After leaving fans with a jaw-dropping reveal in episode 7, Stranger Things 4 drops its final two “episodes” on July 1. We put “episodes” in quotes because at 85 minutes and 150 minutes, the last two of the season – “Papa” and “The Piggyback” – are both movie-length.
Not that anyone is complaining. Simply put, the latest season of Stranger Things is the best in the series so far. Even as its younger stars reach adolescence, the cast’s chemistry remains as solid as ever, while the storytelling, visual effects, and horror elements all reach a new peak. 2022 has already been a tremendous year for television, and Stranger Things certainly belongs in the discussion for the best shows of the year.
We’ll see if Netflix can keep its creative winning streak intact this July. Here’s a brief look at five more movies and shows to watch after Stranger Things.
The Gray Man
Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo reteam with Captain America himself (Chris Evans) along with Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas for this new spy thriller about a top CIA operative who winds up on the run after uncovering some of the agency’s darkest secrets.
Available July 22
Persuasion
Dakota Johnson stars in this period drama based on the Jane Austen novel about a young woman who must “choose between putting the past behind her or listening to her heart when it comes to second chances.” Cosmo Jarvis and Henry Golding co-star. Persuasion looks like a bullseye for Bridgerton fans who were left cold by the latest season.
Available July 15
Boo, Bitch
To All the Boys star Lana Condor returns to Netflix for a new eight-episode limited series. The show centers on an ambitious young woman who finally decides to let loose at a party just before she graduates. But following the night of her life, she wakes up the next morning to discover she’s now a ghost. With a great cast and good premise, this looks like a fun one.
Available July 8
Resident Evil
Between the video game series, film series, and recent movie reboot, Resident Evil has become an undead cash cow, figurative and literally. Like a gamer struggling to move on to the next level, Netflix is taking another stab at it with this series, which showrunner Andrew Dabb says will feel like they took “all the games and shuffled them together.”
Available July 14
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight
Finally, if you’re looking for more kid-friendly content, Netflix has plenty of new series, sequels, and spin-offs coming this July. Jack Black returns to voice Po in this new series that finds the titular Panda joining forces with “an elite English knight on a global quest to rescue magical weapons, restore his reputation — and save the world!” Parents can also look out for Karma’s World, season 3 (July 7), My Little Pony: A New Generation: Sing-Along and StoryBots: Laugh, Learn, Sing: Collection 2: Learn to Read (July 18), Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, season 5 (July 21), Gabby’s Dollhouse, season 5 (July 25), Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation (July 28), and Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series (July 29).
Available July 14
