The Best & Worst Movies of 2025, So Far (According To Jeff D Lowe)

We are halfway through 2025, so there's no better time than now to check look at the best & worst of the big screen, so far.

Let's start off by stating some important: PLEASE GO TO THE MOVIES. Don't wait for streaming. Get your ass to a theater, pay for a movie, and enjoy it how it was meant to be seen. I advocate for going to the theater as many times as possible. It's an experience we cannot lose… EVER.

Now, with that said, I can't quite call 2025 a great year for movies (so far, at least). Through six full months, I have only rated two movies 90 out of 100 or above, and just nine total 85 out of 100 or above. In 2024, I had 9 movies rated 90 out of 100 or higher by July 7th, and 20 (!!!) movies rated 85 out of 100 or higher. Have there been a lot of good, solid movies in the first half of 2025? Yes. But in terms of great movies, 2025 hasn't quite hit its stride yet. Luckily, there are a lot of big releases on the horizon, so I am not giving up on the year just yet!

The following ratings & rankings are the movies I think are the BEST & WORST. These aren't my favorite movies, as I always say in these blogs, but solely based on quality. For example, 'Not Another Teen Movie' is one of my 50 favorite movies of all time, but do I think it's one of the 50 best? No, obviously not.

For the full list of all 167 new movies I have seen so far this year, check out my LetterBoxd below…

…without further ado, here are the 30 movies I consider the BEST of 2025, so far…

NOTE: Each movie title is also a link to its trailer

30) Novocaine (79/100) - This movie is wild, and the fact its unapologetic about it makes it so much. Does the concept get a little tired at times? For sure, but Jack Quaid is so charismatic in the role that you never really get sick of it. 'Novocaine' isn't anything groundbreaking, but it's a very good time.

29) Broke (79/100) - I need to admit I wasn't a big believer in Wyatt Russell a few years ago, but I have been grossly proven wrong. He's been great the last few years, and especially excellent in this small movie about the rodeo. This doesn't work in every spot, but the Russell performance is worth the price of admission (or rental).

28) Hard Truths (80/100) - Holy depressing movie. Powerful performances and storytelling are the name of the game here, especially if you like a drama that cuts deep. It's a little much at times for me, but a lot sticks out with 'Hard Truths' and its effective story.

27) Eephus (80/100) - This is as unique of a sports movie as you will ever see. Essentially, you're just watching a documentary of men's league baseball players. It's a fun, calming, enjoyable watch, and I am actually on the lower end of the spectrum with this movie. Others, especially big baseball fans, have really clung on to this one and heralded it as a big success. So, you might find this towards the top of your list for the year.

26) The Phoenician Scheme (80/1000) - Near the bottom of the list for Wes Anderson movies, 'The Phoenician Scheme' does some great things, but is ultimately weighed down by a losing of focus on what works. Anderson falls into cliches and tropes that have made his recent releases not as beloved as his older stuff. Playful visuals and cameos can be fun at times, but the artsy director leans on them too much. Keep in mind I am a fan of the director, but the one good thing is that Anderson's "worse" stuff is still pretty decent.

25) Elio (80/100) - Much like with Wes Anderson, Pixar's "worse" stuff is still pretty decent. 'Elio' is up there with the funnier movies from Pixar, and looks excellent, it just unfortunately doesn't have that iconic feel that makes so many movies from the studio stand out as classics.

24) Sacramento (80/100) - It’s not exactly the same, but this could be considered a “twin film” alongside ‘A Real Pain’, because there are similarities. The movie isn’t nearly as good, but there’s still a nice road-trip buddy dramedy here that’s worth a watch.

23) How to Train Your Dragon (81/100) - What else do you expect from a shot-for-shot re-make of the original (a great movie), that returns an incredible score? The drop-off in quality is solely based on the fact it loses significant charm going from animated to live action.

22) Freaky Tales (81/100) - An anthology film that isn't exactly smooth across the board, but so much of it delivers nothing but unapologetic chaos, style, and nostalgia porn. This is a great time with charismatic performances and a whacky story I really enjoyed. I'll use "nostalgia porn" again, because if you like a good "blast from the past" movie, this should be on your watch list.

