2025 So Far: 20 Must-Watch Movies That Ruled the First Half

A richly diverse cinematic first half of 2025 has dazzled audiences—from innovative horror and intimate dramas to high-octane blockbusters and imaginative remakes. Studios and indie filmmakers alike took bold swings, delivering both crowd-pleasing spectacles and deeply resonant stories. Ryan Coogler’s supernatural vampire-thriller Sinners showcased emotional depth and thematic weight, while Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 blended sci-fi humor with existential flair. Marvel and franchise releases like Captain America: Brave New World and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning reaffirmed their box‑office dominance, and fresh spin‑offs such as Ballerina kept action fans captivated. Meanwhile, smaller films—Companion, Black Bag, and Materialists—sparked critical buzz and highlighted emerging voices. This mid‑year lineup underscores an exhilarating balance between blockbuster entertainment and art‑house originality, setting high expectations for the rest of 2025.

Top 20 Films (Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2025)

1. Companion – Director: Drew Hancock; Release Date: January 31, 2025 

2. Better Man – Director: Michael Gracey; Release Date: January 10, 2025 

3. Den of Thieves: Pantera – Director: Christian Gudegast; Release Date: January 10, 2025

4. Wolf Man – Director: Leigh Whannell; Release Date: January 17, 2025 

5. Presence – Director: Steven Soderbergh; Release Date: January 24, 2025 

6. I'm Still Here – Director: Fernanda Torres; Release Date: February 14, 2025 

7. Paddington in Peru – Director: Dougal Wilson; Release Date: February 14, 2025 

8. Captain America: Brave New World – Director: Julius Onah; Release Date: February 14, 2025 

9. Mickey 17 – Director: Bong Joon Ho; Release Date: March 7, 2025 

10. 28 Years Later – Director: Danny Boyle; Release Date: June 20, 2025

11. How to Train Your Dragon (live‑action) – Director: Dean DeBlois; Release Date: June 13, 2025 

12. F1 – Director: Joseph Kosinski; Release Date: June 27, 2025 

13. Ballerina – Director: Len Wiseman; Release Date: June 6, 2025 

14. The Phoenician Scheme – Director: Wes Anderson; Release Date: June 6, 2025 

15. Sinners – Director: Ryan Coogler; Release Date: April 2025 

16. Black Bag – Director: Steven Soderbergh; Release Date: early 2025 

17. Materialists – Director: Celine Song; Release Date: early 2025 

18. Jurassic World Rebirth – Director: Gareth Edwards; Release Date: June 17, 2025 

19. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Director: Christopher McQuarrie; Release Date: May 23, 2025 

20. M3GAN 2.0 – Director: Gerard Johnstone; Release Date: June 27, 2025 

These 20 films—ranging from January to June—represent the most compelling cinematic offerings of the first half of 2025, offering a rich blend of storytelling, innovation, and audience appeal.