July 2026 book adaptations: Enola Holmes 3 on Netflix leads packed month

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Grab your popcorn buckets and your M&Ms, book lovers. If you’re looking for some fun new shows and movies to watch at home or in theaters, there are a lot of fun book adaptations coming out this July. From sequels to series to epic blockbuster movies perfect for a summer at the movie theater, this month has it all! Let’s take a closer look at what will be gracing our screens in July 2026.

Enola Holmes 3 (Netflix, July 1)

Netflix returns to the world of Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes 3. This is the film adaptation of the third book in Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes mystery series, The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets . Millie Bobby Brown reprises her role as the title character Enola, who is preparing to marry Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge). But the wedding is derailed when Enola’s brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is kidnapped. Himesh Patel, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster also star. The third film is directed by Philip Barantini ( Boiling Point ), who takes over the reins from the director of the first two films, Harry Bradbeer.

Silo (Apple TV+, July 3)

Apple TV+’s sci-fi series based on the Silo trilogy by Hugh Howey is back for a third season. This season will be primarily based on Shift , the second novel in the trilogy. Rebecca Ferguson returns to star as scientist Juliette Nichols. Joining this season are Ashley Zuckerman and Jessica Henwick. The first episode of the season drops on July 3, and episodes will come out weekly every Friday.

Reading Lolita in Tehran (Theatrical Release, July 10)

After having a festival run in 2024, this adaptation of the critically acclaimed memoir of the same name by Azar Nafisi finally hits theaters this July. The film is directed by Eran Riklis ( Lemon Tree and The Syrian Bride ), who also wrote the screenplay with Marjorie David. Golshifteh Farahani stars as Azar Nafisi, a university literature professor who organizes a secret reading group to discuss forbidden Western classic literature.

Lucky (Apple TV+, July 15)

This crime thriller mini-series is based on Marissa Stapley’s 2021 novel of the same name. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Lucky Armstrong, a con artist who is on the run after a heist gone wrong. Annette Bening also stars as Priscilla, a mob leader pursuing Lucky. The series is executive-produced by Taylor-Joy and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company. Jonathan Tropper and Cassie Pappas serve as show runners. The seven-episode series premieres on July 15 and drops weekly until August 19.

Heartstopper Forever (Netflix, July 17)

Get ready to cry, because the final chapter of Heartstopper hits Netflix on July 17. This film is the follow-up to the three-season series based on the graphic novels by Alice Oseman. Kit Connor and Joe Locke star as Nick and Charlie, a young queer couple navigating romance and growing up alongside their group of friends, played by Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Tobie Donovan, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, and Rhea Norwood. Wash Westmoreland directs.

The Odyssey (Theatrical Release, July 17)

July wraps up with a bang with not one but two big summer blockbusters. First up is Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey , starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. The star-studded cast also includes Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, and more. This epic fantasy action film will also be playing in IMAX.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Theatrical Release, July 31)

Tom Holland and Zendaya are back for another must-see blockbuster film adaptation at the very end of July. We all know and love Spider-Man, based on the Marvel superhero created by Stan Lee. In this film, Peter Parker (Holland) deals with the repercussions of erasing himself from everyone’s memories. Zendaya reprises her role as MJ, and Jacob Batalon returns as Ned. Sadie Sink is also starring in an undisclosed role. Destin Daniel Cretton ( Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ) directs.

July is full of a lot of exciting new adaptation releases, but not a lot of adaptations from authors of color, unfortunately. If you’re looking for more adaptations from diverse voices, here are some of the best movies based on books by authors of color out in 2026 .