Year in Review: 2025 Movies

With 2025 now over, it is time to share my thoughts and ranking of all of the 2025 movies that I saw. I managed to see 72 movies this year, so a bit less than the 80 I saw in 2024. There were a few big movies with Superman, Mission Impossible, Wicked for Good, and a few MCU films but also quite a few smaller films that turned out to be very good. With all that said, here are the 72 new releases that I saw this year.

72. Edington

I did not care for this movie at all. It is a western taking place during COVID and features the most irritating people from both ends of that divide. All of the characters were annoying and I felt that the whole murder investigation and main plot lines just went nowhere.

Score: 4/10 Grade: D+

71. Honey Don't!

This is another murder investigation movie that went nowhere. The story seemed to be uninterested in the murder itself. There is this whole subplot with the Chris Evans character that just goes nowhere. You could pull him out of the movie and it wouldn't make any difference.

Score: 4/10 Grade: D+

70. Wolf Man

Wolf Man doesn't do anything wrong. It is just an incredibly dull movie. The monster moments were effective whenever on screen but they hardly ever happened. There aren't enough scares to make it a good horror film and not enough plot to make it very interesting.

Score: 5/10 Grade: C

69. You’re Cordially Invited

This movie had a few moments to make me laugh but in general I found all of these characters to be incredibly selfish and irritating. There was also just a lot going on with each character having like 3-4 issues to work through which is just too much.

Score: 5/10 Grade: C

68. Snow White

This is the first of the Disney live action remakes for the year. The movie half commits to two different ideas and creates a disaster of a movie. It tries to modernize the idea of Snow White which irritated a bunch people so they course corrected and threw in the CGI dwarves and true loves kiss in at the last second feeling out of place. They tried to please everyone and ended up pleasing no one.

Score: 5/10 Grade: C

67. Fountain of Youth

This is a new Guy Ritchie adventure film and like Wolf Man, it doesn't do anything wrong but is just dull and forgettable. The movie takes all the least interesting parts from other adventure movies and creates a movie with nothing memorable about it. It has slick production value but you forget it as soon as its over.

Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C

66. Five Nights at Freddy's 2

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 was quite a step back from the first film. It felt more like an in between film trying to set up the end of a trilogy that was more concerned with setup and easter eggs then actual fun horror stuff. Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C

65. Happy Gilmore 2

Happy Gilmore 2 was another film that was more concerned with easter eggs than an interesting story. The movie kind of ruins Happy's character by makin him a depressed drunk and is filled with cameos and callbacks instead of funny moments.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

64. A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie was a lot funnier than I was expecting it to be but was still pretty dumb. It has a lot of those its so bad its good moments but in the end it did make me laugh and has been a very big cultural hit.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

63. Hell of a Summer

Hell of a Summer was a throw back slasher in the vein of Friday the 13th. It had some nice horror throwback moments but lost quite a bit of steam in the second half and wished the movie would have been a more pure slasher instead of being so self aware.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

62. Flight Risk

Flight Risk was an ok isolated thriller. It has the thrills you want from being on an airplane with a killer but lacks any sort of memorability. The logic of why the Mark Wahlberg character is kept alive is also a little fuzzy.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

61. Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World is where the MCU finally starts to feel cohesive again. It is nice to let Sam get his own movie as Captain America. However, the movie was reworked so much that the story just feels duct taped together. You can tell where the reshoots were stuck in causing the story to be super clunky. Also the movie hyped up Red Hulk but then only shows him for 5 minutes.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

60. The Woman in Cabin 10

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a by the numbers Netflix mystery thriller. It does a good job of playing into a sense of paranoia but ultimately loses steam as the movie goes on and reveals are made with an ending that just doesn't land for me.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

59. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is this year's musician bio pic. Jeremy Allen White is great as Bruce Springsteen but his life is just not interesting enough to make a movie out of. He had some issues with depression that could have been interesting but there just wasn't anything of note to make the story compelling.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

58. Another Simple Favor

Another Simple Favor is quite a step back from the original film. It was fun to see Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively together again. But the film goes too big being about globetrotting and the mob, that it loses the essence of what made the original film great, being about a suburban looking into a mystery about her friend.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

57. Love Hurts

Love Hurts is a new action vehicle starring Ke Huy Quan. It was fun to see him get his own action movie and the action sequences were cool. However, it was a bit too short to be able to cover everything it wanted to and wasted a lot of time on random side characters and just didn't have enough action.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

56. M3GAN 2.0

M3GAN 2.0 is another film that loses the essence of the original. The film is very entertaining and has a lot of action sequences but it turns into this action sci-fi film instead of being a small scale sci-fi horror film like the original was.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

55. Karate Kid: Legends

Karate Kid: Legends is a movie that is superficially entertaining but when you get to the meat of it is not very good. The movie is a bit of a rehash of the original film but then randomly becomes about training this pizza boxer guy. It is also fun to see Ralph Macio and Jackie Chan but from a story standpoint, they have no reason to be in the movie.

