I don’t want to jinx anything, but it looks like the long-awaited summer weather is finally here. When your kids (and you) get tired and hot from playing outside and need a little downtime, Netflix has plenty of options for a chill break.
Summertime is the season of blockbusters and action entertainment, and the July Netflix lineup is no exception. Highlights include a new animated feature about a crew of sea monster hunters, an interactive special where viewers choose the adventure’s fate, plus the return of everyone’s favorite karate-fighting panda.
Read on for the best shows for kids, plus a few suggestions for the grown-ups.
- July 7: “Karma’s World” (Season 3) — From producer Ludacris, this animated series stars middle school student Karma, who has big dreams and can solve any problem that comes her way.
- July 8: “Ranveer Vs. Wild With Bear Grylls” — Viewers get to choose the adventure for Ranveer Singh and Bear Grylls in this action-packed special feature. Should Ranveer play dead when a bear approaches? Or throw a flare? It’s up to you! Bonus: Your kids can watch this special multiple times to see how each choice plays out.
- July 8: “The Sea Beast” — The award-winning filmmakers behind “Big Hero 6” and “Moana” present a new animated adventure about a young girl who stows away on a boat with a crew of sea monster hunters. This looks like a great candidate for a backyard summer movie with friends! After you watch the movie, you might want to download this fun activity pack from Netflix for the kids.
- July 11: “Team Zenko Go” (Season 2) — This animated series is back for its second season of taking kindness to the max. The team does good deeds and helps people in need, all while keeping their identities secret.
- July 14: “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight” (Season 1) — With his talent for making kids and adults laugh out loud, Jack Black reprises voice duty as Po in this new “Kung Fu Panda” series from DreamWorks Animation.
- July 15: “Uncharted” — Tom Holland plays Nathan Drake in this action-adventure movie based on a video game. Treasure hunters recruit Drake to recover the fortune of Ferdinand Magellan. This movie is rated PG-13 and has some swearing, violence and tense action sequences. Probably best for the tween/teen crowd; you can check out the review on Common Sense Media for more information.
- July 21: “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” (Season 5) — The dinosaurs of Jurassic Park are not only stomping and roaring through movie theaters this summer. This exciting animated series about six teens attending an adventure camp on Isla Nublar island (where the original “Jurassic Park” movie took place) is back for its final season. Cue the roaring T-rex … now!
Top picks for grown-ups:
- July 1: “Stranger Things” (Season 4: Volume 2) — Unless you have been abstaining from the internet for the past month, you probably know about this arrival. Get ready for the exciting (and terrifying) conclusion to this popular season. While this volume is composed of only two episodes, they are feature-film-length and provide nearly four hours of jump-scares and monsters.
- July 15: “Persuasion” — Looking for something a little less scary? Jane Austen’s novel comes to life (again) in this new adaptation starring Dakota Johnson.
- July 22: “The Gray Man” — This new action thriller has an all-star cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick and Regé-Jean Page. Check it out for some summer blockbuster fun right in your living room.
- July 29: “Uncoupled” (Season 1) — Neil Patrick Harris (who can do no wrong) stars in this new comedy series in which he finds himself single once again after being left by his husband of 17 years. Created and produced by Darren Star (who brought us “Sex and the City” and “Emily in Paris”), this series is bound to be a ton of fun and deliver a touch of glamour.
