8 must-watch movies coming to cinemas in July

Stephen Porzio

July will see the release of some of this year’s most anticipated movies.

Comedy, horror, a historical epic, family flicks, a documentary – there is something for nearly everyone arriving into theatres this July. Learn more about the month’s cinema offerings below.

Insidious: The Red Door – June 7

This fifth installment of the Insidious franchise returns to the saga of the Lambert family. This is as father Josh (Patrick Wilson) and son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) struggle to vanquish the demonic entities that have haunted them for years when they resurface after a period of dormancy. On top of starring in the horror, Wilson will also make his directorial debut with the sequel.

Elemental – 7 July

The latest entry from animation giants Pixar, Elemental is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature and follows a fire element (Leah Lewis) and a water element (Mamoudou Athie) who meet and fall in love.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – 10 July

Tom Cruise returns as action man Ethan Hunt as he and his team of secret agents embark on their most dangerous mission yet – tracking down a terrifying new weapon that threatens humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. Based on some of the behind-the-scenes footage already released for the blockbuster, expect some jaw-dropping stunts.

The Deepest Breath – 14 July

Irish filmmaker Laura McGann (Revolutions) directs this aquatic documentary telling the story of Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini and Irish safety diver Stephen Keenan. The Deepest Breath will have a limited cinema release in Ireland before being added to Netflix on 19 July.

Barbie – 21 July

One of two massively anticipated movies being released on the same day (more on that here), Margot Robbie stars in this fantasy comedy based on the hugely popular fashion dolls. It sees Barbie get expelled from Barbieland for being a less-than-perfect doll before embarking on a journey to the real world in a bid to find true happiness. Joining Barbie on her voyage is her friend and fellow doll, Ken (Ryan Gosling).

Given the work of Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women) and Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) behind the scenes on this movie, we believe that the end product may be more ambitious than one might first assume.

Oppenheimer – 21 July

The other hugely anticipated movie released on the same day, Cork’s own Cillian Murphy stars in this historical epic from Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Inception) as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, with the film detailing his contributions that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. The very impressive cast list also includes Casey Affleck, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Robert Downey Jr. and many more recognisable faces.

Talk to Me – 28 July

This Australian horror centres around a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand and wind up becoming hooked on the new thrill. That is until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. The early buzz for Talk to Me suggests it could turn out to be 2023’s scariest movie.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – 31 July

Last but not least, this animated reboot of the classic franchise is co-written by Seth Rogen. It sees the heroes in a half-shell set out on a quest to be accepted as normal teenagers before becoming embroiled in a war with a mysterious crime syndicate.