By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
We are one year removed from the epic “Barbenheimer” event that took the world by storm and created one of the biggest box office weekends of all time. Unfortunately, there will be no repeat of that historical occurrence this July, but that’s not to say there won’t be movies worth the trip to the theater. Minions, tornadoes, and spandex clad anti-heroes will duke it out for box office supremacy this month, but there will also be drama, a rom com, and of course horror to round out a diverse, jam-packed month of film releases.
July 3rd – July 5th
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Kicking off the 4th of July weekend is none other than that lovable villain and his mischievous, banana-colored minions. Seven years after the third film, “Despicable Me 4” looks to have a giant holiday weekend and compete with “Inside Out 2” for summer box office glory. The returning voices of Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig are joined by the hilarious Will Ferrell. Expect a fun ride with plenty of hijinks and laughter for people of all ages.
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Exactly one year ago to the day, Angel Studios was put on the map with “Sound of Freedom,” one of the better films to come out in 2023. Earlier this year they put out arguably the best film of the year so far with “Cabrini.” Now, get ready for “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,” another true story of Donna and Reverend Martin and their church in East Texas. As with their previous films, there has been little to no marketing, instead relying on word of mouth, so don’t let this slip under your radar. Early indications show this movie to be an emotional powerhouse of a drama, so come equipped with a box of tissues.
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Looking for more of an adrenaline pumping movie instead? Releasing on July 5th is “MaXXXine,” the final chapter of the “X” trilogy. Actress Mia Goth retains her leading role from “X” and “Pearl,” and her dynamic performances have made those horror films worth seeing. Ti West once again writes and directs, so expect some crazy plot twists and blood curdling violence. Fans of the first two films will undoubtedly enjoy this latest entry.
July 12th
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Keeping the crime/horror theme going is “Longlegs,” featuring Nicolas Cage as the antagonist. They have purposely been avoiding showing visuals of Cage in this fear inducing role, which heightens the level of intrigue. However, Oz Perkins, who directed the abysmal production of “Gretel & Hansel” in 2020, writes and directs this thriller, so approach with caution and check out reviews before committing time and money.
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Finally, a new romantic comedy makes its way to the silver screen. “Fly Me to the Moon” features the acting talents of Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, and Ray Romano and is directed by Greg Berlanti, whose last effort, “Love, Simon,” was a big success. Set during the 1960’s at the height of the space race, the plot comically focuses on staging a fake moon landing in case the real mission becomes a bust. This should be a safe bet for a light, fun date night rom-com.
July 19th
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Churning and thundering its way into theaters on this date is an action movie with a familiar title. “Twisters” is not actually a sequel to the famous film from 1996, nor is it a reboot. It’s considered to be an update with brand new characters and current technology. With an unproven director and a largely unknown cast headlined by Glen Powell, who does not exhibit much in the way of acting range, this might just be a hastily thrown together money grab. This is one storm you might want to sit out and let pass overhead.
July 26th
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Closing the month is one of the most anticipated sequels of the summer. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the long-awaited team up, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman that has been teased for years. With the first two “Deadpool” movies and “Logan” being R-rated productions, there was little doubt that this film would follow suit, but it is the first R-rated movie directly distributed under Walt Disney Studios. There’s no doubt the action will be brutal, the humor will be raunchy, and the spandex will be tight. Book those tickets as early as possible, it may just be the film to rejuvenate the MCU.
