July was a month of two blockbusters, straddling like a colossus over the other releases – Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Baahubali that hit the screens and the viewers like a ton of bricks mid-month. But before we start getting ahead of ourselves, let us review this month in a chronological order.

Subhash Kapoor returns with another social message (the khap panchayat) in Guddu Rangeela (July 3) after Jolly LLB. It did average business at the box office, despite favourable reviews. What did less than average was the same week’s Terminator Genisys, despite banking on the much-adored franchise to take it through, which is quite a gamble when you turn the storyline on its head. That is the trap sequels/reboots tend to fall into. Pitch Perfect 2 goes down that path and barely delivers on the camaraderie and the music. Both Hollywood movies eventually attempt to deliver on its nostalgic value and nothing else.

July 10’s Minions took the beloved supporting characters out of a fun series and whipped up a flavourless money-spinner which went nowhere. Asif Kapadia’s Amy was as meandering, but was quite an insight into the life of the enigmatic crooner, Amy Winehouse. The film that was to blow the animation and the documentary out of the water was Baahubali, a Telugu magnum opus which redefined the reach of regional films.

Slated for Eid release was Bajrangi Bhaijaan on July 17. Moving, poignant and the greatest cinematic olive branch to Pakistan yet, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is set to be an enduring classic and possibly one of the best films Salman Khan is likely to headline.

Where the Eid week had a big star dominating the week, July 24’s Masaan proved that a quiet, slice-of-life foray into the by lanes of Banaras can win hearts and a standing ovation at Cannes. For the non-festival aficionados, there was Ant-Man, an unlikely superhero and Mr. Holmes, for fans of the literary legend.

July 31’s Drishyam is still going strong in the multiplexes and has netted 60 crores since its release, an impressive feat for a film that has been made earlier in four Southern languages in a span of two years. Out of the Hollywood releases, onlySouthpaw could make a brief mark while Pixels and Vatican Tapes were a washout.

However, July belongs to the aforementioned Big Bs, effectively becoming the most talked-about movie outings and overshadowing every other film in July. It is a rare coup. Moreover, it is a welcome one.