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The weather may be warming up in July, but the streaming offerings promise to keep it breezy.
July’s streaming slate offers nothing too heavy and is filled with laugh-out-loud comedies (like the return of “Ted Lasso”) and trashy, guilty-pleasure shows — as well as the Summer Olympics. July can be light on your budget, too, with our picks for four services coming in at under $35.
Each month, we rate each major streaming service as a “play,” “pause” or “stop,” similar to investment analysts’ traditional ratings of buy, hold and sell, and pick the best content to help you make your monthly decisions.
As we’ve previously mentioned, consumers can take full advantage of cord cutting by churning — that’s the strategy of adding and dropping streaming services each month — and all it takes is good planning. Keep in mind that a billing cycle starts when you sign up, not necessarily at the beginning of a month. Also keep an eye out for lower-priced tiers, limited-time discounts, free trials and cost-saving bundles. There are a lot of them out there, but the deals don’t last forever.
Here’s a look at what’s coming to the various streaming services in July 2021, and what’s really worth the monthly subscription fee.
HBO Max ($9.99 a month with ads, $14.99 without ads)
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HBO Max continues its roll, out-Netflixing Netflix with another month of compelling movies, new series and documentaries.
The best of the bunch looks to be “No Sudden Move” (July 1), a crime thriller from Steven Soderbergh set in 1954 Detroit. Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro star as small-time crooks caught up in a complex heist that goes awry, and they have to scramble to figure a way out to stay alive. The cast is loaded, with Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Ray Liotta, Brendan Fraser, Kieran Culkin, Amy Seimetz and Julia Fox, and the trailer looks extremely fun. Soderbergh knows how to make a killer crime movie (see: “The Limey,” “Out of Sight,” “Ocean’s 11”), and this looks like a must-see.
Then there’s “Space Jam: A New Legacy” (July 16), the Warner Bros. movie-of-the-month that will stream the same day it hits theaters. LeBron James stars in the hybrid live-action/animated sequel to a 1996 film that starred Michael Jordan. This time around, LeBron and his son find themselves trapped in a different dimension, and the NBA star must lead an animated basketball team of Looney Tunes characters (including — cringe — a rapping Porky Pig) against a team of Goons if they want to get home. It does not look good, but your 8-year-old probably won’t care. (Note: This and other brand-new Warner Bros. movies are not available on the $9.99-a-month, ad-supported plan.)
HBO Max has two of the most intriguing series of the summer: the reboot of the ridiculously addictive 2007–12 teen drama “Gossip Girl” (July 8), featuring a whole new cast of awful rich kids (troublingly, the show’s creators say this new version won’t glorify the characters’ privilege, which was half the fun of the original); and “The White Lotus” (July 11), a six-episode satirical comedy from Mike White (“Enlightened”) about the intersecting lives of guests and employees at a tropical resort.
That’s not all. Also on tap: “100 Foot Wave” (July 18), a jaw-dropping docuseries about big-wave surfers; “FBoy Island” (premiere date TBA), a dating series hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser in which three women try to find love among 24 men, who are a mix of “nice guys” and, well, “f-boys”; Season 1 of “Wellington Paranormal” (July 12), a New Zealand comedy that takes place in the “What We Do in the Shadows” universe (think “X-Files” plus “Cops” plus vampires and ghosts); “Through Our Eyes” (July 22), a docuseries from Sesame Workshop about children’s perspectives on today’s problems; “Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes” (July 12), a docuseries of Ronan Farrow’s interviews with sources for “Catch and Kill,” his book that helped expose Harvey Weinstein’s years-long sexual abuses; the animated reboot “Jellystone” (July 29), featuring Yogi Bear and other Hanna-Barbera favorites; and “The Immortal” (date TBA), a spinoff movie based on a favorite character from the gripping Italian crime series “Gomorrah.”
The Oscar-winning movie “Judas and the Black Messiah” also returns July 1, and take note that the musical hit “In the Heights” will leave the service July 11 (it’ll probably be back in the fall).
Who’s HBO Max for? HBO fans and movie lovers.
Play, pause or stop? Play. Prestige offerings, buzzy newcomers, quality children’s programming … there is so much good stuff here, for everyone, that you could subscribe to just HBO Max in July and be perfectly happy. And that’s only considering the coming attractions — the deep library makes HBO Max even more of a must-have.
