July Streaming Recs Include Olympics, Shark Week & Return of Axel Foley

by Julian Spivey

Photos: Netflix, Apple & Discovery Warner Bros.

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​Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (Netflix) – Wednesday, July 3
One of our favorite cops of the ‘80s, Axel Foley (played by Eddie Murphy) has returned after 30 years for the fourth installment of the “Beverly Hills Cop” series. In 1984’s “Beverly Hills Cop,” Murphy played the street-smart Detroit cop who travels to Beverly Hills, California to investigate a crime out of his jurisdiction. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” will see Foley returning to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s life is threatened. The film sees the returns of Judge Reinhold, John Ashton and Paul Reiser, as well as newcomers Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Bacon and Taylour Paige. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, July 3 and should make for a humorous holiday watch. 

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Shark Week (Max) – Sunday, July 7 – Saturday, July 13
Shark Week enters its 35th year on Discovery Channel, premiering on Sunday, July 7 and running through Saturday, July 13. But never fear if you’re a cord-cutter as all of the newest Shark Week programming will also be streaming on Max. Hosted by pro wrestling star and actor John Cena, the newest Shark Week programming includes shows titled: “Jaws vs. Leviathan,” “Makozilla,” “Big Shark Energy,” “Deadliest Bite,” “Shark Attack Island” and “Mothersharker: Hammer Time,” among others. 

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Sunny (AppleTV+) – Wednesday, July 10
The latest AppleTV+ original is “Sunny,” a sci-fi dark comedy starring Rashida Jones as an American ex-pat living in Japan, who receives a domestic robot following the deaths of her robotist husband and son in a plane crash. When Sunny starts to malfunction, Jones’ character begins to wonder what her husband’s company is up to. Kaiya Shunyata of RogerEbert.com has called “Sunny” a “Summer T.V. standout.” “Sunny” premieres on AppleTV+ on Wednesday, July 10. 

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Simone Biles Rising (Netflix) – Wednesday, July 17
Simone Biles is the greatest Olympic gymnast of all time but following her mental health battle at the 2020 Tokyo Games, it was never a given she would return to Olympic action. Biles, however, feels like she has unfinished business and a documentary crew follows her on her journey back to the top spot of her sport. “Simone Biles Rising,” directed by Katie Walsh, will premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, July 17, the week before the 2024 Paris games. 

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Lady in the Lake (AppleTV+) – Friday, July 19
One of the year’s highest-profile limited series is “Lady in the Lake,” premiering Friday, July 19 on AppleTV+. The drama, based on Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel, stars Oscar-winner Natalie Portman as an investigative journalist in 1960s Baltimore working on an unsolved murder who clashes with a woman, played by Moses Ingram, who’s working to advance the agenda of the city’s black community. 

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Paris Olympics (Peacock) – Friday, July 26 – Sunday, August 11 
Peacock will be incredibly important for those excited to watch the 2024 Summer Olympics from Paris, beginning Friday, July 26 with the Opening Ceremony and culminating on Sunday, August 11. You’ll be able to watch the opening and closing ceremonies and the most popular events on NBC, including some of the biggest names of the games like Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky and Sha’Carri Richardson, but every event will be included live on Peacock.