This year has been a wild one for movie releases, but like all good movie fans, I was prepared for it. From unrelenting terror to Oscar-worthy cinematography, 2025 has been off to a strong start. Below, you will find my picks for the 25 best movies of 2025, at least the first half of it! From January through June, we were gifted a variety of projects, some were better than others, but all of them (save for maybe one) deserve to be seen.
Scroll through the list below and see where your favorite releases landed! Did I miss any? Did my biases come through? You’ll have to peruse the list to find out!
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Steve Lawson’s 25 Best Movies of 2025 | Mid-Year Rankings
25. “A Working Man”
If one movie didn’t earn its release, it’s “A Working Man.” From the very start, it reeked of propaganda, white saviorism and just overall sucked. It was a shock for me, because normally Jason Statham could stand on screen and read off the phone book for two hours and I’d be happy. The action is as good as any other Statham vehicle, but Sylvester Stallone and David Ayer really missed the mark here. I wouldn’t even recommend streaming this thing; it’s just plain bad.
24. “Drop”
An interesting enough concept that couldn’t do a thing to save the mess of a plot and script. There are moments where I actually (but very quietly) booed the dialogue. The movie takes too long to get going, has way too many impossible swerves and then lands with a thud. At no point do you care about any of the characters, except perhaps the sister? I wouldn’t recommend it, but it can kill two hours in a pinch.
23. “Novocaine”
I wanted to love it, I did, but sadly, “Novocaine” fell flat. It was fun enough; I didn’t feel ripped off for my time, but it didn’t leave me satisfied. It was too campy for how serious it wanted to be taken. Did I hate it? No. But overall? It’s meh.
22. “The Monkey”
This movie did exactly what it needed to do. Lots and lots of gore, funny kills and a death count that reaches ridiculous levels. Was it a masterpiece in cinema? Not even close, but it served its purpose. It’s definitely fun for fellow lovers of the splatter-punk genre.
21. “Bring Her Back”
Okay, this movie was made incredibly. However, it might have done too good a job of being nearly unwatchable at parts, because that’s how I ended up feeling about it in the end. It was impossible to sit through without squirming, feeling nauseous and wanting to look at anything else. The plot is what it is, nothing too adventurous, but it’s the body-horror that “Bring Her Back” relies on that holds the film up. However, a series of unlikable characters and a dead dad haunting the narrative hold this film back.
20. “Hell of a Summer”
This is campy. It never tries not to be campy. Frankly, I love it for that, but unfortunately, the camp does nothing to help in the scares department and so the movie feels dull. I love a good slasher and it’s probably why this movie even got the spot it did, but it needed a lot of work. The bones are there, though and “Hell of a Summer” is undoubtedly a stepping stone for young actor-turned-filmmaker Finn Wolfhard.
19. “Death of a Unicorn”
Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega and Will Poulter? Sign me up! Unfortunately, that is about as exciting as this movie gets. Likable characters are done dirty, shitty characters aren’t done dirty enough and for all of the humor, it really drags! I don’t know what went wrong with this movie, but it just didn’t land for me. I wanted it to but I can’t lie to you. It’s lucky some of the other movies before it were so bad.
18. “Lilo & Stitch”
This is the point in the list where, on the whole, I actually enjoyed these movies. I know it seems like another soulless cash grab by Disney, but this live-action remake actually sticks the landing. Stitch is as adorable, chaotic and lively as ever, and I think it’s a great thing for the next generation to get their little taste of the beloved blue alien. I know the ending has some people in their feelings but come on, Nani deserved to thrive too!
17. “The Accountant 2”
Gratuitous violence will usually get me into the theater. That’s all this movie is: a bunch of anonymous henchmen being killed by two badass assassins. Ben Affleck does a good job of keeping us entertained, and Jon Bernthal is hilarious, kicking some serious ass the entire time. A shift more towards the comedy was just what this sequel needed.
16. “Until Dawn”
This might be the movie that gets the most hate and some of that might fall on me too, but I don’t care. I liked it. It wasn’t like the game from which it gets its name and approximately one character. But otherwise, it is a serviceable time loop horror movie that kept me entertained with its creative and gory kills.
15. “Wolf Man”
This movie was scary, gross and well shot. Somewhere along the way, it starts to drag, and that is why it isn’t ranked higher. Also, this could just be a me thing, but I don’t like when I am promised a werewolf movie and no one becomes a werewolf. I mean, come on, don’t lie to me. For a dark and stormy night, this movie will serve you just fine. If you’re squeamish, maybe skip it because the transformation is hard to watch.
14. “The Amateur”
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I love Rami Malek, I love Lawrence Fishburne and I was ready to love this movie. I didn’t love it, I can’t pretend it was flawless, but it was a nice little spy thriller that kept me entertained from start to finish. It was heartbreaking at the beginning and leaves a little to be desired at the end, but “The Amateur” needed to stick the landing a bit more for it to crack the upper echelon of movies to start 2025.
