Summer movies are the staple of the year, it’s where different types of genre blockbusters can showcase what they got (Jaws, Rocky, and The Dark Knight). With June in the books with few solid entries, July is here and unlike June, there should be a good amount of movies that are above par or better (hopefully). 

5. Hercules

 Starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the son of the Zeus. In this new take of Hercules, he has endured his legendary twelve labors. The Greek demigod now has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.

Ever since Wrath of Titans came out, I have lost all interest in that time period of movies. It’s very unfortunate because it’s one of my favorite era’s for movies. There’s a bit of hope in me that is still holding out for this movie mainly for one reason, Mr. Johnson. The guy has been brought on to ‘repair’ movie franchises the past few years (Fast & Furious, G.I. Joe), but now he gets a chance to helm his own movie franchise and I am very interested to see what it turns out like. The Hercules story is so rich with so many adventures and myths, there is no way there won’t be a sequel if the movie does well.

Hercules is set to open on July 25th, 2014. Starring Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Irina Shayk, and Ian McShane.

4. The Purge: Anarchy

 A couple are driving home to their kids when their car runs out of gas just as the Purge commences. Meanwhile, Leo goes out into the streets to get revenge on the man who killed his son, and a mother and daughter run from their home after assailants destroy it. The five people meet up as they attempt to survive the night in Los Angeles.

The first Purge was such a disappointment after looking like something that can be so good. Ended up being a boring home invasion plot line, that’s not predictable or anything. But the sequel looks exactly what a Purge movie should look like. It looks creepy and scary as hell, nobody would ever want to be locked outside as the Purge commences, everyones worst nightmare in that world. I won’t be going in with the highest of expectations, but I’m definitely hoping it’s much better than the original.

The Purge: Anarchy opens in theaters on July 18th, 2014. Directed by James DeMonaco starring Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Zach Gilford, Michael K. Williams, Amy Paffrath, Carmen Ejogo, Justina Machado, and Brandon Keener.

3. Lucy

A young woman is mistakenly in the middle of a dark deal. Who then flips the sides on those who captured her while becoming a superhuman evolving past any human logic we ever imagined.

I’m not sure I would be interested in this movie if it didn’t have Scarlett Johansson. I’m sure I would still watch it, but Johansson is the female action star right now to work with. The story is something fresh, new, and looks totally kick-ass. Johansson has been so damn good in the Marvel Universe as of late that there isn’t any way I wouldn’t watch something she’s in. Plus, the addition of Morgan Freeman never hurts.

Lucy is set to open on July 25th, 2014. Directed by Luc Besson starring Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Analeigh Tipton, and Min-sik Choi.

2. Affluenza (Limited Release)

 An aspiring young photographer finds himself caught up in a heady world of money, sex, and privilege when he moves to wealthy Long Island in the summer of 2008.

As a young adult still in college, this is totally a movie I want to see. I have been hearing pretty good things about it so far and really hope it shows up in theaters near me. It looks like a younger, ‘smaller’ version of The Wolf of Wall Street, just without the stockbroking and craziness. The young talents they brought one for the movie, led by Nicola Peltz and Grant Gustin, is such a perk that adds that much more for me. Just from the trailer some of the performances look phenomenal, the movie itself looks like it can be a sneaky, great movie that will surprise a lot of people. If it’s in your area, I highly recommend to watch it – otherwise look for it on home video.

Affluenza will open on July 11th, 2014. Directed by Kevin Asch starring Ben Rosenfield, Nicola Peltz, Grant Gustin, Gregg Sulkin, Samantha Mathis, Steve Guttenberg, and Valentina de Angelis.

1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.

This has been among the top of my most anticipated movies of 2014 ever since I saw the original. Not only was the first a total and complete surprise, many people said it may have been the best Apes movie yet. It not only brought a great, new, and fresh idea to the Planet of the Apes world, but it paid great homage to the originals of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Now picking up a decade later, Dawn looks like it can top Rise. Over the last week, early reviews are pouring in saying it’s one of the most beautiful written and shot movies of the year and that Andy Serkis is unbelievable and better than ever in motion-capture as Caesar (no duh!). The movie looks like it will be an emotional ride seeing these two civilizations trying to survive, on top of seeing the first moments (and hopefully not last) of humans against apes. I’m itching to see this movie and have been for a some time now, the only thing left to say is – APES ON HORSES!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opens on July 11th, 2014. Directed by Matt Reeves starring Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, and Kirk Acevedo with voices by Andy Serkis and Toby Kebell.