So far, so good: The 10 best movies of 2025 six months in
*Stefon voice* This year has had everything: Close calls with death, Mississippi vampires, animated anthologies, proper dating etiquette... and so much more!
I have terrible news for you, dear reader: we’re already over halfway through 2025. Before the existential dread has a chance to set in though, fear not, because for better or worse, we’ve had one hell of a year in cinema so far. In 2025, I’ve had the opportunity to check out 61 releases so far, from virtual film festivals to VOD curiosities, and I’m here to count down the ten films that stuck with me the most in alphabetical order. Without further adieu, let’s dive in.
Deaf President Now!
Deaf President Now! (2025), a documentary detailing the week-long protest that served as a turning point for disability rights in the United States, shines a light on the work of the Gallaudet students and faculty with dignity and insight at every turn. Directed by Nyle DiMarco, a Deaf activist and model, alongside documentarian Davis Guggenheim (Still: A Michael J. Fox Story (2023), An Inconvenient Truth (2005)), the pair examine the week-long demonstration with clear plotting and a strong sense of pacing. Deaf President Now! never overstays its welcome, yet takes full advantage of its runtime to feel like no stone was left unturned. The threads of the individual organizers, provide impassioned recollections of the protest in their interviews, offering viewers an overarching narrative that rings true and shows us that anyone has the power to accomplish change. The film’s subjects keep a fiery passion for the cause, while still being able to look back on how their perceptions of each other inflated their own egos in the thrill of the moment. Better yet, all of this is done with technical precision of the highest order, especially the film’s editing, which blends all facets of the protest together and builds to a resounding, satisfying resolution.
You can currently stream Deaf President Now! on Apple TV+
Final Destination: Bloodlines
This is what we call in the movie business “Best Case Scenario.” Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) is easily the best entry in the death-defying horror franchise, not just in its ability to honor the legacy of a series whose concept is so ingenuous on its own, but in the way it builds off its concept and doesn’t simply play the hits. The hits are there, but they’re not drawn out or dwelled upon in the way that legacy sequels and revivals often do. The star of the show is the story itself, which is executed with such a love for narrative build-up and subversion of what you think is going to happen. The franchise’s greatest weapon is the Rube Goldberg-style anticipation leading into the deaths themselves. However, Bloodlines’ ability to subvert expectations by keeping the audience on its toes as it bobs and weaves through the characters’ knowledge of death’s design keeps the film surprisingly fresh. The kills are both fantastic and aplenty with tons of great gore and concepts explored, plus a great sendoff to the series’ most beloved character.
You can currently watch Final Destination: Bloodlines on VOD.
The Life of Chuck
Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck (2025) carries the weight of wisdom on the back of its conclusion, yet the weight is lifted ever so slightly by the two acts that follow (or precede) it. It’s the kind of film whose wistful illusion will only work on those willing to accept it, almost like a form of hypnosis. Rest assured, if you’re able to connect with the way Flanagan (Doctor Sleep (2019), another King property) slowly peels back the layers of how death slowly makes its presence known, you’re in for a treat. However, I’d also understand how this wouldn’t vibe with the right person. For my money though, I was really impressed with how in the moment everyone was, especially in that bleak first act, setting an overbearingly pensive tone as a first impression, only to slowly uplift us out of the murk that is existence. The Life of Chuck is a thoughtful film that caught me off guard with how resonant it’s capable of being.
You can watch The Life of Chuck on VOD starting July 29.
Materialists
The surface level assumption based on the marketing for Materialists (2025) is that it’s the same rehashed romantic comedy we’ve seen in many offerings before, especially coming from an auteur whose debut, Past Lives (2023), was so hauntingly intimate and personal. However, Celine Song proves her resonance in a mainstream swim lane thanks to her whip-smart observational writing, terrific performances, and sincere aspirations for its subject. Dakota Johnson’s performance is discernible and delightful all at once in a role that tests her emotional reflexes on a dime with sincerity at every turn. The same can be said of Pascal and Evans, adding their own unique charismas into the mix and providing strong stakes for all involved. The discussions that Lucy’s able to get into with her clients make for the strongest comedic moments, similar to the way When Harry Met Sally (1989) utilizes interviews with long-term romantic couples, or how Up in the Air (2009) interviews real-life victims of downsizing. At every turn, Materialists finds new ways to maturely tackle complex conversations with sophistication and respect for its audience.
You can watch Materialists on VOD starting July 22.
