Busy start to the month? Us too. Just in case you’ve been distracted, here’s a reminder of all the biggest series, movies and more coming to African streamer Showmax in July. Below you’ll find our standout picks, but you can also find a full breakdown of the month’s entertainment offerings here.

Series

July is a big month for returning series. Fresh Prince reimagining Bel-Air is back for a second season (2 episodes on Mondays from 24 July), as well as raunchy comedy drama Minx (2 episodes a week from 24 July).

Of the new series coming to Showmax we’re probably most excited for period historical drama Becoming Elizabeth, which centres on the younger years of Elizabeth Tudor, the sidelined princess who was to become Queen Elizabeth I, and lead England to a Golden Age of influence. Award-winning German actress (and real-life countess) Alicia von Rittberg stars, with Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, Game of Thrones) also in the ensemble cast.

Binge all eight episodes of the sadly cancelled series from 17 July.

For true crime fanatics, there’s miniseries A Friend of the Family, a dramaticised look at the chilling real-life story of sociopath Robert Berchtold (Jake Lacy), who, in the 1970s, befriended kind-hearted suburban family, the Brobergs (headed by parents played by Colin Hanks and Anna Paquin). Robert’s manipulation of the Brobergs was to enable his repeated kidnapping, sexual assault and brainwashing of their daughter Jan (Mckenna Grace).

Binge all 9 episodes of A Friend of the Family from 7 July.

Also on the dark side of life is 4-part Australian series Bad Behaviour. Based on the novel by Rebecca Starford, Bad Behaviour is a tale of how destructive behavioural patterns typically set in when people are teenagers – normally out of a desire to fit in. Jo Mackenzie (Jana McKinnon) is a scholarship student at an exclusive wilderness boarding school, where intense friendships, shifting loyalties, emerging sexualities and power struggles forever shape the young women studying there.

Bad Behaviour arrives on Showmax in its entirety from 21 July.

Films

It’s a bumper month for movie additions to Showmax. Horror fans can catch the last chapter in the new Halloween trilogy, Halloween Ends, from 6 July. Meanwhile, for the kids, seeing as it’s still school holidays, there’s Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots: The Last Wish streaming from 24 July.

Our other standouts for the month start with another great choice for the whole family. Upbeat musical adventure Lyle, Lyle Crocodile come to Showmax on 16 July. Based on the best-selling children’s story by Bernard Waber, young Josh moves to New York City with his family and discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile (voiced by pop star Shawn Mendes) and his charismatic owner, played by Javier Bardem.

For adults, meanwhile, there’s Die Hard-esque action comedy Violent Night, available from 3 July. Stranger Things’ David Harbour plays Santa Claus, who comes to the rescue of a dysfunctional but wealthy family taken hostage on Christmas Eve. For a sense of what to expect, Violent Night comes from 87North, the producers of Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

For tension of a different kind, there’s survival thriller and minor hit Fall. Best friends Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner) live for conquering fears and pushing limits. But when they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned TV tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. With bad weather and dwindling supplies, what will they do? Also with Mason Gooding and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Catch Fall from 10 July.

Capping off the month, on 31 July, is Don’t Worry Darling, a twisty psychological thriller from actress and filmmaker Olivia Wilde. Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) live a picture-perfect 1950s existence in an experimental company town started in the desert by visionary CEO Frank (Chris Pine). But their utopia may not be all it seems, forcing Alice to decide what is more important: exposing the disturbing truth, which could cost her everything, or maintaining a pampered life in paradise.