Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to watch? Well, whatever you want, of course, but the name of this website is Literary Hub, so we sort of have an angle. To that end, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV coming to streaming services this month. Have fun.

NEW:

The Terminal List 
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Jack Carr’s The Terminal List (2018)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Constance Qu, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Riley Keough, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Arlo Mertz

Would you, for some reason, like to see Chris Pratt as a Navy SEAL out for revenge with many guns, and in general being remarkably serious? This is the show for you. Hey, it’s based on a book!

Black Bird
Stream it on: Apple TV, 7/8

Literary bona fides: based on In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene (2010); developed by Dennis Lehane
Starring: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Greg Kinnear, Sepideh Moafi, Ray Liotta

This six-episode original limited series, executive produced by Dennis Lehane, is based on a memoir by a former high school football star who is sentenced to ten years in prison—unless he can get a confession out of a serial killer. Not for nothing, this is the last TV project Ray Liotta completed before he died on May 26 at the age of 67.

Dangerous Liaisons
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/8

Literary bona fides: based on Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos De Laclos (1782)
Starring:

Do we need a remake of Cruel Intentions Dangerous Liaisons? I don’t know, but the fact that its French is really helping its cause here—and not just because the French know about sex, but because it’s also the language of the original text.

How to Change Your Mind
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/12

Literary bona fides: based on How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan (2018)
Starring: Michael Pollan

Pollan’s bestselling book about the life-changing potential of psychedelic drugs is now a four-part docuseries that’s likely to be just as fascinating.

Persuasion
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/15

Literary bona fides: “based on the timeless love story by Jane Austen / the author of Emma and Pride and Prejudice” (in case you didn’t know)
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Henry Golding, Richard E. Grant, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Suki Waterhouse, Ben Bailey Smith

You may recall a time, in the not-too-distant past, when the Persuasion trailer dropped and the internet had some feelings about it. Will it be as bad as everyone seems to expect? Only one way to find out…

The Gray Man
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/22

Literary bona fides: based on The Gray Man by Mark Greaney (2009)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Dhanush, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick, Regé-Jean Page, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Alfre Woodard, Billy Bob Thornton

Another thriller about a rogue government operative—this time CIA, this time starring the people’s Ken (and another Chris, as the villain!).

THROWBACK:

David Copperfield (1935)
Stream it on: HBO Max, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger by Charles Dickens (1850)
Starring: Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, Edna May Oliver, Elizabeth Allan, Jessie Ralph, Harry Beresford, Basil Rathbone, W.C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore

Tired of all these newfangled, chatty, modernized adaptations of classic works of literature? May I direct you to the 1935 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, which yes, was the fourth-ever David Copperfield adaptation, but the very first to be made with sound.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote (1958)
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Martin Balsam

Famously, Capote was not at all with the casting of this adaptation. “The book was really rather bitter,” he told Playboy in 1968, “and Holly Golightly was real—a tough character, not an Audrey Hepburn type at all. The film became a mawkish valentine to New York City and Holly and, as a result, was thin and pretty, whereas it should have been rich and ugly. It bore as much resemblance to my work as the Rockettes do to Ulanova.” You, however, are still allowed to enjoy it.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin (1967)
Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy, Patsy Kelly, Angela Dorian, Clay Tanner, Charles Grodin

One of the greatest horror films of all time is also, not coincidentally, an adaptation of one of the most important New York City novels from the last century.

Deliverance (1972)
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Deliverance by James Dickey (1970)
Starring: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox

In case you need a reason not to go on a cool, casual boating trip with your friends in the wilderness this summer.

Jumanji (1995)
Stream it on: Hulu, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Starring: Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, Jonathan Hyde, David Alan Grier

Yes, Jumanji was based on a book—a gorgeous picture book by the legendary Chris Van Allsburg. The (first) film adaptation isn’t quite as good as the elegant and terrifying black-and-white original, but it’s pretty fun anyway.

Clueless (1995)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Emma by Jane Austen (1815)
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd

Ah, Clueless—the best of the ’90s teen classics adaptation-palooza (though 10 Things I Hate About You comes a close second). It also happens to be full of books… just like all of the best ’90s movies.

A Simple Plan (1998)
Stream it on: HBO Max, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on A Simple Plan by Scott B. Smith (1993)
Starring: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda

Sam Raimi’s neo-noir thriller in which things… just… keep… going… wrong.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Stream it on: Netflix and Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (1955)
Starring: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman

One of the very few examples of a film adaptation that is just as good as the novel itself (a very good novel indeed). Iconic for all the right reasons.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale Jr. (1980)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye

Spielberg’s adaptation of Frank Abagnale Jr.’s semi-autobiographical book about being a con man is way better than it has to be, and goes down easy—after all, we’re talking about 2000s Leo and Tom Hanks here.

Mean Girls (2004)
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman (2002)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey

I remain astounded that Tina Fey managed to turn a parenting guidebook into an iconic teen movie masterpiece. Talk about vision!

I Am Legend (2007)
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (1954)
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok

Though it’s been tried several times, no adaptation has ever really nailed Matheson’s horror classic, which remains a seminal text of zombie/vampire/pandemic literature. At least this one has Will Smith in it.

Revolutionary Road (2008)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/1

Literary bona fides: based on Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (1961)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour

A brutal, powerful adaptation of an even more brutal and powerful novel—but definitely not recommended viewing for anyone who left the city for the suburbs during the pandemic.

House of Gucci (2021)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, 7/2

Literary bona fides: based on The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden (2001)
Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino

A terrible and glorious two and a half hours of your life.

August: Osage County (2013)
Stream it on: Netflix, 7/26

Literary bona fides: based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play August: Osage County by Tracy Letts (2007)
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Misty Upham

A pretty dark and extremely well acted film about a dysfunctional family, helmed by Streep (who picked up a Best Actress nomination for her role). Whether you relate to it or not, you won’t be able to look away.