Why it's a good month to save on streaming, despite the return of 'Enola Holmes' to Netflix and 'Silo' to Apple
Millie Bobby Brown stars in Netflix's "Enola Holmes 3."
First the good news: It'll be easier than ever to save a few bucks on streaming subscriptions in July.
But that's only because there's not a whole lot coming out over the next month. Blame a combination of factors, including the lull following Emmy season, competition from the World Cup and the traditional summer doldrums. That'll at least free up more time to watch the knockout rounds of what has been a fantastically entertaining World Cup (streaming on Fox One, and Peacock for the Spanish-language broadcasts, through the final on July 19).
So with a bit of strategic churning - that is, adding and dropping services month to month - you can still catch the best shows while keeping your monthly streaming budget under $50. Keep in mind that a billing cycle starts when you sign up, not necessarily at the beginning of the month. And it's always worth watching out for time-sensitive deals and money-saving bundles.
Each month, this column offers tips on how to maximize your streaming and your budget - rating the major services as "play," "pause" or "stop," similar to investment analysts' traditional ratings of buy, hold and sell - and picks the best shows to help you make your monthly decisions.
Here's a look at what's coming to the various streaming services in July 2026, and what's really worth the monthly subscription fee:
Apple TV ($12.99 a month)
Sci-fi is one genre that Apple $(AAPL)$ does very well, and the dystopian drama "Silo" (July 3), which is returning for its third season, may be the best of the bunch. Intriguingly, the new season will be split over two timelines: One hundreds of years in the future and set deep within the mysterious vault, as Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) continues her fight to uncover the hidden truth about, well, everything, and one flashing back to more-or-less the present day, explaining the origins of the mysterious silos, and what happened to the world outside. It's a satisfying thriller with intricate world-building, and an easy binge.
Apple's also got Season 5 of the British comedy "Trying" (July 8), as Nikki and Jason (Esther Smith and Rafe Spall) navigate parenthood after adopting two children; "Lucky" (July 15), a heist-thriller miniseries starring Anna Taylor-Joy as a con artist on the run from both the FBI and the mob; and "The Dink" (July 24), a comedy movie about a washed-up tennis prodigy (Jake Johnson) who finds redemption through the dorkiest sport of all: pickleball. Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen and Chloe Fineman co-star, and producer Ben Stiller seems to have carried over some "Dodgeball" vibes.
Got a streaming question? From how to pick the right bundle to why your favorite show won't return for two years, we'll help you maximize your streaming subscriptions in an upcoming feature. Email questions to mmurphy@marketwatch.com
There are also new episodes of the paranoid, alt-history Soviet space drama "Star City" (season finale July 10); Tatiana Maslany's delightfully twisty thriller "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" (season finale July 15); "Cape Fear" (finale July 31), the over-the-top thriller with Javier Bardem and Amy Adams that should have been a few episodes shorter; and "Sugar," the slick L.A.-noir mystery which - shockingly enough - seems to have pulled off a drastic course correction by basically yadda-yadda-yadda-ing the fact that Colin Farrell's character is an alien.
Check it out: Believe the buzz about "Widow's Bay," which ended its first season in mid-June. It may end up being the best show of 2026, deftly balancing laugh-out-loud comedy and legit creepy horror. It's an extremely fun ride, even if you're not a horror fan (there are like three scenes where you should cover your eyes and peek through your fingers, but otherwise it's fine). It's become a word-of-mouth hit for a reason; watch it if you can.
Play, pause or stop? Play. Apple is on a serious run, and has become the must-watch streaming service recently. It won't be slowing down anytime soon either, with "Ted Lasso" and "Slow Horses" returning in the next couple of months.
Netflix ($8.99 a month for standard with ads, $19.99 standard with no ads, $26.99 premium with no ads)
Millie Bobby Brown ("Stranger Things") officially has a second hit Netflix franchise, returning with the movie "Enola Holmes 3" (July 1) as Sherlock's equally brilliant younger sister. This time around, Enola's impending wedding is interrupted when she learns Sherlock's been kidnapped and needs rescuing. The movies have been fun, action-packed romps, the kind of thing that used to make $100 million in a theater over the summer.
