Joey Magidson
I’d like to welcome you all to July and the second half of the year! Time just flies, doesn’t it? Somehow, we’re halfway through 2025. The past few years were pretty tough for me in the first parts of 2022 and 2023, so the fact that I was actually able to look to some parts of 2024 as personal highlights last year was a real change of pace. This year? The days are largely good, which is something to hold on to. Life is still life, but there’s plenty of bright spots, which I’m incredibly grateful to have. Anyway, now that we’ve reached July, it’s time (at least for a certified nut like me), to continue sizing up the year. As such, today you’ll be able to take a look at what the cinematic highlights for the year have been for me. I’m at just about 135 films seen so far (give or take an embargo or two), though even with that number there are a few things I need to catch up on. Such is life, right?
Below, you can see what I feel are the best films and performances of the first half of 2025. My one rule here is yet again that it must have been released in January, February, March, April, May, or June. So, while that can include this past weekend’s releases, since they hit before July 1st, any movies from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival that have not come out yet remain ineligible, sadly. The same goes for the Tribeca Film Festival (not to mention the Cannes Film Festival), as well as things I’ve seen that haven’t been released into theaters yet, like Superman, for example. Other than that, all of the flicks are on the table. Now, read on to see who and what made the cut for me this time…
These are the ten best performances of the year so far:
10. Brad Pitt in F1: The Movie
9. Florence Pugh in Thunderbolts*
8. Tim Robinson in Friendship
7. Karen Gillan in The Life of Chuck
6. Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners
5. Mark Hamill in The Life of Chuck
4. Naomi Watts in The Friend
3. Chiwetel Ejiofor in The Life of Chuck
2. Judy Greer in Eric Larue
1. Michael B. Jordan in Sinners
(Honorable Mentions: Ben Affleck in The Accountant 2, Michael Angarano in Sacramento, Jon Bernthal in The Accountant 2, Michael Cera in Sacramento, Jodie Comer in 28 Years Later, Chris Evans in Materialists, Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later, Dakota Johnson in Materialists, Delroy Lindo in Sinners, Pedro Pascal in Materialists, Hailee Steinfeld in Sinners, and Sophie Thatcher in Companion)
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Here now are the top ten films of the first half of 2025, with a quote from my reviews for each:
(Honorable Mentions: Companion, The Friend, The Last Republican, and Thunderbolts*)
*Special Citation: Are We Good? and Twinless have been raved about on the site by yours truly but are not out yet. Then, there’s Superman, which I’m embargoed on until next week, though make what you will of this mention here*
10. Sacramento
There’s a much simpler version of Sacramento that I’m sure could have easily been the writing and directing debut of actor Michael Angarano. It would be a charming little star vehicle, without question. However, it would only be that. Here, we have a film with a bit more on its mind, while still having all of the comedy charm inherent in the road trip coming of age premise. The end result? A movie with more to offer than you might initially expect. Consider me pleasantly surprised.
Sacramento is a slight subversion of the tropes we see all too often in stories of young men coming of age. Here, Angarano makes impending fatherhood part of the story, whereas these sorts of tales of arrested development wouldn’t usually dare to look that far ahead. The further the flick goes on, the more laughs we have, sure, but also the more heart that’s on display too.
Back in 2016, The Accountant debuted as a slightly odd duck of a movie. It’s a slightly high concept shoot em up at its core that has Ben Affleck in hero mode as well as serious actor mode. The mixture worked because of Affleck’s commitment to the dramatic aspects, as opposed to simply the action ones. It gave what could have been a rather silly flick a bit extra of a punch. In the years since, it’s become a very re-watchable film, which certainly explains why a sequel is now hitting screens. What easily could have been a situation of diminishing returns is instead the opposite. The Accountant 2 is here with even more to offer, which is a welcome surprise. It’s still popcorn entertainment, even more so here, but everyone involved knows what works and doubles down on it. It’s a nice lesson for a franchise to take, even if it rarely happens.
The Accountant 2 improves on the already very solid first film, leaning into buddy comedy elements and just raising the overall scope of the action. Both movies are fun, to be sure, but this feels more consistently designed to make you laugh. There were humorous elements in The Accountant, but they were just sprinkled in to break up some of the brutality. Here, it feels like the action comes when it’s time to take a break from the light comedy. Both versions work, without question, with this style actually working even better.
