The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Max

If you've spent your July vacationing in exotic locales and getting fanned by palm fronds poolside while shirtless cabana boys brought you blended drinks with umbrellas in them, congratulations, you just wasted your time. Instead of getting tan, you could have been watching some great television, streaming movies, and not falling behind on the best that pop culture has to offer. The good news is that there are still plenty of days left in July to wash off the sunscreen and park your butt on the couch.

This month features the returns of bonafide hits (American Horror Story, Never Have I Ever, and more), a reboot of a pop culture phenomenon (Gossip Girl), and must-see movies that were derailed by the pandemic (Freaky). Below, we've gathered the best shows and movies to stream in July on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. 

The Best Movies and TV Shows on HBO Max in July

The new releases on HBO and HBO Max in July are all about second chances and returns to form. Two radically daring movies -- Freaky and The Hunt -- that had opening theatrical weekends right around the time the world shut down have an opportunity for new life on streaming. And my sources tell me there's a new Gossip Girl, too.

Here are our picks for HBO Max in July.

The Best Movies and TV Shows on Hulu in July

The biggest drop of the month (in certain circles) is probably Ryan Murphy's latest anthology series, American Horror Stories, which is decidedly not a new season of American Horror Story, but instead a spin-off of the spooky, scary, campy show we all know and love. But do not sleep on Questlove's excellent Summer of Soul, a documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 that's sure to pick up some awards. -Allison Picurro

Here's our full list of picks for Hulu in July, but if you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Hulu in July.

The Best Movies and TV Shows on Amazon Prime in July

Amazon Prime Video jumps into July with one of its biggest releases ever, the action-packed sci-fi film The Tomorrow War starring Chris Pratt as a scientist flung three decades into the future to fight a war against an alien invasion that hasn't yet started in his own timeline. Even with middling reviews, it's made our list of the best things to watch on Amazon Prime Video right now, because this is a list for everyone.

Here's our full list of picks for Amazon Prime Video, but you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Amazon Prime in July.

The Best Movies and TV Shows on Netflix in July

The best shows and movies on Netflix are heating up this July, just like seemingly every place under the sun. At the head of the class this month are favorites like Mindy Kaling's high school-set comedy Never Have I Ever and the cult hit sketch series I Think You Should Leave. They're joined by the final season of Atypical, as well as Season 3 of everyone's aunt's favorite show, Virgin River. -Kelly Connolly

Here's our full list of picks for Netflix in July, but you want to sort through the list of new releases yourself, here's a list of everything new to Netflix in July.

Looking for more recommendations of what to watch next? We have a ton of them! And if you're looking for more hand-picked recommendations based on TV shows you love, we have those too.