2025 has been one of the weaker years for the film industry, as high-budget films like Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White have failed to impress both the audience and at the box office. While there have been many disappointments this year, it does not mean that no good movies have been released. To prove this, we have compiled a list of the best movies that have come out in 2025 so far.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a mystery thriller film written and directed by Rian Johnson. The 2025 film is the third installment in the Knives Out film series, and it follows detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a locked room murder mystery that involves a sincere young priest and a community of religious individuals. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery stars Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
Zootopia 2 (In Theaters)
Zootopia 2 is an animated buddy cop comedy film co-directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard from a screenplay by Bush. The 2025 sequel film continues the story of cop partners Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they pursue a criminal, but when they get framed for a crime they didn’t commit, they must go on the run and find the real criminals. Zootopia 2’s voice cast includes Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, and Idris Elba.
Wicked: For Good (In Theaters)
Wicked: For Good is a musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay co-written by Winnie Holzman and Dan Fox. Based on the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, the 2025 sequel film continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as they find themselves on opposing sides. Wicked: For Good stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Frankenstein is a Gothic sci-fi film written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name, the 2025 film follows Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who’s obsessed with conquering death. He tries to beat death by cobbling together various parts of dead people and reanimating them, but ends up creating a monster. Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz.
Predator: Badlands (In Theaters)
Predator: Badlands is a sci-fi action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg from a screenplay by Patrick Aison. The 2025 film is the seventh installment in the Predator film franchise, and it follows a young Predator who has been cast out of his clan for not meeting the others’ standards. To prove himself, he travels to a dangerous planet to defeat the apex predator. Predator: Badlands stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning.
Good Fortune (Rent on Prime Video)
Good Fortune is a supernatural comedy film written and directed by Aziz Ansari. The 2025 film revolves around a financially struggling gig worker, a venture capitalist, and a naive angel named Gabriel, who attempts to do good but ultimately interferes with people’s lives. Good Fortune stars Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, and Sandra Oh.
Bone Lake (Rent on Prime Video)
Bone Lake is a thriller film directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan from a screenplay by Joshua Friedlander. The 2024 film follows a couple on a getaway at a remote lakeside house, but their relaxing holiday soon turns sinister and deadly after a mysterious couple interrupts their time together. Bone Lake stars Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Andra Nechita, and Marco Pigossi.
One Battle After Another (Rent on Prime Video)
One Battle After Another is an action thriller film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Based on Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, the 2025 film follows an ex-revolutionary who settled down with his daughter, but when his past threatens his daughter’s safety, he must protect her. One Battle After Another stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Rent on Prime Video)
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is a historical drama film directed by Simon Curtis from a screenplay by Julian Fellowes. The 2025 film is set in the Downton Abbey series universe, and it serves as a direct sequel to the 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era. The film is set during the summer of the 1930s, and it revolves around the Crawleys as they face reputational ruin after Mary gets into a public scandal. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale stars Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth McGovern, and Penelope Wilton.
The Conjuring: Last Rites (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
The Conjuring: Last Rites is a supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves from a screenplay co-written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. The 2025 film is the ninth entry in The Conjuring universe, and it follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they take on their most personal and dangerous supernatural case. The Conjuring: Last Rites stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, and Ben Hardy.
The Lost Bus (Apple TV+)
The Lost Bus is a survival drama film directed by Paul Greengrass, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Greengrass. Based on the 2021 nonfiction book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by Lizzie Johnson, the 2025 film follows a determined bus driver and a school teacher as they try to bring 22 children to safety through the 2018 campfire. The Lost Bus stars Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vasquez, and Ashlie Atkinson.
Roofman (Paramount+, MGM+, & Rent on Prime Video)
Roofman is a crime comedy drama film directed by Derek Cianfrance, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Kirt Gunn. Loosely based on a true story, the 2025 film is set in the late 1990s, and it follows Jeffrey Manchester, a former soldier and professional thief who escapes prison and decides to hide out in a Toys “R” Us until he can get out safely. Things soon get complicated when he falls for an employee working there. Roofman stars Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, and Melonie Diaz.