Score: 6/10 Grade: C+

54. The Toxic Avenger

The Toxic Avenger is a hard R superhero film. It was fun to see an unconventional superhero film with a lot of violence. There was a lot of dark humor that I thought was funny. The story was a little thin and a bit too hardcore at times.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

53. Back in Action

Back in Action was a by the numbers action movie with Jamie Fox and Cameron Diaz. It was fun enough with some funny moments and entertaining action sequences. There isn't anything special about it. It is just your generic broad appeal Netflix action movie.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

52. Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares stands out a bit as it is visually stunning with graphics that the Tron franchise is famous for. It does something unique in bringing the programs to the real world. As with the other Tron films, the plot is a bit convoluted and very forgettable.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

51. Nobody 2

Nobody 2 was a fun action sequel but lost a bit of the essence of what made the original great. This film has a lot of fun action moments but goes to far into the comedic that it loses the grounded action feel that made the original film great.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

50. A Working Man

A Working Man is Jason Statham's version of taken and is fine enough for what it is. It has good action and Jason Statham is cool. It doesn't have anything to write home about in terms of plot or characters but that isn't why you go to see a movie like this.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

49. Jurassic World: Rebirth

Jurassic World: Rebirth is a good enough addition to the Jurassic franchise. You get dinosaur action and some fun characters. The plot is simple and the characters are one dimensional. It is a good turn off your brain and be entertained type of movie.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

48. Lilo and Stitch

Lilo and Stich is the better of the two live action remakes from this year. Everything with Lilo, Nani and Stitch was well done. I liked how they flesh out Nani's character. However, the treatment of Jumba kind of ruined the movie for me making him a full on villain replacing Gantuu.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

47. Anaconda

Anaconda ended up being a lot funnier than I was expecting. When it is about a four friends trying to make a movie in the jungle, it was really funny with lots of meta humor. However, when it tries to to be a typical jungle adventure movie with gold diggers, that is where it goes down hill.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

46. Drop

Drop was a thrilling little genre blender. It combined a romantic story with a whodunit and a home invasion film that manages to keep you on edge for the entire 90 minutes. The movie is a little one note though and lacks any sort of big twists and reveals that others like this have.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

45. Hamnet

Hamnet is one of the big Oscar bait movies of the year. This movie was highly emotional with great performances from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. I can appreciate the craft behind it. However, the movie was just too depressing for me and was way too boring for my taste.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

44. The Phoenician Scheme

The Phoenician Scheme is the newest film from Wes Anderson. It has the quirky Wes Anderson style to it and has a lot of fun actors in it. I thought the story was entertaining and found it pretty funny. The story structure is a bit choppy but still a decent film.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

43. Materialists

Materialists was decent enough as far as romantic comedies go. It kind of subverts expectations a bit from what is normally expected with these types of films. The characters are a bit unlikable but I found the story fairly compelling.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

42. How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon hits all the right notes for a live action remake. The music is great, the casting is good and the CGI dragons look good. It is very faithful to the source basically being a shot for shot remake. It didn't do anything wrong but if I am going to watch a How to Train Your Dragon film I will just watch the original.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

41. Mickey 17

Mickey 17 was a nice change of pace as it is a nonfranchise sci-fi story. I liked all the world building, thought the story was interesting and thought Robert Pattinson did a good job. The movie just had too many ideas it wanted to go for making the movie a bit crowded and scattered.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

40. The Monkey

The Monkey was a fun little horror film. I liked the dark comedy aspect to it and liked all the horror violence that goes down. This is a movie that isn't going for big, it wants to be a B horror film and that is what it achieved.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

39. Novocaine

Novocaine was a fun action film with an interesting presence. There were some solid actions sequences and the premise of the main character not being able to feel pain lead to some squirmy moments. It deliverers on the action which is all I wanted from a movie like this.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

38. Fight or Flight

Fight or Flight was another B level action movie. The movie is basically Bullet train on an airplane matching the action and tone. It can be funny at times while also bringing some solid action sequences. The characters aren't super memorable but the movie is fun where it counts.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

37. The Gorge

The Gorge is a decent Sci-fi action thriller with a little romance in as well. The movie does a good job of balancing all of these different genres while not feeling over stuffed. It gets a little generic in the second half but is still a good movie.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

