As we cross the midway point of 2025, it’s hard to believe how quickly the year is flying by. While the major awards contenders often arrive later in the year, the first half has already delivered a diverse array of cinematic gems. From highly anticipated blockbusters to acclaimed independent features and captivating documentaries, movie lovers have had plenty to discuss and experience.
The early months of the year, traditionally quieter, have nonetheless introduced films that have resonated with critics and audiences alike. We’ve seen surprise box office hits, unexpected disappointments, and compelling stories from around the globe. With the summer movie season now in full swing, promising major sequels and big-budget spectacles, it’s a perfect time to look back at the standout films that have defined 2025 so far.
Below, we explore some of the most notable releases from the first half of the year, combining insights from a seasoned critic’s personal favorites with a look at the films earning high praise based on critical consensus.
A Critic’s Personal Standouts from Early 2025
One critic, Matt Singer, reflected on his viewing experience through June, noting that despite a busy schedule, he’s already encountered several genuinely good films, including a few he considers modern classics. He shared his personal top 10 list from the movies he’s seen so far, ranked in ascending order. While acknowledging he missed some highly anticipated titles like Celine Song’s Materialists, his list offers a glimpse into the diverse quality available.
Here are his personal top picks from the first half of 2025:
1. Elio: Despite challenging box office performance, this Pixar film is highlighted as a sweet, surprisingly fun sci-fi story with a touching message for kids feeling out of place. Remy Edgerly’s voice work as the alien slug Glordon is called out as a potential historical great.
2. Ballerina: A John Wick spinoff that, despite rumored production challenges and a potentially disjointed plot, delivers stellar action sequences, including a memorable “firefight” and a unique setting, earning praise for its sheer spectacle over its title’s promise of ballet.
3. Companion: This thriller stands out as a pleasant surprise, offering unpredictable twists and clever commentary on modern tech culture. It follows a young woman on a getaway where chaos erupts, blending dark humor and surprisingly graphic violence with intriguing character details.
4. 28 Years Later: A worthy successor to the original, this film continues the tradition of combining intense scares with thought-provoking themes. It ties audiences in knots with worry for young Spike (Alfie Williams) while exploring profound ideas about mortality and appreciating beauty in a world facing decline.
5. Wick Is Pain: This documentary offers a candid look at the history of the John Wick franchise. Praised for its raw honesty, it details the challenges, conflicts, and unwavering dedication to producing top-tier action that sets the series apart, even touching on demanding studio notes like removing Keanu Reeves’ beard.
6. Eephus: Like its baseball namesake pitch, this unhurried drama is deceptively simple and sneaks up on you. Set around the final game at a local field, it uses this seemingly inconsequential event to deeply explore relationships, rituals, and the profound meaning baseball holds for many.
7. Mickey 17: Bong Joon-ho tackles sci-fi allegory with Robert Pattinson as an “expendable” clone facing redundancy when a new iteration appears. Though potentially uneven compared to Parasite, the film’s fluctuating mood and tone are seen as mirroring its premise of multiple, slightly different protagonists.
8. Friendship: Described as the critic’s favorite theatrical experience of the year so far, this comedy elicited uproarious, cringe-inducing reactions from the audience. The plot centers on Tim Robinson’s hilarious humiliation as a friendship with a cool neighbor (Paul Rudd) goes disastrously wrong, expertly probing male insecurities.
9. Black Bag: This spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett is lauded for its unexpected blend of “Agatha Christie whodunit but way hornier” vibes. Its main appeal lies in its constant unpredictability and the stellar supporting cast, making it a consistently fun watch.
10. Sinners: Ryan Coogler’s horror film is hailed as potentially the best vampire movie, best horror film, and most insightful film about America, music, and cultural appropriation of the year. It’s described as terrifying, sexy, funny, and a huge, nearly home-run swing of a movie.