8. Freaky Tales
At the start of their careers, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were known for emotionally complex and introspective independent dramas. Half Nelson and Sugar were spectacular and established them as storytellers who could try just about anything. A move towards the mainstream since then culminated in Captain Marvel, but Boden and Fleck have found their indie roots again. Steeped in affection for Oakland in 1987, as well as the work of John Carpenter and especially Quentin Tarantino, Freaky Tales is a tremendously entertaining ride. Does it amount to anything as substantial as their early work? No. Is it still wildly fun and one of the most purely enjoyable flicks of 2025 so far? You’re damn right it is. Plus, as an added bonus, despite having been made back in 2023, debuting at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, its desire to kick Nazi ass has only become more resonant.
Freaky Tales could easily have been made right after Pulp Fiction, the Tarantino vibe is so clearly there (Kill Bill also is very much in this film’s DNA). The difference between this flick and the countless ripoffs in the 1990s? There’s a balls to the wall, free-wheeling aspect to it that makes far more appreciation and homage than anything lazy. It’s a love letter, at it’s core, albeit an incredibly violent and often wild one.
7. Heart Eyes
I love a good romantic comedy. This is not news to any of you who read my stuff. It’s also no secret that I’m fond of quality horror. So, the concept of combining the two in a novel way really piqued my interest. At the same time, it goes without saying that a romantic comedy slasher film is not easy to pull off. As such, it’s a really high compliment on my part to say that Heart Eyes is just as good a rom-com as it is a slasher. The movie is a genre fan’s dream, full stop.
Heart Eyes knows that both genres need to be honored, or else neither will work in the flick. Watching it consistently play into the emotion, horror, and laughs with equal respect is a sight to behold. Getting half of it right would have led to a quality film. Instead, by going above and beyond, we have one of the best works of 2025 so far.
6. Friendship
You almost immediately know if the humor of Tim Robinson is up your alley or not. Whether it’s through I Think You Should Leave or elsewhere, Robinson presents like no one else. Personally, I find him hilarious and strange, in equal measure. Watching him, especially here in Friendship, there’s this alien quality to him that so few comedians even attempt. Robinson’s characters are always just missing this little bit to have them understand a given situation. Here, not only is that the case, but the loneliness of being a modern adult man is layered on to it. There’s more going on here than you might expect, though obviously couched in some of the biggest laughs I’ve had in some time.
Friendship is easily one of the funniest movies of the year, while also being among the weirdest. Every scene just plays out a little different than you might expect, even when you go in assuming things are going to be strange. Whether it’s the reaction to a new Marvel, a drug trip, or just about anything in between, a Tim Robinson character does things like no one else. Provided you’re on his wavelength, this is going to be an absolute riot.
A summer blockbuster like F1: The Movie shouldn’t feel as novel as it does. Hollywood used to put out big sports films all the time. Summer used to always be home to epic star vehicles and crowdpleasers like this one. However, that’s not what we get anymore, so the movie enters into a marketplace hungering for exactly what it offers. As an added bonus? The flick is one of the best of the year so far, so it’s supreme entertainment, to boot.
F1: The Movie has a very Top Gun: Maverick vibe, which is not accidental, considering the crew below the line is largely similar. Now, that’s a compliment, since that film is among the most successful in recent memory, both in terms of the craftsmanship and execution on display, as well as its overall embrace by the cinematic community. If this flick does half as well, all involved will be pleased. Now, substituting Formula One cars for fighter jets isn’t exactly the same thing, but when the racing starts, you’ll be just as swept away.
4. Materialists
Modern dating is…not great. Between technology, the anxieties of the day, and all of the added pressures put on everyone, it’s actually kind of a miracle any date goes well, let alone can blossom into a relationship. So, why do we do it? I know I’ve had many a tale that I could tell of dates that went awry. Well, it’s the hope for love, right? At the same time, how does that absolute positive brush up against all that negative? That’s just one element being considered in Materialists, a romantic drama that’s only masquerading in promotional materials as a romantic comedy. There’s a lot going on in this film, to be sure. It’s a lot of things. A rom-com? Not even in the slightest, so just know that going in.
Materialists is a romantic movie that still manages to have a heaping does of cynicism and realism mixed in. It has the capacity to really upset you, given the razor sharp precision with which the subject matter is being depicted. Rom-coms are fantasy, of course, so they can play by their own rules. This flick sticks almost entirely to the real world, give or take a cinematic moment that does still manage to be effective. This is at the very least a deconstruction of the romantic comedy, if not just a romantic drama of the first order.
