Top July Movies Not To Be Missed

by Helen Earnshaw | 1 July 2016

July is upon us and we are already half way through the year - there're less than six months to go until Christmas.

The BFG

Time may be flying by but we are smack bang in the middle of the 2016 blockbuster summer and there are some exciting movies on the horizon over the next couple of weeks.

We take a look at some of the films that you cannot afford to miss... and there really is something for everyone.

- Ghostbusters - released 11th July

Who you gonna call? This summer Ghostbusters are back are back on the big screen with a brand new line-up.

Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon will take on the roles of Abby Yates, Erin Gilbert, Patty Tolan, and Jillian Holtzmann with Paul Feig in the director's chair.

It has been thirty years since Ghostbusters took the world by storm and this is the first film since Ghostbusters II back in 1989.

Paul Feig has brought us movies such as The Heat and Bridesmaids in recent years and I am interested to see him put his own stamp on this much-loved franchise.

The movie sees him reunite with McCarthy for their fourth project together - it is also the second time that he has worked with Wiig.

The director has brought together a great cast as McCarthy, Wiig, Jones, and McKinnon are joined by Chris Hemsworth, Michael Kenneth Williams, Andy Garcia, and Charles Dance.

Thirty years after the original film took the world by storm, Ghostbusters is back and fully rebooted for a whole new generation.

Director Paul Feig combines all the paranormal fighting elements that made the original franchise so beloved with a cast of new characters, played by the funniest actors working today. Get ready to watch them save the world this summer!

- Ice Age: Collision Course - released 15th July

Ice Age is one of the biggest animation franchises and Ice Age: Collision Course is the fifth film in the series. It is great to see these much-loved characters back on the big screen.

This is the first Ice Age movie since Continental Drift back in 2012 and sees Mike Thurmeier and Galen T. Chu in the director's chair. Thurmeier was at the helm of Continental Drift while Chu will make his feature film directorial debut.

Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary are back to voice the characters of Manny, Sid and Diego. Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes with Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifah are more familiar names returning to the franchise.

But there are some new names on the cast list as Stephanie Beatriz, Adam Devine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Nick Offerman, Melissa Rauch, Michael Strahan, and Neil deGrasse Tyson are all on board this time around.

Scrat's epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, travelling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colourful new characters.

The Ice Age franchise has got bigger and bigger with every film and Collision Course could well be on course to be the most successful instalment yet.

- The BFG - released 22nd July

It is always exciting when a Steven Spielberg movie is on the horizon... and he is set to return this summer with a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG.

Spielberg is responsible for one of the best children's movies of all time - of course, I am talking about E.T. - and I cannot wait to see this filmmaker put his own stamp on this much-loved and popular story.

The movie sees the filmmaker reunite with Mark Rylance - they worked together on Bridge of Spies - as the Oscar-winner takes on the title role. We are also going to be introduced to the talents of Ruby Barnhill, who will play Sophie.

Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader, and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson complete and exciting and very talented cast list.

The BFG is the exciting tale of a young London girl and the mysterious Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.

The excitement surrounding The BFG is really growing and it is going to be a summer film that you can't afford to miss.

- Star Trek Beyond - released 22nd July

If you are looking for a big sci-fi blockbuster to enjoy this summer, Star Trek Beyond could well be the film for you.

Star Trek Beyond is the third film in the new Star Trek franchise and sees Justin Lin take over the director's chair for the first time. J.J. Abrams directed the first two movies but is still on board as a producer.

The movie sees Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, and John Cho have reprised their roles as Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Chekov, Bones, Scotty, and Sulu.

Idris Elba and Sofia Boutella are the two big new additions to the cast list as they are introduced as Krall and Jaylah.

But the release of the film is tinged with sadness after the sudden death of Anton Yelchin last month.

In Star Trek Beyond, the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

We have already been treated to two Star Trek movies and the latest instalment looks on course to be the biggest and most adventurous yet.

- Jason Bourne - released 27th July

If there is one July movie that I am looking forward to more than any other, it is Jason Bourne. I am a huge fan of this franchise and I am thrilled to see Matt Damon back in the title role.

Hard to believe, but it was back in 2002 when Damon took on the role of Bourne for the first time. The Bourne Ultimatum was the last time that he played this role back in 2007.

The movie sees Damon reunite with director Paul Greengrass for their third Bourne film together and their fourth film collaboration; Green Zone was their last film.

Damon is not the only familiar face on the cast list as Julia Stiles is also back as Nicky Parsons. But there are some terrific new additions to the cast list as Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, and Vincent Cassel are also on board.

This new chapter of the Jason Bourne franchise sees the CIA's most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.

The first three of Damon's Bourne movies have grossed over $945 million at the global box office and I think this instalment will be the biggest hit to date. Will we see more films in the future? I really do hope so.

- Finding Dory - released 29th July

No summer is complete without a Pixar film hitting the big screen... and this summer we are going to be treated to Finding Dory.

The movie is the much-talked about sequel to Finding Nemo and comes thirteen years after the release of that first film.

Finding Dory is already a box office success and winning over audiences in America, but we are going to have to wait a few more weeks until it arrives here in the UK.

The movie sees Andrew Stanton back in the director's chair for what is his first Pixar film since WALL·E back in 2008 - it is good to see him back.

Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks reunite as they return to voice the characters of Dory and Marlin. Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Idris Elba, and Dominic West are some of the big new additions to the cast list.

Disney Pixar's Finding Dory reunites everyone's favourite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Finding Dory will smash through the $500 million barrier at the global box office this weekend and is on course to be one of the most successful films of the year.