Top Ten Movies to Look Out For In July (2015)

10 – Boulevard (July 10)

Director: Dito Montiel

Writer: Douglas Soesbe

Actors: Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Bob Odenkik, Roberto Aguire, J. Karen Thomas

Genre: Drama

Rated: R

This is it. The last movie starring Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting, The Birdcage, Aladdin). After this, what has been, is all that will be.

As fans, there’s nothing on heaven or earth that could keep us from seeing this film. Bad or good, regardless of topic, we just want to see the legend one more time.

The final quote in the trailer is heartbreaking, given the circumstances: “It’s never too late to finally start living the life you really want.”

9 – Paper Towns (July 24)

Director: Jake Schreier

Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, John Green

Actors: Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne, Halston Sage

Genre: Romance

Rated: PG-13

The Fault in Our Stars (2014) was a tear-jerking masterpiece, both on page and on screen. Paper Towns is developed from a book written by the same author: John Green (Crash Course: World History, Crash Course: Literature, Vlogbrothers).

Regardless of writer, though, the trailer for this film is enticing and makes us want to see what happens. Mystery and romance can be a more than decent combination.

8 – Terminator Genisys (July 1)

Director: Alan Taylor

Writer: Laeta Kalogridis, Patrick Lussier, James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd

Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Matt Smith, Douglas Smith, Dayo Okeniyi

Genre: Action

Rated: PG-13

Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Expendables, Junior, Total Recall) starring in a Terminator film is a huge dose of nostalgia for us. So many years later, with him returning to the film franchise opposite someone like Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, Spike Island, Dom Hemingway) is awe-inspiring.

It would be impossible to not want to see Terminator Genisys. If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s going to be an amazing chapter. If you’re unfamiliar with the original films, chances are that once you watch the trailer, you’ll want to get familiar real quick.

7 – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (July 31)

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Writer: Drew Pearce, Christopher McQuarrie, Bruce Geller

Actors: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames

Genre: Action

Rated: PG-13

Who doesn’t get a little thrill when they hear that theme song?

The stunts in this movie look amazing. That plane sequence teased in the trailer promises to be both funny and quite the adrenaline rush.

The films are great, constant action with smart storylines and amazing acting. Rogue Nation seems like it’s going to continue to follow that plan.

6 – Magic Mike XXL (July 1)

Director: Greg Jacobs

Writer: Reid Carolin

Actors: Channing Tatum, Matthew Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Amber Heard, Andie MacDowell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Straham, Elizabeth Banks, Danny Glover, Adam Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, Kevin Nash

Genre: Dramedy

Rated: R

We disagreed a bit over where to put Magic Mike XXL on the list. One of us thought it should be around 8, the other thought it should be higher. We compromised.

The first Magic Mike (2012) brought many to their knees with the sexy men and dance moves, but what people who didn’t watch the movie might not realize, is that it wasn’t all about making a girl’s ovaries quiver. The story line was interesting and there was a bit of action/drama in there.

It’s because of the story line that we’re looking forward to Magic Mike XXL. Oh, sure, we’re not going to close our eyes when Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Sabotage, How I Met Your Mother) or Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher, This is the End, 21 Jump Street) hit the stage, but that’s not the primary draw.

The primary draw comes from what we know of the acting skills portrayed by the aforementioned actors, Matthew Bomer (American Horror Story, White Collar, Chuck), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Slither), Amber Heard (Machete Kills, Paranoia, 3 Days to Kill) and Jada Pinkett Smith (Gotham, Hawthorne, The Matrix Reloaded). It also comes from our knowledge of the insane comedic timing possessed by Gabriel Iglesias (Cristela, A Haunted House 2, The Book of Life) and the unique dance style of Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss (Step Up All In, Step Up Revolution, Hairspray).

