What’s new on Paramount Plus in August 2025? In the U.S., The Infernal Machine premiered on August 1, The Friend arrived on August 25, and new shows and specials appeared on August 5, 6, 13, 20, and 27, alongside a broad August 1 catalog refresh and date-specific live sports.
This is a retrospective U.S. release guide based on the schedule published for August 2025. The month was relatively light on major premieres, but it offered a strong psychological thriller, a late-month character drama, a six-film Paranormal Activity grouping, and documentary programming for history and true-crime viewers.
Key takeaways
- The Infernal Machine premiered on Paramount+ in the U.S. on August 1, 2025, while The Friend arrived on August 25, 2025.
- The main August 1 catalog refresh included Adaptation, Annihilation, Blazing Saddles, Shutter Island, The Truman Show, Wayne’s World, Zodiac, and six Paranormal Activity films.
- New U.S. shows and specials arrived on August 5, 6, 13, 20, and 27, including Murder 360, Jersey Shore Family Vacation season 7 part 2, and Liberation: D-Day to Berlin.
- The Friend is the clearest late-month movie recommendation for viewers who want a character-driven drama about grief, friendship, and healing.
- Paramount+ catalogs vary by country, and the August 2025 U.S. schedule should not be confused with the different Australian lineup.
What’s new on Paramount Plus in August 2025?
The U.S. Paramount+ August 2025 lineup was relatively light on major premieres, but it included the psychological thriller The Infernal Machine on August 1, the drama The Friend on August 25, several returning series and children’s specials, and a substantial August 1 library refresh. The schedule also included live sports and recurring events, which were date-specific rather than permanent additions. Tom’s Guide’s U.S. August 2025 release guide provides the dated schedule.
For readers choosing what to watch, the best starting points were The Infernal Machine for a dark thriller, The Friend for an emotional literary drama, and the August 1 catalog additions for recognizable films and horror marathons. Paramount+ subscription availability, pricing, and regional rights should be checked before signing up or planning a current watchlist.
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Which Paramount+ movies premiered in August 2025?
The Infernal Machine premiered on August 1, 2025, and The Friend premiered on August 25, 2025, in the U.S. schedule. The month also added a large group of rotating catalog movies, but catalog additions should not automatically be described as Paramount+ originals or exclusives.
| Movie | U.S. date | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Infernal Machine | August 1, 2025 | Psychological thriller | Viewers who want a tense, character-centered mystery |
| The Friend | August 25, 2025 | Character-driven drama | Viewers interested in grief, friendship, self-reflection, and healing |
| August 1 catalog additions | August 1, 2025 | Rotating library films | Viewers looking for established movies rather than a new premiere |
| Halloween II | August 29, 2025 | Horror catalog addition | Viewers extending an end-of-month horror watchlist |
Why watch The Infernal Machine?
The Infernal Machine was the clearest opening-day scripted-film hook in the U.S. August schedule. Tom’s Guide describes Guy Pearce’s character, Bruce Cogburn, as a once-famous author who begins receiving cryptic letters from an obsessive reader and is drawn into a dangerous psychological game. The film is a natural choice for viewers who prefer suspense and unreliable-mind-game stories over broad comedy or family programming.
Is The Friend on Paramount Plus?
Yes. The Friend premiered on Paramount+ in the U.S. on August 25, 2025, according to the dated August schedule. Naomi Watts plays Iris, a New York writer whose life changes after her late mentor leaves her a Great Dane named Apollo. The film’s central themes are grief, friendship, self-reflection, and healing, making it the month’s strongest recommendation for a quieter, character-led drama.
Streaming availability is separate from physical ownership. Readers who want an offline copy can research The Friend Blu-ray; independent availability information also identifies DVD and Blu-ray purchase options through retailers. A physical disc is not included with a Paramount+ subscription, and live stock or retailer eligibility should be verified before purchase. JustWatch’s U.S. availability page for The Friend is another useful reference for checking current viewing and purchase options.
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What movies came to Paramount Plus on August 1, 2025?
The August 1, 2025 U.S. catalog refresh was broader than the month’s new-premiere slate. The additions covered comedy, drama, crime, science fiction, horror, family entertainment, and thriller titles.
| Viewing mood | August 1 additions to consider |
|---|---|
| Prestige drama and literary stories | Adaptation, Milk, The Sense of an Ending, The United States of Leland, The Yards |
| Crime and courtroom tension | A Time to Kill, American Hustle, Gone Baby Gone, Paid in Full, Primal Fear, The Town, Zodiac |
| Science fiction and speculative stories | Aeon Flux, Annihilation, Event Horizon, Love and Monsters, Project Almanac |
| Comedy | Blazing Saddles, Coming to America, Death at a Funeral, Masterminds, Miss Congeniality, Rat Race, Wayne’s World |
| Horror and dark suspense | Case 39, Crawl, Mother!, Paranormal Activity films, Red Eye, Shutter Island, The Ruins, What Lies Beneath |
| Family and younger viewers | Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Monster Trucks, The Little Rascals |
The complete August 1 list also included Adventureland, An Invisible Sign, Captive, Double Jeopardy, Georgetown, Good Mourning, New Jack City, One the Line, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Sexterior Motives, Snake Eyes, The Assistant, The Brothers Grimm, The Ledge, and The Truman Show.
What horror movies were added in August 2025?
