David Farnor | On 30, Aug 2014

What’s being removed from Netflix UK? It’s the end of the month, which means it’s time to bid farewell to another wave of titles, as Netflix decides not to renew their licences – and makes way for a raft of new additions at the start of September.

Every month, we bring you a list of the best titles leaving Netflix UK, so you don’t miss the opportunity to see something good. And on the 31st August 2014, there are a lot of Netflix removals to choose from.

This is your last chance to stream…

Catfish

This mind-bending film is one of the great modern documentaries that shows just how much you can do with a non-fiction format. We follow photographer Nev as he makes (ahem) special friends with someone on Facebook. Is all as it seems? His journey to meet her in real life is a surprising, gripping and prescient drama that plays out like a B-side to The Social Network. Essential viewing for the Facebook generation.

Read our review

Rain Man

Barry Levinson’s 1988 classic is one of cinema’s definitive odd couple comedies, pairing hot young thing Tom Cruise and awkwardly low-key Dustin Hoffman as high-flying yuppie Charlie and his autistic brother, Raymond. The two play their roles perfectly, selling the script’s conflicts and life lessons, which to modern audiences might at first seem cliched. The result is a character study of two deeply thought-out characters, which manages to be sentimental without ever becoming saccharine. Charming.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Director’s Cut

Do do doo. Dum. Dummmm. Steven Spielberg made jaws drop with those five notes, a deceptively simple piece about mankind connecting with a higher power. Richard Dreyfus is scarily obsessed with the idea of extra terrestrials, even to the point of it shaping his mashed potato. But however disruptive his behaviour becomes, Close Encounters of the Third Kind’s power comes from the peaceful nature of their contact – a gently revolutionary notion that makes this a unique entry in the genre and, indeed, one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.

The Color of Money

“Aaahoo! Werewolves of London.” Warren Zevon’s song blasts into a backroom bar as Tom Cruise’s charismatic young Vincent plays pool with Paul Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson. Reprising his role as The Hustler, Newman has rarely been better, delivering an expert example of how to return to a character from a new angle. Now in the fast-paced, luck-driven world of 9 Ball, the pool trickster, who once found redemption in losing everything outside of the game, storms back onto the baize – given a darkly colourful tone by Scorsese – to find himself once again through his protege. “I’m back!” he declares to Cruise with a glint in his eye. Werewolves of London, indeed.

Il Divo

Before The Great Beauty, Paulo Sorrentino delivered this 2008 flick, a movie based on Giulio Andreotti, Italian’s controversial former Prime Minister who was accused of collaborating with the Mafia and ordering the death of a journalist. Toni Servillo (also the lead of The Great Beauty) stars as the shockingly corrupt – and successful – politician.

Rushmore

Wes Anderson hit the ground running with his second film, an offbeat comedy about a scarily mature high school student, Max. Jason Schwartzman is hilariously eccentric in his debut role as the blazer-wearing Max Fischer, supported by a bizarre Bill Murray and Olivia Wiliams’ school teacher, whom they both love. Precocious, preposterous and precisely shot, this is a cult hit that never fails to amuse.

El Mariachi

Robert Rodriguez made his Western-tinged debut with no more than a fistful of dollars and the result has become a legendary example for film students everywhere. A small scale taster for the outrageous action to come later in his career, this is proof that all you need to entertain an audience is a guitar case, $7,000 and a whole heap of ambition.

Becoming Santa

“Everybody knows the story of Santa. It’s awesome. Santa’s magical.”

Jeff Myers’ documentary Becoming Santa attempts to show us who Santa really is – not through history lessons, but through the tale of one man pretending to be him for the holidays. It’s a tale that takes the magic of Christmas and strips all the pretence away, showing anyone can be Mr. Claus and spread the seasonal spirit, if only for a short while. It’s a hopeful, upbeat message – and by debunking the secrets of Santa, makes St. Nick seem magical all over again.

But whatever you do, don’t show it your children.

Read our full review as part of last year’s 12 Days of Christmas

Bruce Almighty

Jim Carrey’s turn as put-upon weatherman Bruce given the powers of the almighty arrived right in the middle of his renaissance as a “serious” actor. His slapstick schtick redeems the script from its inevitably syrupy final act, providing more than enough giggles – and, of course, giving us a chance to finally witness Morgan Freeman in his natural role of God himself.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Guy Pearce and Jim Caviezel star in this adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic romp. Enjoyably old-fashioned, this swashbuckling adventure may not do anything new, but it does something familiar with entertaining aplomb.

 

Keep up to date with the latest Netflix removals with our #lastchancetostream hashtag.

 
List of titles leaving Netflix UK on Sunday 31st August

Jack (starring Robin Williams)
The Replacement Killers
The Flaw
The Daniel Project
A Passage to India
What About Bob?
Return of the Killer Tomatoes
Bubble Boy
Father of the Bride
Play It to the Bone
On the Line
The Hurricane
Human Organ Traffic
Windfall
End of the Road
The Case for Israel: Democracy’s Outpost
Trumbo
Finding Fidel: The Journey of Erik Durschmeid
Mrs. Carey’s Concert
Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football
Slugs
Tales from the Crypt: Ritual
Mother’s Boys
Spymate
The Animal Train
Camp Nowhere
Ernest Goes to Jail
Ernest Scared Stupid
When I Rise
Stakeout
Drunken Tai Chi

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