Movie Midterm - My Favorite Movies of the First Half of 2025
Quick Note: I haven't been able to watch every movie released this year that I wanted to, so there will be gaps in this list. Some of those films were not available to me, and for some, the timing just didn't work out with my schedule. I'm sure at least a few of those would have made the list, but they were not one of the 19 films released so far in 2025 that I have seen (not counting early releases I can't talk about, and re-releases). There will be three honorable mentions, and 10 of my favorite films of the year. After that, I will list every film that was released this year that I have seen, that way you can see what I had to choose from!
Honorable Mention 3 - Dogma: The Resurrection
This one is a little bit of a cheat, since Dogma was released in 1999. But it has been a while since this movie has seen the light of day on any legitimate platform. It is not available for streaming, digital rental, and hard to find on physical media. Kevin Smith's movie about angels was owned by the devil. But he recently got ownership of the movie back, and re-released it to celebrate its 25th anniversary. I got to see one of my favorite movies on the big screen for the first time - and it still holds up. The jokes still land, and so does the sentiment. I am glad the movie will be more readily available now. Hopefully you will see a Dogma sequel on one of my lists in a few years.
Honorable Mention 2 - Den of Thieves: Pantera
January releases usually means that execs don't have that much faith in the film. So it was concerning to see this movie released then, since the first Den of Thieves movie is quite good. And while the sequel certainly doesn't live up to its predecessor, it has some really fun moments. O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Gerard Butler effortlessly slip back into their roles. This one is a little lighter than the first one and has pros and cons to that, but it does absolutely make it feel different from the first one. I am always a sucker for heist thrillers, and this is a fun entry in that genre.
Honorable Mention 1 - G20
I would watch Viola Davis do anything. Her being President of the United States is a happy distraction from what is really going on. G20 is a take on the Die Hard formula, with moderately better results than some other movies that did tried a similar thing this year. Davis commands the screen, and the story is strong enough to sustain itself when she is not on the screen. The action is fun, and the stakes are easy to be invested in. If you like fun action movies, this one is for you.
10. Novocaine
The action genre has seen a shot in the arm in the last decade with several movies stepping up their game. Novocaine is the result of that. It is a movie about a bank employee who cannot feel pain, who attempts to rescue one of his bank employees after she gets taken hostage when the bank gets robbed. It is bloody, unforgiving, unrelenting, and isn't shy to get dirty. Jack Quaid is great as a leading man, and the story has some nice twists and turns. If you are squeamish, this might not be for you, but if you can handle it, and want a adrenaline-fueled action packed rescue story, then give this one a shot.
9. The Accountant 2
It took a while to get a sequel, but it finally arrived. Everyone is a little older, and the story felt a little different than the original. Some supporting characters had larger roles, and different dynamics emerged. It is perfectly serviceable on its own, but does pale in comparison to the first one. If you liked the first one, you will find things to like here. But you will also find something a bit different, however not different enough to win you over if the first one didn't do anything for you. This kind of flew under the radar, but its worth seeking out if you enjoyed the first one.
8. You're Cordially Invited
I lament the loss of the mid-budget comedy in theaters. The communal experience with a comedy is something special. This movie is good for a few legitimate laughs, and it would have been funnier in a crowd. But even on streaming, this is a charming story with a strong comedic cast led by Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. It gets a little silly in places, but silly can be a welcome addition to a story sometimes. This is a fun, light-hearted movie that won't stress you out, unless you are wedding planning or scared of large reptiles.
7. Elio
If you pay attention to numbers, you won't think much of Pixar's newest venture. But general audiences would have found this movie easier if Disney promoted it like they should have. It is a really sweet movie. I think everyone at one time or another has felt like they don't belong, even if it was fleetingly. Elio takes that premise to heart, and the results are satisfying. It is a good message for kids to learn, and a good reminder for adults as well. This is definitely middle-tier Pixar, but near the top of the middle tier. Pixar has a sequel problem, and will not be fixed if no one lets them take a chance on some original properties. This is worthy of your time.