Weapons (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Weapons is a mystery horror film written and directed by Zach Cregger. The 2025 film is set in a small Pennsylvanian town, and it follows the aftermath of an inexplicable event during which seventeen children got up in the middle of the night and walked away from their homes, with the only thing connecting them being that they all belonged to the same classroom. Weapons stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Toby Huss, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.
Together (Rent on Prime Video)
Together is a supernatural body horror film written and directed by Michael Shanks. The 2025 film follows Tim and Millie, a couple, as they move to the countryside and soon become victims of a mysterious force that makes their bodies merge in horrific and painful ways. Together stars Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Mike Cowap, Andrew Mittman, Erik Feig, Max Silva, Julia Hammer, and Timothy Headington.
Caught Stealing (Rent on Prime Video)
Caught Stealing is a dark comedy crime thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky from a screenplay by Charlie Huston. Based on Huston’s 2004 book of the same name, the 2025 film is set in the late 1990s in New York City, and it follows a down-and-out bartender who finds himself caught up in a deadly situation involving dangerous criminals after agreeing to take care of his neighbor’s cat. Caught Stealing stars Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Benito Martinez Ocasio, Griffin Dunne, and Carol Kane.
Highest 2 Lowest (Apple TV+)
Highest 2 Lowest is a crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay by Alan Fox. Based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low, the 2025 film is set in New York City, and it follows a successful music mogul who faces a dilemma after a ransom plan involving his son goes awry. Highest 2 Lowest stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and ASAP Rocky.
The Long Walk (Rent on Prime Video)
The Long Walk is a dystopian survival thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by JT Mollner. Based on Stephen King’s 1979 novel of the same name, the 2025 film is set in a dystopian America where every year an event known as the Long Walk is held in which 50 teens participate, and the last one walking will be the only survivor and will be granted a wish. The Long Walk stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video)
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a superhero sci-fi action film directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay co-written by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. The 2025 MCU film is set in an alternate universe, and it revolves around the Fantastic Four as their world comes under attack by the Silver Surfer and Galactus. The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson.
The Naked Gun (Paramount+, MGM+, & Rent on Prime Video)
The Naked Gun is an action comedy film directed by Akiva Schaffer, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Based on the popular parody film franchise, the 2025 film follows Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, as he must solve a case to stop the police department from being shut down. The Naked Gun stars Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, CCH Pounder, and Kevin Durand.
28 Years Later (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
28 Years Later is a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age horror film directed by Danny Boyle from a screenplay by Alex Garland. The 2025 threequel film is set 28 years after the rage virus outbreak, and it follows a young boy and his father as they leave the safety of their isolated island to venture out into the dangerous world. 28 Years Later stars Jack O’Connell, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes.
The Life of Chuck (Rent on Prime Video)
The Life of Chuck is a fantasy drama film written and directed by Mike Flanagan. Based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King, the 2025 film chronicles the life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz from his death, which is also the end of the universe, to his childhood. The Life of Chuck stars Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill.
F1: The Movie (Apple TV & Rent on Prime Video)
F1: The Movie is a sports drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The 2025 film follows Sonny Hayes, a once-promising F1 race car driver whose career ended because of a massive accident. Decades later, he is given another chance by an old friend, who offers him a seat in his F1 team, which is about to be sold if they don’t win a single race. F1 stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem.
Deep Cover (Prime Video)
Deep Cover is a British action comedy film directed by Tom Kingsley from a screenplay co-written by Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, and Alexander Owen. The 2025 film is set in London, and it revolves around two improv actors and their teacher as they are approached by a police officer to infiltrate the city’s criminal underworld. Deep Cover stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, and Sean Bean.