Critical Consensus: Top Films Ranked by Metacritic
Beyond personal lists, critical reception offers another perspective on the year’s standouts. Based on aggregated critic scores on Metacritic for films released in the U.S. by mid-June 2025 (with at least seven reviews), several films have consistently ranked at the top, showcasing a diverse range of genres and international voices.
Here are some of the highly-rated films based on critical reception:
Caught by the Tides: This unique drama from Chinese director Jia Zhangke is a standout, blending archival documentary footage with new scenes to tell a two-decade romance. It’s praised as a quietly brilliant film that captures the transformation of both a personal relationship and China itself.
Deaf President Now!: An urgent and powerful documentary recounting the 1988 protests at Gallaudet University. Using archival footage and interviews, it highlights the fight for deaf leadership and the impact of being marginalized, serving as a reminder of the power of protest for justice.
Grand Theft Hamlet: One of the year’s most inventive documentaries follows two actors staging Shakespeare’s Hamlet entirely within the world of Grand Theft Auto Online using only their digital avatars. It’s celebrated for its imagination, uniqueness, and surprisingly engaging blend of theater and gaming.
Grand Tour: Set in 1917, this historical drama follows a man abandoning his fiancée and her subsequent journey across Asia in search of him. It masterfully blends fictional narrative with real documentary footage, aiming to evoke the “spectacle of the world” and inspire wonder in the audience.
Holy Cow: A warm and humorous social-realist drama from France about an 18-year-old who becomes the sole caregiver for his younger sister. Finding tenderness and strength in their bond, they navigate their new life, even preparing for a cheese-making contest.
Blue Sun Palace: A lyrical and slow-moving film about two Chinese immigrants in Queens who form a connection after a tragedy. It’s praised for its perceptive subtlety in portraying the immigrant experience, grief, and the enduring pursuit of dreams.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: The beloved claymation duo returns in an adventure featuring the villainous Feathers McGraw. While entertaining for all ages, it also offers insightful, layered commentary on technology and consumerism, retaining the series’ classic charm and wit.
From Ground Zero: A profoundly impactful collection of 22 short films by Palestinian directors in Gaza, documenting true stories of destruction and loss. This urgent work humanizes the people of Gaza and demonstrates the necessity and power of art and digital media in preserving stories amidst catastrophe.
Eephus: This film, also featured on the personal list above, resonated strongly with critics. Its subtle, poignant portrayal of the final game at an amateur baseball field before demolition is seen as a touching tribute to the sport’s unique ability to distort time and reveal the depth of human connection.
Sinners: Ryan Coogler’s film appears high on both lists, confirming its significant impact. This horror movie, set in the 1920s/30s Mississippi Delta, stars Michael B. Jordan as twins encountering a supernatural evil. It’s highlighted as a rare mainstream horror film with substantial, soulful themes, stunning aesthetics, and notable box office success.
I’m Still Here: A highly acclaimed drama based on a memoir about a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Praised for its urgency, tension, and radiant human warmth, the lead performance earned significant recognition.
Black Bag: Steven Soderbergh’s second film to earn critical praise this year is this spy thriller about married British intelligence officers. Described as a “silky,” “delicious,” and “svelte” piece of entertainment, it blends Hitchockian tension with darker comedy and contemporary anxieties about trust.
As the year progresses, undoubtedly more films will capture critical attention and audience affection. But this look at the first half of 2025 confirms that quality cinema continues to thrive, offering everything from intimate character studies and thought-provoking documentaries to exciting genre fare and potential future classics. Whether you align with a critic’s personal favorites or trust the consensus of aggregated reviews, there’s a wealth of compelling movies released so far this year waiting to be discovered.
References
- screencrush.com
- stacker.com
- www.nytimes.com
- <a href="https://www.dailygazette.com/lifeandarts/entertainment/the-best-movies-of-2025-so-far/article_52674fa8-63df-5471-bcdd-42eac9ca69ca.html”>www.dailygazette.com
- time.com