The month tagged as a festival of deals loosens its guard a little, buoyed by a strong slate of July releases. A wave of action thrillers like Mission: Impossible and Oppenheimer. A handful of rock documentaries about iconic acts such as Wham! and King Crimson, plus a blend of generic compilations, true crime investigations, and a pandemic-era remake starring Sandra Bullock in a fantasy setting that imagines a deserted Barcelona.
1. ‘VAM!’
Voted the best boy band of all time in 2008, Wham! consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley and stood out for their later career after splitting in 1986. Directed by Chris Smith, this documentary traces their career through candid interviews and archival footage, offering a vivid snapshot of their rise, partnership, and lasting impact on pop music.
2. ‘AT THE COURT OF THE RED KING’
Not a typical band-documentary, this film delves into the late 20th-century prog and art rock scenes through the lens of Robert Fripp and his colleagues. It revisits how the band shaped their path, while spotlighting present-day performances that showcase the trio of drummers driving their sound forward with dramatic energy.
3. ‘A PLACE TO FIGHT’
France’s first original Disney+ feature blends intrigue, action, and romance. The story follows an agent with homeland security ties and an environmental activist, played by Lyna Khoudri, in a narrative where love intersects with ideological conflict and high-stakes missions.
4. ‘BAD CITY’
Unveiled at the Sitges festival, the film nods to 1980s Japanese thrillers through Kensuke Sonomura’s stylish lens. A seasoned police investigator confronts rival mafias and a web of corrupt power, all shouted with cinematic flair and suspenseful momentum.
5. ‘START’
Colombia’s growing film scene shines in this thriller with social conscience. The Initiates follows a journalist who uncovers a sprawling conspiracy while investigating a murder, weaving danger, truth-seeking, and moral complexity into a tight, provocative narrative.
6. ‘BIRD BOX BARCELONA’
Barcelona gets a modern remake inspired by the 2018 American thriller Bird Box. Directed by Álex and David Pastor, the story places Mario Casas and Georgina Campbell in a city stripped by an epidemic, where unseen dangers force desperate choices and claustrophobic survival.
7. ‘TYRONE CLONE’
A genre-blending mystery with science fiction, horror, comedy, and drama. In a tense Atlanta neighborhood, John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris uncover a chilling conspiracy involving high-level officials that begins to unfold overnight.
8. ‘LOSS: THE CASE OF LUCIE BLACKMAN’
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case examines the disappearance of Lucie Blackman in Tokyo in 2000 and the international efforts to locate answers. The investigation ultimately exposes a dangerous web surrounding the suspect, Joji Obara, in a narrative that confronts crime, responsibility, and justice.
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
A classic true crime chronicle that details the events leading to Lucie Blackman’s disappearance in Tokyo, including the global pursuit of the killer and the unsettling realities of the case.
9. ‘IL BOEMO’
Inspired by a real figure, this Czech production presented at San Sebastian follows a young Venetian violinist in 18th-century society who dreams of opera composition. His romance with a Libertine marquis opens doors to aristocratic circles and dramatic personal growth as he pursues artistic ambition.
10. ‘BREAT DISEASE’
Nothing escapes the cultural radar, from snack brands to blockbuster games. In this playful take, the movie examines the rise of quirky collectibles and the way pop culture icons, including comedy veterans, intersect with toys and entertainment, offering a lighthearted, satirical pulse through the years.