It's safe to say that June was a red-letter month at the movies. Wonder Woman exceeded expectations, quickly becoming the runaway hit of the summer and the highest-grossing DCEU release domestically, while other franchise entries like The Mummy -- the intended launchpad for Universal's monster-filled Dark Universe -- and even Transformers: The Last Knight -- also intended as a launching pad for a new era of the franchise -- vastly underperformed in North America. Thankfully, smaller, critically acclaimed releases like It Comes at Night, The Beguiled, and The Big Sick filled the void, presenting startlingly original tales that reinvigorated the summer movie season ahead of the next batch of blockbusters. So let's take a look at the some of the most notable releases hitting theaters this month.
So, as always, here are 10 films to check out in July 2017:
Spider-Man: Homecoming (Release Date: July 7)
Although it is the sixth Spider-Man film to hit theaters in 15 years, Spider-Man: Homecoming is far more than just another big-screen interpretation of the friendly neighborhood webslinger. Director Jon Watts (Cop Car) brings Tom Holland's Peter Parker from Captain America: Civil War into his own fully realized corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including a supporting role for Robert Downey Jr.
The film sees Spidey go head-to-head with The Vulture (Michael Keaton), all the while balancing his high school life and trying to earn a spot alongside Tony Stark (Downey) and the Avengers. Considering the divisive reception to Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the studio needs this one to land if they hope to get their planned spinoffs underway. With Marvel Studios involved, we're betting they can sleep soundly.
Check out the latest trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming.
A Ghost Story (Release Date: July 7)
A24 may not be known for generating Hollywood's most extravagant films, but the production and distribution house certainly is responsible for some of the most acclaimed and interesting films to come around in recent years, with Oscar winners like Room, Moonlight, and Ex Machina among its filmography. A Ghost Story could easily end up in the same league.
Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara headline this romantic drama from director David Lowery, who most recently re-imagined Disney's Pete's Dragon. The film -- which is playing in limited release this month -- deals with some heady themes, such as love and loss, and it has gained overwhelming praise since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. So it may be one to seek out.
Check out the latest trailer for A Ghost Story.
War for the Planet of the Apes (Release Date: July 14)
Audiences and critics alike were taken by surprise when Rise of the Planet of the Apes redeemed the long-running sci-fi franchise in 2011, which had previously taken a hit from Tim Burton's lackluster reboot a decade earlier. By going back to the beginning and with Andy Serkis's genius motion-capture work in the lead, Rise created a visionary new approach to the classic franchise.
However, 2014 release Dawn of the Planet of the Apes managed to be the rare sequel to improve upon its predecessor, creating more thrilling action and suspense and an even more character-driven tale of the emerging battle between apes and humanity. That film's director, Matt Reeves, is back for War for the Planet of the Apes, and the film is already being hailed as a modern masterpiece.
Check out the latest trailer for War for the Planet of the Apes.
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Wish Upon (Release Date: July 14)
"Be careful what you wish for" is an adage that horror films have explored before, but Wish Upon aims to breathe new life into the cost of getting everything you want. Joey King (The Conjuring) stars as a young woman who receives a mysterious music box from her father and soon finds her world torn apart by a series of bloody repercussions.
Director John R. Leonetti previously led another film about a cursed keepsake, 2014 Conjuring spinoff Annabelle, into a massive hit to the tune of $257 million worldwide. With few other horror films in theaters this summer, Wish Upon may be able to capitalize on audiences thirsty for scares and deliver a fun, terrifying thrill ride unlike anything playing right now.
Check out the latest trailer for Wish Upon.
Lady Macbeth (Release Date: July 14)
Directed by William Oldroyd, this period drama is based on Nikolai Leskov's novel Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and stars Florence Pugh as a young bride sold into a marriage to a middle-age suitor (Paul Hilton), only to wind up in a torrid affair with a worker (Cosmo Jarvis) on their estate in 19th century rural England.
Lady Macbeth -- which arrives in limited release this month -- may not be traditional summer fare, but nevertheless, it may be worth seeking out for those moviegoers open to a strong period drama. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall and has maintained an impressive smattering of positive reviews ever since.
Check out the latest trailer for Lady Macbeth.
