July 24 Marks a Busy Day for New Films and a First-Season Premiere on HBO Max
HBO Max will debut the first season of the science‑fiction comedy Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on Thursday, July 23, followed by a trio of new releases on Friday, July 24. The slate includes the action thriller Motor City, the comedy‑horror Haunted Heist, and the Apple+ original The Dink.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the second direct spin‑off of the long‑running sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The series was created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, who also co‑created the original show. Kevin Sussman reprises his role as Stuart Bloom, the comic‑book store owner who was a recurring character on The Big Bang Theory. In the new series, Bloom lives in Southern California while the world is beset by giant bugs, wormholes and zombies. He is recruited by an alternate‑universe version of himself to help restore Earth with a machine built by the original show’s scientists.
The action thriller Motor City is set in 1970s Detroit and was written by Chad St. John and directed by Potsy Poncìroli. The film stars Alan Ritchson as John Miller, Shailene Woodley as a gangster’s girlfriend, and Ben Foster as the gangster Reynolds. Foster, who was raised Jewish, has appeared in a number of action roles since his first adult film role in Liberty Heights (1998). The movie was released in theaters on July 24.
Haunted Heist is a comedy‑horror film that also opens on July 24. It was shot in Detroit and follows four estranged friends who reunite at a house to search for a valuable antique. The plot turns into a supernatural showdown when ghosts in the house force the group to confront their differences. The cast includes Tiffany Haddish, Brett Gelman and Ari Dayan. Gelman is known for his work on Stranger Things and Fleabag, while Dayan is a singer who makes her first film appearance in the role.
Apple+ premiered the original film The Dink on July 24. The story follows Dusty, a former tennis prodigy who now teaches children at his father’s tennis school. An injury prevents him from playing tennis, but he discovers a passion for pickleball. The film builds to a match between Dusty and his childhood nemesis. Jake Johnson plays Dusty; Ben Stiller, who wrote the screenplay, appears as Dr. Stone. Chloe Fineman and Martin Kove provide supporting roles, and the film was directed by Josh Greenbaum.
The July releases span three major platforms—HBO Max, a traditional theatrical release, and Apple+. Each project brings together talent with ties to the original Big Bang Theory franchise, Detroit‑based production, or a new genre focus. Viewers can expect a mix of comedy, science‑fiction, action, and supernatural elements across the week.
The releases are scheduled as follows: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max on July 23; Motor City, Haunted Heist and The Dink all debut on July 24, with the first two available in theaters and the third on Apple+.
These releases illustrate the continued expansion of the Big Bang Theory universe, the ongoing production of Detroit‑set films, and Apple+’s investment in niche sports‑themed storytelling.
