The days are long, the sun is warm, and summer is officially upon us. With ample time to rewatch your favorite movies or to binge your most beloved romantic or shark-infested films — there’s no time like the present to focus on all things pop culture. Streaming platforms recognize this same idea, which means the additions to your favorite services in July are always top-notch.
Max is adding a slew of films and TV watch options for you to enjoy this month, and with Shark Week on the horizon, summer romance on the brain, and Barbienheimer (yes, Barbie and Oppenheimer are debuting on the same day and fans can’t get enough) just weeks away; Max knew just what to bring to the table. From The Meg to a Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, there’s so much to enjoy in the next few weeks.
Of course, some of the titles being added are existing favorites for entertainment fans, while others will strike gold as they grab the attention of audiences everywhere for the first time as they make us laugh, cry, and believe in magic all over again. So which movies and TV shows will you soon be able to stream, and which are already available? Let’s take a look.
Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk was one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2017 for many reasons. It was the acting debut of Harry Styles, starred a powerful cast, and would go on to become the highest-grossing WWII film of all time. Needless to say, Dunkirk is a film that you simply can’t miss, and one that war movie lovers have already added to their frequently rewatched list.
While there was nothing like seeing Dunkirk in theaters, it’s still a great watch to enjoy in the comforts of your home, too, hopefully with a stellar sound system and some of your favorite snacks.
The Meg
With Discovery’s Shark Week kicking off from July 11-18, fans will undeniably be watching anything they can sink their teeth into (some pun intended) in the realm of sea creatures. The Meg is the perfect watch this month, even if it does make some viewers feel a little uneasy about their upcoming trips to the beach.
The Meg stars Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Li Bingbing, Jessica McNamee, and Rainn Wilson — to name a few, and the premise for those who haven’t seen it yet reads as follows:
“Previously thought to be extinct, a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific. With time running out, a visionary oceanographer recruits rescue diver Jonas Taylor to save the crew and the sea itself from an unimaginable threat — a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon.”
While rumors swirling around the internet say that the Megalodon still exists, don’t fret; scientists say that the larger-than-life creatures did exist at one time, but that was millions of years ago. So you can rest easy as you watch The Meg this summer, knowing the only sharks you’re sure to see at the beaches you visit are much smaller in comparison.
Thirteen Ghosts
We know we said we were recommending summer watches, but hear us out — Thirteen Ghosts doesn’t just have to be a film you watch during spooky season. In fact, if you find yourself in the mood to indulge in something unnerving, this movie is a perfect one to enjoy.
There’s another reason right now is a great time to dive back into Thirteen Ghosts, and that’s its biggest star: Matthew Lillard. Lillard knows how to do frightening films perfectly, and we’ll soon see that again as he takes on an important role in the upcoming video-game-inspired movie, Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Lillard has a powerful presence in any film he plays in, but there’s something special bout this one, and if you’ve yet to see Thirteen Ghosts, the synopsis reads as follows:
“A state-of-the-art remake of the classic William Castle horror film about a family that inherits a spectacular old house from an eccentric uncle. There’s just one problem: the house seems to have a dangerous agenda all its own. Trapped in their new home by strangely shifting walls, the family encounters powerful and vengeful entities that threaten to annihilate anyone in their path.”
Oh, and if we’re being honest, once the Fourth of July is over, it’s all spooky season around here for us, so why not kick it off, right?
Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York
For true crime fans, there are quite a few series coming to Max in July that you won’t want to miss, one of which is Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York. The four-part docuseries tells the painful true story of a city that had to fight for its own when officials ignored their pleas to take down a potential serial killer that preyed upon gay men in New York.
The docuseries is based on the book of the same name, written by Elon Green. The “Last Call Killer” was publicly named as a suspect in 2001, though the crimes occurred in the early 1990s. Richard Rogers was eventually brought to trial, but many believe that his crimes were far more severe than what he was charged with, and while “justice was served” years after the killings, many aren’t convinced that justice is a term that should even be used where these crimes are concerned.
It’s not just that innocent men were killed, it’s that the queer community was left without protection and treated without compassion as their lives were mercilessly taken, and no arrest or judgment could undo what had already been done.
Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge
The Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge is premiering on HGTV, but those without cable can keep up with the series on Max. With just under three weeks until the highly anticipated Barbie movie is slated to hit theaters, fans can’t get all things pink, plastic, and fantastic off their minds.
HGTV notes that model and influencer Ashley Graham is set to host the reality competition, which hosts eight teams who all set out to help create the perfect Barbie Dreamhouse. Graham is as excited to be part of the series as fans are to watch it:
“To pull this off, we’ve assembled the biggest group of renovation stars ever on HGTV to create a real-life fully functioning Barbie Dreamhouse. The pressure is on for the teams to unleash their creativity far beyond their usual design parameters to dream up a place that Barbie would be proud to call home.”
Making Barbie proud is the name of the game and, honestly, a mantra we’re planning to bring into our own lives as often as possible.
The Golden Boy
Another exciting addition to Max will be an original called The Golden Boy. The docuseries will stand out amid several high-profile releases for many reasons; one is that it’s told, in large, in the words of the man the story is being spoken about.
Oscar De La Hoya was royalty in the boxing realm from the time he was a teenager on, but that same crown he wore weighed heavily upon him.
HBO shares the following information about The Golden Boy, and we’re preparing to have pretty intense feelings about this one:
“Told in De La Hoya’s own words through a series of candid interviews with him and those closest to him, and featuring rare archival footage, The Golden Boy peels back the layers of this celebrated yet complicated figure, exploring his triumphs and turmoil to reveal a man struggling to come to terms with lifelong demons and the impossible burden of a nickname he couldn’t live up to.”
“The impossible burden of a nickname he couldn’t live up to.” If that doesn’t say it all, nothing will. De La Hoya was incredible for who he was when he entered the ring and the realm of entertainment and celebrity, but the stigma that you must do more and be more isn’t lost on anyone who has been an idol or anyone who has one. The world wants more of you when you’re a performer, and suddenly your best stops feeling like it’s good enough at all.
In addition to the exciting additions above, TV and film buffs will also see the following titles added to Max:
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Goodwill Hunting, Cujo, King Kong, Because of Winn-Dixie, 17 Again, Body in the Basement, Outdaughtered, After the Bite, Gotham Knights, Mother May I Murder?, and Flip the Strip, Season 1 will also join the service. Decider shared a complete list of what you can find on Max this month, and as we said before, there’s a lot of good headed your way. So grab your popcorn and snacks of choice and get ready for some movie and tv binges!