Upcoming Releases, July 2025


 July is a loaded month for films, including three hugely anticipated tent poles. Let's see how it all turns out!

Wednesday, July 2:
* Jurassic World: Rebirth (Theaters): This is the seventh film in the Jurassic Park franchise and the second time the franchise has gotten a re-birth. This one has Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali in the lead roles. Early buzz is mixed, but I'm interested to see how it turns out.

* Heads of State (Prime Video): The Prime Minister (Idris Elba) and President of the United States (John Cena) become targets in this holiday weekend streamer. So, they have to join forces to get out of a jam. This has some fun potential.

* The Old Guard 2 (Netflix): Charlize Theron is back in the lead of this sequel for Netflix. The first one was a sturdy action offering, so this figures to have some pop for those looking for a holiday streaming option.

* Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (Paramount+): This is another jump start for Dora the Explorer as a live-action film. I liked the last one, so I won't rule this out. But it feels like more of an offering for the family crowd.

Friday, July 11:
* Superman (Theaters): This is another attempt to jump start the D.C. Universe, this time coming from James Gunn. The trailers are promising but I remain guarded. Can this be great? Can it kick off a great new universe? A lot is riding on it.

* Madea's Destination Wedding (Netflix): Tyler Perry's alter-ego is back on screen. After all these decades, we know what to expect from a Madea film. So does Netflix.

Friday, July 18:
* Smurfs (Theaters): We're getting another swing at a Smurfs franchise. This time we have Rhianna as Smurfette. The trailers look dreadful, but maybe it will be good for the kids.

* I Know What You Did Last Summer (Theaters): This is another franchise re-boot. Original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze, Jr., are back among the cast. I'm curious to see how it works.

* Eddington (Theaters): This is the latest from Ari Aster. It's a Covid drama starring Joaquin Phoenix, among others. It's gotten mixed reviews and I'm not sold this is going to be satisfying.

Friday, July 25:
* Fantastic Four First Steps (Theaters): A new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off as we attempt to get a good Fantastic Four story on screen for the third time this Century. This time it's from the MCU, but I remain skeptical. A lot is riding on this one.

* Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix): Adam Sandler is bringing back one of his classic characters, who debuted in 1996. This is a straight-to-streaming sequel, but hopefully it will provide a few late summer laughs.

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