5 Netflix movies to watch in July 2022 (and 4 to skip)

Another month is almost upon us and that means looking ahead to see what new Netflix movies will be coming to the streaming service in July 2022.

The streamer is promoting its “summer of romance” this year, so several of the Netflix movies on the way are romantic films, like Purple Hearts, Persuasion and Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. But there’s also plenty of action and genre fare on the way, too, such as the Taiwanese horror film Incantation and the Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling film The Gray Man.

With so many new movies on the way, we’ve divided up some of the most anticipated into the ones you absolutely must watch, and a few you could probably skip.

5 Netflix movies to watch in July 2022 (and 4 to skip)

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (July 6)

Watch! Based on the novel by Jennifer E. Smith, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between follows two teenagers who make a pact to break up before going to college to save themselves the heartbreak.

Netflix is rather hit-or-miss when it comes to book adaptations, but this movie is written by Everything Sucks! co-creator Ben York Jones, who also co-wrote the well-received romantic drama Like Crazy, so there is a good chance this movie will be a solid adaptation. Plus, given it’s also from the producers of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this is a movie you’ll want to keep on your radar.

Dangerous Liasions (July 8)

Skip! If the plot to this movie sounds familiar to you it’s probably because you’ve seen Cruel Intentions or one of the many other adaptations of  Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s famous French novel.

The story follows a girl who becomes the unwitting part of a bet between her new school’s queen bee and a seductive surfer. This novel has been adapted so many times it’s hard to imagine that this version would bring anything new to the table, but if you can’t get enough teen dramas then it might be worth a shot.

Incantation (July 8)

Watch! Six years ago, Li Ronan broke a religious taboo. Now she must do whatever she can to protect her daughter from the consequences of her actions. If you watch the trailer, you’ll notice the beginning introduces us as if we’re watching cursed footage, akin to The Ring.

This is a found footage movie that is inspired by a true event. Netflix recently secured global rights to this Taiwanese horror hit, which has been described as one of the scariest Taiwanese movies ever made. Incantation has already received positive feedback and now horror fans all over the world will get the chance to watch.

Jewel (July 8)

Skip! A photographer stirs up painful memories from the past when she takes an interest in a local woman after visiting a the memorial of a massacre. As much as I would love to recommend this movie because of its queer themes, unfortunately, director Adze Ugah’s previous Netflix movie Slay was not great.

That said, the trailer for this movie is compelling so I’m willing to give it a chance and if it interests you, or you liked the director’s previous works, you should certainly add it to your watchlist. The trailer is not available on YouTube right now, but you can watch it on Netflix.

The Sea Beast (July 8)

Watch! The Sea Beast is the kind of rip-roaring family fun you would normally see in theaters, but the animated epic is planning to make waves on Netflix. This action-packed journey showcases a journey into uncharted waters where terrifying beasts roam the seas.

Young Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) stows away on a legendary ship manned by the great Jacob Holland (Karl Urban), together they embark into the open ocean to make history. The Sea Beast comes from the award-winning filmmaker Chris Williams, the man behind films like Moana and Big Hero Six. It helps that The Sea Beast is already generating excellent reviews from critics.

Valley of the Dead (July 11)

Skip! To be fair, this movie does look a little Resident Evil-like, but since Netflix is already releasing a Resident Evil show that looks much better this month, I’d vote just skipping this lower-budget fare for that.

However, low-budget horror movies can also be tons of fun, so if that’s your thing, certainly check this one out. Set during the Spanish Civil War, Valley of the Dead follows a group of enemies that must work together to fight zombies created in a Nazi experiment.

Persuasion (July 15)

Watch! Personally, I’m excited for Persuasion, but the feedback to the trailer from most Jane Austen fans has been pretty negative. Netflix movies, especially those adapted from books, can be hit or miss, but this film does have an excellent cast, led by Dakota Johnson.

I think we need to wait to see the movie to judge how well it adapts the acclaimed novel it’s based on, but if you’re a diehard Austen fan and don’t want to risk seeing your favorite book poorly adapted it might be better to skip this movie. Persuasion is about Anne Elliot. Eight years after she was persuaded not to marry a dashing man of humble origins, they meet again. Will she seize her second chance at true love?

The Gray Man (July 22)

Watch! Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas and Regé-Jean Page star in one of the most highly-anticiapted Netflix movies of the year from the Russo brothers.

Based on the novel by Mark Greaney, The Gray Man is a big investment on Netflix’s part and is expected to be a big hit. The story follows a shadowy CIA agent who uncovers damning agency secrets and becomes hunted across the globe by a sociopathic rogue operative. It’ll be fun to watch Evans play a psychopath.

Purple Hearts (July 29)

Skip! Purple Hearts looks like a sweet movie for those who enjoy romantic dramas. However, the way it’s described, it sounds more like a Nicholas Sparks story, complete with tragedy. If you like military movies and tearjerkers, then this should be right up your alley, but otherwise, it’s probably a skip.

Sofia Carson is great though and plenty charming, so fans of hers should watch!  The plot follows Cassie (Carson), a struggling singer-songwriter, and Luke (Nicholas Galitzine), a troubled marine, who agree to marry solely for military benefits. But when tragedy strikes, things become far more complicated.

Which of these Netflix movies coming in July are you most excited (or not excited) to watch?