Netflix ($7.99 a month for basic, $13.99 standard or $17.99 premium)
Of course, that’s not to say there’s nothing on Netflix
NFLX,
Because there is.
Two of the service’s best comedies return for their second seasons: “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” (July 6), an absurd and laugh-out-loud sketch series that lives at the intersection of Stupid and Smart and has spawned a million meme GIFs; and “Never Have I Ever” (July 15), the smart and sweet coming-of-age sitcom about an Indian-American teen, created by Mindy Kaling.
There will also be the nostalgic allure of Kevin Smith’s “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” (July 23), a reboot of the 1980s toy commercial disguised as a cartoon, with the voices of Mark Hamill and Sarah Michelle Gellar, among others; a trio of “Fear Street” movies (July 2, 9 and 16), based on R.L. Stine’s teenage horror novels, with each taking place in a different time period: 1994, 1978 and 1666; and Season 2 of “The Movies That Made Us” (July 21), a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of some movie favorites, including “Jurassic Park” and “Back to the Future.”
For more: Here’s what’s coming to Netflix in July 2021 — and what’s leaving
Netflix also has a raft of bingeable hits on tap, including the fourth and final season of the autism comedy “Atypical” (July 9); Season 3 of “Virgin River” (July 9), the soapy small-town drama; Season 2 of the addictive teen mystery “Outer Banks” (July 30); the badass-women action movie “Gunpowder Milkshake” (July 14), starring Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino as assassins; “Heist” (July 14), a docuseries about three of the greatest robberies in American history; and “Sexy Beasts” (July 21), an absolutely ridiculous-looking dating show where the contestants wear elaborate masks, makeup and prosthetics that, much like a car crash or a portrait made of lunch meat, is likely to deliver a mix of repulsiveness and fascination that will be somehow impossible to look away from.
Who’s Netflix for? Fans of buzz-worthy original shows and movies.
Play, pause or stop? Play. You may be ashamed and hate yourself afterwards, but don’t say you’re not at least somewhat intrigued by “Masters of the Universe” and “Sexy Beasts.” Though, to be fair, you probably won’t respect yourself after laughing yourself silly watching “I Think You Should Leave,” either. Just embrace the stupidity and think of Netflix next month as the streaming equivalent of a trashy summer beach book. No judgment here.
Apple TV+ ($4.99 a month)
Enough wading. Apple TV+ is about to jump into the pool.
Since the service’s launch a year and a half ago, the vast majority of Apple TV+ viewers have been watching on free trials — which Apple
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has repeatedly extended — from purchases of iPhones and other Apple products. But those free trials will start expiring in July, meaning many consumers will, for the first time, be faced with a choice of whether TV+ is worth paying for.
It is — for now, at least. And a big reason is “Ted Lasso,” last year’s surprise, feel-good hit comedy, which returns for its second season July 23. Jason Sudeikis is back as the eponymous coach of a mediocre English soccer team that’s battling to return to the Premier League. Expect more hilariously relentless positivity and inspirational locker-room speeches, and get ready to meet Ted’s angry alter ego, Led Tasso. This is one of the best shows on TV, period, and a must-watch.
Apple is also premiering the musical comedy “Schmigadoon!” (July 16), starring Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a bickering couple who go on a backpacking trip hoping to reconnect, only to stumble across a magical town that’s living inside a 1940s musical — and they can’t leave until they find true love. There’s a deep and talented cast that should elevate this to, if not a must-see series, at least a worth-a-peek one. And for straight-up music fans, there’s a new docuseries, “Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson,” as the famed DJ/producer interviews other hitmakers about technology and musical innovation.
Who’s Apple TV+ for? It offers a little something for everyone, but not necessarily enough for anyone.
Play, pause or stop? Play. It’s worth a subscription for “Ted Lasso” alone. But if you need more reasons, check out “For All Mankind,” “Mythic Quest,” “Tehran,” “Central Park,” “Home” and “Dickinson,” for starters.
Peacock (free basic level, Premium for $4.99 a month with ads, or $9.99 a month with no ads)
Peacock pinned its debut last year on the 2020 Olympics, and stumbled after they were postponed due to the pandemic. A year later, NBCUniversal hopes the Games can still give the streaming service a much-needed jolt.
The Tokyo Olympics — assuming they’re not postponed again or canceled at the last minute (still not out of the realm of possibility, based on the latest pandemic developments in Japan) — kick off July 23 with the opening ceremonies, and Peacock will carry a vast amount of programming (there’ll be about 7,000 hours in total over NBCUniversal’s many outlets), including live events, dedicated Olympic channels and curated highlights.
