The height of summer movie season is usually July. Though this July does not look like one of the strongest in recent history, the box office is guaranteed to light up for Spider-Man: Homecoming and expectations are high for Dunkirk and MHT’s most anticipated release of the month, Atomic Blonde. While Spider-Man: Homecoming checks the re-boot (and superhero) box for the month, War for the Planet of the Apes, Girls Trip and An Inconvenient Sequel check the sequel box, Wish Upon fills the horror quota and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, well, I don’t know what that one does but it’s coming out, too. Here’s the full list of theatrical releases for July accompanied by their theatrical trailer:
1. Atomic Blonde (July 28)
After her diversion into money grab sequel hell with Fate of the Furious, Charlize Theron has jumped back into a kick ass role in Atomic Blonde. The action set pieces in the trailer are enough to sell me on this one above all others for July.
2. Dunkirk (July 21)
Christopher Nolan makes great movies so it’s unlikely that Dunkirk will be a disappointment. The marketing for this film hasn’t done it any favors as its gone quantity over quality. Harry Styles is in it, though, and that should draw a demographic that otherwise wouldn’t be in line for this genre.
3. A Ghost Story (July 7)
A24 will release A Ghost Story slowly with a NY/LA release on July 7th. We’ll be hoping for a wider release as the month continues. Starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, this looks like another summer flick with substance.
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7)
Tom Holland is the latest to don the Spider-Man outfit as the MCU’s Spidey branch is launched with what looks like plenty of Tony Stark to make it a pseudo-sequel to Iron Man, in a way. I know that’s not the case but damn they’re selling that Iron Man connection pretty hard, aren’t they?
5. War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14)
I haven’t been thrilled with the re-boot of Planet of the Apes or the sequels. I’m the exception as everyone else seems to be on board. This still might be worth a look though.
6. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (July 28)
Trump supporters will chalk this up as fake news and fiction. If only.
7. Lady Macbeth (July 14)
Early reviews have moved this small British independent release up the anticipation chart.
8. The Emoji Movie (July 28)
The Emoji Movie has earned its spot by having a trailer so ridiculous one wants to see it on the “How’d this get made?” basis combined with the lack of any other really interesting releases for the month of July.
9. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (July 21)
While Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets boasts over 2,700 visual effects shots and a The Fifth Element feel, The Fifth Element was not a huge success in the U.S. finishing 26th at the box office in 1997 at $63 million.
10. Superpowerless (July 7)
A film about a superhero losing their superpowers when they turn 40 seems relevant but also drastically low budget and somewhat depressing.
11. Blind (July 14)
This Alec Baldwin/Demi Moore film appears interesting enough.
12. A Family Man (July 28)
This one should compete with A Ghost Story for most melancholy tale of July.
13. Wish Upon (July 14)
People will flock and then give it a C or D CinemaScore… it’s just how horror flicks work.
14. Undercover Grandpa (July 7)
James Caan stars in this action/secret agent farce. I guess Grandpa Bond was taken as a title?
15. Landline (July 21)
Solid cast (Jenny Slate, Edie Falco, John Turturro, Finn Wittrock, Jay Duplass, Abby Quinn), generic dysfunctional family plot. It still might be ok.
16. Strange Weather (July 28)
Holly Hunter plays a grieving mother in what is likely to be a forgettable but decent limited release.
17. Person to Person (July 28)
Small budget ensemble comedy that will probably be difficult to find in theaters.
18. Girls Trip (July 21)
With jokes about public urination hanging over Bourbon Street on a zip line and “booty hole” as a punch line, well, you get the picture.
19. The Gracefield Incident (July 21)
Wish Upon gets the big horror release and The Gracefield Incident gets July’s low budget horror slot.
20. Scales: Mermaids are Real (July 21)
Honestly, I’m basing this on title alone.