I’m slightly late on the halfway point of the year, but better late than never! I’m here to talk about how much I love some of the movies from the first half of the year!! It’s been an incredible last couple years, but this one could go down in the same category looking at the rest of the year. As always, there are some movies I’ve missed but would likely be on this list so I will briefly acknowledge them here.

Honorable Mentions I will get to eventually:

One of them Days, Eephus, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, The Life of Chuck & Friendship

Honorable Mention I did see: Companion

10. Good Boy directed by Ben Leonberg

I’m slightly cheating with this one as I don’t think this is widely released, but I had the absolute pleasure to catch this at a midnight screening at the Florida Film Festival. An indie horror movie that takes place from the perspective of a house pet seems like a slam dunk, but I haven’t seen it done yet. However, this one does a great job with this concept. I have never seen a better animal performance than the central character Max, who truly shows emotion in a way that feels incredibly intentional in every moment. Outside of a couple small problems I had with the script I think this was an amazing time! I especially liked how much the movie truly prioritized using its take on the genre and doubling down with its camera work, mimicking the view of a dog to excellent effect. Maybe one that might be a tough find, but well worth a watch!

9. Predator: Killer of Killers directed by Dan Trachtenberg

If you and your friends talk about movies, there’s a chance (especially after the release of 2022’s Prey) this exact concept was pitched to you. This truly feels like a movie from a fan for fans in so many ways, but this simple idea of seeing Predator’s engage with different types of human warriors is one that works perfectly for the animated genre. The film is one of the first to utilize the Unreal Engine, a software typically used to build video games which is a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand, this movie is gorgeous and incredibly colorful. There are multiple moments where the engine really compliments the style and creates some stunning frames. On the other hand, occasionally with movement specifically, the engine feels uncanny and can be off-putting. Overall, I think this was an interesting experiment and the anthology story worked for me, but I do wonder what could have been done with another style of animation. Even with that being said, it's certainly a great time and one that makes me very excited for Badlands later this year. 

8. Materialists directed by Celine Song

The Materialists has a lot to say, and while I don’t know how much of it lands I really applaud the ambition of the subject matter. Now I don’t have a vitriolic hot take like some seem to have when it comes to this movie, I just think it falls a bit dull on impact. This film features some really interesting commentary on the disconnected nature of today’s dating scene with some good performances from some of the most popular movie stars of today, but stumbles a bit on the landing. There are a couple especially divisive subplots that seem to want to exist in the background but recontextualize our understanding of the characters and our feelings towards them. As much as the film seems to feel it has to say, as soon as I left this film, it mostly disappeared into the background as some of the other films from this year have been living in my mind throughout the weeks. With all that being said, it's a very competently made film that shows Celine Song has the talent to make a great film, even if I didn’t feel like this ever became that. 

7. Thunderbolts* directed by Jake Schreir 

It’s a weird place to be as a comic book fan in 2025. Marvel has misfired to great effect, creating a doubt around the genre that I think is a bit unfair. Just because Disney & Warner Brothers have refused to allow creators proper time and budget to create unique and original films does not mean that the Superhero genre is dead. Superman and Fantastic Four this summer will be a very good indicator for the future, but Thunderbolts* was a breath of fresh air that built the foundation for a possible return. Allowing a good creative team to take their time and create an engaging story that helps cement new characters as favorites seems like a given, but this is the first time since Wakanda Forever they made a film that seems to build the universe rather than hurt it (Guardians is innocent). Florence Pugh & Lewis Pullman anchor what ends up being a pretty solid ensemble of B tier anti-heros/villains in what turns into a pretty thoughtful and interesting reflection on depression and how it can affect those even with the most incredible skills. This film doesn’t break the mold in any meaningful ways but hits on a lot of the solid elements that create an effective superhero film! For the first time in a while, it feels like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if Schreier can bring this solid  foundation to a brand like the X-Men. 

6. Mickey 17 directed by Bong Joon Ho

Mickey 17, the long awaited follow up to Parasite from legendary director Bong Joon Ho, was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in a theater in a long time! My girlfriend and I caught this at the Enzian Theater and it was a blast. Robert Pattinson is delivering what has to be one of his best performances to date. I won’t spoil the film’s central crux, but Pattinson’s versatility as an actor is on full display here. Naomi Ackie truly made a believer out of me as well, with her performance grounding the film on an emotional level in a way I really appreciated. While the film was a bit blunt in its approach specifically with Mark Ruffalo’s character, I found its earnestness very endearing. This is not your typical Sci-Fi film, but this movie benefits from its quirks just as much as its diversity even if those can be a bit of a double edged sword. I really would have loved this film to be something a little different and more serious, but I think at the end of the day this is the kind of movie I would love to see in theaters throughout the year. This is an incredible addition to an already stacked catalog, and Bong is a director that I will always show up for from here on out!

