Summer has officially begun, and with it comes one of the biggest months for cinema all year. Every studio is releasing its most competitive movies, hoping to cash in and become one of the year's biggest box office hits. Everybody has something they're excited about releasing in July, so here's everything to look forward to.
Enola Holmes 3 - July 1
Tis I Do?
After 6 long years, Enola Holmes is finally completing its trilogy, with no current plans for any more sequels. In this movie, we follow Enola Holmes to Malta, where she plans to marry. However, these plans get interrupted by the mysterious disappearance of Sherlock, plunging her into another perilous case.
While it's very possible that Enola Holmes may succumb to Netflix's 'second-screen' initiative, but this franchise often seems to survive perfectly in mediocrity, if not slightly above, and continues to draw some audience. All I hope is that Millie Bobby Brown is released from her Netflix chokehold at some point in her career, allowing her to spread her wings any further than the incredibly tight confines she seems to currently be in.
This, once again, features a star-studded cast, with the return of Himesh Patel, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, and, of course, Millie Bobby Brown. This has dropped the director of the original two movies. Harry Bradbeer, and instead hired Philip Barantini - director of Boiling Point and Adolescence.
Where to Watch - Netflix
Minions and Monsters - July 3
Hollywood Has a Monster Problem.
Illumination and Pierre Coffin are back once again with their poison on children's cinema - the Minions. This movie follows the Minions attempting to create a monster movie; the only thing missing is their monster. When they find a Cthulhu-like monster - Goomi - to be smaller and less intimidating than them, they enlist his help to find a real monster.
Even though this franchise has gone on way too long and there's no doubt it will last at least another 3 movies, it does continue to attract audiences from far and wide. I'm sure this will end up with at least a billion-dollar box office, possibly breaking Minions: The Rise of Gru's record. I will say, this seems like a much more original and interesting idea for the Minions, over their usual schtick of simply standing beside the most evil person they can find, which they've already stretched for 2 movies - if you don't count the 4 Despicable Mes.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie - July 3 (UK Only)
One... Last... Plan!
Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie is based on the 2007 web series, turned 2017 sitcom - aptly named Nirvanna The Band The Show. The web series follows two friends, Matt and Jay, attempting to book a gig at their local Toronto venue, the Rivoli. Rather than playing music, however, the two pull off absurd, chaotic stunts around the streets. The show scales this up into a mockumentary-style sitcom, expanding the formula across Toronto.
The movie, however, follows Matt and Jay after 17 years of trying to land this gig. However, a botched stunt results in their RV turning into a time machine, bringing them all the way back to 2008. This causes a rift in the space-time continuum, causing any number of wacky sci-fi antics.
While I can't see this bringing in a huge audience, I'm sure it has its audience that has followed since 2007 and will absolutely love this. It already released in February in the USA and was met with raving reviews, including a 4.3 on Letterboxd, 7.8 on IMDb, and 97% on Rotten Tomatoes - as of July 1).
Where to Watch - Cinemas
The Invite - July 3 (UK Only)
It'll be fun.
The Invite follows Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), a married couple whose marriage is on thin ice. They try to revitalise their struggling relationship by hosting a dinner party for their mysterious, uninhibited upstairs neighbours, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penelope Cruz). In doing so, their night soon spirals into unexpected places.
This looks to be a mix between drama and comedy, being both a more serious role for Seth Rogen and a more comedic role for Edward Norton, which we don't often see much of from either. This has also already released in the USA, recieving a 4.1 on Letterboxd, 7.6 on IMDb, and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Young Washington - July 3 (USA Only)
250 Years of History Begins With One Man.
Young Washington seems like a movie that was created for the USA's semiquincentennial - 250th anniversary. This follows George Washington (William Franklin-Miller) as a young soldier thrown into a global conflict. With alliances crumbling and war closing in, he must confront the leader he's becoming, while choosing who to trust.
This includes a cast of big names, such as Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, and Kelsey Grammer, yet is seemingly not resonating with early audiences. As a result, this has currently received a 2.2 on Letterboxd and 69% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Evil Dead Burn - July 10
Every Family Has Its Demons
The Evil Dead franchise has been around for over 40 years, with 5 movies, each receiving some amount of critical success. Evil Dead Rise, the franchise's most recent instalment, set a precedent of gore that seems tough to beat, yet this movie is attempting to.
This movie follows Alice (Souheila Yacoub), a woman who recently lost her husband and seeks solace from her in-laws. One by one, they all slowly become deadites, and Alice comes to discover that the vows she took in life survive even in death.
While I'm sure this will deliver in its gore, just as the previous movie did, my only worry is that the movie's focus will go too deeply into that, forgetting the story or any good outside of that.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Moana - July 10
The Ocean Is Calling
Moana is the live-action adaptation of the 2016 animated Disney movie of the same name. Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) is constantly called by the ocean, and one day, she is drawn to that call, leaving her island of Motunui for the first time. This leads her on a voyage with the infamous demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson), to restore prosperity to her people.
While this will rightfully receive a lot of backlash, this is the shortest time between an animated Disney movie and its live-action counterpart at 9 years - the previous shortest being Lilo and Stitch's 23 years - there's no doubt this will do incredibly at the box office.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
The Odyssey - July 17
Defy The Gods.
The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan's latest venture, this time into the fantastical ancient Greek poem, attributed to Homer, blending historical memories of the Mycenaean world with myths and folklore to create this epic of gods and monsters.
This movie follows the events of Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his gruelling, 10-year journey to return home to his kingdom of Ithaca after the events of the Trojan War. Throughout this journey, he is forced to confront the whims of gods, mythological monsters, and trials that stretch his humanity to a breaking point.
With a star-studded cast including the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, and so many more, along with the directing genius that is Christopher Nolan, this is sure to be a hit, topping many people's lists for the entire year and guaranteeing its place in history.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Animal Farm - July 17 (UK Only)
It's Time For These Animals To Stand and Fight.
Animal Farm is a modern retelling of George Orwell's classic 1945 novel. This movie, however, is targeted towards children and seems to undercut its message with comedy. This movie follows a group of animals that fight against their neglectful owner in the name of equality and freedom. However, as the pigs take control, power is not removed, just changed hands. This revolution turns to tyranny, with truth rewritten and dissent crushed.
This is receiving a lot of backlash for its choice to make this, famously incredibly hard-hitting, book about communism and the rise of Joseph Stalin into a children's movie, seemingly removing a lot of the message.
This is directed by Andy Serkis, who doesn't seem to have the best track record in terms of his directing. With movies like Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, he seems to be quite good at taking interesting ideas and steering them away from what they could be, which seems to be the case with Animal Farm, especially with its USA release date generating a 1.7 on Letterboxd, 2.8 on IMDb, and 30% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
Spider-Man: Brand New Day - July 31
A Brand New Day Starts Now.
After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, nobody remembers Peter Parker. Due to this, he's decided to become Spider-Man full-time, watching his old friends move on without him. This all sparks a change in Peter that he may not have the power to control. However, a new threat has entered New York, and this change may be the only thing that can stop this powerful villain that nobody can see.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings), this promises to deliver on many incredible practical swinging and fight sequences. This also stars Sadie Sink in an unknown role, yet fans have theorised that she may be playing Jean Grey - the X-Men's Phoenix - ushering in a new age of the MCU.
Where to Watch - Cinemas
No AI was used in writing this article.