Netflix $(NFLX)$ also has "Summer of '36" (July 1), a six-part historical drama about four very different French women investigating a murder on the Riviera; the documentary series "Worst Neighbor Ever" (July 1), which sounds suspiciously like HBO's docuseries "Neighbors"; the final season of Michelle Buteau's comedy/drama "Survival of the Thickest" (July 3); "Little House on the Prairie" (July 9), a new take on the 1970s family drama about the Ingalls family's adventures in the American frontier; "Hot Ones: Extra Heat" (July 13), a spinoff of the popular interview show; a new season of "The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On" (July 15); and Season 2 of the Texas-set soap "Ransom Canyon" (July 23).
On the movie front, Will Ferrell stars in "The Hawk" (July 16), as a brash golf legend chasing one last title in what looks like a mashup of "Talladega Nights" and "Happy Gilmore"; "Heartstopper Forever" (July 17), which serves as a series finale for the hit queer romantic drama; and "72 Hours" (July 24), a comedy about a wild bachelor party in Miami, starring Kevin Hart and Marcelo Hernandez.
There's also the MLB Home Run Derby (July 13), and a new season of "Quarterback" (July 14), following NFL stars Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, Cam Ward and Joe Flacco through the 2025 season.
Netflix is also adding all four seasons of NBC's "Heroes" (July 1), Season 4 of AMC's "Dark Winds" (July 4), both live-action versions of "The Tick" (July 9 for the 2001 Patrick Warburton one, July 16 for the 2016 Peter Serafinowicz one); and all three seasons of the spectacular serial-killer drama "Hannibal" (July 27), which will have you asking how in the world this got made by NBC. Also on the way: all five "Hunger Games" movies (July 14), "Wicked: For Good" (July 20) and the first three "Scream" movies (July 24).
Out to pasture: Despite a big-name cast, apparently good ratings and an Emmy push, Netflix has canceled the sci-fi thriller "The Boroughs" after one season. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the surprise move came after the Duffer Brothers, who produced the series, along with "Stranger Things," jumped ship from Netflix for a multi-year deal with Paramount (their Netflix deal expired in April). Regardless, the first season of "The Boroughs" ends with the plot mostly resolved, so don't let the cancellation deter you from checking it out - it's a fun watch, kind of a mix of "Stranger Things" and "Cocoon."
Play, pause or stop? Pause and think it over. There's nothing that's must-see, but there's plenty that's "meh, I'd watch that." If you're looking for goofy, check out the Patrick Warburton version of "The Tick," and if you're not afraid of the sight of blood, indulge in the horror and psychological thrills of "Hannibal" (it really is a jaw-dropper of a show).
Peacock ($10.99 a month with ads, or $16.99 with no ads)
Peacock has assembled an all-star cast for the eight-episode drama "The Five Star Weekend" (July 9), based on the novel by Elin Hildebrand. Jennifer Garner stars as a recently widowed food blogger who invites friends from different stages of her life (including D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall and Chloë Sevigny) for a weekend getaway in Nantucket, where secrets are exposed and relationships get tested. For those with any tears left, there's also "Reminders of Him" (July 10), a movie adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel about love and second chances, starring Maika Monroe & Tyriq Withers.
There's also the "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks" (July 4), the "Love Island USA" season finale (July 12), a new season of "Married at First Sight" (July 20), and new episodes of shows including "Real Housewives," "The Valley" and "Jeopardy." That includes the first season of "The Real Housewives of London" (July 21), which Bravo just acquired after it aired on Hayu in the U.K. last year. That should make up for the "pause" in production of Bravo's "Ladies of London" reboot.
Don't forget there are Spanish-language broadcasts of every World Cup match (championship game July 19), as well as the Tour de France (July 4-26), and a full slate of Major League Baseball, WNBA, golf and track and field.
Sports watch: Those suffering from withdrawal from daily World Cup matches can hop on the Tour de France bandwagon, which has almost as much drama, heartbreak and crazy fans. The broadcasts are always visually stunning, especially the mountain stages, and this year's burning question will be whether anyone can beat Tadej Pogacar, seeking his fifth title (doubtful, but it should be fun to watch them try).
Out to pasture: The Cold War spy thriller "Ponies" has been canceled after just one season. Fun at times, ridiculous at others, the show ended with multiple cliffhangers, so pulling the plug seems especially painful.
Play, pause or stop? Pause. Peacock's got the TV equivalent of summer beach reads and a good sports lineup. For some people, that'll be more than enough. Don't forget you may get Peacock for free if you're a Comcast $(CMCSA)$, Spectrum or Cox cable or internet subscriber.
Disney+ ($11.99 a month with ads, $18.99 with no ads)
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