For anyone with even a slight interest in the Olympics, Peacock will be worth checking out. All Olympic programming will be free, except for U.S. men’s basketball games, which will livestream only on the premium tiers (sneaky move, but they’ll almost certainly still be broadcast on NBC or cable). Coverage will begin every morning with Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila in the studio for “Tokyo Live”; Rich Eisen will host “Tokyo Gold,” a daily highlights show; Lindsay Czarniak, Lolo Jones and MJ Acosta-Ruiz will host “On Her Turf at the Olympics,” focusing exclusively on women’s events; and Cari Champion and Kenny Mayne will be in the studio for “Tokyo Tonight” to wrap up each day’s events. Amber Ruffin, Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg will chime in with commentary.
Along with live sports, Peacock will roll out a ton of original Olympic programming and previews in the days leading up to the Games, starting with the July 15 launch of its Olympics portal.
Olympics aside, July 15 will also see the premiere of “Dr. Death,” an eight-episode limited series based on the true-crime podcast about a killer surgeon and the two doctors who set out to stop him. It stars Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater and Grace Gummer, and it’s Peacock’s highest-profile show to date.
Peacock also has the animated movie sequel “The Boss Baby: Family Business” (July 2), starring the voice of Alec Baldwin, streaming on its two paid tiers the same day it opens in theaters.
Who’s Peacock for? If you like network and basic-cable TV and don’t mind ads, the free version of Peacock is great. If you’re eligible for Premium through a Comcast
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or Cox cable subscription, it’s also a perfectly fine free addition.
Play, pause or stop? Play. But only the free tier, since the paid version won’t be necessary for watching the Olympics.
Paramount+ ($4.99 a month with ads but not live CBS, $5.99 a month with ads, $9.99 without ads)
It’s a fairly quiet month for Paramount+, with the reboot of the MTV classic docuseries “Behind the Music” (July 29) as the only major premiere. The show will kick off with two episodes, on Ricky Martin and LL Cool J, then drop new episodes every week.
July will also see fresh weekly episodes of “The Good Fight,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” and “Why Women Kill.” Subscribers should also check out the movie selection, which grew by 1,000 titles in June and will be further bolstered in July, with “Cinema Paradiso,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” “The Terminator,” “Bill & Ted Face the Music” and more.
There’s also the streaming debut of the hit sci-fi horror sequel “A Quiet Place Part II” (July 12), written and directed by John Krasinski and starring Emily Blunt, landing on Paramount+ for no additional fee just 45 days after its theatrical premiere.
Who’s Paramount+ for? Gen X cord cutters who miss live sports and familiar ViacomCBS
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broadcast and cable shows.
Play, pause or stop? Pause and think it over. If you’ve been curious about trying out Paramount+, this is actually a good time to give it a go. Despite the lack of premieres, “The Good Fight” and “Drag Race All Stars” are well worth checking out. So is “A Quiet Place Part II,” along with recent series like “Evil,” “The Real World: Homecoming,” “Younger” and “The Challenge: All Stars.”
Disney+ ($7.99 a month)
A Disney+ subscription could get really, really expensive in July.
That’s because its two biggest releases will cost an additional $29.99 each for “premium access,” to stream starting the same day they hit theaters: “Black Widow” (July 9), the highly anticipated Marvel superhero spinoff starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and David Harbour; and “Jungle Cruise” (July 30), starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in an adventure movie based on the classic Disneyland ride. Both are likely to be among this summer’s blockbusters, but keep in mind they’ll both be available on Disney+ for no additional fee in a few months. Paying $30 extra for one or the other will really depend on your (or your kids’) levels of fandom and patience.
Aside from those, Disney’s
DIS,
streaming service will have the season finale of Marvel’s “Loki” (July 14), and the series premiere of “Turner & Hooch” (July 21), a reboot of the 1989 Tom Hanks action-comedy about a cop and his unruly canine partner. This version stars Josh Peck as a U.S. Marshal who inherits a slobbery dog and investigates the mysterious circumstances behind his father’s death. Based on the trailer, it doesn’t look great, but Disney+ has a good track record with its original shows, so keep an open mind.
