The summer movie season of 2021 is off to a great start, with plenty of thrills in store on the big screen, as well as the small screen with some shows and streaming films. Whether it's with the return of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a new M. Night Shyamalan twist or a revenge mystery, here are the thrillers coming to theaters and homes this July.

Let Us In

Focusing on a younger cast than the other thrillers on this list, Let Us In also has a sci-fi twist to it. Feeling like a throwback to the '80s and '90s, Let Us In features a young girl and her little brother trying to make contact with aliens; however, they uncover something unsettling, and as teeangers begin to dissapear, our protagonist begins to realize she may be in way over head.

Co-written by Craig Moss and Joe Callero and directed by Moss, Let Us In stars Makenzie Moss, Sadie Stanley, Mackenzie Ziegler, Siena Agudong, O’Neill Monahan and Tobin Bell. The film premieres digitally and on VOD on July 2.

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The Beast Must Die

the_beast_must_die

Along with the number of adrenaline pumping movies coming to homes and theaters, The Beast Must Die is giving murder mystery fans another show to enjoy this summer. This is not the usual police procedural; instead, a mother hunts down the person who killed her son in a hit-and-run incident, pushing her to the edge as she is willing to become a killer to avenge her child.

The Beast Must Die stars Jared Harris and Cush Jumbo OBE and premieres July 5, 2021 on AMC+.

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Black Widow

Black Widow Marvel Studios poster

After its date was pushed back several times, the MCU is back in theaters with Black WidowIntroduced in 2010, Natasha Romanoff finally receives her own solo film, and it's about time. Taking place prior to Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow, alongside Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff, must combat her past and the threat of Taskmaster. From the trailers, the new MCU film feels tonally similar to another spy thriller by Marvel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and if early reviews are any indication, this could be another hit for the studio.

Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, O-T Fagbenle as Mason and Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff. The film arrives in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access July 9.

Gunpowder Milkshake

Gunpowder Milkshake Karen Gillan Chloe Coleman

Another MCU actor, Karen Gillan, is delving into the thriller genre this month with Netflix's Gunpowder Milkshake. Tasked with protecting an eight-year-old child, an assassin (Gillan), her mother and co. must go up against a crime syndicate to ensure their safety. So far, it's coming off a little like John Wick and a little like Kill Bill, and if it lives up to these standards, then it'll be a bloody thrill ride.

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Directed and co-written by Navot Papushado, Gunpowder Milkshake stars Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Chloe Coleman, Ralph Ineson, Adam Nagaitis, Michael Smiley, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Paul Giamatti. It will begin streaming on Netflix July 14 and play in theaters internationally this summer.

Pig

Pig Nicolas Cage

For a less mainstream thriller, Pig may be the perfect fit. Nicolas Cage has been doing his fair share of indie films in the past few years, like with Mandy and the upcoming The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Pig joins Cage's rich roster of films, with his character -- a truffle forager -- returning to Portland, Oregon in search of his kidnapped pig. While a story about a truffle pig may not seem like an exciting thriller, the trailer alone has enough mystery, distress and tension to have audiences curious.

Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, Pig stars Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin and premieres in theaters July 16.

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Great White

Great White

It wouldn't be summer if there wasn't one thriller involving some ocean misadventure, and Great White joins the ever growing catalogue of shark feature films. Here, a tourist trip is disrupted when five vacationers are stranded far from the shore, but they must try to make it to land despite the distance. However, there are plenty of threats to face, including lessening supplies and some deadly sea creatures.

Directed by Martin Wilson, Great White stars Katrina Bowden, Aaron Jakubenko, Kimie Tsukakoshi, Tim Kano and Te Kohe Tuhaka and premieres in theaters, digitally and on demand July 16. 

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

Escape Room 2 Subway

Two years after Escape Room's premiere, a sequel to the horror-thriller is now hitting theaters this July. The survivor from the last movie returns, alongside several others who've made it out alive during their separate encounters with the deadly game. Now, they must go through it one more time in Escape Room: Tournament of Champions. Similar to Catching Fire, this entry in the franchise has brought together the best of the best to see who is the ultimate survivor.

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Directed by Adam Robitel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions stars Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Indya Moore, Isabelle Fuhrman, Thomas Cocquerel, Holland Roden and Carlito Olivero. It opens in theaters July 16.

Old

For fans of thrillers with a twist, Shyamalan is often a great director to turn to. Returning to feature films after directing on Apple TV+'s ServantShyamalan's new film, Old, sees a family's tropical vacation go south. On a mysterious beach, the tourists are rapidly aging, losing years of their lives in the span of a single day. While the main conflict -- the rapid aging -- is revealed in the trailer, why this is happening remains a mystery.

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Old stars Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff, Embeth Davidtz, Eliza Scanlen, Emun Elliott, Kathleen Chalfant and Thomasin McKenzie. The movie hits theaters July 23.

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