36. Now You See Me: Now You Don't

Now You See Me: Now You Don't brings back all the fun you want out of a Now You See Me film. It is fun to see these characters back after 10 years as well as bringing in of new characters. I thought this movie got a little too big feeling more like a spy thriller instead of a cat and mouse heist movie with magic.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

35. The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine was The Rock's jump into dramatic action. This movie features Dwayne Johnson's best performance and hits a lot of the notes that you want in a sports movie. However, it doesn't really focus on anything to make for a compelling story instead just moving through different aspects of his life.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

34. Freakier Friday

Freakier Friday was the long awaited sequel to the popular 2000s movie. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan were a lot of fun on screen together and I thought the plot did a good job of adapting to a modern era. I didn't like that Tess and Anna kind of got sidelined in this film when they were the leads in the original.

Score: 7/10 Grade: B

33. Elio Elio is the newest Pixar film. I liked how it felt like a throw back to classic Sci-Fi films. There were a lot of sweet and funny moments. Like other Pixar films, it knows how to hit you in the feels. It is just kind of a mid Pixar movie, it doesn't do anything wrong but doesn't have enough highs to stand out.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

32. The Amateur

The Amateur is an interesting new take on the spy genre. I liked how the movie does something different with making the Q character be the one that is the spy. With a more logical mind, it brings unique ways to take down villains. The story felt a little episodic feeling like a 3-4 episode TV show instead of a movie.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

31. Black Bag

Black Bag was an interesting small scale spy thriller. The movie does a great job of building tension as these characters are trying to find the traitor in their midst with an effective payoff in the final moments. There wasn't as much action as the trailers implied which led me to be a bit disappointed in what the final product was.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

30. The Housemaid

The Housemaid is the newest film from Paul Feig. It does a great job of building tension with these characters as you feel something is just not right with the Amanda Seyfried character that just keeps you invested. It does lose a bit of steam after the third act reveal but in general, it is still an effective thriller.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

29. Bugonia

Bugonia was a very strange paranoia thriller. Jessie Plemons and Emma Stone give great performances playing off each other. The movie does a great job of maintaining tension as you wonder whether these characters are crazy or not. There isn't anything really wrong with this movie. It just doesn't stick with me like others on the list do.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

28. Wicked: For Good

Wicked: For Good ended up being a lot darker than its predecessor. I thought the story was interesting and I liked the tie ins to the Wizard of Oz. Glinda and Elphaba were both great as in the first film. However, I did think the movie took a bit too long to get going and didn't have as many memorable songs.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

27. Good Fortune

Good Fortune was a fun little feel good comedy. Keanu Reeves was really funny in this movie as an angel trying to navigate the world. The movie also has a surprising amount of heart. Just like others, this movie isn't going for an A. It just wants to be a B comedy and that is what it achieves.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

26. The Accountant 2

The Accountant 2 was a good action buddy comedy. The dynamic between Ben Affleck and John Bernthal was a lot of fun and the action sequences are always good. I wish the story would have been less convoluted so we could spend more time on the brothers' dynamic.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

25. Roofman

Roofman was another surprising hit fr. The story was so bizarre due to the fact that it actually happened. Channing Tatum does a great job of making us like this criminal and get invested in his life and relationships. It was also fun to see him live it up inside of a Toys R Us.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

24. Death of a Unicorn

Death of a Unicorn was a fun little Sci-fi horror thriller. It felt like one part Jurassic Park and one part Alien which was a good mix. The characters were all fun. This is another movie that I don't have many complaints on. It is a unique story that is part of why I like the studio A24.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

23. Predator: Killer of Killers

Predator: Killer of Killers was a fun animated predator story. The idea of the predator lends itself well to a story like this where Predators are fighting various warriors from history. I think it would have worked better as a tv show as it was very separated into four chapters each with their own arc.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

22. Marty Supreme

Marty Supreme is the other big Oscar bait movies that came out. Timothee Chalamet gives a great performance that comes across as both charmasmatic and arrogant. The sequence of events that lead up to his final match are just so interesting and crazy that you can’t help but be invested.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

21. Avatar: Fire and Ash

Avatar: Fire and Ash is one of the biggest movies of the year. It has the amazing visuals and action you want from an Avatar film and further builds the world. The movie is a bit derivative of the other films in the franchise but is still a very entertaining movie.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

20. Companion

Companion was an expected hit for me. It is a good Sci-fi horror thriller that takes things in a completely different direction than what you are expecting. It has a lot of suspense as well as is just a great genre blender.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