6. The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
I've been tracking this one for a while, and it had a bumpy road to release. But it is here, and it is worth a watch. First off, the animation is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like classic old school animation from the 90s, yet with a sharpness and detail that you can only get in modern day. Outside of that, this is classic Looney Tunes material: Misunderstandings, innuendos, and extreme outcomes that classic fans are used to. Warner Bros flat out squandered this movie's potential, which is unforgivable given how solid it is. If this was thrown in theaters on a wide release, kids would have loved it. Also, it is nice that Porky and Daffy got the main character treatment. They shine while away from Bugs Bunny, and he isn't really missed.
5. Nonnas
Nonnas is based on a true story about a guy using real Italian grandmothers in the kitchen of his restaurant after the passing of his own Italian mother. The movie unfolds exactly how you think it would. But that is where it finds its charm. The film actually explores loss and grief in an interesting way, though doesn't quite commit to it as well as it should. The rest gels together nicely, and was the perfect Mothers Day release, as they knew who the target audience for this movie would be.
4. Paddington In Peru
If this was the first Paddington movie ever released, there wouldn't really be any complaints about it. It is a fun, entertaining, serviceable movie. The problem is, the first 2 Paddington movies are masterpieces. Paddington 2 is nearly a perfect movie. So the bar was very high here, and it doesn't quite clear it. Recasting a fan favorite character didn't help, though that was nobody's fault. If you can resist the comparisons and take the movie for what it is, you will find a fun kid's movie that has the same heart as its predecessors, even if the execution isn't quite there. There are worse part 3s for sure, and there are much worse kids movies. So it excels in the important areas. Antonio Banderas has a lot of fun as the newcomer, and he made the movie better as well, often having to act opposite himself in some exposition sequences. I don't know where the franchise goes from here, but I hope the pitfalls that it found itself in won't prevent future entries.
3. Ballerina: From the World of John Wick
The world of John Wick has a ton of story potential, because the mainline movies did an incredible job at world building. Ballerina wasn't an organic spinoff like a movie about Halle Berry's character or Donnie Yen's character would be. But they still dovetailed it nicely in the events of the Wick movies. While the story is paper thin and somewhat standard, the action is what stands out. There are brutal action sequences worthy of the John Wick name in the clunky title. Ana De Armas does a great job in the fight sequences, both with weapon handling and coordination. It would be fun to see her character again in whatever the future of this franchise brings.
2. Thunderbolts*
On paper, this would seem like the weaker of the two Marvel Studios releases in the first half of the year. Surely a new Captain America movie would be stronger? But nope. Cap 4 was a bit of a mess in more ways than one. Thunderbolts* on the other hand took characters whose lives are a mess and made a fun, coherent, and entertaining movie. I am glad Marvel isn't scared of personal stories. Not every story has to be a Universe-Destruction level event. The villain was the personification of personal demons, and it worked really well. Florence Pugh is a bonafide movie star, and she is the reason this movie goes to next level.
1. Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning
It's difficult to put into words how special this movie is. Tom Cruise's mission to entertain audiences by putting stunts on screen never seen before, hits a crescendo with The Final Reckoning. The story is a little more complicated (and messier) than it needs to be, but it is written well enough that emotional impact and character beats resonate with audiences in between stunts. Then the stunts themselves are spectacular. While the bi-wing airplane scene was the centerpiece of the promotional material, there is another sequence in the 2nd act that might be more nerve-wracking. The movie wraps up plot lines from all 7 of its predecessors, yet keeps the door open for more, despite the Final in its title. While it doesn't quite reach the highest peaks the franchise has seen before, this is still a strong entry in the franchise, and a love-letter to movie making. I saw this twice in theaters, and will actually be disappointed when I watch it on my TV for the first time. The Final Reckoning proves that there is still something special about seeing a movie in a theater - as long as the person next to you isn't texting.
***
2025 Films I have seen so far (including a few I saw early, that I can't talk about yet, so they are blurred out):
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