July promises to be a huge month for movies, but there are still a couple of noteworthy\u00a0titles heading our\u00a0way this month in\u00a0F1: The Movie and Pixar’s Elio. Both will attract very different audiences, and based on recent box office tracking data, both could underperform.\u00a0<\/p>\n
F1: The Movie’s trailers have been criticised by Formula 1 fans for a lack of realism (many of the drivers haven’t seemed overly keen either<\/strong><\/a>), but with 85% based on 60 reviews, all signs point to it being a win for Apple TV+, Warner Bros., and F1.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> writes, “Of course, there are some unrealistic elements in F1, bits that might have sticklers raising an eyebrow, but the film doesn\u2019t feel any less dramatic than the real thing.”<\/strong> Empire<\/a>, meanwhile, concludes, “Joseph Kosinski has done it again. F1 combines unparalleled access, pioneering filmmaking and moving redemption arcs to deliver an exhilarating cinematic experience.:<\/strong><\/p>\n “F1: The Movie follows the sports movie playbook almost perfectly,”<\/strong> adds IGN<\/a>,\u00a0“finding ways to be just that much better at nearly every stage of its 156-minute runtime \u2013 creating a super fun racecar flick in the process that eventually finds its way to victory lane.”<\/strong><\/p>\n The BBC<\/a>‘s review counters with, “The biggest issue with F1, though, is not its insistence on showing its leading man in a flattering light, but its equivalent, fawning attitude towards Formula One itself.”<\/strong><\/p>\n With a rumoured $300 million budget, it remains to be seen whether positive reviews are enough to help make F1: The Movie one of the biggest hits of the summer (which it needs to be if it hopes to turn a profit). Jurassic World Rebirth arrives the following week, but F1: The Movie will have premium screens like IMAX until Superman is released.<\/p>\n Before that movie races into theaters, Pixar’s Elio arrives this weekend. The studio is reportedly set to focus on sequels moving forward after a string of box office disappointments, but this is another original tale that, so far, hasn’t been generating much buzz.\u00a0<\/p>\n There’s some good news today, though, as Elio has 84% based on 55 reviews. It sounds like a solid effort from Pixar, albeit one that may not leave much of a lasting impact (regardless, it’s still in “Certified Fresh” territory).<\/p>\n According to Variety<\/a>, “While not as original as ‘Wall-E’ and the ‘Toy Story’ movies, the animation studio\u2019s latest reminds that sub-par Pixar is still smarter and more satisfying than most of what’s out there.”<\/strong> The Guardian<\/a> calls Elio “an entertaining bit of summer fun.”<\/strong><\/p>\n