The Best Movies of 2025 So Far

With summer blockbusters and festival gems already behind us, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year at the movies. The best movies of 2025 so far range from mega-franchise tentpoles like The Fantastic Four to more intimate dramas such as The Materialists. Whether you’re after spectacle, heartfelt storytelling, or bold originality, the best movies this year prove that cinema still has something for everyone.

At a Glance

• The best movies of 2025 so far mix blockbusters (F1: The Movie, Jurassic World: Rebirth) with originals (The Materialists, Sinners).
• Global juggernauts like Ne Zha 2 ($2.15B worldwide) and A Minecraft Movie ($957.8M worldwide) dominate the box office.
• Superhero fans embraced The Fantastic Four: First Steps, now past $519M globally.
• Critics spotlight Mickey 17 and The Glassworker among the best movies this year for originality and artistry.

Methodology

• Films selected only if they premiered in 2025 and had a measurable impact (box office, critic scores, cultural buzz).
• Box office data verified through Box Office Mojo.
• Critical consensus and ratings sourced from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
• Context, milestones, and industry reporting cross-checked with outlets such as Deadline, The Guardian, and GamesRadar.

1. F1: The Movie

Joseph Kosinski brought the thrill of Formula One to the big screen with F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt as an aging driver mentoring a rookie. Filmed during actual Grands Prix, it combines authenticity with Hollywood spectacle, making it one of the best movies of 2025 so far for sports and action fans (GamesRadar, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Earned over $623M globally (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Fresh score in the 80s on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

2. The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Marvel’s long-awaited reboot introduced audiences to its first family in a story that balanced cosmic stakes with grounded character drama. The Fantastic Four: First Steps wasn’t just another setup movie—it won audiences over with humor, chemistry, and a fresh energy. It’s among the best movies this year for superhero fans (Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Grossed more than $519M worldwide (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Strong audience reception is reflected in its Fresh rating (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

3. Sinners

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners blended horror, western, and thriller elements into a bold genre mashup. The story of community secrets and bloody reckonings connected with audiences, delivering both box-office success and cultural buzz. Its originality makes it one of the best movies of 2025 so far (Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Opened strong in IMAX and premium formats (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Holds a Fresh rating with positive critic consensus (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

4. Jurassic World: Rebirth

Dinosaurs returned in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which shifted the franchise closer to survival thriller territory rather than pure spectacle. The gamble paid off—audiences flocked to theaters, and critics called it fresher than expected. It remains one of the best movies this year at the box office (Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Grossed ~$864M worldwide (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Earned strong Fresh scores from critics and audiences (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

5. How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

The beloved animated series got a live-action reimagining in 2025. How to Train Your Dragon captured the heart of the original while adding new visual grandeur through practical and CG blends. With strong reviews and big family turnout, it’s among the best movies of 2025 so far for all-ages audiences (Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Earned ~$635M worldwide (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Widely praised for heartfelt storytelling and sweeping visuals (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

6. A Minecraft Movie

Against the odds, this game-to-film adaptation found a bright, goofy, four-quadrant groove—helped by a crowd-pleasing Jack Black turn and set-piece gags that play for kids and parents. Opening-weekend records fell, and strong international play turned it into one of the year’s biggest global hits.

• Opening records: $162.8M domestic and $150.7M international ($313.7M global) opening weekend (Barron’s; also reported by The Guardian).
  
  
• YTD total: $957.8M worldwide on the 2025 chart (Box Office Mojo).
  

7. Ne Zha 2

The sequel to China’s groundbreaking animated hit became a cultural phenomenon in 2025. Ne Zha 2 smashed records at home and abroad, grossing more than $2B worldwide, and it’s now considered one of the best movies of 2025 thanks to its global reach and powerful storytelling (Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Box office stands at ~$2.15B worldwide (Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• Holds a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

8. The Materialists

Celine Song’s New York romance-caprice turns a luxury-adjacent love triangle into a sly, humane look at class, chemistry, and choice. It’s lighter on its feet than Past Lives but still glides on star magnetism and needle-sharp detail. Word-of-mouth kept building until it quietly became one of the year’s adult-drama success stories.

• Box office: $101.3M worldwide as of mid-September ($36.5M domestic / $64.8M international) (Deadline; Box Office Mojo).
  
  
• See the live hub with reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

9. Mickey 17

Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 mixed sci-fi, satire, and existential comedy into a thought-provoking blockbuster. Robert Pattinson’s performance as multiple clones earned critical praise, and the movie’s ideas have sparked debate worldwide. It’s easily one of the best movies of 2025 so far for fans of ambitious storytelling (Metacritic, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Currently holds a “generally favorable” score on Metacritic (Metacritic).
  
  
• Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).
  

10. The Glassworker

Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker became one of 2025’s surprise hits: a hand-drawn anti-war animated tale from Pakistan. Critics compared its delicate imagery and pacifist message to Studio Ghibli classics, cementing it as one of the best movies this year in animation (The Guardian, Rotten Tomatoes).

• Strong early reviews, praised as “Ghibli-esque” (The Guardian).
  
  
• Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes).

FAQ

What are the best movies of 2025 so far?

Our list picks The Materialists, F1: The Movie, The Fantastic Four, Sinners, Jurassic World: Rebirth, How to Train Your Dragon, A Minecraft Movie, Ne Zha 2, Mickey 17, and The Glassworker.

What are the best movies this year for families?

How to Train Your Dragon and A Minecraft Movie are the standout family blockbusters.

Which movie has earned the most money in 2025?

Ne Zha 2 leads with more than $2.15B worldwide (Box Office Mojo).

What are the best movies of 2025 for critics?

Critics praise The Materialists, Mickey 17, and The Glassworker as top-rated releases.

Final Frame: Why 2025 Matters

The best movies of 2025 so far reveal how varied the cinematic landscape has become. Big-budget blockbusters like F1: The Movie and Jurassic World: Rebirth proved that spectacle still dominates, while originals such as The Materialists and Sinners showed there’s room for creativity. Meanwhile, global successes like Ne Zha 2 and The Glassworker prove that the best movies this year don’t just come from Hollywood. If the rest of 2025 continues this way, it could go down as one of the strongest years for cinema in recent memory.