July is for beaches, sunbathing and barbecues. But we’ve been around long enough to know the Great British Summer does not always live up to expectations – and if the first week of July is anything to go by, it’s fair to say our hopes for a heatwave have been a little, er, dampened. However luckily for binge watchers, unpredictable weather bodes well for lazy afternoons at home. With this in mind, we’ve carefully curated a selection of top programmes so addictive that we’re sure you won’t be longing to be away from the screen. Here are the best TV shows and films to stream in July. 

Wham!, Netflix 

One of this month’s most highly-anticipated releases is sure to have George Michael fans excited. Wham! is a new documentary featuring archival interviews and never-before-seen footage of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as they relive the arc of their star-studded careers, which transformed them from best friends in Hertfordshire in the 1970s to world-renowned pop icons just a decade later. 

Out: 5 July 2023

My Happy Marriage, Netflix 

Anime fans will love My Happy Marriage: a Japanese Netflix original based on the light and heartfelt novel of the same name by author Akumi Agitogi. The latest move by the streaming giant to incorporate more anime options into its offering, we’re sure this is one series you won’t want to miss. The story centres around Miyo, whose abusive family deems her worthless. However, when she is married off to a fearsome army commander, she discovers her true self and hidden powers slowly begin to shine.

Out: 5 July 2023

The Horror of Dolores Roach, Prime Video

A darkly comic thriller, The Horror of Dolores Roach is based on the eponymous fiction podcast and has brought the characters to life with a great cast including Justina Machado, Kita Updike and Jean Yoon. Based on Dolores Roach, a proud New Yorker who is released from prison after a 16-year sentence for a drug charge she believes wasn’t her fault. The city she discovers outside of the prison’s walls is very different from the one she knew, and she quickly starts putting her newly-learned skills as a somewhat deadly masseuse into action on those who betrayed her…  

Out: 7 July 2023

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2, Prime Video

Jenny Han’s teen romance trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty, first gained popularity when it was published in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2021 that Amazon Prime saw its potential for TV and gave the show the green light. Fans have probably caught up with the first season, which hit screens last summer, and this year sees the release of a second season with protagonist Belly still stuck in a love triangle. She used to look forward to her time at the coast each summer, but now she finds herself torn between brothers Conrad and Jeremiah. What could possibly go wrong? 

Out: 14 July 2023

Bird Box Barcelona, Netflix

Bird Box Barcelona is the next film in the Bird Box franchise, which first made headlines in 2018 thanks to its leading star Sandra Bullock and unique storyline which saw a family attempt to journey to safety blindfolded in order to not look evil, quite literally, in the eye. This time, the team takes the American post-apocalyptic horror thriller over to the Spanish streets of Barcelona, where a new cast is tasked with escaping the monsters. Mario Casas plays Sebastian, who navigates his way through yet another deadly wasteland without sight. 

Out: 14 July 2023

They Cloned Tyrone, Netflix

Starring John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris, They Cloned Tyrone is a comedic sci-fi thriller which focuses on an unlikely trio thrust into the centre of a government conspiracy. The hype around this film has been immense depsite much of the plot has been kept under wraps. However, from what we can tell from the trailers, we’re expecting lots of laughs, 1970s nostalgia and great music.

Out: 21 July 2023

The Beanie Bubble, Apple TV+

Delving into the story of the biggest toy phenomenon of the 1990s – Beanie Babies – The Beanie Bubble stars Zach Galifianakis as Ty Warner, who went from being a frustrated salesman to millionaire when his collaboration with three women turned average stuffed animals into an iconic trend. This behind-the-scenes film follows Warner’s highs and lows, demonstrating who and what is valued in the world of business. 

Out: 28 July 2023

Read more: The best new books coming out in July 2023