July is bursting at the seams with amazing outings to the movie theatre this year, with well over 15 titles looking promising for audiences of all ages. This month there’s plenty for the kids, fun for the family, the pensive, and even those just looking for a night away from their daily grind. Texas Lifestyle prides itself on bringing you the best of the best, so here are the films you should check out this month.

The Purge: Election Year

July 1 (R)

America’s favorite month gets gruesome right from the start, with the latest installation in the Purge franchise. The team hits the nail on the head with this one, as many Americans are likely wishing they could purge a presidential candidate or two. This story, the third chapter of the gorey American dream replaces those stars and stripes with guns and pipes as we follow Senator Charlie Roan, an ambitious presidential candidate hoping to end the purge, as she tries to survive the night while the New Founding Fathers of America work towards her demise.

Our Kind of Traitor

July 1 (R)

Taking a break from American politics, this film follows the story of a couple who finds themselves in the mix with a Russian oligarch as he attempts to defect when his plans land them positioned between the Russian MAfia and the British Secret Service. This thriller presents suspense and tension in a balance that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With a strong cast, this looks rather promising.

The Legend of Tarzan

July 1 (PG-13)

We’re not out of the jungle just yet. April took us on an adventure with The Jungle Book, June jumped into the sea with Finding Dory and now we’re heading deep into the heart of an African jungle with The Legend of Tarzan, as Alexander Skarsgård takes up the titular role couples with Margot Robbie. In this adaptation, Tarzan has left the jungle and claimed a new identity as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke (pretty lofty ambitions for someone growing up in a jungle). But now he’s been called back to the Congo, only this time as a trade emissary of Parliament. Unbeknown to him, there is a much more nefarious plot in the works.  

The Secret Life of Pets

July 8 (G)

This one is for the family, and looks to be worth a laugh or two. Max, a pampered terrier living the life in New York has be slight meltdown when his owner adopts Duke, a beast of a canine. One day, while out for a walk they encounter a clowder of cats and find themselves in the back of a truck that’s bound for the pound. When they’re saved by the revolutionary rabbit, Snowball, they see that the adventure is just beginning.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

July 8 (R)

We’re pretty sure that this is going to be akin to just about everything else Zac Efron has done recently. A young hard-bodied main character with a lesser attractive counterpart on a quest of minor importance that gets blown way out of proportion. Sound about right? Well, in this movie, we have Mike and Dave who are two young, fun-loving brothers with a history of getting out of control at family events. When their sister announces her wedding plans, she pleased with the duo to bring respectable dates. The two place an ad on Craigslist and decide to go with Tatiana and Alice. Sure enough, things aren’t as vanilla as they assumed, and once it’s wedding time there’s no turning back.

Ghostbusters

July 15 (PG-13)

In what has been described as the most controversial movie of the year — the curse of die-hard fans and nostalgia — this remake of the 1984 classic is positioned to introduce a new team of ghost-hunting scientists. Abby Yates, a paranormal researcher, and physicist Erin Gilbert have dedicated their lives and careers to proving that ghosts really do exist. When apparitions start popping up in Manhattan the duo team up with Jillian Holtzmann, a nifty engineer, to develop special gear. They also get the help of would-be historian Patty Tolan, whose knowledge of the city comes in handy. Armed with proton packs, this quartet is ready to take on Times Square.

Quitters

July 22 (NR)

Quitters is a dark comedy about families in San Francisco, centered on Clark Rayman, a precocious high schooler whose world is crumbling around him. When his mother checks into rehab and he and his father clash, Clark goes in search of a better home life. Craving the affection of his new girlfriend Natalia’s much more stable family, he convinces her to let him move in. As his presence becomes more intrusive, Natalia and her family grow increasingly uncomfortable with this arrangement. When Clark is finally asked to leave, he has nowhere left to go.You likely won’t hear much about this film in terms of advertising, but trust us, this is one worth watching.

Star Trek Beyond

July 22 (NR)

This highly anticipated installment in the global franchise returns with director Justin Lin at helm, telling the story of the U.S.S. Enterprise as Captain Kirk and and the crew as they explore the furthest reaches of space. When they end up marooned on a distant planet they encounter a mysterious new warrior race who puts them and everything they stand for to the test.

Lights Out

July 22 (PG-13)

We’re not sure when horror movies managed to escape from October, but we’re not complaining. If you enjoy being scared out of your shoes, this is a movie for you. This movie follows Rebecca and her little brother, Martin, who are haunted by a terrifying entity that was previously attached to their mother. When the lights go out, no one is safe. This is definitely something that will leave you sleeping with the lights on for a couple of days.

Jason Bourne

July 29 (PG-13)

This must be the month of expansions, as we close out the month with the fifth installment of the Bourne franchise. This time around it’s been years since the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, when Jason Bourne resurfaces to deal with global instability. As he continues to hunt down the pieces of his past, there is a new program designed to hunt him down. This may be the month of independence, but it seems like everyone is still fighting it out in film.