Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga
September 29
The Empress
September 30
Floor is Lava: Season 3
Human Playground
Entergalactic
Rainbow
Anikulapo
Phantom Pups
The Dry
Neon
September 1
Miz and Mrs: Season 2
Then Came You
Totally Under Control
September 2
Herself
The Mole Agent
Dune
September 3
Carmilla
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story
Gunda
September 4
The Booksellers
Machine
Marry Me
September 5
S.W.A.T
September 6
Louis Theroux: Drinking to Oblivion
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
September 7
The Shallows
September 8
Hotel for Dogs
September 9
Wakefield
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
September 10
Straight Outta Compton
September 11
The Breaker-Upperers
September 12
American Gigolo
September 13
Louis Theroux: Talking to Anorexia
September 15
The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 5
September 16
Spider-Man: No Way Home
September 17
Atlanta: Season 4
Knocked Up
September 18
The Matrix Resurrections
September 20
Louis Theroux: Miami Mega-Jail
The Candidate
September 21
New Amsterdam: Season 5
September 22
FBI: Season 5
FBI: Most Wanted: Season 4
Baby Mama
Payback
September 23
Naked Singularity
September 24
Flatbush Misdemeanour: Season 2
Rough Night
September 25
The Mechanic
Mechanic: Resurrection
September 26
Proof of Life
September 27
Hitmen: Season 1
Hitmen: Season 1
Law & Order: Organised Crime: Season 3
Wonder
September 28
Role Models
September 29
Interview with the Vampire
September 30
Go Jetters
Go Jetters: Season 3
Swashbuckle: Season 6
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Disney+
September 2
Doc McStuffins: The Doc is 10
September 7
Reservation Dogs: Season 2
The Incredible Dr. Pol: Seasons 15-17
Tell Me Lies
September 8
Pinocchio
Thor: Love and Thunder
Cars on the Road
Wedding Season
Growing Up
Frozen Sing-Along Version
Frozen II Sing-Along Version
Modern Family: Seasons 1-11
Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory
Welcome to the Club (Short) – The Simpsons
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return
Tierra Incognita AKA Jules Verne Trilogy
The Zone: Survival Mission
September 14
Coco Sing-Along Version
Tatami Time Machine
Because We Forget Everything
September 15
Leave No Trace
Mija
September 19
Best in Dough
September 20
Reboot
September 21
Andor
Little Demo
Women in Taipei
May It Please The Court
Super/Natural
September 22
The Kardashians: Season 2
September 23
Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation
September 27
Reasonable Doubt
September 28
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changes
Running Wild with Bear Grylls; The Challenge
Cesar Milan: Better Human Better Dog
September 30
Hocus Pocus 2
Disney Summer Magic Quest
Hocus Pocus 24th Anniversary Bash
TVNZ+
September 1
Operacion Marea Negra
Instinct
Master Cheng
Betrayal at Attica
The Marriage Project
Code: Debugging The Gender Gap
Kim Jong Un: The Man Who Rules North Korea
Fatal Honeymoon
Killer Cheer Mom
The Pastero’s Wife
Waking up to Danger
Line Sisters
Jade Fever
Madfin Shark: Season 4
Camp Wannakiki: Season 3b
GoGo for the Gold
The Gauntlet of Games
September 5
Waiata Anthems
September 6
The Twelve
September 10
Manson: The Women
September 12
Monarch
September 15
Vampire Academy
Law & Order True Crime; The Menendez Murders
September 16
Will and Grace
September 18
Delhi Cops
September 20
NCIS: Hawai’i
September 21
FBI: International
September 22
Witness Number 3
September 24
The Turpin 13: Family Secrets Exposed
September 28
Bachelor in Paradise
September 30
Ghosts: Season 2
Young Sheldon: Season 6
CSI: Vegas: Season 2
Amazon Prime Video
September 1
Mad Max: Fury Road
September 2
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Spider-Man: No Way Home
September 4
Marry Me
September 8
The Big Sick
September 9
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
September 16
Gaslit
Swimming with Sharks
Goodnight Mommy
September 30
Luxe Listing Sydney: Season 3
My Best Friend’s Exorcism
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Jungle
Moonfall
Apple TV+
September 2
Life by Ella
September 9
Central Park: Season 3
Gutsy
September 30
The Greatest Beer Run Ever
Acorn
September 5
Recipes for Love and Murder
Hustle: Season 4
September 19
City of Vice
September 26
The Tunnel: Season 3: Vengeance
Shudder
September 1
Who Invited Them
September 6
Disappearance at Lack Elrod
Evidence
Jackals
The Lesson
September 7
101 Scariest Film Moments of All Time
Lifechanger
September 8
Saloum
September 13
St Agatha
Antrum
Rabies
September 16
The Columnist
September 20
Cemetery of Terror
Grave Robbers
The House at the End of Time
I am Toxic
September 22
Raven’s Hollow
September 27
Darklands
Wild Country
Goldberg & Eisenberg
September 30
Queer for Fear: A History of Queer Horror