Paramount+ added six Paranormal Activity films on August 1, 2025: Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. The first film follows Katie and Micah, a couple who use a camera to investigate disturbances in their home. The group addition made August 1 a useful date for a franchise marathon, although the individual films remained catalog entries rather than newly produced Paramount+ originals. The complete U.S. schedule lists the films and other August additions.
What shows and specials came to Paramount Plus in August 2025?
The new-series and special schedule was spread across five dates: August 5, 6, 13, 20, and 27. The additions included true crime, reality television, children’s programming, and historical documentary content.
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| Date | New program | Format | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 5 | Murder 360, season 1 | True-crime documentary series | Homicide cases examined through accounts from people connected to the cases, investigators, and legal experts |
| August 6 | Jersey Shore Family Vacation, season 7, part 2 | Returning reality season | The continuation of season 7 |
| August 6 | Blaze and the Monster Machines, season 8 | Children’s animated series | A new season for younger viewers |
| August 13 | PAW Patrol: Jungle Pups | Children’s special | Tracker and Carlos lead a jungle adventure involving animals, danger, and a volcano |
| August 20 | Baby Shark’s Big Show!, season 3 | Children’s animated series | A new season of the preschool-oriented series |
| August 27 | Liberation: D-Day to Berlin, season 1 | Historical documentary series | A documentary account covering the Allied liberation from D-Day through Berlin |
Murder 360 is the most directly documentary-focused addition for DocumentaryTube readers. The series uses case-connected accounts alongside commentary from investigators and legal experts, while Liberation: D-Day to Berlin is the clearest historical choice. ComingSoon’s August 4–10 schedule cross-checks the early-month additions, and its August 11–17 schedule cross-checks the mid-month programming.
What sports were on Paramount Plus in August 2025?
Paramount+’s August 2025 U.S. schedule also carried live or recurring sports programming, including EFL and other English football, Serie A, Coppa Italia, NWSL, WNBA, women’s rugby, UEFA competitions, the Concacaf W Champions Cup, NFL preseason games, college football, the PGA Tour, Formula E, professional bull riding, BIG3 basketball, Major League Pickleball, SailGP, and AVP volleyball.
Sports listings require a different interpretation from movie and series additions. The August 2025 games and events were date-specific live programming, so the retrospective schedule should not be read as a promise that those events remain live or on demand. Check Paramount+’s current sports listings for a present-day schedule.
Was the August 2025 Paramount+ lineup the same in every country?
No. The schedule above is U.S.-focused, and Paramount+ catalogs vary by country. Variety’s Australian August 2025 schedule, for example, listed Every Little Thing and Goodrich on August 1, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on August 7, Playing Gracie Darling on August 14, Eileen and The Killer on August 24, and Stans on August 27. Those Australian entries should not be presented as U.S. August additions. Variety’s Australian schedule documents the regional difference.
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Paramount+ catalogs can change after a dated release guide is published. Readers planning a current watchlist should check their local Paramount+ listing, confirm the country and service edition, and treat the August 2025 dates as historical release information rather than an August 2026 availability calendar.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you watch first?
Start with The Infernal Machine if you want the month’s strongest opening-day thriller, choose The Friend if you want an emotional drama, and use the August 1 catalog refresh for a themed movie night. Documentary viewers should prioritize Murder 360 and Liberation: D-Day to Berlin; families should look at PAW Patrol: Jungle Pups, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Baby Shark’s Big Show!.
| If you want… | Choose… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A psychological thriller | The Infernal Machine | Cryptic letters pull a former author into a dangerous mind game |
| An emotional drama | The Friend | A writer copes with grief and an unexpected Great Dane inheritance |
| True crime | Murder 360 | Cases are presented through connected accounts and expert commentary |
| History | Liberation: D-Day to Berlin | The series covers the period from D-Day through Berlin |
| A horror marathon | Paranormal Activity films | Six franchise entries were included in the August 1 catalog refresh |
| Family viewing | PAW Patrol: Jungle Pups | A jungle rescue story involving Tracker, Carlos, animals, and a volcano |
For the service itself, readers can review the current Paramount+ service and gift-card information, but subscription pricing, promotions, eligibility, and availability should be verified at publication because the August 2025 schedule is historical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Friend on Paramount Plus?
Yes. The Friend premiered on Paramount+ in the U.S. on August 25, 2025. Naomi Watts plays Iris, a New York writer whose late mentor leaves her a Great Dane named Apollo.
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What movies came to Paramount Plus in August 2025?
The main U.S. movie premieres were The Infernal Machine on August 1, 2025, and The Friend on August 25, 2025. The month also included a large August 1 catalog refresh and Halloween II on August 29.
What shows came to Paramount Plus in August 2025?
The new U.S. series and specials were released on August 5, 6, 13, 20, and 27, including Murder 360, Jersey Shore Family Vacation season 7 part 2, Blaze and the Monster Machines season 8, PAW Patrol: Jungle Pups, Baby Shark’s Big Show! season 3, and Liberation: D-Day to Berlin.
Was Paramount Plus’s August 2025 lineup the same in every country?
The August 2025 schedule in this article is U.S.-focused. Paramount+ programming differed in Australia, so viewers should check their local Paramount+ listing rather than assume that a U.S. date or title applies everywhere.
The Bottom Line
The U.S. Paramount+ August 2025 schedule was light on major premieres but worthwhile for The Infernal Machine on August 1, The Friend on August 25, a deep August 1 movie refresh, and documentary additions including Murder 360 and Liberation: D-Day to Berlin. Check local listings because the dates and catalog applied to the U.S. schedule and are not a current August 2026 guarantee.
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