Netflix is adding 56 movies in August 2026 — here are the 5 with the highest scores on Rotten Tomatoes (all rated at least 91% or higher)

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Netflix adds dozens of movies every month to ensure its library never gets stale. I’m not talking about new originals here either. The streaming service regularly adds familiar favorites to its catalog. These range from cinema classics to acclaimed modern movies.In August 2026, Netflix is adding 56 movies to its library. A total of 39 arrived on Aug. 1, and the rest will be dished out throughout the month. That’s a lot of content to consider. So, I’ve turned to review site Rotten Tomatoes to put together a list of the movies added to Netflix this month with the highest critics' score. A high RT score doesn’t guarantee a film will appeal to your taste, but it’s a useful metric for judging a movie’s overall reception.Before diving into the list, I should note two things. Upcoming Netflix originals like “The Last House,” “The Whisper Man” and more are not eligible, as these don’t currently have a score on RT (Naturally, they’ve not been released yet!). Also, in the event of a tie, where two movies have the same critics score, I’ve used RT’s viewer ratings as the tiebreaker. Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, here are the 5 movies added to Netflix in August 2026 with the highest scores on Rotten Tomatoes.New to Netflix movies in August 2026, ranked by RT score5. 'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012)A modern action-thriller masterpiece, “Zero Dark Thirty,” is gripping because of its dramatic narrative and its visceral depiction of modern conflict. It’s also notable for Jessica Chastain’s leading performance as Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst with an obsession with tracking down terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Masterfully directed by Kathryn Bigelow — who has serious chops in this area having also helmed 2008’s “The Hurt Locker” — “Zero Dark Thirty” is one of the best wars of the modern era.Set in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Maya (Chastain) is driven to locate those responsible, and in particular the orchestrator of the tragic event, Osama bin Laden. A worldwide manhunt is launched, and the mission to locate bin Laden becomes all-consuming for Maya. Also starring Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, James Gandolfini and Chris Pratt, “Zero Dark Thirty” is a well-made and compelling war epic.Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%Stream "Zero Dark Thirty" on Netflix now4. 'Speed' (1994)