Novocaine
As we know, Jack Quaid (son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan) led the cheeky dystopian fable Companion (2025) earlier this year, a film I had mixed opinions with regard to its logic and heavy-handed messaging. Not even a month later we had another Quaid vehicle: the high-octane action-thriller Novocaine (2025), and while the film has some shortcomings, it marks a refreshing turning point for mainstream action filmmaking. Even if we’re just looking at the exterior of what Novocaine appears to offer, it more than delivers what it promises on the box. It’s an action-packed, consistently funny, well-shot piece of popcorn entertainment with some surprisingly gnarly set pieces. Where the film exceeds expectations is its ability to subvert the genre through its writing and structure, touting thoughtfully written characters with well-defined motivations, making it one of the biggest surprises of the year already.
You can currently stream Novocaine on Paramount+.
Pets
Documentaries like Bryce Dallas Howard’s Pets (2025) encourage the best of humanity, introducing children to and reminding adults of the indelible influence that pets can have on the human soul. In under 80 minutes, Howard (in her second solo directorial feature after Dads (2019)) runs the gamut of emotional resonance between pets and their owners. The film highlights the stories of every kind of pet owner, whether they’re adopting for the first time, getting another animal to join their furry family, or just trying their best to bridge the gap for animals waiting for their forever home. It’s an empathetic documentary with a soul that rings true to its core audience and, in its own way, is a brilliant exploration of the human condition. Its mission statement may not shatter your world view, as most people going into Pets will likely agree with the fact that an animal can improve one’s life. However, for families introducing a pet to their children, coping with the loss of a recently deceased pet, or simply looking to be inspired by the work of those committed to making the world a better place for animals, I can’t imagine a more essential documentary.
You can currently stream Pets on Disney+.
Predator: Killer of Killers
Oh yeah, this is just what I want from a risky swing by a huge action IP. Dan Trachtenberg continues to knock it out of the park as a proponent of challenging what can be done with the Predator franchise. Alongside co-director Joshua Wassung, Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) boasts absolutely stellar animation, visceral violence, and is beautifully conceptualized from start to finish. The first two stories are tired but tested stories about the follies of revenge, while the final (and longest) story falls by the wayside by comparison in its attempt to connect with the average filmgoer. When the story comes back around though near the hour point, it's easy to get sucked back into the high stakes intensity. I never would have expected to love this like I did, but I’m all the more thankful I gave it a chance, as you also should.
You can currently stream Predator: Killer of Killers on Hulu.
Predators
Predators (2025) opens with a typical scene from the show and, admittedly, as my sister, girlfriend, and I watched on the couch, the expected rhythms of watching a To Catch a Predator (2004-2007) episode emerged. The entertainment factor of watching someone getting caught in a heinous act, the awkward comedy of the interrogation, and the satisfaction of seeing justice served all culminate into why the show was an instant hit. However, Predators dares to challenge the public’s preconceived notions about the accused under scrutiny–not for their alleged crimes, but for the reasoning behind why sexual predators develop their preference. It’s a question that’s often asked by Hansen on To Catch a Predator’s original run, and it’s a question often shrugged off by the accused with no answer to give.
Predators is not available to watch, but be on the lookout for it at upcoming film festivals this year.
Presence
Steven Soderbergh’s fascinating latest film Presence (2025) attempts to challenge the notion that the legacy one leaves is an indisputable truth. Often times, the final impression left can spiral out of our control, leaving behind a tarnished footprint, almost making the entirety of life without purpose. The challenge that Soderbergh, along with veteran screenwriter David Koepp, brings to the forefront of Presence is ultimately what gives it a lasting impression. It just so happens to be a incredibly entertaining technical spectacle as well, backed up by Soderbergh’s authentic ingenuity and close attention to detail.
You can currently stream Presence on Hulu.
Sinners
I mean, how could I not? Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (2025) is the kind of blockbuster that I wish came out more often. A standard of sorts that was the norm and not the rare, exciting exception to the rule. It's a stellar piece of drama and a solid entry for the vampire genre, bursting at the scenes with innovation at every turn. When a movie simultaneously reminds you of Eve's Bayou (1997) and Blade (1998), sometimes in the same breath, it has to be doing something right. I can’t say enough how much I loved the performances, production, sound design, production design, costume design, soundtrack, and sense of narrative freedom that Coogler employs. Sinners' greatest magic trick is its ability to freely form to the movie it wants to be in any given moment, never fully knowing what to expect next. There’s a reason the film found its way into the New York Times Reader’s Top 500 Films of the Century So Far… almost in the Top 50.
You can currently stream Sinners on HBO Max.
Also, check out The Ballad of Wallis Island on Peacock, Friendship on VOD, Nonnas on Netflix, and Stolen Kingdom at your local/regional film festival this year. They’re all very good.