Also coming in July: a new animated “Chip ‘n’ Dale” series (July 28), a handful of movie faves for kids, such as “The Sandlot” (July 2) and “Ice Age: The Meltdown” (July 23) and, in a direct challenge to Discovery’s “Shark Week,” a ton of shark-related shows (such as “Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth,” “Shark Attack Files” and “Playing with Sharks”) from July 9 to July 23.
Who’s Disney+ for? Families with kids, and hardcore “Star Wars” and Marvel fans. For those not in those groups, its library can be lacking.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. If you can avoid the temptation to stream “Black Widow” or “Jungle Cruise” right away, you can save a bunch of money. And there’s nothing else in July that screams “Watch me right now!”
Amazon Prime Video ($12.99 a month)
Amazon’s
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streaming service has some big names in July, but that might be about as far as it goes.
Chris Pratt stars in the sci-fi action movie “The Tomorrow War” (July 2) as a soldier sent to the future to help save the world from an alien invasion. Amazon reportedly paid $200 million for exclusive streaming rights, after its planned theatrical release was scuttled by pandemic uncertainties. While a special-effects spectacular, the film, judging by the trailer, looks sadly derivative, with a paint-by-numbers plot and thrusting the typically wise-cracking Pratt into an uncomfortable straight-man role.
The global fashion-designer competition “Making the Cut” (July 16) is back for a second season, with hosts Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. On paper — likeable hosts, extremely talented designers, unique challenges — it should be good, but Season 1 was largely a bore. Perhaps a few tweaks and better editing can add drama and make Season 2 an improvement, but be warned, and go in wary.
Read more: Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video in July 2021
There’s also “Luxe Listings Sydney” (July 9), a real-estate reality show in the vein of “Million-Dollar Listings” that looks pretty but vapid, and “The Pursuit of Love” (July 30), a British period romance miniseries starring Lily James (“Downton Abbey”) and Andrew Scott (the “hot priest” from “Fleabag“).
Who’s Amazon Prime Video for? Movie lovers, TV-series fans who value quality over quantity.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. At best, July’s offerings aren’t terribly compelling — and some may be flat-out terrible.
Hulu ($5.99 a month or $11.99 with no ads)
Hulu has barely a handful of originals coming in July.
Ryan Murphy fans may appreciate “American Horror Stories” (July 15), a weekly, hourlong spinoff of his popular horror anthology series, featuring a different story every week. Sixteen episodes are reportedly in the works, with some featuring cast members from the original series (which will return for its 10th season in August).
Hulu has a pair of music docs, the six-episode “McCartney 3,2,1,” (July 16), with music legend and former Beatle Paul McCartney teaming up with superproducer Rick Rubin to look back at some of his greatest hits; and the movie “Summer of Soul” (July 2), with Questlove making his filmmaking debut with a look back at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which featured Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, B.B. King and many more.
For more: Here’s what’s coming to Hulu in July 2021, and what’s leaving
There’s also a decent number of good movies being added, including “Galaxy Quest,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Robocop” and “Stand By Me” (all July 1), and Kristin Wiig’s bizarre comedy “Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar” (July 9), as well as new episodes of FXX’s “Dave” on Thursdays and the season finale of “Mr Inbetween” (July 6).
Who’s Hulu for? TV lovers. There’s a deep library for those who want older TV series, and next-day streaming for many current network and cable shows.
Play, pause or stop? Stop. There’s a good library, but the meager selection of new offerings just isn’t compelling enough.
Discovery+ ($4.99 a month, $6.99 ad-free)
Forgive the broken record, but it’s the same story again for Discovery+: There are a ton of shows that are perfect for background watching and killing time, but nothing particularly worth paying extra for.
July additions include Martha Stewart’s latest home show “Martha Gets Down and Dirty” (July 1); the UFO docuseries “Roswell: The Final Verdict” (July 2); the competition series “Getaway Driver” (July 23); “Love in Paradise: The Caribbean — A 90-Day Story” (July 18); along with a ton of “Shark Week” programming starting July 11 and a number of cooking and home-décor shows.
Who’s Discovery+ for? Cord cutters who miss their unscripted TV or who are really, really into “90-Day Fiancé.”
Play, pause or stop? Stop. Discovery+ is fantastic for background TV. But there’s not much there that’s essential viewing. It’s really only a good option for those who are HGTV/Food Network/TLC superfans who’ve cut the cord completely — if you still have cable or get Discovery
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channels through a live-streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu Live, it’s just not necessary. (Besides, many of its cable shows are also available on Hulu.)