Dunkirk (Release Date: July 21)
He's told stories about memory-impaired investigators, caped crusaders, dueling magicians, dream heists, and space travel. Yet, despite all that, Christopher Nolan has never made a war film. That's about to change with Dunkirk, as the writer/director takes on the tale of the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the titular French beach in 1940.
With an ensemble cast that includes Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, James D'Arcy, Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance, the film promises to demonstrate Nolan's meticulous approach to narrative storytelling. Confirmation that the film would be a taut 107 minutes has only boosted anticipation among fans, as it means that Nolan's latest may be just as fast-paced and intense as the war effort it is depicting.
Check out the latest trailer for Dunkirk.
Girls Trip (Release Date: July 21)
Last month's Rough Night didn't exactly light the box office on fire, but the similarly themed Girls Trip -- which also follows a group of vacationing women on a comedic adventure -- may prove to be a bigger draw. Starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Tiffany Haddish, the film is taking on far lighter subject matter and much broader laughs than last month's other R-rated female comedy.
In addition, director Malcolm D. Lee has a proven track record for delivering hits, especially more recently. Films like Barbershop: The Next Cut and The Best Man Holiday saw the filmmaker balance ensemble casts with an equal measure of comedy and heart. Armed with a script co-written by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, we expect Girls Trip to keep that tradition alive.
Check out the latest trailer for Girls Trip.
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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (Release Date: July 21)
Luc Besson has some truly unforgettable films under his belt. In particular, Léon: The Professional and The Fifth Element prove that he has one of the most distinctive voices of any filmmaker today. Yet, his directorial efforts extend from missed opportunities to true classics. With its wholehearted commitment to the otherworldly, it's unclear where Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets will fit.
Based on the French sci-fi comic series Valérian and Laureline, the film stars Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as a pair of operatives sent to a sprawling metropolis to investigate a looming threat. Whether Besson's film is a rollicking space adventure or a misfire of Jupiter Ascending proportions remains to be seen, but at least we can expect that Besson's vision will be unlike anything else we've seen lately.
Check out the latest trailer for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Atomic Blonde (Release Date: July 28)
As John Wick: Chapter 2 proved earlier this year, there are few things action films love more than sleek production design and frenetic fight choreography. Needless to say, director David Leith -- who co-directed the original John Wick with Chapter 2's Chad Stahelski -- looks to bring the same panache and style to Charlize Theron's badass turn in action thriller Atomic Blonde.
Based on the 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City, the film stars Theron as an MI6 agent tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the death of an undercover agent in the late 1980s. James McAvoy co-stars as the offbeat associate she partners with for the case, and early word is that the film is a solid thrill ride that may jumpstart a franchise all its own.
Check out the latest trailer for Atomic Blonde.
Brigsby Bear (Release Date: July 28)
Saturday Night Live's Kyle Mooney co-wrote and stars in this comedy/drama about a young man who emerges from captivity to discover the children's show he grew up with was invented by his captor. So he sets out to make a film about the show's titular character and spread the message he learned growing up. Now director Dave McCary (also of SNL fame) brings Brigsby Bear to select theaters this month.
So far the film has garnered near universal acclaim from critics since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Though Mooney is untested as a cinematic lead, the film's strong supporting cast -- which includes Claire Danes, Mark Hamill, Andy Samberg and Greg Kinnear -- and its tragicomic tone could help it gain word of mouth and become a breakout indie hit this summer.
Check out the latest trailer for Brigsby Bear.
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July looks like it will feature a balanced blend of smaller, more intimate films and major studio fare. So audiences hungry for a particular type of storytelling should find plenty to enjoy in the weeks ahead. While Spider-Man: Homecoming is likely to emerge as the month's big winner, the monstrous positive buzz surrounding War for the Planet of the Apes may help Caesar topple the webslinger. Moreover, we're interested to see if Dunkirk will be another hit for Christopher Nolan and whether Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets will prove to be the visionary sci-fi tale fans of director Luc Besson are hoping for. We'll find out soon enough.
July 7: Spider-Man: Homecoming, A Ghost Story
July 14: War for the Planet of the Apes, Wish Upon, Lady Macbeth
July 21: Dunkirk, Girls Trip, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
July 28: Atomic Blonde, Brigsby Bear