21) KPop Demon Hunters (81/100) - I know, I know. From the title, you're probably thinking, "Jeff what the fuck is this?" But trust me when I say this is a worthwhile watch in the department of animated movies. The subject matter may not be your cup of tea, but the Sony Animation team, the same team behind the Spider-Verse movies, has really found their groove as of late.

20) Magazine Dreams (82/100) - The filmmakers were clearly channeling movies such as 'Taxi Driver', 'Joker', or even 'Whiplash' when making this, and that does result in something uncomfortable to watch, yet fascinating. I guess my main gripe is that it doesn't really "go for it" storytelling wise, it's a little too familiar for this genre, which makes it drag a bit. Now, if you were avoiding this movie due to the Jonathan Majors of it all, I would say don't do that. Plenty of other people worked hard on this movie, and it resulted in a worthwhile watch, and they deserve credit for that. His performance also carries much of it and would likely be pushed for major awards if it weren't for his off-screen controversies.

19) The Ballad of Wallis Island (82/100) - If you like schmaltz (EX: Barstool's own Chris Klemmer), then this shit might end up in your Top 10 of the year. This is a nice, sweet movie that offers up a story that you will have a hard time not smiling at. 'Wallis Island' isn't the type of movie to really move the needle too much for me, but, as I said, there is an audience that will gobble this right up.

18) Predator: Killer of Killers (82/100) - It's not a shock that the Predator franchise works great in the animated space, and it's great to see Disney has found a lane for the IP since the 20th Century Fox purchase. While it isn't quite as good as 2022's 'Prey', 'Killer of Killers' is an awesome time that I actually wish was a tad longer.

17) The Accountant 2 (83/100) - Easily the biggest shock of the year for me, I liked 'The Accountant 2' more than the first movie. While it does take a bit to get going, any scene featuring Ben Affleck & Jon Bernthal is excellent. I can't believe I am saying this, but we might need more from this franchise, specifically those two actors and their great on-screen chemistry.

16) Presence (83/100) - Steven Soderbergh (who directed my favorite movie in 'Ocean's Eleven') retired a few years ago, but is still making movies? It makes no sense, but I won't complain because he's released two really enjoyable movies this year. The first one was this experimental horror-thriller that I quite liked. While the acting isn't anything to write home about, and brings the movie down a bit, 'Presence' has a really unique way of telling its story both script wise and visually speaking.

NOTE: The graphics below link to the trailers when clicked!

A clear step down from 'Past Lives', there are issues that really plague 'Materlialists' from working, but there's no doubt Celine Song is one of the best active writers in Hollywood. Going for a collision of romcom and romantic drama was an admirable swing, even if it doesn't fully work.

A month before release, I would've gladly accepted this movie being anything other than "dead on arrival." Yet, somehow, someway 'Ballerina' has proved itself to be a fine addition to the John Wick Universe. It's not as good as the other John Wick movies, and you could argue it's not even close to as good as them, but considering those are modern day action movie classics, this movie slots in as pretty good in comparison.

'Thunderbolts' isn't as high on the list as it was when I first saw it, but it remains one of Marvel's better efforts as of late after a second watch. This was a journey into a territory that also felt fresh and new. 'Thunderbolts' balances out the charm and fun of the MCU but also manages to explore some pretty heavy themes that tie perfectly into the story. Could they have added more color and liveliness to the movie? Absolutely. But this is a step in the right direction in terms of loosening the reigns, and letting the filmmakers try some new things.

Somehow my most controversial rating & ranking of the year, I really liked 'F1', especially on a second viewing. But compared to other people, it seems as though I hated it!? Many people are going to have this as a Top 3 movie of the year, but it just doesn't reach that height for me. Yes, I can have fun with movies, but when comparing this to 'Top Gun: Maverick', and ELITE movie from the same exact team, it just doesn't have the same cohesion, or tight & sturdy story-telling to stand on. On top of that, there is a character moment in the back half of the moment that is so cartoonish and stupid that it almost ruins it for me. I have my issues with 'F1', but don't get me wrong, this was still one of my favorite movie experiences of the year, and should be enjoyed on the biggest format possible.

This borders on cry porn and might be a bit too schmaltzy for some people, but I'd be lying if I said this movie didn't hit me across the face with a bag of emotional bricks. It's a great (based on a true) story that will leave an impact, and I could see this one growing on me over time. Compared to the rest of my list, this is certainly one of the smaller releases, and a great example of how many really good releases fly under the radar throughout the year.

