This past June proved to be a mixed bag, particularly when it came to the success (or lack thereof) of sequels. While Finding Dory managed to blow even the most realistic expectations out of the water (pun not intended), other franchise fare such as Now You See Me 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and Independence Day: Resurgence disappointed (although all three will likely be helped out overseas). This month in particular has caused much speculation as to the reliability of sequels to bring in crowds, particularly with rising production and marketing costs.

Looking ahead to July, this month looks to be dominated by an original property, as The Secret Life of Pets appears to be on track for another hit for Illumination Entertainment. Although this year is lagging behind 2015, this July should mark an improvement over last year’s when Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Minions ruled the box office.