Best literary films and TV shows to stream in July 2025

Full text

Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to watch? Well, whatever you want, of course, but the name of this website is Literary Hub, so we sort of have an angle. To that end, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV coming to streaming services this month. Have fun.

NEW:

Elle

Prime Video, July 1

Literary bona fides: technically based on Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown (2001)

Does a Legally Blonde prequel make any narrative sense? No, it does not. Why would she have to learn the same lesson twice? Why not just remake it entirely? Well, perhaps that will be answered for us in this television show. (Probably not, though.)

Enola Holmes 3

Netflix, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on the Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer (2006-2023)

In the franchise’s third installment, Millie Bobbie Brown is back as Enola Holmes—younger sister of Sherlock—who must, it appears, rescue her more famous brother. On her wedding day, no less!

Little House on the Prairie

Netflix, July 9

Literary bona fides: based on Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1935)

The beloved book series (and beloved long-running TV adaptation) is getting new life as a Netflix series. General online sentiment: “they better not screw it up…”

The Five Star Weekend

Peacock, July 9

Literary bona fides: based on The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand (2023)

In this adaptation of Hilderbrand bestseller, Jennifer Garner stars as food blogger Hollis Shaw, who, after the death of her husband, organizes a weekend in Nantucket with a group of friends from all the stages of her life. Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, D’Arcy Carden, and Gemma Chan are the friends, which bodes well, and Timothy Olyphant pops up as an old boyfriend. Could do worse.

Reminders of Him

Peacock, July 10

Literary bona fides: based on Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (2022)

The Hoover adaptation march continues, but this time without any fun Blake Lively drama.

Lucky

Apple TV, July 15

Literary bona fides: based on Lucky by Marissa Stapley (2021)

Anya Taylor-Joy stars as the eponymous Lucky in this miniseries based on Stapley’s novel, in which a lifelong grifter—now on the lam and on her own—finds a winning lottery ticket and has to figure out how to cash in without getting caught. Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant (again!), and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor also star.

*

THROWBACK:

Jaws (1975)

Peacock, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974)

It’s July, folks. Time to rewatch the best summer movie ever made .

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Peacock, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf (1981)

A ridiculous, soft-boiled cult classic that absolutely begs for popcorn. ( Arrival beat Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in the first round of our Best Literary Adaptations bracket , but not by all that much, considering.)

High Fidelity (2000)

Netflix, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (1995)

Come for the tunes, stay for the Jack Black, at his absolute peak here.

Legally Blonde (2001)

HBO Max, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown (2001)

Why not skip the reheated leftovers and revisit the real thing?

Holes (2003)

Peacock, July 1

Literary bona fides: based on Holes by Louis Sachar (1998)

The adaptation of Sachar’s middle-grade classic—in which one Stanley Yelnats IV is sent to a detention camp where he is forced to dig a hole every day—is nowhere near as good as the book. But honestly, it’s still pretty good.