10 most essential streaming releases for July 2024
Summer is finally upon us after some strange weather to start the season in certain parts of the world, and it’s time for many of us to get the sun-tan lotion and beach umbrellas out. Still, there’ll be moments when some downtime in the shade is needed. Time for floating down the endless stream of great TV.
We’ve already outlined the priority new releases to look out for this summer in the shadowy havens of cinema screens. Now it’s time to check out what’s new on Netflix, Apple TV, Prime, Peacock and the other streaming platforms this July.
Here are the ten TV series and films we think are essential viewing for this month. There should be something for everybody, from slashing satire to a holiday romance, from historical and disaster epics to eighties throwbacks, and from dark comedy to even darker murder mysteries.
These are releases exclusive to the platforms releasing them and only available from the 1st of this month. Some of them might not be around for all that long, either. So whether it’s a rainy day or a mild summer evening, it’s time to make the most of summertime streaming.
The 10 best streaming releases this month:
American Psycho (Netflix) – July 1st
This classic, blood-soaked satire of Wall Street based on the landmark novel by Brett Easton-Ellis is now available on Netflix worldwide for the first time. For a dash of dark humour or a merciless send-up of capitalism gone mad, it doesn’t get better than American Psycho.
Fans of Christian Bale will want to check out the role that made him if they haven’t already. Bale may have had to fight off stiff competition for the lead role of psychopathic investment banker Patrick Bateman, but it’s now impossible to imagine the part being played by anyone else.
Call Me By Your Name (Netflix) – July 1st
The stunningly sensual final part of director Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Desire’ trilogy has been available before on Netflix. But they’ve brought it back as a summer treat for those who might have missed it.
Call Me by Your Name launched the career of Timothée Chalamet seven years ago, yet it’s hard to pinpoint any performance the actor has given since that tops his beautiful depiction of lovestruck teenager Elio Perlman. Guadagnino’s film is sensitive and astute in its treatment of erotic themes, making for an ideal summer evening watch.
Lost, Seasons 1-6 (Netflix) – July 1st
The world’s biggest streaming platform has landed the syndication rights to the show that arguably set the blueprint for big-budget TV epics in the age of streaming. TV series Lost spans 121 episodes and preceded the first major Netflix productions by a decade. But its myriad twists and turns, interwoven narrative arcs and in-depth character development prefigure the plotting and pacing of today’s online TV thrillers.
Those new to the show will soon get the sense that its title feels apt for the viewing experience at times. It’s all part of the fun, though, as threads tail off and return while some are left open for fan theories to proliferate. It’ll be interesting to see how the show’s format fares in bingeable doses, too.
Sunny (Apple TV) – July 10th
This bleakly comic series had Rashida Jones playing lead character Suzie Sakamoto, a woman living in Japan who’s lost her husband and son but gained a live-in robot named Sunny. Unfortunately for Sunny, Suzie hates robots.
As it turns out, though, Sunny might be just what she needs to discover what happened to her family. Set in Kyoto with an almost entirely Japanese supporting cast, Sunny is an original experiment in cross-cultural comedy and suspense from Apple TV. Let’s see if it pays off.
Sausage Party: Foodtopia (Prime Video) – July 11th
Seth Rogen’s Sausage Party is back with a vengeance, expanding into a mini-series sequel that might even become a full-fledged, multi-season TV show. This time, the food items have broken free of the supermarket and “food is now the dominant species on earth”.
That is, until it starts raining, at which point the sausage party fizzles out faster than a premature spring barbecue. How will the food manage to save themselves?
Well, as was the case with the original movie that led to this series, that’s not really the point. The plot will serve as a vehicle for as many R-rated gags as you can squeeze into a vacuum pack. And Rogen has promised us plenty of filth.
Vikings: Valhalla, Season 3 (Netflix) – July 11th
The acclaimed historical epic series in which Danes rule the day returns to Netflix. The dangerous King Olaf II of Norway is now out of the way. Earl Godwin’s son is set to inherit the English throne, while Harald Sigurdsson and Leif Erikson have reached Constantinople.
This third season of Vikings: Valhalla has been confirmed as the show’s finale, setting the scene for the future King Harald’s historic challenges for the Danish and English thrones. Harald is destined to be the last hero of the Vikings, and the show’s other protagonists, explorer siblings Leif Eriksen and Freydís Eiríksdóttir will likely play an important role in his ascension to the Norwegian throne.
Cobra Kai, Season 6: Part 1 (Netflix) – July 18th
Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai has proved such a hit that it spawned an upcoming movie starring Jackie Chan. But Ralph Macchio and co have some serious business to attend to, with the villainous John Kreese on the loose and the Cobra Kai dojo currently shut down.
In part one of the show’s final season, expect to see Macchio’s character, Daniel LaRusso, find a way around not having a place to train their students. There’s a big tournament coming up; they’re “gonna fight the best in the world”, and they have to be ready.
Those About to Die (Peacock) – July 18th
With the sequel to Ridley Scott’s movie epic Gladiator on the horizon, Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner evidently think the moment is right for Anthony Hopkins to do his best Oliver Reed impression. Emmerich is the director behind Independence Day, while the writer of Those About to Die is Robert Rodat of Saving Private Ryan fame.
So, the series has a certain pedigree behind it. But the jury remains out on this gladiatorial spectacle until it enters the arena on July 18th. The visuals certainly seem impressive enough from what we see in its trailer, and there are all the usual soundbites about the choice between death and glory.
But with Russell Crowe already expressing apprehension about the second Gladiator movie, is this additional TV series along the same lines really necessary? There’s only one way to find out.
Lady in the Lake (Apple TV) – July 19th
This murder mystery series is based on Laura Lippman’s acclaimed 2019 novel, which in turn drew on true events for its plot. Natalie Portman looks suitably cast as the overwhelmed journalist tasked with investigating the crimes in question. And 1960s Baltimore is beautifully realised with exquisite period details.
We can expect high-quality, suspenseful drama here, and the limited series format lends itself to the intricacies of Lippman’s source material. For suspense or crime thriller fans, this series looks to be up with the very best summer murder stories out there.
Time Bandits (Apple TV) – July 24th
This remake of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy movie has been plagued by a fan backlash prior to its release, after news spread that Gilliam himself had stormed off its set following a visit. Certain prospective viewers are also unhappy with the cast list, which is headed by Friends star Lisa Kudrow.
Nevertheless, there is scope for Apple TV to take it in interesting directions, with filmmakers Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement at the helm. And they’ve teamed up with Iain Morris, creator of the British teen comedy show The Inbetweeners, who collaborated with Waititi on his last film.
Whatever the outcome on-screen, that combination of comedic and directorial talent at least has us curious. Will Gilliam feel better once he sees the final result?
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