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As might be expected at the height of the summer blockbuster season, July brings movie sequels galore. But each sequel is a little different in a batch that includes a long-in-the-works extension of the definitive Eighties action comedy, the third entry in an offbeat horror trilogy, and an action movie that seemingly shares little with its predecessor beyond bad weather. (And be on the lookout for a re-release of The Seven Samurai, one of the greatest films ever made.) TV’s busy, too, bringing everything from helpful robots to deity-inhabited cats. From Prime Video series to new theatrical releases, let’s see what’s in store this month.
What to Watch July 2024: Movies and TV Shows Guide
Here’s what we’re watching in theaters and streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock, and more in July.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (Netflix, July 3)
Attempts to make a fourth Beverly Hills Cop film — or, for a while, a TV series — have stopped and started so many times over the years it’s kind of hard to believe one actually got made. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F finds Eddie Murphy reprising his role as the Detroit-but-sometimes-also-Beverly Hill-based Axel Foley. It finds Foley returning to L.A. to deal with threats leveled at his estranged daughter (Taylour Page). The cast includes both familiar faces like Judge Reinhold and Paul Reiser and new additions, like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kevin Bacon. Stream on Netflix
MaXXXine (Theaters, July 5)
Director Ti West and star Mia Goth continue the story begun in X and continued with the prequel Pearl with this 1985-set sequel. MaXXXine finds Maxine Minx (Goth) attempting to make it as an actress in L.A. after surviving, well, if you saw X, then you know.
Sunny (Apple TV+, July 10)
Set in a near-future Japan that looks a bit like a Sixties vision of the future, this adaptation of Colin O’Sullivan’s novel The Dark Manual stars Rashida Jones as Suzie, an American woman attempting to cope with the aftermath of the mysterious plane crash that seemingly killed her husband and son. Helping her, at least in theory: a friendly robot named Sunny (voiced by Joanna Sotomura) who Suzie doesn’t particularly want around, at least at first. Stream on Apple TV+
Sausage Party: Foodtopia (Prime Video, July 11)
Most of the voice cast of the hit 2016 film Sausage Party reunites for this TV spinoff set in a world where anthropomorphic food products attempt to create a safe space where they won’t be consumed by humans (undoubtedly while dispensing a lot of food-based puns and profane gags). Stream on Prime Video
Fly Me to the Moon (Theaters, July 12)
Sure, NASA was pretty confident they could put a man on the moon, but who doesn’t need a back-up plan? The new comedy, Fly Me to the Moon, directed by Greg Berlanti (director of Love, Simon and mastermind of The CW’s Arrowverse series and Riverdale), stars Scarlett Johansson as a marketing specialist assigned to create a fake moon landing just in case Apollo 11 should go sideways. Channing Tatum co-stars as the NASA director with whom she has a sparky relationship.
Longlegs (Theaters, July 12)
Osgood Perkins has quietly become one of the most consistently compelling horror filmmakers over the past decade thanks to films like The Blackcoat’s Daighter and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House. Perkins’ latest, Longlegs, stars Maika Monroe (It Follows) charged with tracking down a serial killer known only as “Longlegs” (Nicolas Cage).
Exploding Kittens (Netflix, July 12)
The King of the Hill team of Mike Judge and Greg Daniels serve as executive producers of this new animated series adapting the popular card game. Fleshing out the game’s mythology, the series stars Tom Ellis and Sasheer Zamata as, respectively God and the Devil — after they take the form of cats. Stream on Netflix
The Emperor of Ocean Park (MGM+, July 14)
Plans to adapt Stephen L. Carter’s acclaimed 2002 bestseller have been in the works pretty much since its publication, but they finally come to fruition with this 10-episode miniseries. Forest Whitaker stars as a high-profile judge whose unexpected death leaves his children and others to question whether or not foul play was involved. Stream on MGM+
Those About to Die (Peacock, July 18)
Everyone knows that the entertainment industry can be a dangerous and cutthroat place, but maybe that’s always been the case? Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan) serves as the creator of this series set in the world of ancient Roman gladiators and those who control them. Anthony Hopkins stars (not as a gladiator) with Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) and Marco Kreuzpaintner tag-teaming directorial duties. Stream on Peacock
Twisters (Theaters, July 19)
The 1996 blockbuster Twister pitted a team of storm chasers against a tornado and the standalone sequel, Twisters, doesn’t look likely to stray too far from formula. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell co-star as two tornado experts who approach their job in strikingly different ways. Minari’s Lee Isaac Chung directs.
Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+, July 19)
Adapted from acclaimed journalist/mystery writer Laura Lippman’s novel Lady in the Lake, the upcoming miniseries is set in Sixties-era Baltimore. The Apple TV+ show stars Natalie Portman as a journalist investigating unsolved murders, including that of the eponymous “Lady of the Lake” (The Queen’s Gambit’s Moses Ingram). Alma Har’el, a veteran of documentaries, commercials, and music videos, directs. Stream on Apple TV+
Time Bandits (Apple TV+, July 24)
Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy film Time Bandits concerned a bunch of thieves traveling through time accompanied by a wide-eyed kid in awe of meeting Robin Hood, Napoleon, and other legendary figures. That sounds like the sort of premise that could translate into an ongoing series, hence this new take on the story from frequent collaborators Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi. Lisa Kudrow stars as Penelope, the head bandit. Stream on Apple TV+
The Decameron (Netflix, July 25)
One of the landmarks of medieval literature, Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron collects stories told by a group of 14th century Florentines as they wait out a plague in the hills above the city. It doesn’t easily lend itself to adaptation, so expect an unusual take on the material from this darkly comic new series. Stream on Netflix
Deadpool & Wolverine (Theaters, July 26)
Hugh Jackman hung up his Wolverine claws with Logan a few years ago, or so we were told. Jackman returns for this latest Deadpool film starring Ryan Reynolds with Deadpool & Wolverine, in which the unlikely pair have to team-up to save the universe (again).
Didi (Theaters, July 26)
Writer and director Sean Wang’s coming-of-age story Didi charmed Sundance this past January and now looks to do the same for a wider audience. Izaac Wang (Good Boys) stars as a teenager trying to figure out where he fits in in the world of 2008 California. Joan Chen co-stars as his mother.
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