Comedy! Action! Horror! Drama! July’s new releases offer something for every movie fan.
Everyone knows July is the best month of the year, partly because it’s my birthday month, but mostly because it’s smack dab in the middle of the summer. It’s a time to get off your ass and head outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature and the warm sunshine, but that still leaves plenty of time for the movies.
This month’s releases include some guaranteed blockbusters and more than a few intriguing indies. Also worth noting in case you haven’t seen it yet, the terrifically creative and warm Swiss Army Man is expanding its reach across the country.
Keep reading to see which new releases I think are most worth your time this month at your local movie house.
Lights Out
Release Date: July 22nd
Director: David F. Sandberg
Writers: Eric Heisserer
Cast: Teresa Palmer, Billy Burke, Maria Bello
Why is it a must-see? The trailer above gives away more of the backstory than it needs to, but the atmosphere and scares promised look highly entertaining. This is Sandberg’s feature debut while Heisserer’s filmography is a mixed, but promising, bag of titles like Hours, The Thing reboot, and Final Destination 5. Even if the film doesn’t live up to its horrific promise it’s never a bad thing seeing Bello and Palmer on the big screen.
Star Trek Beyond
Release Date: July 22nd
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Simon Pegg, Doug Jung
Cast: John Cho, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba
Why is it a must-see? J.J. Abrams’ last Star Trek film received a deserved amount of criticism for certain script issues, but that didn’t stop it or its predecessor from being entertaining pieces of action/sci-fi. Pegg’s screenplay promises even more entertainment in the form of additional personality and humor, and with Lin newly situated in the director’s chair the action should continue to come both fast and furious. (I’m not sorry.)
Our Kind of Traitor
Release Date: July 1st
Director: Susanna White
Writers: Hossein Amini
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Naomie Harris, Stellan Skarsgård
Why is it a must-see? The list of recent adaptations based on John le Carré novels include The Night Manager, A Most Wanted Man, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, so of course we’re excited about the latest. This is White’s first serious feature, but her television work includes episodes of Boardwalk Empire, Generation Kill, Billions, and more, and Amini is the writer of Drive and the under-appreciated Killshot. Even if the behind the scenes talent doesn’t grab you though the onscreen actors definitely should. See it and support literary thrillers that don’t involve teenage protagonists.
Captain Fantastic
Release Date: July 8th
Director/writer: Matt Ross
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, George Mackay
Why is it a must-see? I saw this one back at Sundance, but six months later it remains one the year’s warmest films. It’s pro-family without being preachy, optimistic without being cheesy, and it finally gives viewers the opportunity to see Mortensen’s historically shy penis. It’s a very funny movie too with humor born out of characters and their interactions with the world around them. Mortensen is especially memorable and balances his character’s love and responsibility for his children in comforting and affecting ways meaning even when you question his choices you don’t doubt the love behind them.
Ghostbusters
Release Date: July 15th
Director: Paul Feig
Writers: Katie Dippold & Paul Feig
Cast: Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Chris Hemsworth
Why is it a must-see? I’d like everyone to see Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot so it’ll be a big hit and cause all of the little man-babies to chafe their junk as they cry into their saggy diapers, but more than that I want the damn movie to be great because I love laughing. There’s a good chance that will be the case given the talents behind and in front of the camera – Feig’s and McCarthy’s Spy was one of last year’s best comedies – and despite some underwhelming early trailers that highlight the homage elements over new material. I’m optimistic because this team has earned that optimism. Plus it opens on my birthday, and that has to be a good sign right?
Jason Bourne
Release Date: July 29th
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writers: Paul Greengrass & Christopher Rouse
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel
Why is it a must-see? Is there any other action franchise consisting of at least three films that has yet to deliver anything but gold? Most have a quality dip somewhere along the line, but the Bourne series has yet to do so… and I don’t expect that to change here. Damon and Greengrass know this character and how to make him come alive onscreen alongside truly thrilling action sequences. Rouse is new to the screenwriting game, but as editor of all three Greengrass-directed Bourne films he knows the material just as well. Sure Bourne’s story arc was complete at the end of Ultimatum, but I’ll happily take the start of a whole new trilogy with this team doing what they do best.
Also out this July: Bad Moms, The BFG, Ice Age: Collision Course, The Legend of Tarzan, Nerve, The Purge: Election Year, The Secret Life of Pets
Related Topics: Action, Comedy, Horror, Marketing