How to Train Your Dragon (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video)
How to Train Your Dragon is a live-action remake of the 2010 animated fantasy adventure film of the same name. Based on the children’s book of the same name by author Cressida Cowell, the 2025 film is written and directed by Dean DeBlois. It is set in the Viking village of Berk, which is constantly under attack by the dragons. It follows Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a teen boy whose father is the chief of the village and hates dragons, but when Hiccup befriends a dragon, things begin to change for him and the whole village. How to Train Your Dragon stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, and Gerard Butler.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (Starz & Rent on Prime Video)
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is an action thriller film directed by Len Wiseman from a screenplay by Shay Hatten. Set in the world of John Wick, the 2025 film follows Eve Macarro, an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma who defies her orders to get revenge against the people who murdered his father. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
Materialists (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Materialists is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Celine Song. The 2025 film is set in New York City, and it follows Lucy, a former actress turned matchmaker who’s still single herself. When she meets Harry Castillo, a successful man, she begins a relationship with him, but things change when her ex-boyfriend, John, returns in her life. Materialists stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, Louisa Jacobson, Sawyer Spielberg, Eddie Cahill, and Joseph Lee.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Final Destination: Bloodlines is a supernatural horror film co-directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein from a screenplay co-written by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor. The 2025 film is the sixth entry into the Final Destination film franchise, and it follows a college student who saves the lives of many people who were supposed to die. When she grows up and has a family of her own, death comes back for all of them. Final Destination: Bloodlines stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Riya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, and Tony Todd.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Rent on Prime Video)
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a spy action thriller film directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who also co-wrote the film with Erik Jendresen. The 2025 film is the eighth and possibly final entry into the Mission: Impossible film franchise, and it follows IMF Agent Ethan Hunt and his team as they take on their most dangerous villain yet. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning stars Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett.
Warfare (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Warfare is a war thriller drama film co-written and co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. Based on Mendoza’s experiences during the Iraq War, the 2025 film is set in 2006 during the Battle of Ramadi, and it follows a group of Navy SEALs whose surveillance mission goes wrong, and now they must fight to survive. Warfare stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a heist action thriller film written and directed by Christian Gudegast. The 2025 sequel film follows Lawman Nicholas “Big Nick” O’Brien as he pursues career criminal Donnie Wilson. His pursuit leads him to Europe, where he gets embroiled in the dangerous world of diamond thieves. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera stars Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, and Swen Temmel.
Sinners (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Sinners is a psychological horror drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler. The 2025 film is set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta, and it revolves around the Moore twin brothers as they return home to leave their troubled lifestyle behind, but instead of peace at home, they find an even greater evil. Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo.
Thunderbolts* (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Thunderbolts* is a psychological superhero action film directed by Jake Schreier from a screenplay co-written by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo. Based on Marvel Comics, the 2025 film follows Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker as they find themselves in a deadly trap set up by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Now, they must work together to get out alive. Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Havoc (Netflix)
Havoc is a gritty action thriller film written and directed by Gareth Evans. The 2025 film follows Patrick Walker, a crooked cop who must help a politician’s estranged son get out of the city as he is hunted because of a drug deal gone wrong. Havoc stars Tom Hardy, Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Luis Guzman, Yeo Yann Yann, Timothy Olyphant, and Forest Whitaker.
The Accountant 2 (Prime Video)
The Accountant 2 is an action thriller comedy-drama film directed by Gavin O’Connor from a screenplay by Bill Dubuque. The 2025 sequel film follows Christian Wolff as he reunites with his assassin brother Braxton and Marybeth Medina, who is now the Deputy Director of the Treasury Department, to investigate the murder of Raymond King. The Accountant 2 stars Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda, Allison Robertson, and J.K. Simmons.
Drop (Prime Video)
Drop is a mystery thriller film directed by Christopher Landon from a screenplay co-written by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach. The 2025 film follows Violet Gates, a widowed single mother who goes out on a date with a charming and handsome man. Her date goes horribly wrong when she gets a message on her phone to kill her date, or her son and sister will be killed. Drop stars Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, and Jeffrey Self.
