There is a lot to enjoy on Sky and Now TV this month, with movies such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and King Richard dominating the July schedule, and some great new television shows, including the darkly comic The Baby.
For more on these and the other upcoming highlights, check out our preview below.
Please note: This list is correct at the time of writing but titles and dates are subject to change.
1st July
King Richard (2021)
Before he was creating a ruckus at this year’s Oscars, Will Smith was starring as the father to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor for his riveting performance as Richard Williams but it’s just a shame that his behaviour at the awards ceremony undermined the movie and his acting turn.
2nd July
Sundown (2021)
Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg star as a wealthy couple who are forced to cut their vacation short when tragic events cause them to return home. Twists and turns arise when one family member conveniently lose their passport! Michael Franco (After Lucia) directs this existential drama.
3rd July
Zola (2020)
We are well used to movie adaptations of video games, novels, and comic books, but what about Twitter feeds? We can’t think of any so this might well be the first! The original tweets went viral, hence the interest in A’Ziah King (Zola) on whose tweets this movie was based. The movie chronicles the misadventures of Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress and part-time stripper who is encouraged by her new friend Stefani (Riley Keough) to travel to Florida to earn herself some cash. Things quickly go awry for the unfortunate young woman. If you have already followed this story online, you will have an idea of what happens next.
7th July
The Baby: Season 1
This Sky Original comedy series is a darkly funny examination of motherhood centring on a woman who isn’t ready to be a parent. When she is landed with a baby of her own, her life dramatically implodes when she discovers the baby has violent powers. Sounds a little like the recent The Midwich Cuckoos to us, although this is more comical than that serious piece of sci-fi.
8th July
How To Please A Woman (2021)
British actress Sally Phillips stars as a 50-something housewife who has an unusual request for the male stripper that has been hired for her birthday: She asks him to clean her house! She is later inspired to start her own house-cleaning business to satisfy the needs of her friends who also want their homes to be cleaned by a shirtless man! This cheeky comedy is a must-see if you can identify with the sexually frustrated women at the heart of this story.
9th July
South of Heaven (2021)
Jason Sudekis stars as Jimmy Ray, a former convict who vows to give Annie (Evangeline Lilley), his childhood love, the best year of her life when he discovers she is dying from cancer. Unfortunately, things don’t turn out as he had planned in this romantic crime film.
10th July
Die In A Gunfight (2021)
In this New York-set tale, a young guy falls for the daughter of his father’s nemesis. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as you might imagine from a tale that is seemingly based on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. Unfortunately, this crime comedy starring Diego Boneta and Alexandra Daddario has not been well-received by critics.
15th June
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The recent Doctor Strange movie messed around in the Multiverse but last year’s Spider-Man movie did it a whole lot better. We get not one but three web-heads in this entertaining superhero story and we are re-introduced to many of the villains from Spidey’s past cinematic adventures. The film is as funny and as action-packed as you would expect but it’s also quite emotional, as you will probably know already if you caught this blockbuster in theatres.
Our Spider-Man No Way Home review
16th July
How To Deter A Robber (2020)
If you want to deter a robber, get a guard dog, build an electric fence, and stop leaving your spare key beneath your front door mat! For further ideas, check out this comedy about a stubborn young woman and her naive boyfriend who face off against a pair of amateur burglars.
17th July
A Mouthful Of Air (2021)
Amanda Seyfried stars in this powerful postpartum depression drama that is sure to strike a chord with mothers everywhere. The actress gives a convincingly fragile performance as the woman who struggles mentally after the birth of her baby, and she is ably supported by Finn Whitrock who stars as her loving but exasperated husband.
21st July
The Thing About Pam: Season 1
This crime drama is based on a real-life murder case from 2011 in which a woman, Pam Hupp (Renee Zellwegger), was charged with murdering her friend. Was this Missouri mother-of-two guilty of the crime? Information about the case can be found online but if you want to avoid spoilers, you might want to curb your urge to do a Google search.
22nd July
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022)
Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, and Michelle Yeoh are just a few of the famous folk providing voice work for this brand new animated movie. It tells the tale of a loveable dog who teams up with a group of cats to defend his town from a dastardly villain. Based on a true story. (Not really).
23rd July
Raging Fire (2021)
Donnie Yen stars as a righteous cop who crosses paths with his former protege (Nicholas Tse) in this explosive action-thriller. Check out our review below to learn more about the movie.
24th July
Flag Day (2021)
Sean Penn directs and stars as the larger-than-life father who goes to extreme lengths to provide for his daughter Jennifer (Dylan Penn). The real-life father and daughter pairing is just one reason to watch this film which is as much an intimate character study as it is a crime drama.
29th July
The Card Counter (2021)
Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, and Tye Sheridan star in Paul Schraeder’s crime thriller about ex-military interrogator turned gambler who is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Schrader’s films are always a bit hit and miss but according to most critics, he is back on good form with this one.
30th July
Cry Macho (2021)
Clint Eastwood directs and stars as the one-time rodeo star who takes on a job to bring a man’s young son home and away from his alcoholic mother. During their challenging journey together, the former horseman teaches the boy about what it means to be a good man and in the process, starts to find redemption. This isn’t unlike Eastwood movies we have seen before but any opportunity to see the ageing actor on the screen should be treasured.
31st July
Into The Deep (2022)
The film follows Jess (Ellie Ray-Smith), a young woman who is desperate to get out of her small coastal town. When she meets a stranger promising her the escape she is looking for, she takes the opportunity. Unfortunately, events take a dark turn from then on. Jessica Alexander (A Banquet) and Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters) also star in this intriguing new thriller.
Also Streaming…
2nd July
Who Killed the KLF?
7th July
Killer Siblings: Season 3
The Toys That Built the World: Season 1
13th July
Breeders: Season 3