5. Bring Her Back directed by Danny & Michael Phillippou

Bring Her Back is the much anticipated follow up to Talk to Me and it's an improvement in pretty much every way! Sally Hawkins anchors a really great group of performances, with the child actors meeting the all time great at her level. Jonah Wren Phillips especially was one of the creepiest acting performances I’ve seen in a really long time. The horror elements are gruesome, with some of the grossest imagery put to screen in a while. Coupled with a strong visual direction and well executed themes about grief and loss, this film has lived rent free in my head since my first watch. I think the central relationship and conflict between the brother and sister was incredibly moving and really helped me to connect with the more harrowing moments later in the film. I really like the way the story utilizes the paranormal black market universe they seem to be building with both of these films. These Brothers have immense talent behind the camera and I’m beyond excited to see what they do next!

4. Black Bag directed by Steven Soderbergh

Black Bag is not a movie that particularly breaks the mold, but its excellence lies in its simplicity. Directed by the incomparable Steven Soderbergh, this movie is almost flawless in its utilization of its length and characters. Clocking in at 94 minutes, this tightly wound spy thriller truly excels in its fast paced editing, great performances and razor sharp dialogue. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett are both highly accomplished and truly bring this film a level of class and elegance that cannot be understated. The supporting cast helps create a true feeling of deception and intrigue until the film inevitably comes to its natural conclusion, with Regé Jean Page specifically shining. At the end of the day though, this movie is more interested in the central marriage between the two characters and I think that’s what grounds this movie through all the political intrigue and spy work.  The script and stars create a marriage that feels as tenuous as it is solid. It's a shame that the mid budget film has just really started to rebound because this would have been another great theater experience. This is probably my pick for the most underrated film of the year!

3. The Phoenician Scheme directed by Wes Anderson

The Phoencian Scheme is a film I didn’t anticipate enjoying as much as I did. I’ve always been a fan of Wes Anderson’s work, but outside of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Mr Fox, none of his work has really impacted me. I find his movies can lack a central feeling that I want to return to, though some of my more recent watches have proven this to be a problem of ignorance of his other films rather than a quality issue. However, before I endeavored on this journey into his body of work, Phoenecian Scheme was the thing I saw that inspired me to do so. This movie was wildly fun and distinct from the beginning, and I was hooked from the beginning. All of the signature flair of his other works, but with a lot of humor and whimsy that feels missing from films like Asteroid City. I think another thing that is inherent to a great Wes film that is here in spades is the incredible cast. There are a ton of great side characters, but the main trio played by Benecio Del Toro, Mia Threaplton and Michael Cera truly give some of my favorite performances of the year. The structure of the film allows the charm and themes this film has to shine and I really loved it. The black and white sequences featuring Willem Dafoe add a different element to the film that really helps underscore the main thematic points throughout the film. This may not be for everyone and may not win you over if you aren’t a fan of his distinct style, but I felt like this was a breath of fresh air in his long and esteemed.

2. 28 Years Later directed by Danny Boyle

As someone newly introduced to these movies, 28 Days Later is so obviously embedded in the DNA of zombie storytelling that this new legacy sequel trilogy seemed like such a terrible idea. I cannot state how happy I am to be completely wrong in that regard. 28 Years Later, also by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, is one of the most ambitious studio films ever put out. Beyond the technical achievement of heavily incorporating iPhone cameras into a major film with precision and excellence, this movie seeks to create the groundwork for what could be one of the best trilogies put to screen if this film was any indication. This film was intense, heartfelt and deeply meditative, using the zombie apocalypse in a way I’ve never seen done to this level of success. This film is built around the performance of child actor Alfie Williams and man does he knock it out of the park. Watching this boy grow and learn in a world wildly different from ours is deeply impactful, especially when confronted with problems that feel so human even in a post apocalyptic landscape. Multiple other performances deserve to be recognized and raved about, including Jodie Comer &  Aaron Taylor Johnson, but I have to highlight the work Ralph Fiennes does in his small part here. The bone temple is one of the most incredible sets I’ve seen a film utilize in a long time, and in ways I could have never imagined walking into this. The structure breaks the standard three act story in many different ways, but the perspective gained in the third act of this film recontextualizes the whole movie in a way that adds a lot of weight and depth. The score from Young Fathers (you may know them from underground rap label Anticon), truly provides a pulse to this film that is felt in every scene, especially the utilization of the famous Rudyard Kipling poem Boots. The roadmap has already been laid for the second film which will be released early next year and personally I’ll be there on opening day.