Top 7 Must See July Movies

by Helen Earnshaw | 1 July 2015

We are well into the summer season of movies and the box office is booming with movie after movie breaking box office records - we have already seen three films gross over $1 billion so far this year.

Ant-Man

July is set to be another bumper month with some great movies on the horizon over the next few weeks, including blockbusters, comedy, and animation.

We take a look at some of the films that you really cannot miss this month - believe me when I say there are some real gems on the way.

- Terminator Genisys - 2nd July

So far, this summer it has all been about the blockbuster... and Terminator Genisys is also looking to perform well at the box office as it hits the big screen this weekend.

Terminator Genisys is the fifth film in the popular franchise but will link into the first two movies from James Cameron as Alan Taylor takes over the director's chair - this will be the first film for Taylor since enjoying success with Thor: The Dark World back in 2013.

It is all change on the cast list as Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, and Jai Courtney take over the roles of Sarah Connor, John Connor, and Kyle Reese for the first time. However, some things never change as Arnie is back as the Terminator.

When John Connor (Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: To reset the future...

Terminator Genisys is set to be a high-octane and action packed ride while following a relationship between Sarah Connor and the Terminator that we have never seen before.

Terminator Genisys looks set to be one of the biggest hits of the summer as a truly iconic character makes a huge return.

- Magic Mike XXL - 3rd July

Magic Mike XXL is another movie that is set to hit the big screen and marks the return of Channing Tatum to the title role. It was back in 2012 that Magic Mike was one of the big sleeper hits of the summer... this sequel looks set to be bigger and more outrageous than ever before.

However, it is all change in the director's chair as Gregory Jacobs - who served as producer on the first film - takes over the helm from Steven Soderbergh - who will serve as executive producer on this film.

There are plenty of familiar faces to watch out for on the cast list as Tatum reunites with Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, and Adam Rodriguez - who reprise the roles of Ken, Big Dick Richie, Tarzan, and Tito.

But there are some big new names on the cast list for XXL, as Elizabeth Banks, Jada Pinkett Smith, Amber Heard, and Twitch are all on board.

Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, Magic Mike XXL finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them.

On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.

The excitement around the release of Magic Mike XXL has been growing in recent weeks and it looks set to be even more successful than the first film.

- Song of the Sea - 10th July

If you are an animation fan then July is going to be a great month as there are a couple of movies on the horizon that you are not going to want to miss.

Song of the Sea is the latest offering from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon - who brought us the fantastic The Secret of Kells back in 2009. They are back and are set to deliver another animation gem.

Tomm Moore is back in the director's chair for the first time since The Secret of Kells, while David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Lisa Hannigan, and Fionnula Flanagan have all lent their voice to the film.

Song of the Sea tells the story of Ben and his little sister Saoirse - the last Seal-child - who embark on a fantastic journey across a fading world of ancient legend and magic in an attempt to return to their home by the sea. The film takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land.

The movie has already been nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar and it is one of the summer films that I just cannot wait to see.

Cartoon Saloon is not the biggest animation studio that is making movies... but it is certainly one of the most exciting and Song of the Sea is not to be missed if you are a fan of this genre.

- Ant-Man - 17th July

We have already been treated to one Marvel film this year - in the form of Avengers: Age of Ultron - and now we are set to get a second as the Ant-Man franchise is kicked off in fine style.

Ant-Man is set to bring Phase 2 of Marvel movies to a close and we already know that we are going to see Paul Rudd reprise the role of Scott Lang in Captain America: Civil War next year.

Rudd is set to lead an all-star cast as he play Lang aka Ant-Man in what will be the biggest movie and role of his career to date. Of course, we all known Rudd as a comedy actor but Ant-Man is set to turn him into a superhero and action star.

He is joined on the cast list by Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly. Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pena, and Judy Greer, while Peyton Reed is in the director's chair. This is a movie that has had its problems with Edgar Wright leaving his post as director over creative differences.

This will be the first time that we have seen Reed at the helm of a Marvel film as he returns to the director's chair for the first time since Yes Man back in 2008.

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Marvel have had a great run at the box office in the last few years and Ant-Man could well be another big hit.

- Southpaw - 24th July

It has been a while since we have had a really good boxing movie hit the big screen... this summer all that is about to change with the release of Southpaw.

Southpaw - which has already seen praise heaped on actor Jake Gyllenhaal for his central performance and getting into such great physical shape for the role - sees Antoine Fuqua back in the director's chair for his first movie since The Equalizer last year.

We all know that Fuqua has a knack of making gritty movies and Southpaw really does look set to follow that fine trend. This will be the first time that the director has teamed up with Gyllenhaal, who takes on the central role of boxer Billy Hope.

Gyllenhaal is joined on the cast list by Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, Naomie Harris, Rita Ora, 50 Cent, and Clare Foley.

Southpaw follows the story of Billy 'The Great' Hope, Junior Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World. When tragedy strikes and he loses it all, Billy enters the battle of his life as he struggles to become a contender once again and win back those he loves.

If you are tired of all the big budget blockbusters and are looking for something a little more gritty and real, then Southpaw could well be the movie that you are looking for.

Gyllenhaal is one of the most exciting and versatile actors working in Hollywood today and this looks set to be another devastating performance from the Oscar nominated actor. Could this earn him another Oscar nod?

- Inside Out - 24th July

I am a HUGE Pixar fan and this summer Inside Out is one of the films that I am most excited about. It has already been winning over critics and audiences in the U.S. - where it has spent the last two weeks at #2 behind Jurassic World - and could be one of their best movies yet.

Pete Docter has already brought us movies such as Monsters Inco and Up and he is back in the director's chair for Inside Out; which is the first movie for Pixar since Monsters University back in the summer of 2013.

As you would expect, a terrific voice cast has been assembled as Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Dine Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan are all on board.

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy (Poehler), Fear (Hader), Anger (Black), Disgust (Kaling) and Sadness (Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control centre inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life.

As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.

Inside Out looks to be an early favourite to scoop the Best Animated Feature Oscar next year but it could also find itself in the Best Picture race.

- Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - 30th July

It was back in 1996 when we saw Tom Cruise take on the role of Ethan Hunt for the first time. Nearly twenty years on, Cruise is back for the fifth Mission: Impossible movie.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is the latest instalment in the popular franchise as sees Cruise reprise the role of Hunt for the first time since Ghost Protocol back in 2011.

It is all change in the director's chair as Christopher McQuarrie steps up to helm his first Mission: Impossible movie. This will be the second time that McQuarrie has teamed up with Cruise: having worked together on Jack Reacher.

And Cruise is not the only familiar face on the cast list as Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames are back as Benji Dunn, William Brandt, and Luther Stickell. However, there are some new names on board as Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, and Sean Harris will also star.

With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan (Cruise) out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks.

Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Ferguson), who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces their most impossible mission yet.

Mission: Impossible has always been an exciting and action packed franchise but Rogue Nation looks set to be bigger than ever with Cruise doing some great stunts once again.