Companion (HBO Max & Prime Video)
Companion is a sci-fi thriller film written and directed by Drew Hancock. The 2025 film follows a group of friends as they go on a relaxing weekend away with their human-like companion robots, but their vacation turns into a bloodbath when the robots malfunction. Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillen, and Rupert Friend.
Paddington in Peru (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
Paddington in Peru is a live-action animated adventure comedy film directed by Douglas Wilson from a screenplay co-written by Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont. The 2025 threequel film follows Paddington and the Brown family as they set out on an adventurous vacation to the jungles of Peru to find Paddington’s beloved aunt, who has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears. Paddington in Peru stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw.
Mickey 17 (HBO Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Mickey 17 is a sci-fi dark comedy-drama film written and directed by Bong Joon Ho. Based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, the 2025 film is set in the year 2050, and it follows Mickey Barnes, a man who joins a space colony as an “Expendable” and sets out with them to colonize the ice planet of Niflheim. Mickey’s bosses send him out to do every dangerous job because if he dies, they can just print him out again. Mickey 17 stars Robert Pattinson, Naomie Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.
One of Them Days (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
One of Them Days is a buddy comedy film directed by Lawrence Lamont from a screenplay by Syreeta Singleton. The 2025 film follows friends Dreux Jones and Alyssa, who live together, but when they find out that Alyssa’s boyfriend has spent all of their rent money, they must race against time to avoid getting evicted. One of Them Days stars Keke Palmer, SZA, Katt Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, and Maude Apatow.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Morris from a screenplay co-written by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, and Abi Morgan. Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Helen Fielding, the 2025 film is the fourth installment in the Bridget Jones franchise. It follows Bridget Jones, who’s now a mother and has her dream screenwriter job. Her new boyfriend is also great, but the only problem is that he is much younger than her. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy stars Renée Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Isla Fisher, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant.
Presence (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Presence is a supernatural horror thriller drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by David Koepp. The 2024 film follows the Payne family as they move into a new house in the suburbs and soon become convinced that the house is haunted. While the concept of Presence is pretty basic, it is very unique in its execution, as the film is shown from the point of view of the ghost. Presence stars Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, and Julia Fox.
Heart Eyes (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
Heart Eyes is a romantic comedy and slasher film directed by Josh Ruben from a screenplay co-written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, and Michael Kennedy. The 2025 film is set on Valentine’s Day, and it revolves around a cynical ad executive and a hopeless romantic who becomes the next target of a masked killer who kills young couples on Valentine’s Day. Heart Eyes stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, Yoson An, and Jordana Brewster.
Black Bag (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video)
Black Bag is a British spy thriller drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by David Koepp. The 2025 film follows George Woodhouse, a brilliant British intelligence officer who is tasked with investigating suspected traitors who sold out the country’s secrets, but the only problem is that the top suspect is his wife, Kathryn St. Jean. Black Bag stars Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, Pierce Brosnan, Gustaf Skarsgard, Kae Alexander, and Ambika Mod.
The Amateur (Rent on Prime Video)
The Amateur is a vigilante spy action drama film directed by James Hawes from a screenplay co-written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, the 2025 film follows Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA cryptographer who loses his wife during a terrorist attack in London and decides to take revenge against the people who killed his wife. The Amateur stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Laurence Fishburne.
Novocaine (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Novocaine is an action comedy film co-directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen from a screenplay by Lars Jacobson. The 2025 film follows Nathan Caine, a young bank employee who is unable to feel pain because of a rare condition. Due to his condition, he has been afraid his whole life, but when he meets Sherry, he thinks that he has found love. When she gets kidnapped during a bank heist, he goes after her and uses his condition to his advantage. Novocaine stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Jacob Batalon, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, and Conrad Kemp.