July was yet another busy month for movie releases, both in cinemas and on streaming, including major franchise releases “Jurassic World Rebirth”, “Superman”, and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. Unfortunately due to the vast amount of content I was unable to write full, in depth reviews of every new release I managed to catch last month, but here are my quick thoughts on them all. Be sure to check out my reviews for those I have gone into great depth, including “Friendship”, “Bring Her Back”, and “Materialists”.
It was an incredibly busy month for new releases, plus I was able to catch some advanced screenings ahead of their scheduled August release.
Thoughts and Reviews in July:
Heads of State (2025)
Dir: Ilya Naishuller
Cast: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino
Synopsis: When the U.K. Prime Minister and U.S. President become the targets of a foreign adversary, they’re forced to rely on one another to thwart a global conspiracy.
Review: Cena and Elba do the best they can in this schlocky action flick, which if it wasn’t for Naishuller’s unique kinetic direction would have been unwatchable
Bring Her Back (2025)
Dir: Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou
Cast: Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Stephen Phillips, Mischa Heywood, Sally Hawkins
Synopsis: A brother and sister witness a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother.
Review: Sally Hawkins’ disturbed and grieving foster parent takes in two unsuspecting teenagers in this grim and unsettling supernatural body horror from the twins behind 2022’s “Talk to Me”.
K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025)
Dir: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun
Synopsis: A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.
Review: Although this unexpected Sony animation may be trying to cash in on the K-pop craze, its vibrant and fluid visuals, humour, and genuinely catchy soundtrack make it a surprisingly fun experience.
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
Dir: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ed Skrein
Synopsis: Zora Bennett leads a team of skilled operatives to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility for the original Jurassic Park. Their mission is to secure genetic material from dinosaurs whose DNA can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. As the top-secret expedition becomes more and more risky, they soon make a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.
Review: After a messy first act, this attempted reboot of the “Jurassic Park” franchise slowly finds its footing but at no point was there a sense of scale or awe befitting the prehistoric creatures.
“Jurassic World Rebirth” Review Here
Tornado (2025)
Dir: John Maclean
Cast: Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira, Joanne Whalley, Koki
Synopsis: When her father’s puppet samurai show gets ambushed by a notorious gang, Tornado vows to seek vengeance and forge her own destiny by stealing their ill-gotten gold.
Review: After a solid opening, this modest and gripping western-samurai hybrid is marginally let down by poor pacing which sees it rush its ending following a second act lull.
Friendship (2025)
Dir: Andrew DeYoung
Cast: Tim Robinson, Kata Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Paul Rudd
Synopsis: Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbour, but his attempts to make an adult male friend soon threatens to ruin both of their lives.
Review: Whether you love it or hate it, Tim Robinson’s cringeworthy comedic style translates effectively to the big screen in this painful and uncomfortable film about losing friendships.
Superman (2025)
Dir: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced
Synopsis: When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it’s too late?
Review: Although there are some glimpses of James Gunn’s signature style as he ushers in this new era at DC, a lack of cohesion and too many characters prevent even our Kryptonian hero from shining brightly in this comic book reboot.
Eden (2025)
Dir: Ron Howard
Cast: Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, Daniel Bruhl, Felix Kammerer, Toby Wallace, Richard Roxburgh
Synopsis: A group of people, fueled by a profound desire for change, leave everything behind. They turn their backs on society and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos.
Review: While it may be a fictitious account of the mysterious real life events, the performances and intrigue keep investment levels high whilst safe Ron Howard’s storytelling fails to match up to a rather extraordinary story.
Materialists (2025)
Dir: Celine Song
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal
Synopsis: A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
Review: Celine Song continues to create relatable and emotionally intelligent characters in this surprisingly humorous sophomore feature, which cleverly examines the societal norms surrounding dating and relationships.
Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)
Dir: Kyle Newacheck
Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Benito Antonio Martinez, Ocasio, Ben Stiller
Synopsis: Thirty years after winning his first Tour Championship, retired golfer Happy Gilmore returns to the sport to pay for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school.
Review: Adam Sandler returns as the beloved, rage-fuelled golfer in this prime example of a legacy sequel. Despite its needless cameos and overreliance on call-backs, it remains a pretty fun, albeit dumb, time.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Dir: Matt Shakman
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson
Synopsis: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer.
Review: While the narrative is somewhat uninspired and tedious, this latest version of the iconic superhero team proves to be the most charming yet, thanks to the strong chemistry among the cast and the stunning retro-future world design
Dan Loves Film 
Lots of potential till here but as you point out, a lot of “not quite doing it” films here…agree on Happy2 but loved it anyway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing the list!
LikeLiked by 1 person