3. The Monkey
When you get on a film’s wavelength, no matter what kind of a work it is, there’s a feeling that’s hard to beat. Especially when it’s an out there horror movie, you’re so attuned to the possibilities, anything that happens is a delight. In the case of The Monkey, the opening scene so perfectly sets you up for what’s to come, that you’re just excited to be along for the ride. This flick is such a good time, savagely funny and savagely gory in equal measure, it’s one of the best horror comedies in some time. 2025 is off to a hell of a year, horror wise.
The Monkey is incredibly different from Longlegs, the prior film from Osgood Perkins, but it’s just as clearly evidence that he’s a master of horror. This shows that he can go funny, which is a new exercise for the filmmaker. It’s a movie with a real devilish sense of humor. Sure, some folks may not be able to vibe with what he’s doing, but if you love horror, as well as genre works on the whole, this is an absolute riot that will shock you in all of the best ways.
2. Sinners
Okay, listen up folks. For anyone who ever complains that Hollywood never does anything original, Sinners is for you. This is the type of film that spits in the face of those who say cinema has nothing new to offer. By taking one of the oldest movie monsters there is, spinning them on their ear, and filtering it through a setting/time period that’s never utilized them before, and you have something completely singular. There has never been anything quite like Sinners. Not only is this 2025’s first truly great blockbuster, it’s also the best film of the year so far.
Sinners absolutely rocks. Bloody, horny, musical, and full of genre-bending on the part of filmmaker Ryan Coogler, it’s all the right kinds of audacious. What begins as a light period drama, with plenty of reverence for the power of music, it slowly but surely transforms into horror, with the third act becoming an actual bloodbath. Through it all, there’s impeccable technical aspects, first rate acting, and a true feeling that you’re watching the full possibilities of film. Coogler makes movies for the big screen, with Sinners being just the latest example of an event picture, meant to be seen with the best sound and on the biggest screen possible.
A movie like The Life of Chuck doesn’t come along very often. Films can do all sorts of things, but it’s the rare work that can be a balm for your soul. Mike Flanagan, working off of the Stephen King source material, has achieved this feat. In the tradition of Frank Darabont, Flanagan has taken King’s non-horror output and made an instant classic. A double feature between this and The Shawshank Redemption would not be out of place. Not only is this film one of the best I’ve seen in some time, easily the best of 2025 so far, it’s potentially an all-timer. The flick just packs that much of a wallop.
The Life of Chuck absolutely bowled me over. Taking an incredibly simple message and premise, one we all too often forget, and expanding it out to cosmic and universal proportions is stunning to witness. Flanagan engages just about every emotion one can have while engaging with cinema. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the most fulfilling films to come along in a great long while. It’s the type of movie that may actually save lives, that’s how important it could become to viewers that let it in.
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As a bonus, here are a few awards for the first half:
Best Director – Ryan Coogler for Sinners (runner-up: Mike Flanagan for The Life of Chuck)
Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan for Sinners (runner-up: Tim Robinson for Friendship)
Best Actress – Judy Greer for Eric Larue (runner-up: Naomi Watts for The Friend)
Best Supporting Actor – Chiwetel Ejiofor for The Life of Chuck (runner-up: Mark Hamill for The Life of Chuck)
Best Supporting Actress – Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners (runner-up: Karen Gillan for The Life of Chuck)
Best Adapted Screenplay – The Life of Chuck (runner-up: The Monkey)
Best Original Screenplay – Sinners (runner-up: Friendship)
Best Animated Feature – Elio (runner-up: Predator: Killer of Killers)
Best Documentary Feature – The Last Republican (runner-up: Long Lonesome Highway: The Story of Michael Parks)
Best Production Design – Sinners (runner-up: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning)
Best Cinematography – Sinners (runner-up: F1: The Movie)
Best Costume Design – Sinners (runner-up: Thunderbolts*)
Best Film Editing – The Life of Chuck (runner-up: The Monkey)
Best Makeup & Hairstyling – The Monkey (runner-up: Sinners)
Best Sound – Warfare (runner-up: F1: The Movie)
Best Visual Effects – Sinners (runner-up: Thunderbolts*)
Best Original Score – Sinners (runner-up: The Life of Chuck)
Best Original Song – N/A
Best Ensemble – The Life of Chuck (runner-up: Materialists)
What are your favorite films and performances so far in 2025? Let us know!
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