13. “Megan 2.0”
Another movie that went away from the original in favor of something more universal. Unfortunately for “Megan 2.0,” the critics and audiences didn’t love the bold move. A box office flop, this movie was killed by its bold change. I, however, enjoyed it all the same. Did I want more horror? Sure! But where it lacked in the horror department, it made up for it in humor and action. Not a masterpiece, but it certainly did the job of entertaining me.
12. “Final Destination: Bloodlines”
This is how you revive a franchise. All the insanity and campiness of a “Final Destination” that would have made Devon Sawa himself proud! He’s not dead or anything, I just don’t know if he saw it… Anyway. With a bit of a convoluted plot where Death is kind of making up for lost time, we somehow escape all of that with a strong movie that builds on what its predecessors did. Strong performances from the cast as a whole really elevate this into the top half of the first half!
11. “Companion”
Why did they give away the goddamn twist in the previews?! This movie would have easily landed in the top ten if they hadn’t done that. Everything was built to the reveal and because the studio didn’t trust the audience, it just flatlined. This was made well, it had something to say (albeit a bit odd) and was funny and creepy. Solid, that’s how I’d describe it.
10. “Clown in a Cornfield”
I. Love. Slashers. If that isn’t clear by now, it should be. A low-budget, teen slasher about killer clowns? Sign me the f*ck up! Did the dialogue get a bit stiff? Was some of the plot a mess? Was it incredibly clear that this movie was made on a shoestring budget and by some newer filmmakers? Absolutely, and that is why we love it! It’s fun, messy and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s perfect for a rainy day, snuggled up with your significant other on the couch.
9. “Captain America: Brave New World”
A strong entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Brave New World” lets Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson take the shield and don the uniform, just in time for Harrison Ford’s President Ross to develop one hell of a temper. More compact than most MCU projects at this point, “Brave New World” seems like it was a return to the roots of what made Marvel so beloved in the first place.
8. “Warfare”
This was a tough watch. It pulls no punches, doesn’t care to be subtle and aims to disorient you at every turn. Alex Garland throws you straight into the middle of the Iraq War in a way that doesn’t try to glorify war. Rather, it shows the absolute chaos that can erupt from what should be an easy assignment. Normally, I do not enjoy war movies, but this one was worth watching. If you are easily unnerved, please do not watch this.
7. “Young Hearts”
Coming-of-age LGBTQ+ movies will always have my heart, and “Young Hearts” didn’t miss the mark. It is a Belgian film, so be prepared for subtitles unless you speak the language, but the story is so strong and the acting so sincere that you could do without them and still feel every beat. Exploring the process of finding yourself, something many queer kids have dealt with, this movie breaks you and then heals you in a way that needs to be experienced.
6. “Ballerina”
This is another entry into the “John Wick” universe, and they didn’t cheap out. “Ballerina” is fun, gorgeously shot and full of the action one comes to expect from the “Wickiverse.” There’s not much to break down in terms of plot; it’s assassins doing assassin shit! Watch it, enjoy it, don’t overthink it!
5. “One of Them Days”
Keke Palmer is a national treasure. We should put her on the twenty-dollar bill. This movie is hilarious and Palmer, along with SZA in her acting debut, delivers on what was promised. With jokes galore and plenty of heart, “One of Them Days” is certainly worth watching.
4. “Heart Eyes”
I’ve never seen this before, a slasher mixed with a rom-com? I can’t believe they even pulled it off but they did. The movie hits every beat expected of both genres and blends to create what can only be described as a symphony of chaos. Funny, gory, tender, violent, romantic and deadly. “Heart Eyes” is a triumph in creativity.
3. “Thunderbolts*”
This was when I really knew the MCU was back. I thought it might be with “Brave New World,” but I had to see it repeated to believe it. “Thunderbolts*” did that. With acting performances that are among the best Marvel has ever had, a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat and a filmmaker’s feel, this one is worth the price of admission and then some. Setting up the next phase of the Marvel Universe is no easy task, but our heroes delivered with expert precision.
2. “Sinners”
I personally think this should win the Oscar for “Best Picture.” It’s gorgeous, with each shot drawing you deeper into the film, every movement stirring emotion and each line delivered as if it Set featured imagecould be the last ever spoken. The horror builds in a painfully slow burn, but that works so well here. It lets you want, hope, need and when you just can’t handle it anymore, “Sinners” strikes and leaves you breathless. It’s a masterpiece in cinematography and acting. Please, do yourself a favor and watch this film!
1. “28 Years Later”
How is the movie I want to win “Best Picture” not number one? Put simply, “28 Years Later” was a movie that I had to see multiple times in theaters. So much happens and so much is packed into the narrative that it nearly gave me whiplash. The horror is strong, as expected, but the humanity at the end of the world is so… unique? People try all the time to tell a human story set in the zombie apocalypse, but this one, told through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy, is perfect. It has something to say, most of it having nothing to do with the undead. Prepare for a rollercoaster of a ride if you sit down to watch this one!
Thanks for reading my “25 Best Movies of 2025 (So Far).” I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself, and keep an eye out for more movies, music and show recommendations! For more entertainment and sports takes, find me on Twitter @Steve_Lawson93.
