Editor's Picks: Entertainment Must Haves For August

The month starts off with a galactic bang on Aug. 1 with the release of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie script is quick-witted, star-studded (Chris Pratt! Zoe Saldana! Bradley Cooper's voice!), and it's refreshing to see some new heroes on the big screen. Of course, it's worth going just to see the insane shape Pratt got into for the role, but you'll stay because the movie is ridiculously entertaining.

— Maggie Pehanick, assistant editor

Mark your calendars for Aug. 4, because there's a new Bachelor show in town! Bachelor in Paradise is pretty much just like Bachelor Pad, except in a tropical location. The teaser makes it look completely insane, which I'm totally down for. Plus there's a handful of contestants from Andi's season whom I loved (Marcus!), so I can't wait to catch up with them.

— MP

Diana Gabaldon's bestselling series comes to the small screen on Aug. 9, and I've already gotten a sneak peek of the adaptation — which I loved. Now I'm ready for more of the time-travel romance (and all its sexiness), and because I want other people to start talking about their obsession with Sam Heughan too.

— SV

Source: Starz

New Girl has been on hiatus since May, and we miss those hilarious dudes. Happily, Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. are headlining the Summer comedy Let's Be Cops, which opens Aug. 13. I lose my mind every time I see the sidesplitting trailer about regular guys who pose as cops, so I'm banking on this being the late-Summer laugh I need.

— SV

As someone who grew up reading Lois Lowry's 1993 novel, I'm extremely curious to see it translated onto the big screen. Jeff Bridges — who actually didn't originally even want to play The Giver — stars in the title role, alongside Brenton Thwaites as the young hero, Jonas. There are quite a few changes from the book to the screen, and I'm really wondering how much screen time Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, and Alexander Skarsgard are going to get. We'll find out on Aug. 15!

— MP

I love a good cry in the theater, so I'm looking forward to toting tissues to Chloë Moretz's latest, If I Stay. The trailer for the drama about a teen girl on the edge of death already made me sob, so let's do this together on Aug. 22.

— SV

The VMAs are on Aug. 24 this year, and given the array of nominees, I'm already wondering who's going to go home with a coveted moon man. Iggy Azalea has been dominating the radio this Summer, but will she conquer the VMAs? Beyoncé is a clear favorite, but can "Drunk in Love" topple Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball"? Is Lorde going to own the night? So many questions will be answered.

— MP

Source: MTV

Every TV fanatic looks forward to Emmy night, which is bowing a little earlier this year (and on a Monday night!), on Aug. 25. We're obviously excited, especially because there are so many fun nominee newbies like Lizzy Caplan and Lena Headey, but what we really want to see is whether the McConaissance will continue with an Emmy win for Matthew McConaughey.

— SV