Vanessa Kirby starring in a gritty film about the aspirations of home ownership, "Night Always Comes," and Maroon 5 releasing their eighth studio album with songs featuring Lil Wayne and Blackpink's LISA are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists: Alicia Silverstone leading a new TV crime drama called "Irish Blood," the multigenerational, wholesome drama "The Chicken Sisters" rolls out its second season on Hallmark and EA Sports jumps aboard the artificial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26.
MOVIES
Helena Zengel stars in "The Legend of Ochi."
'The Legend of Ochi'
Isaiah Saxon's "The Legend of Ochi" (streaming Aug. 15 on HBO Max) is a handcrafted fantasy throwback seeking to conjure the kind of magic once found in movies like "The NeverEnding Story." The A24 film stars Helena Zengel as Yuri, a girl who runs away from the forest home she shared with her father (Willem Dafoe) and brother (Finn Wolfhard). She leaves with a baby ochi, a creature her father hunted. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that "The Legend of Ochi" "has the feeling of a film you might have stumbled on and loved as a kid."
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"Night Always Comes"
'Night Always Comes'
Vanessa Kirby might be one of the standout performers of the summer blockbuster "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," but she also stars in a gritty new film about the aspirations of home ownership. In "Night Always Comes" (Aug. 14 on Netflix), Kirby plays a woman going to extreme lengths to secure a home for her family. The movie, directed by Benjamin Caron and adapted from Willy Vlautin's best-selling novel, takes place over a single night.
— Jake Coyle
MUSIC
"Love is Like" by Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 will release their eighth studio album, "Love is Like," on Aug. 15, via Interscope Records. Expect smooth, funky pop music — like the sultry "All Night." Singer Adam Levine and Co. continue their trend of unexpected and delightful collaborations as well, with songs featuring Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Blackpink's LISA. You read that correctly.
“Antone’s: 50 Years of the Blues"
'Antone's: 50 Years of the Blues'
Clifford Antone opened Antone's, one of the most storied music venues in Austin, Texas, with an inaugural performance by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier in 1975. In the decades since, Antone's has become the stuff of mythology; a performance space that embraces its history and looks towards its future. On Aug. 15, a new box set from New West Records seeks to celebrate Antone's legacy with "Antone's: 50 Years of the Blues."
— Maria Sherman
TELEVISION
Genevieve Angelson, left, and Lea Thompson star in "The Chicken Sisters."
'The Chicken Sisters'
The multigenerational, wholesome drama "The Chicken Sisters" rolls out its second season on Hallmark. The series stars Schuyler Fisk, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick and Genevieve Angelson as family members in a small town divided over their rival fried chicken businesses. It's based on a novel of the same name. The series streams new episodes Mondays on Hallmark+.
Alicia Silverstone stars in "Irish Blood."
'Irish Blood'
Alicia Silverstone leads the new crime drama called "Irish Blood." She plays Fiona, a woman who has been led to believe her father abandoned her as a child — and has carried around some heavy emotional baggage ever since. When she learns the truth is more complicated — not to mention dangerous — she heads to Ireland to investigate. Episodes of the six-part show drop Mondays on Acorn TV.
"Iron Man and His Awesome Friends"
'Iron Man and His Awesome Friends'
A new one for the kiddos is the Disney Jr. series "Iron Man and his Awesome Friends," coming to Disney+. The first 10 episodes drop Aug. 12. The show follows besties and fellow geniuses, Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho, who team up to solve problems.
Chris Hemsworth visits the Beomeosa Temple in Busan, South Korea, in an episode of "Limitless: Live Better Now."
'Limitless: Live Better Now'
Chris Hemsworth continues his quest to live a healthier, more present, and longer life in a second season of "Limitless," now called "Limitless: Live Better Now." The three-part docuseries sees Hemsworth learn more about brain power (with help from his friend and recording artist Ed Sheeran), risk and pain. The three episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Aug. 15.
— Alicia Rancilio
Madden NFL 26
VIDEO GAME
Madden NFL 26
EA Sports is jumping aboard the artificial intelligence bandwagon with Madden NFL 26, promising "a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade." The most intriguing additions are QB DNA and Coach DNA — so, for example, if you're playing the Kansas City Chiefs, you'll see the kind of moves you'd expect from Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As always, the goal is to get ever closer to real-life football, with more dynamic weather effects, more details from pro stadiums and the return (at last!) of team mascots. The cover model this season is Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who'll be ready to start leaping over defenders Aug. 14 on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC.
— Lou Kesten