There's a ton to love here with 'The Life of Chuck'. It's creative, has a unique vision, and tells a great story with a lot to say. The way the movie is structured bogs it down a bit, and I think it loses the reigns as it goes along in the final act, but this is a very solid release. Tom Hiddleston is a delight, and as much as I love him in Marvel as Loki, it'd be great if we could see him in some more leading roles like this one.

Here's another example of a director not being at the top of their game but still pumping out a good movie based on being so elite. Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17' was a big swing as his first movie since 'Parasite', and not all of it works, but there is a charm to it that I can't deny. Robert Pattinson is great in a dual role (a theme for movies in 2025, especially from Warner Bros.), and his performance picks up some of the slack from a bit of a clunky script. It's a goofy movie with a ton of humor, and the big story moments that matter all land in an impactful way, even if there are pacing issues. This won't be for everyone, but I quite liked it.

You need to trust me on this one, especially if you're a fan of romantic comedies! This has an incredible amount of heart that builds up throughout the runtime. There are a few gut-punch emotional moments, which are all countered by a handful of belly laugh one-liners. The unlikely duo of Karan Soni & Jonathan Groff is just part of a cast great cast that carries a very funny script.

Walking out of the theater for this movie was wild. Pure silence from a packed crowd. Simply one of the most fucked up movies I have ever seen, but an effective one from the Philippou Brothers, the same directors of 2023's 'Talk To Me'. If you don't like horror and gore, stay away, because this movie beats the shit out of you with both. When it comes to the horror genre, if you're going to go that balls to wall, you need to leave a worthwhile & earned impact on me, and 'Bring Her Back' did just that.

I'm a Mission: Impossible superfan, so you need to factor that into my thoughts here. This movie is definitely overly long and clearly impacted by the delays of this franchise dating all the way back to the COVID-era of moviemaking… but I still had a great fucking time. The stunts are jaw-dropping, the action is breath-taking, and the team of Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie knows how to captivate an audience. Where it may lack in story elements that propped up the likes of 'Fallout' or 'Rogue Nation', 'The Final Reckoning' makes up for it in spades with some of the most unbelievable action set pieces you will ever see.

Once this movie gets going from a slower start, it is Steven Soderbergh at his best. Packed with an excellent cast and great script, 'Black Back' is a delicious, slick spy thriller. It's a sharp, slick, and dare I say sexy time, which plays right into Steven Soderbergh's unmatched ability to keep an audience guessing. The man fucking retired years ago… and yet is still cranking out multiple good movies in a single year. Crazy.

It took 20 years, but Danny Boyle (with the help of Alex Garland) took a big swing with the sequel to '28 Days Later' (we are ignoring '28 Weeks Later' in canon) and knocked it out of the park. This is a bold movie, that toes the line of being a bit too much at times but manages to stay on course for a perfectly chaotic experience. Any movie is also helped a lot when it has Ralph Fiennes, who has never turned in anything below a great performance.

Back-to-back movies for Alex Garland! This is as unique of a war movie as you will ever see. Terrifying and effective storytelling from Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza, 'Warfare' is unlike almost any war movie you've seen, and how it plays out may not be for everyone, but boy does it leave an impact. This is a very raw, immersive look inside of war, and plays out almost like a Call of Duty mission. The tension is off the charts, especially from the get-go with one of my favorite tone-setting opening scenes from any movie in recent memory. I liked this a good chunk more than 'Civil War', a similar release from Alex Garland from 2024.

Tim Robinson finding a way to take his character(s) from 'I Think You Should Leave' and seamlessly work him into a dark dramedy with actual emotional weight is fucking impressive. If you aren't a fan of the Netflix sketch show, or this type of humor, you may not care for 'Friendship', but my word did I love this movie. It takes many unexpected turns and subverts your expectations from what you might think Robinson & Paul Rudd would do together in a cringe-comedy. Over time this movie is going to grow a bigger audience, and hopefully people continue to appreciate the genius that is Tim Robinson.

This is why you go to the movies.