19. Predator: Badlands

Predator: Badlands was the second Predator film of the year. I liked how this film is basically a coming of age story for a predator. There is a lot of good action in it. The only hang up is that some of the humor seems a little out of place.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

18. Warfare

Warfare was a very effective war film that shows the true horrors of battle. The movie does a great job of telling what happens through the eyes of the soldiers and the mental and physical toll this mission takes on their bodies. It is a very intense yet very engaging film.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

17. The Naked Gun

The Naked Gun is one of the funniest movies I saw this year. It brings the great deadpan humor that the original films were known for. Liam Neeson was great using his deadpan comedy to make for some hilarious moments. Every joke just landed perfectly.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

16. Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning

This was another great addition to the Mission Impossible franchise. As with the other MI films, this movie has great action sequences and stunts. What keeps it out of the top is that the story wasn't as strong as the other Mission Impossible films. The movie swings for a home run but only gets a double.

Score: 8/10 Grade: B+

15. Weapons

Weapons was another unexpected hit for me. It is a very effective slow burn horror thriller. It does a great job of slowly revealing more information until you finally learn what is going on at the end of the movie. The movie also is great at sprinkling in little bits of dark humor that still fit with the overall creepy vibe.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

14. Frankenstein

Frankenstein was a very epic feeling version of the Frankenstein story. The character performances were great and the set design looked really good. I also thought that the second half of the story really built out a great emotional tale. I think it could have tightened up a bit in the first half.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

13. One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another was the newest film from Paul Thomas Anderson. The movie balances humor, tension and action very well. The movie does a great job of keeping you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I also found many of the performances to quite good.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

12. The Long Walk

The Long Walk was a new Stephen King adaptation with a surprising amount of heart. It has high stakes while also focusing on the relationship that these guys have on this walk to just makes the ending become so emotional and gut wrenching.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

11. Black Phone 2

Black Phone 2 was another pleasant surprise for me. I found to be just as good as the first film. I liked how this movie focused more on Gwen while also showing the effects the trauma of the first film had on Finn. I also liked the elements of A Nightmare on Elm Street that the film brought in here.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

10. Wake Up Dead Man

Wake Up Dead Man is another solid addition to the Knives Out series. The movie does a great job of tackling ideas of religion and politics and the corruption in each of them. The characters are all unique and compelling and Daniel Craig is as good as ever.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

9. Paddington in Peru

Paddington in Peru was a very fun film. The Paddington movies are criminally underrated and this film is no exception. I like how this movie brings the Paddington flavor to the adventure genre. It brings all the laughs and emotion that you want from a Paddington film.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

8. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first good Fantastic Four movie since ever. I liked the retro 60s aesthetic that this world has. I think the family dynamic is great between our four heroes and we finally get Galactus done right. All I can say is it's about dang time.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

7. Zootopia 2

Zootopia 2 is the new Disney animated film and the first actual good Disney animated sequel. I like how this movie is basically a buddy cop action movie for kids. There is a lot humor for both kids and adults as well as a very compelling plot. The formula works for Zootopia and I hope they do more of them.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

6. Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts is the best the MCU has been in a while. It brings in ideas about mental health and struggles with being a lot. The characters are all so likable yet feel so broken that you can't help but route for them. It is also just nice to see an MCU team up movie again.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

5. Ballerina

Ballerina is a great addition to the John Wick franchise. I like how it brings a different style of fight than we get from John Wick. It is an interesting revenge story with great action sequences. I also like how the movie included John Wick but didn't have him overshadow Ana De Armas.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

4. The Running Man

The Running Man was the most fun movie I watched this year. It has a lot of vibrant action and comedy to with high energy. I like the story a lot and thought Glen Powel was great as the lead. It has great action, a fun soundtrack and some surprising emotional moments.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

3. Superman

Superman is the most comic booky movie I saw this year. It has the hopefulness you want from a Superman movie while also getting the James Gunn humor and edge. I liked how the movie is a preestablished Superman but still manages to let us see him grow as a hero.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-

2. Sinners

Sinners was the best horror movie I saw this year. It does a great job of blending music and horror into an interesting period piece. It has all the elements from a great vampire movie as well as the thoughtfulness of a historical drama. Ryan Coogler has done it again.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A

1. F1

F1 is just a good old fashioned crowd-pleasing blockbuster. It has everything you want from a racing movie, hitting all of the beats, and doing it so well. IT has the thrills and comedy as well as the cool racing scenes. It is a very entertaining racing movie that will please just about everyone.

Score: 9/10 Grade: A