July Fourth Movie Releases: What To Watch Or Skip In Theaters This Holiday Weekend

Need a break from the sun, grill and fireworks this Fourth of July? Look no further than your local cinema for a quiet reprieve this holiday weekend. Grab your friends and family, splurge a little extra at the concession stand and soak in some of the latest and greatest movies to hit theaters this summer.

New This Weekend:
Don’t let the seemingly “ladies vs. guys movie” marketing ploy fool you. Anyone can enjoy “Magic Mike XXL” and “Terminator Genisys”. Both were released ahead of the July Fourth weekend, so expect potentially large crowds at your local theater.

Audiences can choose to indulge in their “Terminator” fandom and watch Arnold Schwarzenegger return to the ‘80s franchise. Others looking for light-hearted (but dirty) fun can buy a ticket to Channing Tatum’s stripper road trip sequel to 2012’s “Magic Mike.” The movie is less serious than the original and those final routines feel like a grown-up showdown of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Movies To Catch Up With:
If you were waiting to catch big name movies after their packed opening weekend, good news! Now’s your chance, but be mindful that several big titles, like “Jurassic World,” may still pack theaters. Buy your tickets early or try to get to the movies in for a matinee show to get a less crowded house.

Audiences have one more week to wait until “Minions” premieres, so families with younger children can visit Pixar’s “Inside Out,” if they haven’t already. Watch out grown-ups, the intricately designed world of the inner workings of a pre-teen’s head may make you nostalgic for your own childhood memories.

If you’re looking for a few laughs, be sure to check out Paul Feig’s “Spy” starring Melissa McCarthy. The hilarious spy spoof co-starring Rose Byrne, Jason Statham and Jude Law is a wonderful skew on the “James Bond” series and a touch of commentary on people’s perceptions. Also, it’s a kind of preview to McCarthy and Feig’s next collaboration, the “Ghostbusters” reboot.

And if you haven’t caught “Mad Max: Fury Road” yet in theaters, your chance to do so may be running out. The action movie extravaganza is still playing on a few select screens, but since it was released in May, the “Mad Max” sequel might not hold on for much longer.

If You Missed These Movies, No Harm:
There are always summer stinkers in the crowded movie theaters. Fortunately, no movie has taken a “Jurassic World” sized free fall at the box office, but a few lackluster options lurk in multiplexes. Their out-of-touch punchlines and below-the-belt humor failed to connect with audiences who have moved on.

Seth MacFarlane’s crass "Ted 2" lacked the buddy comedy angle that endeared the original to its fans. Instead, this sequel relies on tired jokes and stereotypes while making the movie all about the foul-mouthed bear. Few clever moments fail to jolt this comedy alive.

Likewise, it looks as if the bros from “Entourage” are no longer the object of envy. Its overlong final episode arc failed to attract audiences from beyond its core following. Perhaps that’s the last we’ll see of Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and the gang?

Well, there is always the option to reboot the franchise. Right, “Jurassic World”?