A truly GREAT movie, 'Sinners' has it all. Amazing story, music, acting, visuals, and everything in between, and it is rightfully the current front-runner for Best Picture at the next Oscars. Ryan Coogler has also firmly established himself as one of the best working directors in Hollywood, and all of his movies are must-see on opening night. On top of that, the music from Ludwig Göransson, which will surely win him another Oscar, only further establishes that he may go down as one of the best, if not the best, composers in movie history.

What a fucking experience. The music montage scene is legitimately one of the best scenes I have ever seen in my entire life.

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Okay, let's talk about the bad movies. First up, a few honorable mentions…

115) A Minecraft Movie (41/100) - You have to view this movie in through an irony lens to even enjoy it a little bit, and the experience of seeing it in theaters with a ton of screaming TikTokers is probably way better than watching it at home. Overall, the movie is ass, but I have to tip my cap to the fact it was a huge boost to the box office in 2025.

118) The Alto Knights (40/100) - This is the THIRD dual-role movie from Warner Bros. this year alongside 'Mickey 17' and 'Sinners'. I have no idea what's in the water at the studio, but that's such an odd fact. Anyway… this movie is boring as fuck, and one of the bigger stinkers Robert De Niro has ever starred in. 

128) G20 (33/100) - Do you want to watch a bland streaming action movie that doubles as an advertisement for cryptocurrency? Well, shit, do I have the movie for you!

144) The Woman in the Yard (20/100) - SPOILER ALERT -- This movie, kind of sort of, depending on how you interpret the ending, implies that a great way to handle grief is by un-aliving yourself. Not directly, and again, it's up for interpretation, but holy shit is this bleak and miserable. No idea what they were thinking here.

146) The Electric State (19/100) - The Russo Brothers are onto bigger and better things with the next pair of Avengers movies, but this was a brutal effort all around. One of the most expensive movies ever made, and easily Netflix's biggest swing and miss, pound for pound.

147) Bride Hard (19/100) - The first of two Rebel Wilson movies you're about to read about, 'Bride Hard' was directed by Simon West, who also made 'Con Air'… which is a fucking shocking bit of information to wrap your head around after seeing this movie.

150) Hurry Up Tomorrow (16/100) - No need to say anything. Just have to show you this clip…

hahahaha ahhh man… so bad.

158) Star Trek: Section 31 (09/100) - Easily one of the worst movies ever made for a major franchise. Calling it a bad 'Suicide Squad' set in the Star Trek Universe would be a compliment. This didn't get much play or promotion after the first day of release, and that's probably a good thing, because this was a true stinker. Shockingly bad.

Now for the BOTTOM 5…

This is worth a watch if you're a 90's kid, solely just to experience Frankie Muniz in one of the wildest roles he's ever played. It should give you a few good laughs as well.

This is a sequel, I shit you not. It took me a little while to realize it, because John Travolta is in a ton of these stinkers, but the sequel to 'Cash Out' is just as dumb & bad. The people behind this movie are fucking obsessed with drone shots, and I think I need 10 more of these movies just to see if they'll eventually shoot one entirely from a drone.

Offensively terrible. The movie has no idea if it wants to be a sappy feel-good dramedy, or low-brow Happy Madison-style slapstick movie. This stinks so, so, so much. Easily the cringiest (in a bad way) comedy of 2025.

Enough! Enough is enough! No more of this stupid horror movies based on public domain intellectual properties. Whether it's Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, or Popeye the Sailor Man, stop making this shit.

The movie equivalent of a dumpster fire, and a very deserving entry into the 0 out of 100 club. Everything from the story to the special effects crash lands right from the opening moments. I actually couldn't believe this was a movie that made it into theaters, it's truly that awful. 'In the Lost Lands' is like some sort of gross rip-off of 'Mad Max: Fury Road' and '300', but without even 1% of the quality of either. It might only be July, but this will end 2025 as the worst movie of the year.

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So, as you can see, we have had some good, a lot of "okay," and some bad movies so far in 2025. There are a ton of movies still on the horizon that could help turn the year around. You have 'Superman' and 'Fantastic Four' in the comic book space. There's a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, the Safdie Brothers have two movies coming out, another Avatar movie, and plenty of other releases that will hopefully begin to push 'Sinners' as real Oscar contenders.

Make sure to follow me on LetterBoxd…

…see ya at the movies!