“Theater Camp”
This comedy focuses on an eccentric theater camp in upstate New York and the staff that has to band together when the founder falls into a coma. The film stars Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, and Noah Galvin. Galvin and Gordon both co-wrote the film alongside Nick Lieberman, who is co-directing the film with Gordon.
Release Date: July 14 via Searchlight.
“Extraction 2”
A sequel to the 2020 original, “Extraction 2,” is based on the graphic novel, “Ciudad,” by Ande Parks, Joe and Anthony Russo, Fernando Leon Gonzalez, and Eric Skillman. After being presumed dead in the first film, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) returns for another high-stakes mission. Alongside Hemsworth, Adam Bessa and Golshifteh Farahani reprise their roles, and Olga Kurylenko and Daniel Bernhardt join the cast.
Release Date: July 16 on Netflix
“Barbie”
We cannot wait to see the crowds in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film “Barbie.” On one hand, there will likely be families and children; the other will likely find the whole of the film community. Told by the voice of Helen Mirren, to live in Barbie Land is to live in a perfect place unless you’re having an existential crisis… or you’re a Ken. Starring in “Barbie” is Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Ariana Greenblatt, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, and America Ferrera, alongside several Barbies and Kens.
Release Date: July 21 via Warner Bros. Discovery
“Oppenheimer”
Audiences love a historic drama, and that is what Christopher Nolan is delivering this summer. Written and directed by Nolan, he tells the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the role he played in the creation of the atomic bomb. “Oppenheimer” has an all-star cast including Cillian Murphy, who stars alongside Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and Gary Oldman.
Release Date: July 21 via Universal.
“War Pony”
“War Pony” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, where it won the Camera d’Or for Best First Feature Film. The story weaves the lives of two young Lakota boys growing up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation together. It stars Ladainian Crazy Thunder and JoJo Bapteise Whiting and is co-directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell. This is both Gammell and Keough’s feature film directorial debut.
Release Date: July 28 via Momentum Pictures.
“Sympathy for the Devil”
For those of you hoping that this is a Rolling Stones documentary titled by a song, we hate to be the ones to tell you it isn’t. This film is a psychological horror film about a man who finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse after having to drive a mysterious passenger at gunpoint. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman.
Release Date: July 28 via RLJE Film.
“Talk To Me”
Co-directed and co-written by Danny and Michael Philippou, “Talk To Me” follows a group of friends who discover they can conjure spirits using an embalmed hand. Becoming hooked on the new discovery, one of them takes it too far and unleashes a terrifying supernatural force. The horror film stars Sophie Wilde, Miranda Otto, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Zoe Terakes, and Chris Alosio.
Release Date: July 28 via A24
“Haunted Mansion”
The Haunted Mansion is one of the more popular and beloved attractions at Disney Parks and is the inspiration behind “Haunted Mansion.” A reboot of the 2003 film starring Eddie Murphy, this film follows a single mom who hires a paranormal tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought– and haunted– mansion. Another star-studded cast is attached to this one, including Rosario Dawson, Winona Ryder, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Dan Levy, LaKeith Stanfield, Hasan Minhaj, and Tiffany Haddish.
Release Date: July 28 via Walt Disney Studios
Also in July: “Earth Mama” (A24; July 7), “Kokomo City” (Magnolia Pictures; July 28), “What Comes Around” (IFC Films; Aug. 4).
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
Every few years, we get a reboot of our favorite crime-fighting turtles. This time we see Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo set out to be accepted by New Yorkers as normal teenagers after years of being sheltered. Among the voices you’ll hear are Giancarlo Esposito, Jackie Chan, Paul Rudd, John Cena, Rose Byrne, and Seth Rogen. Rogen also produced the film with James Weaver and Evan Goldberg.
Release Date: August 4 via Paramount.
“Meg 2: The Trench”
This is the sequel to the 2018 surprise blockbuster, but we don’t know too much about it. Presumably, the massive sea creature returns to wreak more havoc on unsuspecting folks. What we do know is the film stars Jason Statham, Cliff Curtis, Sienna Guillory, and Skyler Samuels.
Release Date: August 4 via Warner Bros.