5 – Self/less (July 10)

Director: Tarsem Singh

Writer: Alex Pastor, David Pastor

Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, Natalie Martinex, Ben Kingsley, Victor Garber, Derek Luke

Genre: Thriller

Rated: PG-13

Ben Kingsley (The Boxtrolls, Ender’s Game, Schindler’s List) is one of those actors that immediately make people want to buy a ticket. Ryan Reynolds (R.I.P.D., Safe House, Paper Man) has his own loyal following as well. The question isn’t whether or not they’ll be great in their parts, but if their chemistry will resonate.

Regardless of actors, the story of the film is incredible. A sci-fi style thriller with that much meat to the plot? Sign us up.

4 – Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (July 22)

Director: Anthony C. Ferrante

Writer: Thunder Levin

Actors: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, Cindy Margolis, David Hasselhoff, Bo Derek, Ann Coulter, Jerry Springer, Chris Kirkpatrick, Chris Jericho, Ray J, Frankie Muniz, Michael Bolton,

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rated: Unrated

The Random Review is a big fan of the Sharknado series. It’s super corny, absolutely ridiculous and so much fun it’s hard to believe The Asylum had anything to do with it.

Hey, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

It’s because we love the first two films, that we are excited to see that Anthony C. Ferrante (Headless Horseman, Boo, Project RCVR), Thunder Levin (Atlantic Rim, AE: Apocalypse Earth, American Warships), Ian Ziering (90210, That’s My Boy, The Legend of Awesomest Maximus), and Tara Reid (American Reunion, Unnatural Causes, The Crow: Wicked Prayer) all returned to do their parts.

We don’t know how much longer this franchise will succeed, but for now, we’re all for this next one.

3 – Minions (July 10)

Director: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Writer: Brian Lynch

Actors: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Allison Janney, Steve Carell, Tara Strong

Genre: Family

Rated: PG

Do we need a reason other than the fact that minions are involved? MINIONS!

2 – Pixels (July 24)

Director: Chris Columbus

Writer: Tim Herlihy, Timothy Dowling, Patrick Jean

Actors: Adam Sandler, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, Kevin James, Jane Krakowski, Peter Dinklage, Brian Cox, Ashley Benson, Sean Bean

Genre: Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Let’s forget about the video game aspect of this film and the fact that one of the writers for this blog had a video game themed wedding. Let’s forget that the super-amazing Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Knights of Badassdom) is in it and sporting a wicked mullet. Let’s even forget that it looks like Adam Sandler (Anger Management, 50 First Dates, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) might have gone back to his actually funny roots.

You realize the director, Chris Columbus (Rent, Mrs. Doubtfire, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), is the same man credited with writing the screenplay for The Goonies and directed the first two Harry Potter films, right?

Aside from that, the trailer looks ridiculous, in the best way.

We are taking bet on when Sean Bean (Legends, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, Game of Thrones) will die. Five minutes in? Twenty? Not until the end? Let’s see some guesses!

1 – Ant-Man (July 17)

Director: Peyton Reed

Writer: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay, Paul Rudd, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby

Actors: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily, Corey Stoll, Hayley Atwell, Michael Pena, Judy Greer, John Slattery, T.I., Bobby Cannavale, Stan Lee, Anthony Mackie

Genre: Action

Rated: Unrated

A Marvel movie is coming out this month, did anyone not expect to see it at number one on this list?

We think Paul Rudd (Parks and Recreation, This is 40, Our Idiot Brother) was the perfect choice for the lead role. The only concern is how to make Ant-Man a real Marvel-style film without having that parody feel.

In the trailer, you see the train set scene which looks epic… and then funny. That scene alone makes it look like they struck a decent enough balance between action and comedy to not fall into a joke-like feel.

If anyone can do it, Marvel can.

A side note? Chris Evans (Captain America, Avengers, Snowpiercer) is listed as an uncredited actor in this film. Is he going to make a cameo like he did in Thor: The Dark World (2013) or is that hinting at what we might see in the after-credits scene?

Anyone have any theories?